High Elven City Tileset

[Legacy_WoC_Builder]

               Estelindis, I love what you have done with the place!  '>  I've been away for a few, and checking back in I see you've been busy!  Your alpha is stunning, and I'm starting to see areas where that portion of the tileset can be included within our world.

Beautiful work, M'Lady.  *bows*
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               Thanks for the compliments!

Cervantes and I are trying a couple of different approaches to raising terrain.  

• Traditional raise/lower.  You can raise as many times as you like, but the treetops underneath the platforms and walkways will rise too.  It's a gentle rise, and the geometry of the treetops hides the layer cake effect quite well, but it's still a rise.  
• Separate upper and lower platform terrains, with all platform tiles duplicated for the upper terrain.  The treetops underneath would stay at the same level.  Only one raise would be possible.

Do people prefer one or the other approach?  We could give two versions of the tileset, so you can choose one or the other.  Alternatively, we could implement both in the same set.  I would find this a bit untidy, to be honest, but I am open to others' views.

PS: I have created a project here on the BSN and uploaded the tileset, as I discovered that Skydrive isn't convenient for everyone.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Estelindis, 18 janvier 2014 - 10:57 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Nevercallmebyname]

               I just thought of, if you made a Tall trees terrain then you could use it to get the effect I suggested when layering up instead of having to find a way to lower down. It might only work with the second version of the raise lower though.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_3RavensMore]

               In the second option, the upper level would simply be platforms higher above the treetops?  If that's the case, I think I'd like the first option better.  It's a bit hard to visualize the second option though, so...
               
               

               

                     Modifié par 3RavensMore, 19 janvier 2014 - 12:52 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_kamal_]

               

Estelindis wrote...

• PS: I have created a project here on the BSN and uploaded the tileset, as I discovered that Skydrive isn't convenient for everyone.

Since Bioware is doing away with the projects, perhaps upload to neverwintervault.org as well?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_cervantes35]

               Not above the treetops it was a slight of 2.5 on the z axis of the platform terrain instead of the normal 5.0 and I did raise the trees around the platform an equal amount of 2.5. I will post pictures when I have enough of the merge between lower platforn and the higher platform.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               

Nevercallmebyname wrote...

I just thought of, if you made a Tall trees terrain then you could use it to get the effect I suggested when layering up instead of having to find a way to lower down. It might only work with the second version of the raise lower though.

I do not understand the way you've put this.  For the record, though, from what I recall of your suggestion, I'm just not willing to commit to that much work right now.

kamal_ wrote...

Since Bioware is doing away with the projects, perhaps upload to neverwintervault.org as well?

But Bioware isn't doing away with projects.  They changed their minds (just on projects, not polls or blogs) based on feedback.  I don't want to put the set on the Vault until it's ready.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Ssythilac]

               Hi Estelindis!

Just checking the tileset and I am really impressed; I think that is versatile and totally functional even in this beta version.

About the raise terrain, I think that the two options are good, but the separate upper an lower platform terrain sound like a winner for me.

An idea/suggestion: have you considered to make a few placeables to match with the tileset final version? Like a small house, an elven statue, or an elven tent market?

I said that because I think that in some occasions the placeables are slightly more versatile than the tile groups to create the atmosphere of the area. Just a thought. '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Nevercallmebyname]

               I am confusing sometimes.

on another note, has anyone made a mod to add some more elven looking clothes?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Mecheon]

               There's the elven chainmail and another set of elven armor, but no clothing
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               Ssythilac: placeable versions of tiles (and bits of tiles) never occurred to me. It would be quite quick to do once the set is finished. Thanks for the idea!

Elven clothes sound like a great suggestion for the CCC. '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_3RavensMore]

               Or an internal version of those lovely buildings.  '>
               
               

               

                     Modifié par 3RavensMore, 19 janvier 2014 - 03:21 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               I'd really like to make interiors that match the layout and style of the exterior perfectly.  I've often thought about it while working on the set.  I just have to be realistic and not promise what I can't be sure that I'll end up delivering.  '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Nevercallmebyname]

               When you finish the elven city project you can think about possibly starting an elven city interiors project. For now lets get some more buildings.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Estelindis]

               Myself and Cervantes have been hard at work on those raise/lower options, plus I'm still working on various stairs.  Decided to take a little break from that, though, and make some veeeeeery rough concept drawings to visualize the various building roof options that have been swirling in my head.  It might not work out exactly as I visualize when I actually try making it in Max, but the images below will remain my guidelines.  I'll find a way to preserve the overall aesthetic, making whatever changes are needed to existing building terrain geometry.  

The only problem is that I wanted this terrain to look a bit less homogenous than the hall crosser does, but the tiles would still all look very like each other here.  In the Bioware city building terrain, for instance, it really looks like lots of different houses jammed together.  Can I do something similar here, keeping an overall aesthetic but getting more variety?  Alternatively, do people believe it's better not take that approach?  Any thoughts are welcome.

Anyway, for the first picture, no extra explanation is necessary.


The second image shows various new options for the middle "_20" tiles of the terrain, as well as some possible new side tiles.  


The third image shows another option for some centre tiles: a "courtyard" in the middle of the building, with some trees growing through.  Other options might be walkway in the middle of this, if lots of such tiles are used?

               
               

               

                     Modifié par Estelindis, 21 janvier 2014 - 04:20 .