Geo Realism: Discussion on a new SDK based map generator

[primem0ver]

I got infinite textures working. I hadn't set the layers properly. That was the problem.

Here the textures I am proposing for the following terrains (soil/vegetation profiles). Even though I really like some of these, I still think some modification of color is in order. What do you think? Which ones do you like?

Swamp

In order these are the "darkmarshes", "meadowstreams", and "inundation" textures.
Personally, I love the inundation texture but I think we should change (or add to) the reddish-brown to a more peaty, greenish brown. In other words, I really like the color of "darkmarshes" the best but I love the reflective water effect (not really seen well here) of the inundation texture for a swamp.


RichLoam

In order these are he "topsoil", "chapparal", and "common ground" textures. Personally, I think if we gave "common ground" a lighter brown look and made it less grassy, it would be perfect.


Volcanic

These are not the supplied volcanic looking textures. I can look through those if we think we should but I wasn't really looking for a volcanic texture, I was looking more for a dark, rich look, or for the cold volcanic soil, a dark/light/slightly pale green look. In order these are "junglefloor", "shrubs", and I forget the one on the right... but call it "right" for now. Personally I think I like shrubs for cold volcano (or the current barren?). There was another one I liked called "misty" but misty looked too misty to be volcanic (otherwise my favorite). Perhaps I will post it for alteration, replacing the mist with dark version instead.


Tiaga

Here are two tiaga textures and a possible replacement for Humid Scrub (though personally, I think our current option is just as good. Perhaps better). In order they are "highland" and "meadowstreams". The last one is "bison." Personally I like meadow streams. Keep in mind this is basically a coastal boreal texture. I think we may want to modify it a bit.


Some extras

These are some extra textures that I really liked which might be useful for something. I think the last one (right) really works for a new scrub texture...

 

[Hydromancerx]

@primem0ver

As I said in the other topic I think we should think about terrain variations. This would be where a terrain type would have more than one appearance. This would mean you could have the same terrain spot on a randomly generated map choose which terrain version it would place.

Note if you want to make them all unique then that's fine too. I think as long as we are adding more terrains we should get a bunch. So many maps look uniform, it would be nice to have the terrains be unique depending upon where you look on the map.

 

[Hydromancerx]

Here are the graphics from the Planetfall mod.

 

[Sparth]

Ok infinite textures are AWESOME

 

[Hydromancerx]

Here are the graphics from the Master's of Mana mod.

 

[primem0ver]

@primem0ver

As I said in the other topic I think we should think about terrain variations. This would be where a terrain type would have more than one appearance. This would mean you could have the same terrain spot on a randomly generated map choose which terrain version it would place.

Note if you want to make them all unique then that's fine too. I think as long as we are adding more terrains we should get a bunch. So many maps look uniform, it would be nice to have the terrains be unique depending upon where you look on the map.

Don't worry about variety. We already have considerable variety and I did explain the basic approach to variety in the other topic.

When we work bedrock into the equation with the geology engine, we can have some more variety. Let's start with a basic set and work our way from there.

I find this a humorous discussion because the first time through nobody (slight exaggeration) wanted to add more terrains. Me and Laskaris had to pull teeth out of some of you

By the way, out of all the textures you posted, the only two I really like (for a first set of textures) is the Planetfall Rocky Rainy texture and the Master of Mana plains texture. If we made the dirt a little darker that second one could work as an option for RichLoam. I still would prefer a slightly less green, slightly more brown version of the "common ground" texture though.

 

[Dancing Hoskuld]

I find this a humorous discussion because the first time through nobody (slight exaggeration) wanted to add more terrains. Me and Laskaris had to pull teeth out of some of you

This was because we did not know how to do them. I could add terrains but only by copying the XML and art files from other mods. Often they would not work at all in C2C and I had no idea (still don't) of how to fix them.

 

[Hydromancerx]

I find this a humorous discussion because the first time through nobody (slight exaggeration) wanted to add more terrains. Me and Laskaris had to pull teeth out of some of you.

There is good reason. Because terraforming, global warming events, animal spawn locations, culture terrain requirements, terrain promotions, etc. will all have to be adjusted for the new terrains too.

Don't worry about variety. We already have considerable variety and I did explain the basic approach to variety in the other topic.

Here were some variety naming / sub-terrains if we want to go this route ...

Wetlands
- Marsh
- Swamp
- Bog / Bogland
- Mire / Quagmire / Peatland
- Muskeg
- Bayou
- Carr
- Fen / Moor
- Mudflat
- Salt Marsh

Scrublands
- Scrub
- Chaparral
- Heathland
- Matorral
- Maquis Shrubland
- Garrigue
- Fynbos

Personally I think there should be a difference between Scrub (Arid), Scrub (Humid), Scrub (Polar) and Chaparral.

Anywho you get the idea.

 

[Hydromancerx]

@primem0ver

I figured out how to extract and convert the terrains textures from Age of Empires 3 into TGA files. Here is a sampling of the usable terrains from the Amazon map.

Spoiler :

Here are just a sampling of them.

Let me know if you want me to convert more. The regions are ...

- Amazon
- Andes
- California
- Caribbean
- Carolinas
- Great Lakes
- Great Plains
- New England
- Northwest Territory
- Pampas
- Patagonia
- Rockies
- Saguenay
- Sonora
- Texas
- Yucatan
- Yukon

I think there are more regions in other files but those are the ones I found so far.

 

[primem0ver]

I am not familiar with age of empires 3 so I am not the best one to say. But I do like these textures.

 

[Hydromancerx]

@primem0ver

Just do a goggle image search and you can see the various terrains they use.

EDIT: Here are some more textures from AOE3. Included are textures from the Andes, California, Caribbean, Carolina and Cave maps.

I am curious to see them on civ4 terrains. If you get any converted to civ4 I would like to see them in game.