Editor

== Get the editor : Galaxy Forge ==
Galaxy Forge can be found at the following link:
SINS' Downloads
== Make a small map playable in-game ==
When you start Galaxy Forge two Terran Home planets and a Star will be the default new map. To add a new planet you right-click inside the desired star's radius and choose "add planet", alternatively you may double click in the radius. To create a star you must right-click outside on the map and choose "add star". Simple isn't it? You may also double click in open space to add a new star. All new stars are automatically of the Random type, new planets are default to Terran but that can be changed in the movable window.
A planet can only connect through phase lanes (or wormholes) to other planets in the same star system.
Let's go for a tutorial map, at the end you will know how make a simple playable map with planets:
A. The first thing is to decide the number of players. Click on the "edit" menu then "players". You can see the two players by default. You can add new player by clicking on "add". Click on a player to change the name of the player and the starting resources (the others options are not important for the moment). Add a new player.
B. Now add a Terran Home planet. In the section "ownership" in the "toolbox" floating window select "IsHomePlanet" and change it to "true". Then change the "owner" to the new player you added. In "properties" you can choose the type of planet. Make sure it is "Terran Home". You now have three planets , one per player.
C. Now you have to link planets with "phase lanes" to allow players to travel on others planets. Select a planet, hold "ctrl" and click on the star. Do the same for each planet. This will connect each planet to the Star, click on the phase lanes to see their length.
D. The first map is done, at least its very simple and not very interesting, but you can now add new type of planet and link to the others. Now you have to save the map and make it playable. In the "file" menu, click on save (Galaxy Forge will NOT ask to save if you quit without saving). I recommend you to create a "map" folder in Galaxy Forge, to save your maps. After saving the map, copy it in the directory of the game, in the "galaxy" folder. It should be something like: C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Galaxy
In order to make a map using a mod (mostly, a mod that adds planets), you must copy the mod's "GalaxySenarioDef" file into the Galaxy Forge folder. Recommend making a backup of the original before copying.
== Wormholes ==
If you want to add wormholes in a map to link distant planets, you have to create first two "Wormhole" planets. Then link them with a phase lane. Click on the phase lane and in "properties" section in the Toolbox window change "connection type" from phase lane to wormhole. The phase lane should change from gray to blue indicating a wormhole connection. Wormhole connections are only valid when both ends are Wormholes. Though some mods may tinker with this.
== Templates : How to define neutrals with buildings ==
With some practice you can probably build some fine galaxies to play in. But to add some life to your galaxy, you can add Militia Colonies (neutral worlds with more than just some star ships). To do this, you will need to open the map file with an text editor (like notepad).
Open the map file, then search the planets info (it look like this):
 planet
 		designName "Planet2"
 		inGameName ""
 		type "Terran"
 		pos [ 223 , 149 ]
 		owner ""
 		isHomePlanet FALSE
 		startingUpgradeLevelForPopulation 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForCivilianModules 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForTacticalModules 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForArtifacts 0
 		planetItems
 			templateName ""
 			subTemplates 0
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		useDefaultTemplate TRUE
Then find a planet you want to add a militia to. First, change the owner of the planet to "RandomMilitia". You should have this:
 planet
 		designName "Planet2"
 		inGameName ""
 		type "Terran"
 		pos [ 223 , 149 ]
 		owner "RandomMilitia"
To add a single template, you need to change the "subTemplates 0" to "subTemplates 1". Then add template "Template:MyTemplate"
Where MyTemplate is the name of the type of militia you create. Then add a line with: "group 1" and change "useDefaultTemplate TRUE" by "useDefaultTemplate FALSE". You should have the following now:
 planetItems
 			templateName ""
 			subTemplates 1
 			template "Template:MyTemplate"
 			groups 1
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		useDefaultTemplate FALSE
Then go at the end of the file and add:
 templates X //X is the total number of template
 	template
 	templateName "Template:MyTemplate"
 	subTemplates 0
 	groups 1
 	group
 	condition
 	type "NoPlanetOwner"
 	param ""
 	owner "RandomMilitia"
 	colonizeChance 1
 	items X //X is the total number of items
 	item "Phase:Frigate:Light"
You have now a militia on this planet, and it controlled one Vasari light frigate.
