edited: 9:26 PM 3/13/2008

v12

my strategy guide axiom at https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/post.aspx?postid=302738

random teams replacement ideeas(until we get random teams in game:) https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/303788

ignore links in replies below, this is the newest(besides the older links don't work)

changelog:

now they work with 1.03

Link:

http://files.filefront.com/w0lfshad3s+random+map+pac2rar/;9811315;/fileinfo.html

ONLY HOST NEEDS TO HAVE THEM

game note:

To play 2v2 3v3 on maps with 2 stars and have team in same star do this: start the game with unlocked teams and people ally with people in their own star, i can't guarantee position of players on the map, it's random map pack - know what i mean? (well ok IDK how to set teams on a certain star but i don't care much anyway i regard random teams to be fair teams  This way you get random teams so no more bickering about stacked teams of elites vs newbs as it ussually happends.

Install:

Put it in(to apear in custom maps - WInXP PRO SP2 dunno about Vista there should be the maps path somewhere else around this forum; i saw it):

Vista:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Galaxy

XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Galaxy

where username is your PC user name

Please note these directories may be Hidden by default. To unhide them, go to your Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View and set yourself to view hidden files and folders.

after that pick them from custom maps while in game, one right click away from small maps

GAME BUG!

For path below, if you put maps there and host from small medium large maps the other players will get that they don't have the files(haven't tried what happends if they download the files in that path, might work but it sucks that way), but it works with the above path taking them from custom files in game :-/

or here(to appear according to number of players in all the other categories):

D:\Games\Stardock Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Galaxy

notes:
 maps with uneven number of players/star are balanced by terms of number of planets
 mini maps have ~33% less planets
 wormholes can link stars, and mostly do
 pirates are rather close to the sun than the players(10%-50% of distance from sun)
 tripled artifacts in galaxy from 15% to 45% (ussually 1 every player now there's 3 every player)
 increased planet bonus from 40% to 50% chance

Rule of thumb formula:

map size minimum of ingame editor
orbit minimum of ingame editor
*don't want homeworld zones to link
2 players lanes 80% chance
3 players lanes 70% chance
4+ players lanes 60% chance

each star has at least 1 pirate bases to 1 every 3 players (rounded to closest integer)
 so 9 playes can have 1-3 while 5 can have 1-2
each star has 1 wormholes every 3players (rounded to closest integer)
 so 9 playes can have 1-3 while 5 can have 1-2
each star has a random-mix(planets-asteroids-specials) of one each player + players/2(rounded to closest integer) to two each player + players/2(rounded to closest integer)
 so 10 players have 15-25 objects
each star has a random-asteroids of one to one each player
 so 10 players have 1-10 asteroids
each star has a random-planets of one each player + players/2(rounded to closest integer) to two each player + players/2(rounded to closest integer)
 so 10 players have 15-25 planets
each star has a random-special of one to one each player
 so 10 players have 1-10 specials