Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: USRanger on December 16, 2009, 05:40:54 PM
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I've begun work on a couple new MA terrains. Experimenting with some different textures. Would something like this be of interest in the MAs? I want something different from all those that we already have. Just wanted some opinions on a desert-esque terrain before continuing on. Bear in mind this is just one terrain texture with no variations to spice it up.
(http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/708/60606275.jpg) (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/60606275.jpg/)
(http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/6158/62069883.jpg) (http://img684.imageshack.us/i/62069883.jpg/)
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Mmmmmm...Eye candy. :O
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I say go for it +1
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http://www.airwar.org.uk/frameindex.html (http://www.airwar.org.uk/frameindex.html)
With the utmost respect and gratitude to the Krait Squadron and I hope they don't mind me posting this link check out some of these from the old AW days. I believe there is one similar to yours. Most have a Click here for preview.
My vote is yes keep up the good work!
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North Africa springs to mind - some of the low coastal hills - maybe Kasserine Pass area too - a bit smoother desert type valley floor would be a great addition.
WTG :aok
...cheers eh! :D
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I would love to have a Tunisia type map, back in DoB it was an awesome terrain.
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Absolutely! Would like to see some variation to the terrains in the MAs. Not the same old green landscape every map. :aok go for it, Ranger!
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Good Idea. If possible have unimproved airfields also.
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http://www.airwar.org.uk/frameindex.html (http://www.airwar.org.uk/frameindex.html)
With the utmost respect and gratitude to the Krait Squadron and I hope they don't mind me posting this link check out some of these from the old AW days. I believe there is one similar to yours. Most have a Click here for preview.
My vote is yes keep up the good work!
The Tunisian terrain with the dusty stratus sky was the one I used to use. I would love to see a similiar terrain in AH.
ack-ack
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Good Idea. If possible have unimproved airfields also.
Default airfields only in an MA terrain.
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Looks good, can you give us a close up of the ground?
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yea looks great!
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is HiTech accepting MA terrains with altered ground textures now?
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I never understood why they have taken such a limited mindset regarding both terrain and objects. I sincerely hope they reconsider and you get this and other good work through the process.
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Rabbit my guess would be that they control it for Frame rate reasons
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I miss the snow.... It was great!!!!... On a hot day put up the snow terrain... I would cool right off.....
But then again we all must move on....
If I had know those were the good old days I would have enjoyed them more...
I guess there is a message there with out getting to cosmic
Salute Gatr
Duxford Wing
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is HiTech accepting MA terrains with altered ground textures now?
Straight from Skuzzy in 2006 of what can be customized for MA terrains (still stickied in the TE forum):
1) editing terrain textures
Yes
2) rearranging the object layout of the default terrain clutter tiles
Yes
3) replacing terrain objects (like trees or forrests) with custom objects on the clutter tiles
No
4) editing default object textures
Depends. One of the goals of a MA terrain is to keep the size reasonably small. Changing a lot of textures have the greatest imapct on terrain file size.
5) rearranging the object layout of the bases or strats
No
6) replacing base or strat objects with custom objects
No
7) adding new objects
No
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Ranger; is that one 'tile'? It would be interesting if you have range of tiles going from sandy dunes, to the king of scrub thing you've got going there, to a kind of 'oasis' greenery... then again I'm sure you've already thought of that :)
It looks great :aok
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Yep, experimenting with different greenery textures for the valleys & such that aren't so green as they become overbearing & don't blend well. I also want to add some rocky textures for the steep sides of mountains.
Dads, I'll get you a shot of close up tomorrow.
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Alright.. I'm game... why not allow more options but limit the total number of objects or terrain types per map. For example, replace object a with object b of roughly the same vector count. You would have an initial download but it should minimal to no impact with use.
Essentially, why not increase the available library and with each terrain limit the total different object/ elements. I sincerely doubt people have a problem downloading additional objects and terrain tiles in exchange for some variety. I can understand trying to minimize performance hits but I don't understand how doing the above limits performance.
Opening it up and setting standards for acceptance opens the doors for community involvement which has many upsides to include lots of free work.
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The Tunisian terrain with the dusty stratus sky was the one I used to use. I would love to see a similiar terrain in AH.
ack-ack
wait?
you used to use a different terrain? we can load different terrains on a map when we;re flying online??
