The interface of the Scenario Editors has remained largely unchanged in the Definitive Edition of Age of Empires III when compared to the original game.
Contents
Layout
When the Scenario Editor is first opened, there is an empty map that will always be loaded.
- Viewport - this is the main view of the map.
- Toolbar - this is the main interface for any action to be made within the editor. Many of the primary tools also have hotkeys so they can be quickly accessed.
- Minimap - this shows the camera’s view in relation to the map.
- AI Start objects - 7 of these are placed by default as the scenario will be initially set for 7 AI and 1 Human player.
Drop-Down Menus
|
Menu Item |
Description |
|
File |
Options for general functions such as New, Open, Save/Load. |
|
Edit |
Contains generic editor functions: Undo/Redo, Copy, Paste as well as Grouping functions. |
|
Scenario |
Contains options for all the data of the scenario such as Player Data, Scenario Data, Objectives etc. The Scenario can also be tested from this menu. |
|
World |
Contains overview options of the world (map) including Lighting and Map Size. |
|
Terrain |
Tools for editing map geometry, water and forests. Also contains texture painting tools. |
|
Objects |
Contains Object editing tools, Trade Route and Treasure editing tools. |
|
Triggers |
Contains Trigger Editor, Grouping Editor and Army Editor. |
|
Cinematics |
Camera Editor and Toggle for Letterbox view. |
|
View |
Camera settings, grid and other viewport options. |
|
DEVELOPER |
Special developer tools. |
File
|
Menu Item |
Function |
|
New |
Create new scenario (optionally from an existing map seed). |
|
Load Scenario |
Load previously saved scenarios files. |
|
Screen Shot |
Open Screenshot Menu to take a screenshot. |
|
Return to Main Menu |
Exit the Scenario Editor and return to Main Menu. |
|
Exit to Windows |
Exit the application. |
|
Recent Files (3) |
Displays 3 recently loaded scenarios. |
Edit
|
Menu Item |
Function |
|
Undo |
Undo the last action. |
|
Redo |
Redo the last action to be affected by undo. |
|
Unit Copy |
Copy the selected unit. |
|
Unit Paste |
Paste the previously copied unit. |
|
Define Grouping |
Create user-made grouping. |
|
Load built-in grouping |
Load pre-existing asset groupings, such as Native Settlements sockets for Trade Posts. |
|
Load user-made grouping |
Load user-made asset groupings. |
Scenario
|
Menu Item |
Function |
|
Player Data |
Set data for all players in the scenario: Team Colour, Civilization, Name, Starting Resources, XP, Team, Human/AI Control etc. |
|
Fake Player Data |
Unfortunately, some functionality of this feature no longer works in DE. |
|
Scenario Data |
Edit number of players and toggle Reveal Ocean Water. |
|
Scenario Summary |
View Scenario Summary. |
|
Playtest Scenario |
Runs the scenario as if loaded from a Skirmish or Multiplayer lobby. |
|
Objectives |
Opens Objectives Editor: Set Primary and Secondary Objectives & their properties. |
|
Mercenary Editor |
Opens Mercenary Editor: add or remove available Mercenary units within the scenario. |
|
Treaty Manager |
Set Treaty period time and which players it affects. |
|
Native Settlement |
Toggle Native Civilizations on/off within the scenario (allows Native Settlements to be set to specified civs). |
|
Forbidden Units/Techs |
Add or remove units, techs & objects from the scenario. |
|
Home City Editor |
Unfortunately, some functionality of this feature no longer works in DE. Existing Home Cities can still be edited outside of the editor and used in place. |
World
|
Menu Item |
Function |
|
Lighting |
Open the World Lighting window to set the lighting. |
|
Map Size |
Adjust the size of the map and view current size. |
|
Map Elevation |
Adjust the entire map’s elevation and view current elevation. |
|
Map Types |
Enable/Disable Map types. |
Terrain
|
Menu Item |
Function |
|
Paint Terrain |