To know the others buildings and vessels name you just have to go in Galaxy Forge then double-click on a planet (or right-click, "edit"). You will have on the right all the names of the modules and ships.
If you want to add another Template, just add it after the last item. Remember to increase the number of templates too.
Here is a simple test you can copy and edit to be sure you don't lost anything :
----
 TXT
 versionNumber 1 / 0 for normal patched game, 1 for mods
 isBrowsable TRUE / Appears in maps when starting New Game
 browsePictureName ""
 browseDescription "TODO - Add Description Here." / Description that appears when map is selected
 isFirstCapitalShipIsFlagship TRUE / First Capital ship is free 
 planetArtifactDensity 0.150000 / Chances to find artifacts on planets (default 15%)
 planetBonusDensity 0.400000 / Chances for bonus (default 40%)
 homePlanetUpgradeLevel:Population 3 
 homePlanetUpgradeLevel:CivilianModules 1
 homePlanetUpgradeLevel:TacticalModules 0
 homePlanetUpgradeLevel:Home 1
 homePlanetUpgradeLevel:ArtifactLevel 10
 homePlanetUpgradeLevel:Infrastructure 2
 recommendedGameTypeCount 0
 metersPerGalaxyUnit 15000.000000 / Increase to augment time of travel
 pixelsPerGalaxyUnit 2.000000
 useRandomGenerator FALSE
 galaxyWidth 300.000000
 galaxyHeight 300.000000
 nextStarNameUniqueId 1
 nextPlanetNameUniqueId 4
 starCount 1 / Total Number of Stars
 star
 	designName "Star0"
 	inGameName ""
 	type "RandomStar"
 	pos [ 150 , 150 ]
 	radius 100.000000
 	planetCount 4 / Total Number of Planets
 	planet
 		designName "Planet0"
 		inGameName "Terre" / Forces in game name of planet, leave blank to allow random name
 		type "TerranHome"
 		pos [ 50 , 150 ] / Position on map 
 		owner "NewPlayer0" / Owner of the planet
 		isHomePlanet TRUE / This is the start location, causes planet development to match those defined above
 		startingUpgradeLevelForPopulation 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForCivilianModules 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForTacticalModules 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForArtifacts 0
 		planetItems
 			templateName ""
 			subTemplates 0
 			groups 0
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		useDefaultTemplate TRUE / Use Predefined Template
 	planet
 		designName "Planet1"
 		inGameName "Mars"
 		type "TerranHome"
 		pos [ 250 , 150 ]
 		owner "NewPlayer1"
 		isHomePlanet TRUE
 		startingUpgradeLevelForPopulation 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForCivilianModules 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForTacticalModules 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForArtifacts 0
 		planetItems
 			templateName ""
 			subTemplates 0
 			groups 0
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		useDefaultTemplate TRUE
 	planet
 		designName "Planet2"
 		inGameName "Venus"
 		type "Terran"
 		pos [ 148 , 104 ]
 		owner "RandomMilitia"
 		isHomePlanet FALSE
 		startingUpgradeLevelForPopulation 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForCivilianModules 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForTacticalModules 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForArtifacts 0
 		planetItems
 			templateName ""
 			subTemplates 1 / 1 means you use a template here
 			template "Template:Military" / Name of Template used
 			groups 1 / 1 group allowed for the template
 		spawnProbability 1.000000 / Chance of planet appearing, 1 = 100%
 		useDefaultTemplate FALSE / To use your own template
 	planet
 		designName "Planet3"
 		inGameName "Pluton"
 		type "Terran"
 		pos [ 151 , 188 ]
 		owner "RandomMilitia"
 		isHomePlanet FALSE
