Editor: Multiplayer/Single Player Maps: Type "A" or "B"
by Auratus

In MP (type "A" maps), victory conditions like gather 400 gold or reach a certain location can't be used, unlike in SP (type "B"). In MP, fixed team arangements can be used, like 2 vs 2, but not in SP (this is in the manual).

In SP it is possible to play the "bad guys" if the mapper sets the map for such; i.e., select "Selectable" for Team Data field instead of Human or Computer. It also is possible in a SP map game to play from any player position; i.e., select "Alliances Changable At Start Of Game" in the editor Map Settings. So, in a SP, a map can be set to allow a single human player to play any alliance arrangement he of she can dream up from any player position.

Type "B" maps are really super versitile, but type "A" are really limited to Human vs Human team arrangements. Most mappers creating SP map should not be using type "A" maps (MP).

The negative aspect to any alliance arrangement configuration is that the editor will not let the mapper produce a map that has unique victory conditions other than to defeat the other AI players.

If you want to be able to play as a human at any other human position, then type "A" map is what you need (a map with more than one human player preset). If you want AI players only, then type "B." Personally, I recommend type "B" maps when you intend that no other humans would play. This will permit all the options for setting the victory conditions. Also, in type "A" you can't do a story line as the "Victory Conditions" field to access it is "greyed out." That's another important consideration if you want to describe the map, goals, and give a story that follows the map whenever it is downloaded. But AI differences between type "A" and type "B" maps? ...they seem pretty nill.