A Complete Neophyte's Attempt to Make A Map From Scratch

[benpark]

I changed the title of the thread, so that others with interest could learn from our toil.

I figured that the origin was off. I'm having a hard time resetting the model to the neutral point, as shown below:



Can I set the top left corner by inputting the zero values into a field somewhere? I've tried the "Move" menu, and filled in each of the options, but none take me to the absolute zero point. I'm manually dragging it there, and It's tough to get it to zero(my best is the screen above!).

[benpark]

I think I'm going to scratch this particular map above, due to the river. All above information is still good. It just will complicate things down the road, with figuring how wide the river needs to be etc.

The next set of screens will be rolling terrain, without the wide ditch in the center.

[benpark]

The new map, in the terrain generator:

[benpark]

Here is the height map. It is 65x65 by default (although I had input 64x64). I resized in in Photoshop to the correct size for 3dMS.

This is the exact image, just converted to jpeg. Changing it back into a .bmp would allow import into 3dMS.

[benpark]

The heightmap after importing into 3dMS (Tools:Terrain Generator):



I've enlarged the field values so I can be corrected if anything is off.

[benpark]

I've figured out that "snap to grid" coupled with the "Move" menu gets me to the zero position for my origin. I have the origin in and saved, but I'm still getting my map too high, and off center. Could it be something in the export menu?

This is how I have it set just before export:

[Mraah]

Ben,

Load a Kharkov terrain X file ... you know, one that they made ... compare from that, and match their numbers.

Hope that helps ... I haven't gotten as far as viewing it in scene edit yet.

Rob

[Stridor]

Ok I was going to refine the process over the next few days, but I think there is enough interest and I will try and get at least the first part of my map making tutorial up today!

[benpark]

Excellent, Stridor. You, Sir are a gentleman.

Look-see what I managed to do just a second ago...



The trick was setting the origin position to the bottom left (I was trying the top left), as well as lowering the Z position to zero as well. It's tough to get used to thinking in 3d using those 4 little windows.

[Mraah]

Ben ...

Very nice indeed !!! Keep going with it ... you're a million steps ahead of me ... glad to watch.

Rob

[Bil H]

Impressive.
 
Are we stuck with 1 km x 1 km or can we build larger custom maps and have them work in game?
 
Bil

[Erik Rutins]

Great job, Ben!!

Bil, 1kmx1km is the limit for now, but that's at the top of our list to expand for the next release.