Landscape Mod

[Lilbluesmurf]

(I don't knew where the old thread was so I started a new one)

Well, I was originally going to do one mod that included all the non custom stuff that isn't in, but I changed my mind. I am going to go ahead and just do a landscape stuff only mod. So, I have all the original ambients added, but I still need to go through the model folder the rest of the way and add some new ones for the unused models. I have a couple of the portraits done, but will still have quite a few of those to do as well.

It's taking longer than I though, because I am trying to go through and test things out to make sure it all works right, found a good number of duplicates and stuff so it's worth the extra time. I am also going to wait and see what is coming in this patch for fixes too. I have things set up so they overwrite the existing stuff (like making all the trees 1x1), but it isn't overwriting correctly. I will go ahead and make them new entries if I have to, but I want to see if this patch will save me the trouble and menu clutter.

After I release it, I will probably ask and see if people come up with good combinations for "forests" that I don't have in and then update it with those. That way people will have a chance to mess with all the different models and will be able to be specific instead of just doing "a tree and bush and rock one" , which is no help at all.

Since I'm doing them separate though, that mean that things like fences and benches and what not will have to wait until I do the prop mod, but that will probably be a pretty huge mod in itself.

[Khanon]

This sounds like a great idea. Many of the options for filler landscaping don't really match the tileset... Like savanna trees in the tropical coast tileset. It'd be nice to see those things replaced with things like rocks, SAND for the maps with water (! why can't I make a darned beach?!), and things like that.

Good luck with your project and I look forward to trying it out.

[Lilbluesmurf]

Here is an image of some of the stuff for the curious.

[Lilbluesmurf]

Okay, since the patch is out I am going to go ahead and go forward with some things. String ID's still don't overwrite, so I am going to have to go back in and make new entries for some of the stuff I had intended to just overwrite. It's no big deal, but it will add a tiny bit more clutter to the menu and add a bit of time until it's done. Nothing big, but thought I'd update.

[Khanon]

That's cool. Thanks for the update. :)

Can I make a couple suggestions?

Ground Cover Ivy
Sand (for coastal/river edges)
Mud (for coastal/river edges)
Dirt Foot Path

Those are some of the more "needed" ones....especially mud and sand for coastal edges..Right now, once you accidentally hit the edge with something, you can't get the sand/mud back.

[Lilbluesmurf]

Is there a dirt foot path already in the game? This is for adding back in or allowing access to the things already in the game, I won't be adding new custom content. I haven't looked at the terrain itself yet, but I should be able to add back in any terrain textures. Oh, and there is some kind of leafy ground cover referenced as tropical grass (in the above picture it's the slightly bluish green stuff with a bit of tall grass to the left of the grass and above the rocks), is that the ivy you are talking about? I think thats the only thing I've seen I would call ground cover.

[Khanon]

ahhh...okay. None of those are "in", as far as I know. hehe sorry, I misunderstood you.

[Lilbluesmurf]

Okay, question for people wanting this. I have added in pretty much everything, but when I went to test things in game I found odd naming. Basically, it's that things like "coasts" are just different rocks, but sunk into the ground a bit; rock outcroppings are basically boulders, etc. So, I'd like some opinions of how I should have things appear in the menu.

Right now, I have things sorted by group and named pretty much like the files. It seems misleading to me to have a group called "coast" though, that is really just rocks and sometimes grass or whatever as mentioned. So, should I just go ahead and have things appear in the menu that are more descriptive and accurate as to what things actually are, or should I keep the original names just because they're there?

[panikattak]

I prefer cleaned up names but I don't want to cause any conflicts in the future either. It's up to you and how much time you want to put into it. Thanks for working on this, btw.

[Lilbluesmurf]

Well, since this stuff is starting to come out in pieces, and I have given up on modding for the time being, I thought I'd share this. This has modified xml's for all the unused rocks and vegetation, portraits for the 'groups', terrain set xml data for the groups and individual objects (not sure if they are all there or not), language pack for what is done (names will need redone probably though, since I have everything with it's file name and not a description of what it is), some file lists marking what I put in or didn't, and a little txt file I was keeping my mod notes in.

Hopefully this will save some you guys some time. Everything I have done has been tested in game and was working last I checked. You can give credit or not, rename the files or not, do what you will. Just didn't want that time to be a complete waste. If you have questions, ask, I can't guarantee I'll remember but oh well.

I never got around to creating the 'filler' groups of mixed rocks, plants, and trees, but it's not like that is more than a few lines of xml anyways.

[soldyne]

Well, since this stuff is starting to come out in pieces, and I have given up on modding for the time being, ...

Does this mean you will not be releasing any landscaping mods to the mods section? I too was going to release some trees and bushes but I was going to cooridinate with you first. if you are not going to release any of these yourself now I guess I will see what you have here and continue with my projects.

thanks for the time and work on this!

[Primetime01969]

The majority oif the portraits are missing. Do you have them?

[Lilbluesmurf]

No portraits, that can be time consuming and I had left it for last. Really, the only things needed to finish this and release it is making portraits for the individual items (since groups are done, unless you do 'mixed' groups), and editing the language file to have more descriptive names.

And no, soldyne, I'm not releasing any. Every landscape object I know of (trees, rocks, grass, etc) is included in these files and as stated above is just about ready to go. I didn't dig through the props folder though, so if someone is going to finish this and release, and you want to find more props would be the only things.

[soldyne]

Primetime01969,
are you planning on releasing the landscapping objects? I was going to do my own sets but if you are going to do them then let me know. there is no reason to have two of everything on the mods board.

if you are not interested then I would be happy to do them.

[Lilbluesmurf]

Why do you guys release things in such small groups anyways? It seems like a pain in the ass to have a huge number of mods when one (or even just a couple) would work.

[soldyne]

because not everyone wants all mods. if all mods came in one package then people must take everything or nothing. If there were a few objects they did not want then they must uninstall everything since it all came in one package. instead with small groups, people can pick and choose and thus have only those mods they wish.

there lots of other reasons too, but I think you get the idea.

[Primetime01969]

Yes, I'll do it. It is time consuming so it probably won't be ready for another couple of days.

Soldyne, if you want to repackage them in smaller chunks, go for it.

[soldyne]

ok, that sounds like a plan. we can have both a large one time install landscaping pack and a bunch of smaller packs so people can pick and choose. sounds good to me.

[Primetime01969]

OK, the big one is going up now.