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wait?
you used to use a different terrain? we can load different terrains on a map when we;re flying online??
In AW.
ack-ack
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Make it USRanger make a winter too while your at it so I don't have to. :lol :salute :aok
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Looks great Ranger! Any bases with dirt runway?
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If there was one thing I could change in this game, it would be to have different textures in our MA maps.
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If there was one thing I could change in this game, it would be to have different textures in our MA maps.
It's allowed & it shall be done. :aok
Gotta stick with regular runways in the MA Sperky.
For anyone who hasn't seen the terrain Greebo is working on, check it out. It's really nice & uses some custom textures also:
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,277040.0.html
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Yes!!! :aok :D :salute
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Being colour blind, this hurts my eyes.
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Honestly Id rather see snow terrain...
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Honestly Id rather see snow terrain...
+1.
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Beautiful work Sir! I hope to see this in the MA's in the future...
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C2 would disappear :)
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It's allowed & it shall be done. :aok
Gotta stick with regular runways in the MA Sperky.
For anyone who hasn't seen the terrain Greebo is working on, check it out. It's really nice & uses some custom textures also:
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,277040.0.html
USRanger,
I have been reading up on that USRanger, you are absolutely correct about sticking with standard objects in the MA. The other side of that coin is HTC has said they would look at incorporating custom objects as apart of their standard group. A lot of PMing and emailing occurs that we are not privy to but as far as I know no one has tested that theory either?
Strip
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Honestly Id rather see snow terrain...
Here ya go...
(http://www.hebronfire.org/newsimages/Winter%20Storm%202009/Winter%20Storm%202009%20%2850%29.JPG)
Ranger, looks pretty cool so far...will be cool to see the finished product.
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If I remember correctly 5/6 years ago there were maps (a North Arfrica map with deseret and extremely deep canyons-- and a Russian front map with snow) that had very cool terrain, and that was long before the recent update that had palm trees and improved graphics. Some of those may have been 8 v 8 maps, but they were still very cool maps.
I wish that HTC will either make new maps or offer some sort of incentive for players to make HTC rules approved maps. The current maps are very stale (especially the small maps) and it would be great to see new maps in rotation.
ROX
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One of the biggest hurdles for making maps now is the fact that our test facility was shut down. H2H. Back then we could invite folks in to test a terrain for feed back and issues.
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One of the biggest hurdles for making maps now is the fact that our test facility was shut down. H2H. Back then we could invite folks in to test a terrain for feed back and issues.
Pity you can't have them posted up in the SEA arenas when there is no event going on. Perhaps a little coordination?
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Go for it Ranger!!! I was looking at one of the MA maps recently, and wondering to myself why Australia was just as green as the tropics... :O ;)
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A little more experimenting:
(http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/6805/37808250.jpg) (http://img29.imageshack.us/i/37808250.jpg/)
Would we want a 256x256 terrain to ensure more fights, or do we want a 512x512 for possible future Titanic Tuesday play?
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C2 would disappear :)
(http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/6698/205n.jpg) (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/205n.jpg/)
How fast can you find all 6? :D
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(http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/6698/205n.jpg) (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/205n.jpg/)
How fast can you find all 6? :D
Thats hard!!! :O I would love to see this terrain in the MA. :aok
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good game goood game
great camo
took me awhile to find number six
:aok
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(http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/6698/205n.jpg) (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/205n.jpg/)
How fast can you find all 6? :D
That is amazing!! I only saw two at first, and assumed that was all there were!
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what 6 C2? i only see one :noid now we know why 6K red neon icons ruin this game
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Seeing AH current representation of Sweden makes me sick - 95% of northern Sweden should be woods , and LOTS of small lakes wherever you look.
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A little more experimenting:
(http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/6805/37808250.jpg) (http://img29.imageshack.us/i/37808250.jpg/)
Would we want a 256x256 terrain to ensure more fights, or do we want a 512x512 for possible future Titanic Tuesday play?
Is 256x256 allowed in the MA?
