Terraformer only works on scorched?

#1 *bump*

-Evan

#2 Hi Evan -

We are not experiencing problems with the Terraformer since we upgraded to 1.1.1. I went in and tried something real quick just to be sure and it seemed to work fine. Here are the steps I followed:

- Create a 256x256 grayscale PNG with your heightfield
- Save it in the common/editor/heightScripts directory (you may have to create the dir)
- Run the game and load up Scorched Planet
- Fire up the editor (F11)
- Switch to the Terrain Terraformer (F7)
- Click on the "Operation" drop down
- Choose "Bitmap"
- A dialog pops up showing all the PNG's in the common/editor/heightScripts directory
- Select the appropriate PNG and press Load
- When the dialog goes away, press Apply.

I had an all black test heightfield which resulted in a flat surface after hitting apply. Do those instructions work for you? If so, what are the steps you are going through that dont seem to work?

Justin Mette
21-6 Productions

#3 thanks justin, your method seems to work fine no matter what map i try the editor in, but i still cant get any other of the terraformer's main functions to work in anything other than scorched (sinus, fbmfractal, rigid multifractal...im used to working without the bitmaps), and even tho i can build my terrain in scorched, the lighting is still messed up...

So the only way i can really make my terrain is through the editor built into Tribes2, and transfer the .ter file over to torque, wich is alot more time consuming.

If you have any idea on what i can do to fix this, please, let me know

thanks alot,

Seb

#4 some questions because I don't quite understand what you're asking:

After editing the terrain with terraformer, relighting the scene (with Alt-L), and saving the mission (which also saves the new .ter file to the missions directory), you're not seeing the terrain you created?

Or are you seeing the original terrain (in scorchedplanet or waterworld)?

Did you modify the terrain in scorchedplanet then save as a new mission?

Check your mission files to make sure the terrain datablock is pointing to the terrain you created. I'm having no prob with the terraformer, but I'm using the HEAD version. I don't think that's you're prob tho; I'm thinking its just a path problem to the .ter file.

#5 Ive had absolutely no problem using the terraformer in any version.

Ive had a few funnies in saving missions, mainly due to read/write file access.

but it works fine. Maybe there's a file permission issue?

Phil.

#6 Ok well heres my problem... ill try to describe it as best as i can

when i open ANY map besides scorched, the terraformer just dosnt seem to work at all... it doesnt apply ANYTHING i do with any of the main functions (such as sinus, fbmfractal, rigid multifractal etc.) except for bitmap, which seems to work fine. So i guess im stuck in scorch to terraform right? Now, i get a terrain done in scorched, hit save as, give it a new name n im done... BUT, When i try to apply lighting or textures to my new map, evrything gets messed up again: shadows and textures just dont appear where theyre supposed to, even after saving and restarting torque.

I really doubt its any type of path prob. i tried putting the .ter files in different folders, checked all the file names, n still no luck.

strange that nobody else has had this problem before...hopefully well find a solution soon...

Seb

#7 Hi Seb, it sure sems like you may have an isolated problem. I just followed these steps and had no problems:

- Fired up Torque 1.1.1
- Loaded the "Test (quick load)" mission
- Opened the editor with F11
- Opened the terrain editor with F7
- Clicked the operation dropdown and chose Sinus
- Pressed Apply
- Pressed Ctrl-L to relight

Here is a screen shot of the result:

Can you give us a step-by-step account of exactly what causes your problem and possible a screen shot of the undesirable result? That might help to debug the situation.

Also, maybe a link to your DXDIAG results would be helpful in determining whether your system drivers need updating, for example.

#8 When you add a new function such as Sinus, do the operations under it show up as the same ones that are in General? This is the problem I was having. I work around it by:

Going into a map where they seem to work (Scorched for you)
Adding all of the functions I think I will need. I have to plan ahead for the terrain generators, choosing the two I want and putting blend after them.
Start a NEW map.
Now these should show up in the new map, and work correctly. You can try adding more now, but it hasn't ever worked for me.

If I close and want to terraform it later, I go through the above process again before opening that file.

Oh well, it forces a lot of up front thought before attempting to do anything, so that's a bonus.

Vic-D

#9 All I know is that I've got terraform to work in both formats. "functions" such as Sinus or set fractal patterns, and manually adjusting the heights.

I wish I could provide an answer, but I haven't messed with terrain editing much since my Video card seems to crap out on them.

#10 Seb's been busy so he hasn't been following this thread, but I think he figured out how to help his problem at least temporarily (he's importing his old Tribes2 maps and clearing them). I'll have him drop by when he has a chance so we can find out what really is wrong.
Thanks for the help, guys!

-Evan

#11 I had/have the same problem. Anytime you add in a new thing such as Fractel in the list it doesnt have any effect or any real effect. When ever you add more then one added thing to the terraformer it doesnt seem to like it. You have to save relight save then reenter before it works correctly.

I dont know what was changed in the editor from the first version but alot of the stuff I liked such as object rotation was taken out or hidden somewhere. I preffer the original editor over these changes. Even though the little menus at the top and stuff do make it somewhat easier to use.

#12 Tom, if you read the docs, its just a keypress to rotate objects.

This editor is AMAZINGLY better than the last one. I mean, unbelievably better.

if you prefer the old one, why not use that and simply save the heightfield and load it into the new one?

Phil.

#13 Did you change the default name of the terrain Block? If it's anything other than "Terrain" then the terraformer won't work right.

Look in the console, see if it gives you any errors.

I've been working heavily on the terrain engine, and terrain editor. The terrain name was one of the problems I had while getting multiple terrains into the game.