aoe2maps

Random map scripts and preprocessing utilities.

This project provides a convenient way to organize map mods while extending the scripting language with various macros and other features. Features are implemented on an ad hoc basis as I come up with situations where I need useful features. This repository should be considered as an experiment and not as a polished project. In particular I make no attempt to construct a syntax tree of the rms files, but rather perform simple line-by-line processing that may break on files that do not follow the same formatting conventions that I do.

Directory Structure

This repository contains a variety of random map scripts, as well as Rust utilities for working with them.

The scripts directory contains the map scripts. Each subdirectory represents a local map. The files in each subdirectory are the source files used for building the maps for those mods.

The includes directory contains map scripts that the preprocess may copy into other scripts.

The xs directory contains xs-scripts that map files may include.

The maps directory contains the Rust executable used for running the preprocessor. When working on maps, I run this executable every time a map file is saved using the Run on Save extension. The executable may also be run manually (e.g. using cargo run), which may be useful for debugging.

To upload a mod, view the local mod with the in-game mod browser and click the button to open its local files. Zip the resources directory and upload the zip file to the corresponding mod on the ageofempires.com website.

Project Features

• Uses rms, rms2, png, dds, inc, and xs files from the folders in this workspace to create map mods in the local mods folder.
• Minifies map scripts by stripping comments and removing excess whitespace.
• Gives macros for generating the locations of players lands with random placement, as circles, or as squares.
• Repeates code in indicated blocks (and supports nested repetition).
• Adds a macro that is equivalent to set_place_for_every_player while allowing for lands to be assigned directly to players using land_id, so that different objects and actor areas may be placed for each player.
• Provides a debugging tool for lifing rnd statements to the map preamble to ensure removing code from a map does not change the random generation of code preceeding it.
• Allows named actor areas in addition to numeric actor areas.
• Introduces the #BREAK macro to stop generating any code from the point where that macro appears.