A few pointers about terrain/LOD/large objects?

[RideTheCatfish]

There's so much empty space beyond those invisible barriers that I feel like a kid in a candy shop. I'd love to start filling in all that unused area.

 

However, I just want to know a bit more about what I'm getting into. I've never worked with LOD before, and I'm thinking I'll need to if I'm going to do anything in this respect, so can anyone give me a few basic pointers on what I should and shouldn't do? I want to add some smaller towns, continue the road systems are are basically cut off, and add some large rocks/cliffs as well. When I add or move something, is it as easy as updating Object/Tree LOD in the World LOD tab, or is there more to it?

 

Also, I know that outright deleting things from the worldspace almost always brings problems, so you don't have to tell me that.

Edited November 21, 2010 by RideTheCatfish

[Yossarian22]

There's so much empty space beyond those invisible barriers that I feel like a kid in a candy shop. I'd love to start filling in all that unused area.

 

However, I just want to know a bit more about what I'm getting into. I've never worked with LOD before, and I'm thinking I'll need to if I'm going to do anything in this respect, so can anyone give me a few basic pointers on what I should and shouldn't do? I want to add some smaller towns, continue the road systems are are basically cut off, and add some large rocks/cliffs as well. When I add or move something, is it as easy as updating Object/Tree LOD in the World LOD tab, or is there more to it?

 

Also, I know that outright deleting things from the worldspace almost always brings problems, so you don't have to tell me that.

 

You shouldn't change the landscape height level in any means. Do not use the tools to raise or lower landscapes. Only texure painting is ok. Creating Object LOD or Tree LOD normally isn't a big brew as well. Most importantly, do not alter the landlevel or your work could be wasted at all.

[RideTheCatfish]

So I shouldn't create LOD? What if I need to more a rock out of the way or add more of them?

 

Also, what if it's as simple as smoothing out a spike in the terrain or something?

Edited November 21, 2010 by RideTheCatfish

[RideTheCatfish]

bump

[RideTheCatfish]

Another question.

 

When I move larger objects in GECK, and then re-create the object LOD, the LOD nevertheless stays where it was before. What am I doing wrong?

 

Like I said, I know little about the LOD process.

[Interfer0]

If you want to expand, do it in another worldspace. Creating a new worldmesh for the wasteland is a pain and usually fails. But if you create your own worldspace, the size will be smaller so creating the worldmesh is quicker and less likely to fail.

[McclaudEagle]

From the idea of the mod, that solution would defeat its purpose. I too tried making a mod like this, but I lost patience very quickly due to how difficult it would be to fill that empty space.

[RideTheCatfish]

Yeah, it would be difficult.

 

My idea was to fill SOME segments of it. As in, make an opened up section, leave the rest blocked off.

 

But to be completely honest, I'm growing tired of the GECK already. It's just too hard to make something without it glitching up. The game itself has enough problems, and it's far too easy to add to them.

Edited November 22, 2010 by RideTheCatfish

[Interfer0]

From my understanding of it you can make it appear as if you are using that area without actually using it. You could make someone go through a tunnel to bypass the the mountains. They click the tunnel enterance, and magically they are on the other side. In the world map they appear to me still moving around the map. The map markers still show up there, and their icon still shows up there, but they are actually in your worldspace. Yes it does have a loading screen, but its better then having the mountain you created pop up only when they are a couple yards from it.