dof's rpg terrain [WIP]

[dofys]

As the title implies, the terrain here is from some rpg game I'm making, which I started three days ago. This is like my first time putting effort into terrain, so, any tips & strategies would be very much appreciated.

 

[Ivanneth]

- don't ever use clunky blizzy cliffs.
- for screens, crop the thing just to the screen.
- use more variations for tiles
- need more environmental doodads - shrubs, etc.

 

[ragingspeedhorn]

You need to vary the height, everything is flat like it was a highway. You also need to add more enviromental doodads and perhaps vary the tiles some more, though it's acceptable as it is.

 

[Mor)L(unE]

Like the guys before said, its still way to plain

 

[Gilles]

How large is the map? If it's Epic then I guess the you can't have too much doodads in one spot. If you can though more would definitely look better. The ground is too flat, you need more tile variation as well.

 

[dofys]

1.What are blizzard cliffs? Sorry, but this first time I heard of blizzard cliffs.
2. So for height on the ground, do you mean just make some little bumps on some spots?

@Gilles: Yep, its Epic.

 

[Gilles]

1. Blizzard cliffs are the cliffs that you see in blizzard maps. Most terrainers do not like them, and prefer to make hills using the raise ground tool.

Here is an awesome tutorial on terraining by HermonTheGibbon.
http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35233

2. Yes, but DO NOT USE THE NOISE TOOL! Looks horrid.

 

[Craka_J]

The major problem with all of your terrain screenshots except the one with the statues and the Underground background, is that you lack many things that makes you a good terrainer. Here's what your major flaws are:

• You have some tile variation, but it can be improved so much!
• In pretty much all of the screenshots, either the front or background is empty or doesn't have enough.
• Your terrain is very flat. Get into the habbit of using the Terrain: Raise (to make hills and ditches) a lot.
• You either barely or never add any environment to your terrain. Environment is easy to add, just go into doodads and place things in the Environment category that seem fit for your terrain such as Shrubs, River Rushes(usually looks best to tint it a bit darker though) and Rocks. Trees and hills are also very good to add as well.
• No fog!? Fog is one of the best ways to make a bad terrain look decent. It makes your terrain look that good! Why? It helps add atmosphere and if it blends with the sky and terrain (tileset and doodads usually) then it can be a major plus to your work.

I hope I may have helped in some ways!
~Craka_J

 

[dofys]

@Gilles: Thanks for the tip. Will put it on my WE notes.

@Craka_J: After looking at my current progress on the map, you and the others are hella right! But, is it alright to put a little 'Raise' and 'Lower' touch on the town? I kind of feel uneasy about that since I'm doing the town first.

BTW, how do I use fogs? Region? Map Preferences?

 

[Gilles]

Fog is in Scenario - Map Options.

 

[Mor)L(unE]

Well for most towns i just use a flat area with the plateau tool otherwise making custom houses wil get messy

 

[PurplePoot]

In towns, don't use as much (steep) height variation as anywhere else, but you should still use a good bit. Also, in places such as under houses, you don't need to use height variation since the user can't see them anyways, and it would majorly mess up the height of the house itself.

 

[Campir]

God im so sick of hearing "Blizzard cliffs are bad". Sure for maps made purley for terrain dont use em, but for playable maps you need to have em in some instances, unless you wanna put pathing blockers everywhere. Besides I've seen many terrainers make blizz's cliffs look good.

 

[Nuke770]

well said, i agree blizzard cliffs arent always bad

 

[Mor)L(unE]

city cliffs are cool, plus they are handy for the more advanced piece of terraining

 

[Gilles]

I like cliffs sometimes on ocean shores. But, you can make a nice cliff with rocks, but it takes time and doesn't always come out nice.

 

[damurloc]

Use the Force and you will become good at making things like maps , btw heard of Different Terrain?

 

[Craka_J]

True. Cityscape type cliffs are pretty good. They don't always look great. But yeah, I do agree that they're probably the best cliffs to use when terraining. So I suppose I'm not a total Warcraft III anti-cliff man.
~Craka_J

 

[Oziris]

Lol dude,read some tutorials befor u ask.U have a lot of tut to find about terrine hear...

 

[Ivanneth]

Oziris, stop firstly: spelling like an idiot (ie "a lot of tut", "terrine hear")
Secondly, tutorials don't always help thee. For example, I learnt all I know about terraining by myself, and one tutorial. One. And that was one on cliffs / cities, and it helped me. Also. Asking: that is the form of way of gaining information, just like in tutorials.

 

[Gilles]

I find posting work and people critiquing it works best for me. Also looking at other peoples work.

 

[Craka_J]

Tutorials are affective, but direct feedback is far more helpful in my opinion. Tutorials are for before you begin your work anyway... most of the time atleast
~Craka_J

 

[dofys]

Heres some terrain that I made.

As you can see here, I've started a new map with a different tileset. Well, I didn't like where my previous map was going, so I stopped working on it for now. I think I've improved since people told me what are my flaws and weaknesses.

Blizzard cliffs: In one of the screenshot, there are some blizzard cliffs in the background. I thought that I would just stick to it for the time being.

@Oziris: Like the others had posted, I think getting feedback is better than reading tutorials since you have people telling what are your mistakes. The Hive to me, is a school and the people helping/teaching me are my teachers or people in the upper class.