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Fantastic work USRanger. I'd vote for any change in textures. Since each terrain is severely limited in texture (only 12 ground per map) it sure would be nice to at least have variety between different maps. AH's textures and objects are actually pretty high quality, but the same thing over and over and over gets boring. So I am whole heartedly in favor of talented terrain designers like you coming to our rescue.
The C2 image sure makes me want an icon free AvA.
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Fantastic work USRanger. I'd vote for any change in textures. Since each terrain is severely limited in texture (only 12 ground per map) it sure would be nice to at least have variety between different maps. AH's textures and objects are actually pretty high quality, but the same thing over and over and over gets boring. So I am whole heartedly in favor of talented terrain designers like you coming to our rescue.
The C2 image sure makes me want an icon free AvA.
That terrain reminds me of AKPIZZA ... I loved that map ... many many great fights on that map.
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That terrain reminds me of AKPIZZA ... I loved that map ... many many great fights on that map.
Same here Slap. I remember it was one of the more well liked terrains. It's sort of the pseudo-inspiration for going this route.
Is 256x256 allowed in the MA?
Yep. Many of our terrains are 256x256. That's the dilemma before I really get into it. A 512 terrain is naturally going to appeal to more at first thought. Plus, it could be used for Tuesdays. A 256 terrain will concentrate more people at less bases which should equal more good fights. Also, a 512 terrain will have double the room, double the fields, but will take double the time to finish & get to HTC. With a 512 terrain, there should be room for ocean areas, but with a 256 terrain, I would probably keep it all land.
Thoughts?
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Personally I dislike large maps but beyond that....
I'd make some small maps first before you take on those with 4x the area.
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No way to keep the same number of bases as a 256 map on that 512 map? Just seems to me that it would make the fights more important than the way things are now...200: "A56 alert!!!"..."A56 is getting hit!!!"...but it's not that important because with all the bases there is time to take it back later when the furballs over 131, 175 and 210 are done.
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USRanger,
As far as terrain goes a 256 map is a quarter of the work compared to an equal quality 512 map.
Strip
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True. It's set as a 256 terrain at the moment. Would anyone object if we left ocean areas out of it then? I could just add lots of rivers for some PT action instead.
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Looks good, I would like to see some snowy textures. Alot of the classic images I remember seeing were in the snow, at least I think it would be cool. But judging by all the posts I have seen.....................ya better make sure the SHEEP are in there!!!! :lol :lol :lol
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Same here Slap. I remember it was one of the more well liked terrains. It's sort of the pseudo-inspiration for going this route.
Yep. Many of our terrains are 256x256. That's the dilemma before I really get into it. A 512 terrain is naturally going to appeal to more at first thought. Plus, it could be used for Tuesdays. A 256 terrain will concentrate more people at less bases which should equal more good fights. Also, a 512 terrain will have double the room, double the fields, but will take double the time to finish & get to HTC. With a 512 terrain, there should be room for ocean areas, but with a 256 terrain, I would probably keep it all land.
Thoughts?
I believe Fester use to make 512 maps, but only use the middle 2/3 of the area. He use to say "you don't need to fill the whole thing up". He concentrated on the center of the map, where most of the action happened, and used less details along the outer edges.... just a shore line with a few ports and bases, enough to say there have them, but not be the focus of the map. Just something to think about.
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True. It's set as a 256 terrain at the moment. Would anyone object if we left ocean areas out of it then? I could just add lots of rivers for some PT action instead.
Sorry Ranger ... I abhor a map without water ... CVs = many good fights.
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(http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp313/Strokeys/205n.jpg)
Sorry Ranger ... I abhor a map without water ... CVs = many good fights.
I think we could do something like North Africe where the top half of the map has some water and maybe scattered islands.
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Nice Ranger !
Anything new is goood. :cheers:
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Ranger I love these new maps , it sure looks good and its a nice change of pace to the eyes . Different terrain causes me to have to re train my eyes to look for objects .
When we play on the same old maps you get into the ground textures and are used to them , changing it up forces you to concentrate a bit more and thats the difference between enjoying your flight or being bored to death if your down low anyways . Great Job Ranger and keepem coming.
Nutte :salute
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Alrighty, I'll go with a 512 terrain so there is room for ocean areas for CVs. I could do it on a 256 terrain, but that would probably mean another island hopping terrain & I've really grown bored with those. Will post update pics when I have them.
