Toccatta
08-01-2007, 03:42
To answer your question. The same map number used on two different machines will only produce the same exact map if all the other numbers are ALSO the same.
In attempting to show my roommate my own islands on his machine, I gave him my map number. But the map he pulled up was subtly different. The size and locations of the islands were correct, but the features and coastlines were very different. So I had him start a new game and try again (in case he made a typo on the number). In the second game, the islands were exactly the same as the first.
So we tried again, but this time we changed some of the settings. He had eliminated the pirates and NPC opponents in order to use the map in a "sandbox" mod to review the islands. So we put the pirates back in and tried again.
This time the islands were different. Not the same as mine, but definitely different than he had gotten before. So we went added in all the other opponents and the islands were different again. After that, we went through and changed ALL of his custom settings to match my own (only game-play settings apply, not video, audio, etc.) and FINALLY I was able to show him the map I was playing.
Yes, I realize it would have been easier to bring him to my PC and start up a copy of 1701. But after discovering the "mystery" of the way the same map number on his machine and mine didn't coincide, we had to solve it. I can't say for sure that EVERY setting will affect which maps you get, but we found that a large number of the gameplay settings will affect it subtly. I didn't check to see if the actual NPC identities affects the map, but obviously their number and levels do.
[edit] It looks like Dobber finished typing his answer about the same time I started typing mine. Oh well... at least I can confirm his answer, as I've seen it in action. If I had more time to devote to it, I might go through and see exactly which settings do or don't affect the maps. As it is, Dobber's suggestion of keeping them ALL the same is probably the safest bet.
In attempting to show my roommate my own islands on his machine, I gave him my map number. But the map he pulled up was subtly different. The size and locations of the islands were correct, but the features and coastlines were very different. So I had him start a new game and try again (in case he made a typo on the number). In the second game, the islands were exactly the same as the first.
So we tried again, but this time we changed some of the settings. He had eliminated the pirates and NPC opponents in order to use the map in a "sandbox" mod to review the islands. So we put the pirates back in and tried again.
This time the islands were different. Not the same as mine, but definitely different than he had gotten before. So we went added in all the other opponents and the islands were different again. After that, we went through and changed ALL of his custom settings to match my own (only game-play settings apply, not video, audio, etc.) and FINALLY I was able to show him the map I was playing.
Yes, I realize it would have been easier to bring him to my PC and start up a copy of 1701. But after discovering the "mystery" of the way the same map number on his machine and mine didn't coincide, we had to solve it. I can't say for sure that EVERY setting will affect which maps you get, but we found that a large number of the gameplay settings will affect it subtly. I didn't check to see if the actual NPC identities affects the map, but obviously their number and levels do.
[edit] It looks like Dobber finished typing his answer about the same time I started typing mine. Oh well... at least I can confirm his answer, as I've seen it in action. If I had more time to devote to it, I might go through and see exactly which settings do or don't affect the maps. As it is, Dobber's suggestion of keeping them ALL the same is probably the safest bet.