Open Paint Terrain Menu and Terrain selection to paint terrain. |
|
Paint Land |
Open Paint Land Menu and Terrain selection to paint land. |
|
River Tool |
Open River Tool and Water selection to create flowing rivers. |
|
Shallow Tool |
Open Shallow Tool to paint shallows. |
|
Water Tool |
Open Water Tool and Water selection to paint water (lakes and oceans). |
|
Edit River Flow Tool |
Enable river flow adjustment handles for any previously placed rivers. |
|
Forest Tool |
Open Forest Tool and Forest selection to paint forests (groups of trees). |
|
Edit Terrain Details |
Open Terrain Details menu to adjust terrain colour and application options. |
|
Edit Forest Tool |
Open Edit Forest too to adjust previously placed forests. |
|
Brush Settings |
Open Brush settings to adjust brush shape, size and other options. |
Objects
|
Menu Item |
Function |
|
Place Object |
Open Place Objects and Objects selection. This is the main tool for placing most individual assets, and associating them to . |
|
Position Object |
Adjust placement and rotation of any previously placed objects. |
|
Delete Objects |
Deletes all selected objects. |
|
Object Info |
Displays information about the selected unit. |
|
Replace Unit |
Change a selected unit to a different unit. |
|
Place Wall |
Allows walls to be placed as the current player. Set the player in the Objects Menu. |
|
Convert Gate |
Converts selected wall segments to gates. |
|
Place Trade Route |
Opens Trade Route Tool. Allows Trade Route paths to be placed, adjusted or removed. |
|
Place Home City Gather Point |
Set Home City gather point for selected player. |
|
Place Home City Water Spawnpoint |
Set Home City water spawnpoint for HC naval units to arrive at. |
|
Ignore Placement Restrictions |
Toggle to ignore placement restrictions when placing assets. |
|
Herd Editor |
Opens Herd Editor. Allows herds to be created, selected or deleted. |
|
Treasure Editor |
Opens Treasure Editor. Adjust selected treasures or replace them. Note: Treasure objects must first be placed. |
Triggers
|
Menu Item |
Function |
|
Triggers |
Opens Trigger Editor. Create Triggers, set their Conditions and Effects. |
|
Group Editor |
Opens Group Editor. Create new Trigger Groups. Allows existing Triggers to be set to Groups. |
|
Army Editor |
Opens Army Editor. Allows units to be grouped into armies that can be referenced from trigger effects or conditions. |
Cinematics
|
Menu Item |
Function |
|
Camera Editor |
Opens Camera Track Editor. Allows Camera Tracks to be created and adjusted. |
|
Toggle Letterbox Bars |
Toggles the Letterbox aspect rulers. Allows visualization of the “Letterbox” style black bars. |
View
|
Menu Item |
Function |
|
Camera Lock |
Camera Lock Toggle. |
|
Set Camera Start Location |
Defines the starting camera location for the scenario. |
|
Show Camera Start Location |
Sets the viewport to show the Camera Start location. |
|
Delete Camera Start Location |
Removes previously set Camera Start location. |
|
Terrain Grid |
Toggle Terrain Grid display. |
|
Terrain Grid Major Tick… |
Toggle for large Terrain Grid display. This cannot be disabled. Use Terrain Grid Toggle to hide. |
|
Terrain Grid Minor Tick… |
Toggle for small Terrain Grid display. |
|
Non-Scenario Objects |
Toggle display of non-scenario objects such as AI Starts. |
|
LOS Rings |
Unfortunately, some or all functionality of this feature no longer works in DE. |
|
Hide Unit Outlines |
Toggle obscured unit alpha display. |
|
Toggle Range Rings |
Unfortunately, some or all functionality of this feature no longer works in DE. |
|
Toggle Mini Map |
Toggles the minimap display on/off. |
|
Toggle Fog of War |
Toggle fog of war (explored areas that are not within unit or building LOS). |
|
Toggle Blackmap |
Toggles blackmap (completely darkened areas of the map). |
Have additional questions about modding? You can ask questions and talk with other mod creators in the following places: