diff --git a/OpenRA.Editor/Form1.cs b/OpenRA.Editor/Form1.cs
index a048d8a00d..ab813ad194 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Editor/Form1.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Editor/Form1.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-using System;
+using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Drawing;
 using System.Drawing.Imaging;
@@ -387,26 +387,12 @@ namespace OpenRA.Editor
 				{
 					var map = new Map();
 
-					map.MapSize = new int2(1, 1);
-					map.MapResources = new TileReference<byte, byte>[1, 1];
-					map.MapTiles = new TileReference<ushort, byte>[1, 1] 
-						{ { new TileReference<ushort, byte> { 
-							type = currentMod == "cnc" ? (ushort)0xffu : (ushort)0xffffu, 
-							image = (byte)0xffu, 
-							index = (byte)0xffu } } };
-
 					map.Resize((int)nmd.width.Value, (int)nmd.height.Value);
 
-					map.PlayerCount = 8;
-
 					map.TopLeft = new int2((int)nmd.cordonLeft.Value, (int)nmd.cordonTop.Value);
 					map.BottomRight = new int2((int)nmd.cordonRight.Value, (int)nmd.cordonBottom.Value);
-
 					map.Tileset = nmd.theater.SelectedItem as string;
 
-					map.Title = "Name your map here";
-					map.Description = "Describe your map here";
-					map.Author = "Your name here";
 
 					NewMap(map);
 				}
diff --git a/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/Map.cs b/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/Map.cs
index 6b91d99a0f..367c77f24a 100644
--- a/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/Map.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/Map.cs
@@ -79,7 +79,27 @@ namespace OpenRA.FileFormats
 			"Selectable", "MapFormat", "Title", "Description", "Author", "PlayerCount", "Tileset", "MapSize", "TopLeft", "BottomRight"
 		};
 
-		public Map() { }
+		public Map()
+		{
+			MapSize = new int2(1, 1);
+			MapResources = new TileReference<byte, byte>[1, 1];
+			MapTiles = new TileReference<ushort, byte>[1, 1] 
+				{ { new TileReference<ushort, byte> { 
+					type =  (ushort)0xffffu, 
+					image = (byte)0xffu, 
+					index = (byte)0xffu } } };
+
+			PlayerCount = 0;
+			TopLeft = new int2(0,0);
+			BottomRight = new int2(0,0);
+
+			Tileset = "TEMPERAT";
+			Players.Add("Neutral", new PlayerReference("Neutral", "neutral", "allies", true, true));
+
+			Title = "Name your map here";
+			Description = "Describe your map here";
+			Author = "Your name here";
+		}
 
 		public Map(IFolder package)
 		{
@@ -94,23 +114,43 @@ namespace OpenRA.FileFormats
 			{
 				string[] loc = wp.Value.Value.Split(',');
 				Waypoints.Add(wp.Key, new int2(int.Parse(loc[0]), int.Parse(loc[1])));
-			}
+			}
 			
-			// Players
-			foreach (var kv in yaml["Players"].Nodes)
+			// Players
+			if (MapFormat < 2)
 			{
-				var player = new PlayerReference(kv.Value);
-				Players.Add(player.Name, player);
+				Players.Add("Neutral", new PlayerReference("Neutral", "neutral", "allies", true, true));
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				foreach (var kv in yaml["Players"].Nodes)
+				{
+					var player = new PlayerReference(kv.Value);
+					Players.Add(player.Name, player);
+				}
 			}
 			
 			// Actors
-			foreach (var kv in yaml["Actors"].Nodes)
-			{
-				string[] vals = kv.Value.Value.Split(' ');
-				string[] loc = vals[2].Split(',');
-				var a = new ActorReference(vals[0], new int2(int.Parse(loc[0]), int.Parse(loc[1])), vals[1]);
-				Actors.Add(kv.Key, a);
-			}
+			if (MapFormat == 1 )
+			{
+				foreach (var kv in yaml["Actors"].Nodes)
+				{
+					string[] vals = kv.Value.Value.Split(' ');
+					string[] loc = vals[2].Split(',');
+					var a = new ActorReference(vals[0], new int2(int.Parse(loc[0]), int.Parse(loc[1])), "Neutral");
+					Actors.Add(kv.Key, a);
+				}
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				foreach (var kv in yaml["Actors"].Nodes)
+				{
+					string[] vals = kv.Value.Value.Split(' ');
+					string[] loc = vals[2].Split(',');
+					var a = new ActorReference(vals[0], new int2(int.Parse(loc[0]), int.Parse(loc[1])), vals[1]);
+					Actors.Add(kv.Key, a);
+				}
+			}
 
 			// Smudges
 			foreach (var kv in yaml["Smudges"].Nodes)
@@ -129,6 +169,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.FileFormats
 
 		public void Save(string filepath)
 		{
+			MapFormat = 2;
+			
 			Dictionary<string, MiniYaml> root = new Dictionary<string, MiniYaml>();
 			foreach (var field in SimpleFields)
 			{
diff --git a/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/PlayerReference.cs b/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/PlayerReference.cs
index 53ff1d5911..dde221c2df 100644
--- a/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/PlayerReference.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.FileFormats/Map/PlayerReference.cs
@@ -32,5 +32,14 @@ namespace OpenRA.FileFormats
 		{
 			FieldLoader.Load(this, my);
 		}
+		
+		public PlayerReference(string name, string palette, string race, bool ownsworld, bool noncombatant)
+		{
+			Name = name;
+			Palette = palette;
+			Race = race;
+			OwnsWorld = ownsworld;
+			NonCombatant = noncombatant;
+		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/mods/cnc/tileSet.til b/mods/cnc/tileSet.til
index 6ae974d4ad..322814807b 100644
--- a/mods/cnc/tileSet.til
+++ b/mods/cnc/tileSet.til
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 ; clear ground
 DTW
 1
-ff
+00ff
+clear1
+
+; clear ground
+DTW
+1
+ffff
 clear1
 
 ; clear ground