 		startingUpgradeLevelForPopulation 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForCivilianModules 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForTacticalModules 0
 		startingUpgradeLevelForArtifacts 0
 		planetItems
 			templateName ""
 			subTemplates 1
 			template "Template:Colony"
 			groups 1
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		useDefaultTemplate FALSE
 	connectionCount 8 /Total number of connections (phase lanes/wormholes)
 	connection 
 		planetIndexA 1
 		planetIndexB 3
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		type "PhaseLane"
 	connection
 		planetIndexA 3
 		planetIndexB 0
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		type "PhaseLane"
 	connection
 		planetIndexA 0
 		planetIndexB 2
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		type "PhaseLane"
 	connection
 		planetIndexA 2
 		planetIndexB 1
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		type "PhaseLane"
 	connection
 		planetIndexA 1
 		planetIndexB -1
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		type "PhaseLane"
 	connection
 		planetIndexA -1
 		planetIndexB 0
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		type "PhaseLane"
 	connection
 		planetIndexA 2
 		planetIndexB -1
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		type "PhaseLane"
 	connection
 		planetIndexA -1
 		planetIndexB 3
 		spawnProbability 1.000000
 		type "PhaseLane"
 	spawnProbability 1.000000
 interStarConnectionCount 0 / Total number of star lanes
 playerCount 2 / Total number of players
 player
 	designName "NewPlayer0"
 	inGameName "NewPlayer0"
 	overrideRaceName ""
 	teamIndex -1
 	startingCredits 3000
 	startingMetal 800
 	startingCrystal 250
 	isNormalPlayer TRUE
 	isRaidingPlayer FALSE
 	isInsurgentPlayer FALSE
 	themeGroup ""
 	themeIndex 0
 	pictureGroup ""
 	pictureIndex 0
 player
 	designName "NewPlayer1"
 	inGameName "NewPlayer1"
 	overrideRaceName ""
 	teamIndex -1
 	startingCredits 3000
 	startingMetal 800
 	startingCrystal 250
 	isNormalPlayer TRUE
 	isRaidingPlayer FALSE
 	isInsurgentPlayer FALSE
 	themeGroup ""
 	themeIndex 0
 	pictureGroup ""
 	pictureIndex 0
 templates 2 / Total number of users templates
 		template / Initiate a template
 	templateName "Template:Military" /Name of the template
 	subTemplates 0 / Total number of Sub-template 
 	groups 1 / Total number of groups 
 	group / Initiate group
 	condition / String to active template
 	type "NoPlanetOwner" / No players occupy this planet
 	param "" / then :
 	owner "RandomMilitia" / Militia will own planet
 	colonizeChance 1 / 1 = 100% chance, for planet to be colonized
 	items 2 / Total number of item created for owner
 	item "Phase:Module:MissileDefense"
 	item "Phase:Frigate:Light"
 		template / Start new Template
 	templateName "Template:Colony"
 	subTemplates 0
 	groups 1
 	group
 	condition
 	type "NoPlanetOwner"
 	param ""
 	owner "RandomMilitia"
 	colonizeChance 1
 	items 2
 	item "Phase:Module:CombatLab" / Last (do not type any character after
 	item "Phase:Frigate:Colony" / the last item )
== List of Items for templates ==
Here a list of item you can add in the Template (and their link to the wiki)
Change the "race" by Tech for Terran, Psi, or Phase for Vasari
example : item "Phase:Module:CombatLab"
 Metal Extractor item "Race:Module:MetalExtractor"
 Crystal Extractor item "Race:Module:CrystalExtractor"
 Frigate Factory item "Race:Module:Frigate Factory"
 Hangar Defense item "Race:Module:Hangar Defense"
 Cannon item "Race:Module:Cannon"
 Missile Platform item "Phase:Module:Missile Defense"
 Beam Defense Platform item "Psi:Module:Beam Defense"
 Gauss Defense Platform item "Tech:Module:Gauss Defense"
I hope this little tutorial helped you in developing maps.
Category:Modding