You can modify default templates provided by Paradox or create static maps. Both, dynamic and static maps have some default limitations:
Map radius (max 500)
Default maximum amount of fallen empires (Vanilla only have 5 templates of fallen empires, so you shouldn't exceed 5)
Also creating too big maps (1000+ stars) can significantly reduce your performance, keep that in mind!
Add new Galaxy Size[]
Adding a new galaxy size is the easiest form of modding the map. Simply copy one of the files in ./map/setup_scenarios/ (for example huge.txt) into your mods map/setup_scenarios/ folder.
Rename the file to something else (unless you want to overwrite an existing map type. Now you can simply change the options given, which should be self explanatory.
setup_scenario = {
name = "huge"
priority = 4 #priority decides in which order the scenarios are listed
num_stars = 1000
radius = 450 #should be less than 500, preferably less than ~460
num_empires = { min = 0 max = 30 } #limits player customization
num_empire_default = 15
fallen_empire_default = 4
fallen_empire_max = 5
marauder_empire_default = 3
marauder_empire_max = 3
advanced_empire_default = 4
colonizable_planet_odds = 1.0
primitive_odds = 1.0
crisis_strength = 1.5
extra_crisis_strength = { 10 25 } # You can put here more values, e.g. { 10 15 25 50 100 }
cluster_count = { # Amount of empire clusters if "clustered" type is enabled in map settings
method = one_every_x_empire
#method = constant
value = 1
max = 6
}
cluster_radius = 150 # Radius in which empires will be placed in cluster
cluster_distance_from_core = 300
max_hyperlane_distance = 50
home_system_partitions = { # How much systems have empire "systems cluster" and amount of hyperlanes which are leaving from them.
max_systems = 15
min_systems= 8
min_bridges = 2
max_bridges = 4
method = breadth_first
}
open_space_partitions = { # Like above, only these "systems clusters" are general
max_systems = 10
min_systems= 4
min_bridges = 2
max_bridges = 4
method = depth_first
}
num_nebulas = 10
nebula_size = 60
nebula_min_dist = 200 # Minimum distance between nebulas
num_wormhole_pairs = { min = 0 max = 5 }
num_wormhole_pairs_default = 1
num_gateways = { min = 0 max = 5 }
num_gateways_default = 1
num_hyperlanes = { min=0.5 max= 3 }
num_hyperlanes_default = 1
# This is most important part, you need to define which shape will support this template of settings.
supports_shape = elliptical
supports_shape = spiral_2
supports_shape = spiral_3
supports_shape = spiral_4
supports_shape = spiral_6
supports_shape = ring
supports_shape = bar
supports_shape = starburst
supports_shape = cartwheel
supports_shape = spoked
}
Add new Galaxy Shape[]
Adding a new galaxy form can be done by adding a new type in the map/galaxy/galaxy_shapes.txt . Only a few
options are available to actually change the output. Keep in mind that the background of a galaxy makes the core fairly bright, hiding stars there. So it might be good to change this, if a number of
stars are in the core. Core whiteness files are in:
./gfx/FX/galaxy_center.shader
./gfx/map
Everything about galaxy shapes is described by paradox as comments in galaxy_shapes.txt[]
Add a Static Galaxy[]
Adding a static galaxy is more involved and requires a number of steps. The most important part: generally if you are making a static galaxy, expect to define close to everything. The reason for this is,
that the galaxy generator will break things if some stuff is predefined and other things are generated. For example, a race spawned into a random home world might start with the wrong climate in said home world
making the pops very unhappy. To prevent this the home world climate and the climate of the generated world in the solar system initializer must match. Other problems: Fallen Empires doesn't spawn, Precursors doesn't work, most of the origins/starting systems, part of the events, end-game crisis will be broken.
A working example with everything what can be used:
static_galaxy_scenario = {
name = "MyGalaxy" # Name of Galaxy Preset - Listed when selecting the galaxy size in game.
priority = 10 # Where the preset will show in the galaxy size list.
radius = 500 # Max size is 500 (Specifically, the map in Stellaris is a box 1000x1000x10. From -500 to 500 but in a Z direction only from -5 to 5)
num_empires = { min = 10 max = 30 }
num_empire_default = 10
fallen_empire_default = 4
fallen_empire_max = 4 # This number CANNOT exceed 5, as there are only 5 hard coded Fallen Empires in the Stellaris base game.
marauder_empire_default = 3
marauder_empire_max = 3
advanced_empire_default = 1
colonizable_planet_odds = 1.0
primitive_odds = 1.0
crisis_strength = 0.75
extra_crisis_strength = { 10 25 }
num_wormhole_pairs = { min = 0 max = 5 }
num_wormhole_pairs_default = 1
num_gateways = { min = 0 max = 5 }
num_gateways_default = 1
random_hyperlanes = yes/no # If no you must add your own hyperlanes
core_radius = 0
system = { id = "0" name = "" position = { x = 148 y = 121 } initializer = my_initializer_1 }
system = { id = "1" name = "" position = { x = 148 y = 121 } initializer = my_initializer_1 spawn_weight = { base = 0 modifier = { add = 10 has_country_flag = my_country } } }
system = { id = "2" name = "" position = { x = { min = 150 max = 200} y = 121 } } # x and y can be placed in area
system = { id = "3" name = "" position = { x = 148 y = 121 z = 3} }
add_hyperlane = { from = "1" to = "2" }
add_hyperlane = { from = "0" to = "3" }
add_hyperlane = { from = "1" to = "0" }
nebula = { name = "Random Name" position = { x = 0 y = 0 } radius = 10 }
}