 

[Craka_J]

Hills are way too pointy and is it me, or is the tileset really blurry?
~Craka_J

 

[dofys]

Hills are way too pointy and is it me, or is the tileset really blurry?
~Craka_J

Will do General Craka! About the tileset being blurry, I think I've abused the cracked dirt tile. XD

 

[Ivanneth]

Yes, the whole thing seems blurry ...

 

[damurloc]

The new map seem a little lifeless , you should make more doodads in middle not just on the sides next to the "trees".Often make creeps that arent Blizzards (Like a Felguard runnin around like a dumbsheep)

In other news Ivanneths Avatar roxx

 

[Ivanneth]

I don't get what you're saying, murloc.
And thanks, I stole it off my friend -_-

 

[dofys]

The new map seem a little lifeless , you should make more doodads in middle not just on the sides next to the "trees".Often make creeps that arent Blizzards (Like a Felguard runnin around like a dumbsheep)

In other news Ivanneths Avatar roxx

I just want to get opinions on the roads and stuff for height variation first, since I lack the skill to do it. I'll put up doodads with some units on the next screenshots.

@Ivanneth: Thats a godly avatar. Go Tom Hanks!

 

[Gilles]

They are blurry. I think he has the graphics on low.

 

[Craka_J]

I think the problem is his graphics are on low and he saved them in .jpg format, which decreased the quality of the image. That's probably the cause of the blurryness.
~Craka_J

 

[Nudl9]

raise high cliffs & more enviroment doodads!

 

[damurloc]

I don't get what you're saying, murloc.
And thanks, I stole it off my friend -_-

Yeah stole it from a friend , whatevah ..... its good anyway but none is better then me dancing (Muharharharhar)
And if you dont fucking get it then read some books, I mean a monkey understands it (Even a murloc)

And yeah thats how a day of DoD looks like

 

[damurloc]

I just want to get opinions on the roads and stuff for height variation first, since I lack the skill to do it. I'll put up doodads with some units on the next screenshots.

@Ivanneth: Thats a godly avatar. Go Tom Hanks!

Good cus WC3 without units is like Americans with IQ
Anyway , im making some FIIIINE WoW Murloc skins. You should check them out and make some kinda tropic (not sunken ruin) like terrain. Then I will buy you a beer (even if you are underaged)

 

[Gilles]

Not sure we can discuss anything illegal on here.

 

[Craka_J]

Hey, I'm American!
Please do not say offensive things towards people or thing that may offend people. Also, do not make pointless statements or bring up topics that have just about nothing to do with the thread's topic.

And finally yes, speaking of model exports and exporting is against the rules. Speaking of under-age drinking is probably best not to talk about.
Constructive critisism people! Give as much of it as you can.
~Craka_J

 

[Gilles]

Wait, I will be an american soon! I went for citizenship today!

 

[Craka_J]

Just because George Bush is a moron, doesn't mean the rest of us are. ;-)
Besides... George Bush is just a hick in a business suit who attends to the UN conferences.
~Craka_J

 

[Gilles]

Off topic much?

 

[Craka_J]

Just going a bit back to what Damurloc said. But yes, you're right. We're drifting way too far off-topic lol
So... about that Dof's Terrain. Haven't seen an update forever!
~Craka_J

 

[damurloc]

Just going a bit back to what Damurloc said. But yes, you're right. We're drifting way too far off-topic lol
So... about that Dof's Terrain. Haven't seen an update forever!
~Craka_J

1.Yes my very.... critisism was against George....and some of the americans that
acts like total retards
2.If you put a smiley next to a likely joke, its problably a joke. (and it was )
3.Im not against the american people and I dont buy Alcohol too underaged .....
4.We want a alliance with the orcs, interested?

 

[Gilles]

You confuse me so much damurloc!

 

[Craka_J]

I can't disagree with Gilles.

You lost me on number three.
~Craka_J

 

[damurloc]

You confuse me so much damurloc!

I know

But what I mean is that im not against other people and I dont buy alcohol too underaged..... If you dont get it know you will never do.

[Post Merged]

I can't disagree with Gilles.

You lost me on number three.
~Craka_J

So no alliance .... FINE!!!!

But again I have no quarrel with americans(or any other coutry)
And i dont buy alcohol too underaged(kids under the age of 18)
IF YOU DONT GET IT PLEASE, GO TO SCHOOL AND STUDY!!!

 

[Craka_J]

Ah what ever. I don't care. The United States of America is the most hated country on the planet, probably because it's the strongest with world-power.

Anyway, this has nothing to do with terrain. So lets talk about terrain or else this thread will be closed.
~Craka_J

 

[damurloc]

Ah what ever. I don't care. The United States of America is the most hated country on the planet, probably because it's the strongest with world-power.

Anyway, this has nothing to do with terrain. So lets talk about terrain or else this thread will be closed.
~Craka_J

Yeah, thinking the same thing

 

[Gilles]

No updates? This is probably dead Craka.

 

[dofys]

Close this thread because I'm stuck with homework and a project.

 

[Gilles]

Pfft, who does homework!

 

[damurloc]

Close this thread because I'm stuck with homework and a project.

I cant disagree, homework is for dorks (Seriusly dont diss school son, or you will turn up on the streets dead)
Make some murlocy terrain and I will STILL buy you a fiiiiine cold beer.