A different way to think about maps

[thetruecoolness]

I finally got around to starting my world map and I found it is so much easier to make beaches, and just to work with the map in general, if you start with your ground abour 1 to 2 height above the water. This way to make a beach you just put a bunch of circles with a low slope and a negative value in add mode together and it looks really smooth and realistic. And for making oceans just put together some big square pieces with negative height in equal mode. To me this just seems a lot harder to do with the map staring out as all ocean with the ground below it. Right now I have my ground at 0 and the sea at -1 and this seems to work really nicely (of course you can use different numbers if you want to have really high mountains, but the equals mode won't work as well for adding height).

Just though I would pass this along as it was really useful to me, and I can create nice looking beaches in no time now.
Here is what I made in about a minute using just circles in add mode with a -2 height and slope of 50, nothing too spectacular, just showing how easy beach making becomes.

[tjoris9]

Re: A different way to think about maps

I think I may try that, as I almost always have trouble raising land from the ocean. Seems like it would make sense especially if you want large areas of level land.

[WilliamKirk]

Re: A different way to think about maps

Thank you for the tip. I'm too far on my world map to do it but I'll remember it and it might come in handy for some dungeon.

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: A different way to think about maps

How'd you get such a nice screenshot? I used emulators for PS1 but there's no good ones for PS2. Or do you have A/V inputs in your computer?

[thetruecoolness]

Re: A different way to think about maps

Yes, I have gone through about 5-6 tv cards and finally found a good one (well good one for watching and recording). I mainly use it to record stuff (adult swim shows mainly), and when I'm at school so I only need to bring my computer and not a tv too. Of course with dual screens I write out stories and stuff while working on the game on the other one .

And I use S-Video instead of composite (the standard yellow cable).