u8mapper is a Linux based utility that allows you to generate a 2 dimensional .gif map from Ultima 8's levels.
Hello,
these are the u8utils version 1.0. These programs are free, but you need
a copy of Ultima 8 to use them. (Ultima 8 is not free)
The goal of these programs is to help you mapping. (The lack of an automap
feature similar to that found in Ultima Underworld is one of the bad points
about Ultima 8)
Here is a list of other soft- and hardware you need to use these programs:
- Linux 1.0 or newer
- libc 4.5.21 or newer
- libX11.3.1 or newer
- X windows X11R5
- LOTS of RAM (16 MB is fine, or 8MB+swap)
- LOTS of CPU power
Mount your MSDOS partition somewhere. Make a symbolic link /msdos/u8, pointing
to the directory where Ultima 8 resides. The complete path used by the program
is /msdos/u8/gamedat/nonfixed.dat, for example.
2dmap displays a 2-dimensional map of Ultima 8 in an X window, or writes it
to a GIF file. You can convert this to PostScript using 'xv' or similar
utility, and send it to a printer. (100..150 dpi should fit for A4 paper)
Usage of 2dmap:
> usage: 2dmap [options] (mapnr)
>
> Possible options are:
> -z(zval) cut picture at zval
> -C(callargs) call 3dmap if clicked in the window
> -M autoscale maximum height
> -m(val) set maximum height to val
> -p use contrast for paths (in Tenebrae)
> -g generate GIF file instead of X window
>
> Any values may be given in decimal or hex (with 'x' or '0x' prepended)
>
> Example:
> '2dmap -p "-C-X320 -Y200" x29' will paint a map of east Tenebrae and
> call 3dmap with x resolution 320 and y resolution 200.
> The double quotes are essential!
3dmap shows the sight familiar from the game, but with resolution up to
1024x1024. You can call 2dmap, click onto a certain point in the window,
and see the 3d view around that point. Does someone have a true color printer?
Usage of 3dmap:
> usage: 3dmap [options] (mapnr)
>
> Possible options are:
> -X(xsize) x size of picture [980]
> -Y(ysize) y size of picture [970]
> -Z(zmax) clip picture at zmax (in Tenebrae -Zx57 works fine)
> -x(xoff) x offset
> -y(yoff) y offset
> -n don't paint nonfixed objects
> -s -c don't paint fixed objects
> -B paint bounding boxes
> -Bf paint bounding boxes for fixed objects
> -Bn paint bounding boxes for nonfixed objects
> -g generate GIF file instead of X window
>
> Any values may be given in decimal or hex (with 'x' or '0x' prepended
>
> Example:
> '3dmap -xx5a -yx25 3' will paint a picture you see when the game starts.
The maps recognized are: (prepend 'x' for hex notation)
3: south of Tenebrae
4: west of Tenebrae
5: east of Tenebrae
6: east of Tenebrae
7: north of Tenebrae
8: the plateau
c: ? -> sorcerers enclave (TF)
e: ? -> sorcerers test (TF)
f: slayer dungeon
10: caves
14: ?
15: stone cove
18: lava entrance to sorcerers enclave?
19: lava (same)
1a: carthax lake
1c: ?
1d: ?
1f: cave, hall of the mountain king, entry from stone cove
21: ?
25: argent rock isle
27: west Tenebrae
28: central Tenebrae
29: east Tenebrae
2b: ?
2c: ?
2d: ?
2e: ?
2f: ?
31: cave from upper catacombs to stone cove
32: upper catacombs
33: pit of death
36: unknown cave
38: ?
39: conventicle of death, eastern entrance to pit of death
3e: here you find the necromants
3f: cave north of Tenebrae (ghost treasure) (entry hidden by wood)
I made some nice 2D maps using the following shell script:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
#!/bin/sh
2dmap -zx31 -M -p -g x27 -178 0 x28 110 0 x29 206 0
mv map29.gif tenebrae.gif
for file in 03 04 05 06 07 08
do
echo "Making map$file.gif"
2dmap -zx31 -g -p -M x$file
done
2dmap -g -p -M x0c
2dmap -g -p -M x0e
2dmap -g -mx10 x0f
2dmap -g -mxff x10
2dmap -g -mx30 x15
2dmap -g -mx30 x1a
for file in 14 1f 31 32 33 39 3e
do
echo "Making map$file.gif"
2dmap -g -M x$file
done
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have fun!
Devon, Lord of the Tide and Titan of Electronics, Central Tenebrae