Octopus Overlords

Fantasy Map Simulator is a fun little game for under 10 bucks.

I picked it up after reading a glowing review recently on it and then watching a bit of a video covering the basics.



In short, you create a map of a fictional world and then watch the various nations duke it out or die. You can control some things, but it's also just fun to watch and see what happens in your world.

The graphics are relegated to the map itself and some text pop outs that allow you to control some aspects of the kingdoms that sprout up on your map, but it's less Manor Lords and more old school simulation play.

And you can even just set it as your desktop and watch stuff happen while you work/play/mod Baldur's Gate 3 into a porn film creator.

1. Generate or edit custom fantasy maps, building your unique imaginary world

2. Simulate diplomacy, development, and wars between nations, observing historical evolution over hundreds or even thousands of years

3. Control the fate of nations from a god's perspective, shaping the world order

4. Unique Windows desktop wallpaper mode - empires rise and fall in the background while you work or rest

Whether you're a history enthusiast, a fantasy world creator, or someone seeking a unique desktop experience, "Fantasy Map Simulator" offers an unprecedented simulation experience.

Create, observe, intervene, and let imaginary history coexist with your daily life - your fantasy world is right before your eyes!

hepcat wrote: Mon Sep 09, 2024 12:53 pm And you can even just set it as your desktop and watch stuff happen while you work/play/mod Baldur's Gate 3 into a porn film creator.

Arguably, the stock version of BG3 is pretty darn close without modding.

I have been messing with the Fantasy Map Simulator demo and really love the idea to help with worldbuilding for an RPG campaign. It was a little difficult to get the UI right, but I didn't focus too long on it yet. For the price, a pretty fun tool.

It would be great for generating past history and current politics for a tabletop/fiction world, as long as you weren't too attached to any particular nation.

In!!!

Send me the coordinates for Mealatania so that Hepcatistan can attack!

Unfortunately I couldn’t figure everything out in 45 seconds of effort, so this will turn into a weekend project.

I was joking, but now I'm going to see if you can actually export the maps and all the current regime statuses and send them to others to import into their game.

Last night I had it running in the background while I did some other work. I had instructed an island nation that consisted of about 3 small islands to attack the equivalent of mainland China. They were promptly wiped off the map. But then I kept seeing them pop up in other areas nearby briefly and struggle to regain their country. I didn't leave it running long enough to see if they eventually were able to get a foothold, but it was interesting to watch for a while.

Sounds like an opportunity for an Xcom style AAR, with OOer nations pitted against each other.

The Meal wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2024 12:29 pm Unfortunately I couldn’t figure everything out in 45 seconds of effort, so this will turn into a weekend project.

OK. I looked into this and this seems interesting and is cheap enough that if I get any play value it's worth $8.
The problem is that I use my cart as sort of a current wishlist. Things that I REALLY intend to buy once I have funds and it currently has 41 items in it. I'd rather not have to clear it out for 1 game though.

So can someone gift it to me through Steam and explain how that works? I don't think Ive ever done that before. I can then Paypal or Zelle to said person the $8 back.
Also, I suggest posting on this thread in case I get more than 1 taker.

As a side this wouldn't be an issue if Steam either allowed multiple wishlists or at minimum had a buy it now button that goes around the cart. I think I've sent multiple requests in for these but so far, nothing.

This is probably going to sound snarky, and I don't mean it to be, but have you considered just using the Steam wish list as a wish list? You can assign a priority rank to the list, so it wouldn't be difficult to simply push the games you're most interested in to the top.

Yeah, I'm not sure I understand the process you're using there, Punisher. As it stands, how do you ever buy anything? Or do you always just spend like 1200 dollars on one day a year to buy everything in your cart?

I use the wishlist fir things I'd like...eventually.
I use the cart for things I'd like now but don't have the money for at the moment.
I only get paid once a month and depending on bills I may or may not have disposable income. So if I skip a month the cart grows.
When I have at least 150 income I go through the cart and chop it down but I open everything in new tabs first so that I can go and put the ones I really want but can't afford back in the cart.
This helps me remember what I really want because I would forget otherwise. Which could save me money down the road but if I do that, forget, and come back I might add something to the cart that wasn't on the list, buy it, and then miss out on something else I wanted first.
I know it seems odd and complicated and it wasn't an issue in the before times but nowadays I need to learn how to figure out tjings I need to remember and this has become my method for steam.

I had no idea you can prioritize things in the wishlist. I'll check out how to do that but it also means learning a new thing. Is there a way to set it so that anything I add just goes to the top automatically? That would help keep my really wants at the top.

Also, I can pay first if someone needs me to.

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2024 1:42 pm Sounds like an opportunity for an Xcom style AAR, with OOer nations pitted against each other.

