I am looking for guidance from scenario designers out there. I am no expert but I have used the scenario editor for countless years now. I have never created something decent.

My biggest hurdle is map design. I need to better understand the map design process that scenario designers take out there. I have noticed on designed blank maps for instance the AI does not behave correctly. I wanted to know what options do others do.

So here are map options
#1 Blank Map, of specific size, designing everything by hand.
#2 Random Map Script, the AI tends to behave much better.
#3 Elevation Data file, of a specific area of a global world map.
#4 Image file, never actually done and want to learn about.

So when a scenario designer goes to make his first scenario... what do they do? Perhaps they make their own RMS to suit their needs? Or draw a image file and import that into the game some how? Or perhaps elevation data of a real place?

I have ideas but I cannot get over the hurdle of map design. If I ever create my own scenario, I tend to do my own fantasy based on my own lore, so I do not usually use real-life locations. I may need to use a real-life location to improve my map design?