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Why not do it a la Pizza or Uterus/Baltic? Either with water surrounding a continent or a massive sea? Those are my favorite maps tbh, (beside NDISLES), and would allow a significant naval element on a 256x256 terrain, without island hopping.
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works for me :airplane:
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Was up til 4am working on the basic layout. Still many hours to go before I can start even laying out fields. It's gettin' there. Gonna have to widen a bunch of waterways to allow CV passage. This will be a 512x512 terrain. Ignore the green spots, they are just area I haven't fixed up yet.
(http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/2747/sandblst.jpg) (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/sandblst.jpg/)
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Was up til 4am working on the basic layout. Still many hours to go before I can start even laying out fields. It's gettin' there. Gonna have to widen a bunch of waterways to allow CV passage. This will be a 512x512 terrain. Ignore the green spots, they are just area I haven't fixed up yet.
(http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/2747/sandblst.jpg) (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/sandblst.jpg/)
Its looking good. :aok
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Kinda looks like the Mojave outside of Vegas. Very cool.
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:aok
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(http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/9240/ahss6.jpg) (http://img97.imageshack.us/i/ahss6.jpg/)
(http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5789/ahss7.jpg) (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/ahss7.jpg/)
(http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/5973/ahss10.jpg) (http://img63.imageshack.us/i/ahss10.jpg/)
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I don't know. This looks "off" to me. Opinions or suggestions?
(http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/4677/kljd.jpg) (http://img704.imageshack.us/i/kljd.jpg/)
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Would it be that thickly vegetated or more in patches? Perhaps have a clear bit of sand around airfields? The way this terrain is could you make 'dirt roads' with different textures for vehicle spawns?
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I don't know. This looks "off" to me. Opinions or suggestions?
(http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/4677/kljd.jpg) (http://img704.imageshack.us/i/kljd.jpg/)
I think its the color of the slopes being grey. In a desert like that I would think they would be brown sandstone.
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I think its the color of the slopes being grey. In a desert like that I would think they would be brown sandstone.
+1 good point. Here are a couple of other ideas. Are you able to "spot" the lower elevation of land with some scattered oasis? Also, see if you can try your hand at adding some sand dunes, or spots of plain sand, if possible. As what Bcadoo was saying, add some darker, rough sandstone on the steeper slopes of mountains. Id also try to use either a bit of "windswept sand" or lighter colored bare rock for the more gentle slopes of hills.
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Here are a few pictures to kinda get the juices flowing. I noticed that as the terrain gets steeper, bare rock is exposed. Note that some of the bare rock has a distinctive red color. I believe in Africa, the rock was more lighter in color. On gentler slopes, there tends to be a lot of sand and loose dirt, thus the colors here will lean more towards brown.
In the pictures, there is a vast expanse of sand. The terrain is mostly featureless on flat land, but you could add spots of oasis in there if need be. If there is a way that you could add some sand dunes for the more flatter/lower elevation portions of the land, thatd be great as well!
PS: Try adding greenery around all of the bodies of water. Water in the desert is a haven for vegetation. The current coloration of your terrain would be great for the small hills.
(http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss64/nelycutza/Desert-1.jpg)
(http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/ac304/selperin/Israel_09/DSC00783.jpg)
(http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy200/violetcontusion/Egypt%202009/Egypt112.jpg)
(http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww75/atomicboy3/DSC09710.jpg)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f312/pwild/baclgrounds/afternoondesertshadows-493715-lw.jpg)
(http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy200/violetcontusion/Egypt%202009/Egypt144.jpg)
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I don't know. This looks "off" to me. Opinions or suggestions?
(http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/4677/kljd.jpg) (http://img704.imageshack.us/i/kljd.jpg/)
Looks fine to me I can't believe how fast you are you'll already have a winter terrain made by time I try to start on one. :lol
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Would it be that thickly vegetated or more in patches? Perhaps have a clear bit of sand around airfields? The way this terrain is could you make 'dirt roads' with different textures for vehicle spawns?
I like the dirt road ideas...sure it can't be a real road but it would look good from high up.
