How to create a Template Collection

A Template Collection (.tc) is a file that contains, surprise, a collection of Templates. Templates are the puzzle pieces of terrain that are placed on a map in the Map Editor (M) when creating a Level.

To create a Template Collection:

1. Create a .png file containing all the templates constrained and arranged as defined by the Template Art Guidelines. Follow the naming convention: <style>Templates.png, e.g., grassyTemplates.png
2. Create a .png file containing template terrain information (i.e., which parts of the template block unit movement in the game). See the Template Terrain Guidelines for details. Follow the naming convention: <style>Terrain.png, e.g., grassyTerrain.png
3. Create a .txt file containing a name for each template. See the Template Naming Guidelines for details. Follow the naming convention: <style>Names.txt, e.g., grassyNames.txt
4. Use the TemplateExtractor tool to extract the templates, terrain info, and names from the .png and .txt files and compile them into a Map Editor friendly Template Collection (.tc) file.

Once the source files are ready invoke the TemplateExtractor from the command-line to create the .tc file:

TemplateExtractor -tc <style>.tc -n <style>Names.txt -art <style>Templates.png -ter <style>Terrain.png

The result will be a Template Collection you can load into the Map Editor or add to a Game Database for previewing in-game.