Terrain Mod v3.4 - mroyer base + DasTactic Icon Overlays

[Tanaka]

Hopefully Santa will bring us v3.3 for Christmas?

Stocking-stuffer in the opening post.
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 3&t=389032

-Mark R.

A must have for this game thank you for your work! Happy Holidays!

[Moat_Man]

Hopefully Santa will bring us v3.3 for Christmas?

Stocking-stuffer in the opening post.
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 3&t=389032

-Mark R.

Looks great!

[Hardradi]

Excellent mod!

[mroyer]

I've released v3.4 of the Terrain Mod in the opening post. I've been sitting on the version for a while waiting until the Oceania DLC was released. I wanted to make sure the DLC didn't drive any big terrain differences - it doesn't appear to have.

Anyhow, it includes a few minor cleanup items mainly related to making forests and jungles cleaner. I've also brightened the hexgrid (the vanilla grid was getting lost in some terrains) and provided an alternate, light-blue ocean version.

While I'm heavily partial to the darker blue ocean imagery (it's more realistic and striking in my opinion), I get the impression that many prefer the lighter map-like blue -> so, far be it for me to impose my preferences, now both cases are available.


See the v3.4 notes in the opening post.


mroyer Terrain v3.4 Dark Blue Water


mroyer Terrain v3.4 Light Blue Water


-Mark R.

[Dasara II]

Thanks you so much for this, glad you did a light blue water for the Oceanic planets

[EeOoLl]

Might be too much to ask and not even sure if there is a way but is there a way to color the "lakes" a different color than the oceans? I'm guessing not given lakes seem to be "base sea" tile type but really just don't like the coloring in one or two hex inland "seas".

[mroyer]

Might be too much to ask and not even sure if there is a way but is there a way to color the "lakes" a different color than the oceans? I'm guessing not given lakes seem to be "base sea" tile type but really just don't like the coloring in one or two hex inland "seas".

I agree you are probably correct that it's not doable. I'll check anyhow to make sure.

Nevertheless, what don't you like? You have dark seas and prefer light lakes? Vice-versa? Something else like maybe lakes are slightly different color from seas?

-Mark R>

[EeOoLl]

You have dark seas and prefer light lakes?

Something like that, i.e. lakes, even great lakes (like between US and Canada), African Great Lakes, or the Aral Sea (i.e. inland seas) I feel just should look different similar to light/heavy forest. Yes I know in real life from satellite views they look the same generally, I think I just like lakes to not look as deep as oceans but might just be me.

[mroyer]

It looks like this is not possible - I don't think the game distinguishes between 'lakes' and 'seas'. There is a graphics subfolder named '/LakeInterior' which gave me hope. I tried changing it, but it appears to be unused in Shadow Empire. (That happens a lot actually; I think SE carries a lot of unused baggage from other games produced by the same designer, Vic. Probably a huge job for Vic to clean all that up and not worth the time.)

-Mark R.

[omzh]

Any chance you and Das are considering adding his overlays to 3.4? Otherwise excellent mod, I've been using it since you released it, makes the game look so much better. I like Das' overlay icons since it helps me differentiate even further.

[mroyer]

Any chance you and Das are considering adding his overlays to 3.4?

I'm not sure what DasTactic's plans are. I know he dived off to Dwarf Fortress and some other stuff for a while, but now with the new DLC has been back at SE. I haven't seen him on these forums yet, though. I too hope he decides to give the combined mod an update to v3.4.

-Mark R.

[solops]

Scroll down for example images.

Below is a link to v3.4 of the Terrain Mod that I've been sitting on until the Oceania DLC was released to make sure the DLC didn't drive any big terrain differences - it doesn't appear to have. Anyhow, besides a few cleanup things, I've brightened the hexgrid (the vanilla grid was getting lost in some terrains) and provided an alternate, light-blue ocean version. See the v3.4 notes below.

It's Beautiful! ...sniff... (wipes tear from eye)...

[DasTactic]

Hi all,
Just letting you know that I've finally updated my files to 3.4. Available from the same link as before.
Cheers
Das

[mroyer]

Just letting you know that I've finally updated my files to 3.4. Available from the same link as before.

Whohoo...! As always, thank Das.
-Mark R.

[Malevolence]

@mroyer, really like the terrain mod.

I suggest you add a one line "install" instructions to your readme (i.e., "Terrain Mod release notes.txt"). I would not assume it's well understood. There might be some new player to the game that would benefit. Typically, games have a mod folder for synchronized changes, not a root hack--and steam workshop being the more standard.

[mroyer]

@mroyer, really like the terrain mod.

Thanks for that - appreciate the feedback.

I suggest you add a one line "install" instructions to your readme (i.e., "Terrain Mod release notes.txt"). I would not assume it's well understood. There might be some new player to the game that would benefit. Typically, games have a mod folder for synchronized changes, not a root hack--and steam workshop being the more standard.

"(d) Unpack the zip file contents to your Shadow Empire folder, typically C:\Matrix Games\Shadow Empire\Shadow Empire\GraphicsAlt"

I presume you're suggesting adding the above single line from the opening post of this thread to the readme. That's a good idea. I'd been presuming people downloading from here would see instructions in the opening post, but if someone acquires the zip some other how, they wouldn't have any instructions.

For the moment, I have no plans to upgrade the terrain to v3.5 (or v4.0 or whatever). While I've dabbled a bit with some terrain features since v3.4, I don't feel like anything is significant or good enough to warrant another release. All very minor tinkering. But, if I do ever release another version, I will make sure it includes install instructions.

Thanks for pointing that out.
-Mark R.

[Evalya]

Can you make a less sharpened version? A little bit of blurriness would be nice

[mroyer]

Can you make a less sharpened version? A little bit of blurriness would be nice

Whew... are you talking broadbrush or specific terrain types, like the mountains?

A broadbrush application of blurriness could entail quite an effort that might end up with an underwhelming result. My gut tells me just applying a constant level of blurriness to every terrain image might not give the intended effect, but it would require a huge effort (or some sort of scripted automation) to accomplish.

-Mark R.

[solops]

I have to say it again...Best Mod Ever! I prefer it without the Das Tactic icons. I really appreciate it every time I play

And the sharper the better! No blurriness for me!

[Tanaka]

I have to say it again...Best Mod Ever! I prefer it without the Das Tactic icons. I really appreciate it every time I play

And the sharper the better! No blurriness for me!

Agreed. I don't know how anyone plays without this mod. It is so immersive. I also prefer it without the icons and with the sharpness. Kudos to the Moyer once again!