Like this:

In only a few years, little changed but war began:

The main thing you should get from this is that it take a LONG time to see dramatic changes in this game. I also set this on totally random and have not used the tools to actual start/stop wars or create troops.

I see those maps and I see Imperialism II. I have such fond memories of that game.

I drove back the High Meal, but it's time to move on King Hepcat before the Emperor puts more pressure on my eastern border.

Punisher wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2024 12:01 pm Is there a way to set it so that anything I add just goes to the top automatically? That would help keep my really wants at the top.

I just tested it to see...

Every game in the wishlist is assigned a priority number starting at 1 (top of list). If games are removed from the list, their numbers will be missing until the next time you explicitly sort by priority, at which time they'll be renumbered in order, starting with 1. When you add a new game to the wishlist, it is assigned it a priority of 0 and placed at the bottom list. However as soon as you do anything to resort the list, the 0s will be assigned to the next-up numbers for the list, and the games will be at the bottom in the order they were selected.

I don't see a straight forward way to make new games start at the top of the list, but it is very easy to move them there by typing in the new number you want to assign once they're in the list. If you change the game's priority to 1, it will be moved to the top of the list and everything else moved down one position. So it should be possible to add all 41 games in your basket to your wish list, then go to the list and move them from the bottom to the top. If they're already in the list, then you would need to find them and push them to the top.

The obvious down side is that there isn't a way to mark a break point in the list to distinguish where the "really want" games end and "maybe someday" games begin.

In your place, I might consider creating an alt Steam account to track the "really want" games in their own wishlist, then use that as a reference to choose which games to buy on my real account. For anyone that isn't me, I can see how that would be more of a hassle than a help, though.

Max Peck wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2024 1:57 pm The obvious down side is that there isn't a way to mark a break point in the list to distinguish where the "really want" games end and "maybe someday" games begin.

Add something stupid for the divider, something easy to recognize that you're never going to buy, and nobody is ever going to buy for you. Ascent Free-Roaming VR Experience is a good option.

I'll have to look into the wishlist thing but it sounds more complicated then I could process properly at this time.
Sounds like I'll have to clear my cart, buy the game, then add them back. It's a project but at least I understand the process.

What's your steam name? I don't have a Punisher on my friend list.

Thanks. I just sent a friend invite.

Also, Bael, can you have my kingdom attack that little pink island to my east? I find it...offensive. It's just sitting there, all Guapo like, but yet not Guapo centric.

King Hepcat has a city called "Shatforth." This gives me pause. I may leave that city unconquered.

hepcat wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2024 5:33 pm Thanks. I just sent a friend invite.

Also, Bael, can you have my kingdom attack that little pink island to my east? I find it...offensive. It's just sitting there, all Guapo like, but yet not Guapo centric.

Accepted.

Thanks to Hepcat I was able to play this.
It's definitely a cool idea.
I'm still trying to figure out map design but I'm currently running a random map with auto diplomacy and rebellious turns off.
Gonna let it run overnight and see how far in the future it gets.

Dies anyone know if tech develops over time or other than possible population growth doesn't matter?

I think someone (BH?) mentioned letting this run to develop back story for a campaign which Is a neat idea but it doesn't look like you can really see all the history easily. Would be nice if you could export it instead of using the slider.
Also it seemed like if you turned on auto diplomatic everyone just likes starting wars.
Some things I'd like.
1. History export.
2. Aggressive level adjust
3. Tooltips explaing what each state option does
4. Various resources info and a way to set wants and needs.
5. Up to 10x speed
6. A technology track with ways to set tech levels. Maybe I want to see what would happen if the US had WW2 level tech in the American Revolution.
7. Pre-made maps. Kind of surprised they didn't include an Earth map.

I do think the price point is right on the money since it's not really a full game. Even with my options I'm not sure if it would be considered a full game but would definitely make it closer to one.

Blackhawk wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 10:45 am King Hepcat has a city called "Shatforth." This gives me pause. I may leave that city unconquered.

I would be disappointed if he DIDN'T have a city named that. BTW, those are all randomly generated.

Here are some updates:

Citing gross mismanagement and mistreatment, rebels popped up in the Federation of Blackhawk, forming a new Kingdom of Werdenfel:


Emboldened by Werdenfel, rebels against The Meal also pushed for independence as Paglait:


With rebellions all around, a part of Zarathud's kingdom broke off as Aquarios, meanwhile El Guapo won victory after victory against Baelthazar:


More evidence of Blackhawk misrule - another rebellion in Uchistan:

Not living up to his work - Blackhawk DID conquer Shatforth.

The Meal was almost certainly sending revolutionary missionaries to our borders.

Noting that the rebels all seem to be using the colors of King Hepcat, I suspect interference. I'd like to build a wall along my western border. The benign President Blackhawk is not about to abandon his beloved citizens to the deprived Hepcites.

Also, have I developed nerve stapling yet?