DreamAtlas

DreamAtlas is an open-source Python library for Dominions 6 map editing and generation.  Accessible through Github and Itch.io. DreamAtlas allows users to seamlessly interact with Dominions maps through Python code. Equipped with groundbreaking map generation algorithms and tools for artists that will allow maps to be made better than ever before.

Credits

Software: Tlaloc

Art: Mormacil 

Releases

Version 1.1.4

• Fixed more bugs

Version 1.1.3

• Fixed most outstanding bugs
• Fixed interface viewer colours

Version 1.1.2

• Lots of bug fixes

Version 1.1.1

• Fixed a lot of raised bugs
• Added some estimates for the map and an input checker to the generator
• Better tooltip explanations
• Generator opens with an example settings input

Version 1.1 (still hotfixing)

• DreamAtlas Map Editor.exe uploaded to itch.io, improvements to region generation and player layouts, bug fixing and code optimisation
• Map Editor Features
  • Developed a GUI using Tkinter/TTKBootstrap
    • GUI can handle all 9 possible planes, and provides lenses to view art, provinces, regions,  terrain, population and resources
    • All map objects can be viewed in an explorer panel that lets users quickly locate specific objects
  • Provides a frontend for most library features
    • Capable of loading, editing, and publishing  any valid Dominions 6 maps (editing borders/map image is not included yet but will be added in the future)
    • Capable of running any valid generator function to produce new maps (people can make their own)
    • Will support any art generation/conversion once this is added,  currently supports either publishing with existing map images or conversion to .d6m format
• Map Generator changes
  • Support for disciples added (disabled temporarily)
  • Support for 2-16 players
  • Improved region generation with 4 new region types:
    • Water regions contain few, large, but valuable underwater provinces, providing mobility for sailing and amphibious nations, and tempting targets for everyone else
    • Cave regions connect distant areas of the map underground, useful for launching surprise attacks or for building impenetrable chokepoints
    • Vast regions are huge desolations that cannot be controlled by players and conceal forces passing through them
    • Blocker  regions like cave walls and mountain ranges separate other regions from each other
  • Options to control region generation added
  • QoL features, bug fixes, code optimisation

Version 1.0.3

• Option to add an Omniscience start with a hidden province.

Version 1.0.2

• Better throne distribution

Version 1.0.1

• Population balancing is now weighted by terrain

Version 1.0.0

• DreamAtlas Python library and map generator uploaded to Gitlab and Itch.io

•  Library features
  • Able to load Dominions 6 .map and image files into Python environments
  • Able to export maps to game-ready formats with support for .d6m files
  • Able to organise map data using DreamAtlas class methods  which allows users to easily edit and create maps with their own code
  • Functionality supporting custom map artists:
    • Function to convert grayscale images of province borders into the #pb format used in .map files
    • Functional extension of the Jump Flood Algorithm to generate organic province borders from sets of points with any wraparound
    • Matplotlib plotting support for DreamAtlas class types, allowing users to load and view incomplete .map files outside of the Dominions .exe
• Map Generator features
  • Creates unique layouts for 4-16 players with 3-6 neighbours each on demand
  • Immersive regions:
    • Homeland regions have appropriate terrain and layouts for each nation including  underwater/cave nations
    • Peripheral regions are influenced by surrounding nations and have layouts that will create strategic opportunities and competition
    • Valuable Throne regions are generated and placed evenly between players
  • Precise control over cap-circle and region generation ensures maps remain balanced while producing unique geography every time
    
  • Several options for population (gold!) balancing:
    • None - Vanilla population distribution
    • Soft - Regions have very similar population distribution
    • Hard - Regions have identical population distribution
  • Support for all wraparound options
  • Support for generic starts and modded nations
  • Precise control of land, underwater and cave size/gold/resource balance
  • Each individual part of the map generation can be regenerated with a new random seed (for now this requires interacting with the code)
  • Exports to .d6m format which adapts to in-game terrain changes
  • Generator exploits Numba parallel optimisation to generate game-ready maps  almost instantly
    

Upcoming releases

Version 1.2

• Realistic Geography
  • Combining geographical modelling methods with existing DreamAtlas tools to produce immersive and realistic maps
    
  • Include more features like cliffs, empty regions, blocker regions etc that are not possible with the base game to make the strategic choices more interesting in games
• Custom art
  • Allow texture packs to be used with art generators to make maps with community art 

Version 1.3

• Support for custom armies, pretenders and nations
• Image processing and other tools for map artists to automate making .map files
• General addition of tools, and methods so that DreamAtlas can interface with all Dominions map features
• Added features to make the UI a full map editing and design tool

Special thanks to...

• Ana for her endless support and being my rubber duck
  
• SoCalGG for feedback, testing and support
• Dr. Max Bannach for expert advice on graph embedding
• Loggy for untangling the games mechanics
• Circe, Caju and Apollo for being very cute