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I spend lotsa time in the deserts around SoCal. The pictures and info Plaza provided are a good source. The desert is a mix of no-vegetation, medium/average disperesed vegetaion, or rich deposits of desert vegetation found in particular sweet spots. Try more vegetation on the higher altitudes and on the mountains for your terrain is my simple suggestions. Not really accurate though if ya want to get into it deeper, but probabley the best you can do in AH for representing mountains and hills that are one-half sand-blasted by the wind and the other-half is more fertile and protected from those strong winds.
The desert terrain in AH looks better in flatter and low-lyeing areas (on lower/rolling hills). The winds in the desert flats (open flat areas) are very ferocious, resulting in a lack of vegetaion. And water, even though the dessert lacks it, is still what dictates how well vegetation grows in certain areas (especialy areas that the wind doesn't dry-out to bone almost imediatley when it kicks back up after a brief shower/storm). Next to the coast, either wind and currents help create a "rim of life" that's thick with vegetation and wildlife that's supported by coastal moisture and fog that rolls in to deposit some moisture, or the dessert litteraly is steam-rolled into the ocean due to winds blowing sand, dry heat and any potential coastal rain/mosture away from land and into the ocean.
Perhaps some satellite photos of some dessert regions would be of some great assistance here.
IE1: Here where I live it's been very metropolinized, but still from satelite imagery you can clearly depict the fertile regions between the coast and the large mountain chain that runs down along the coast inland. Just inland further of these mountains the desert begins, you can pick out more fertile desert in the regions closer to the mountains, be it runoff through streams or simply shelter from the winds.
IE2: Saudia Arabia - The SW coast is fertile, fed by moisture blown in from the ocean and Africa. As those currents and winds work their way North East though, over some mountains/hills and twords the NE coastline, they get dryer and dryer, and there is no real fertile area along the NE side (compared to the SW coastal region) as the desert sands and dry air are blown out to sea. Note how to the north the water-rich rivers that run through Iraq create a fertile barrier/strand against the dessert, before it continues rolling with the winds into Iran.
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Thanks Plazus for the pics. Yeah, I should've done some research. I'm a realism freak when it comes to my terrains, so I didn't want to get too crazy or it would take 5 years to finish this (I hand "paint" every inch of my terrains). You guys are right about the vegetation near the water bodies. Maybe a kind of reverse, where instead of using beaches, that is where the greenery will be the thickest. Might make for some good ambush spots along river banks.
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Ok, last pic before moving this to the TE forum. I just wanted to get a general feel for what the community might want before diving head on into it. Thanks for your opinions & suggestions. What about something like this?
(http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6453/sndc.jpg) (http://img199.imageshack.us/i/sndc.jpg/)
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Excellent work, Ranger. Anyone who'll provide an alternative to the MA Snotty Hanky and Mouldy Pizza maps has my complete support. Your desert terrain will be the perfect environment for No.6 Squadron RAF's tank-busting Hurricane IIDs.
:cool:
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That looks wicked ranger! :aok :aok
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Looks great to me,appreciate the work,keep it up.
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Ranger,
The new sand tiles look awesome!
While I definitely think that water around lakes rivers and other small bodies of water is a good idea in this environment, I don't think salt water is particularly good for plant life.
It would be EXTREMELY cool if you had some deltas though :)
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Outstanding job, Ranger!! That looks soo much more realistic! I am glad you were able to accomodate to some of the ideas/advice that I gave you. Will be looking forward to more of your terrains.
:salute
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This is now a fully functioning project, so I've moved it to the T.E. forum so I can ask questions to those "in the know" when I have em. For those that took interest, it will be an ongoing thread located here:
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,280908.0.html
Here we go! :salute
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Ranger .. honestly I applaud and support anyone willing to take the time to better our AH experience sir !! Go for it :rock
:bolt:
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HTC ...please approve this idea!!! ...please. I am begging you. I have served on the green tiles longer then the entire War lasted!!....I really am bored with the green tiles . Some fresh terrians would be a welcome breath of fresh Air!! .....please...please....I'll mow the HTC lawn!!
Back in Air Warrior The Krait squad made a program where you could change the land and the sky. Based upon the current weather conditions at my house I would set the ground and the sky to match. It was super cool!...and something I really enjoyed doing!!
Helm ...out