Most of the tutorials around the internet deal with how to make new units with new abilities and other more technical details. I have not been able to find a decent tutorial for how to design the terrain. Most of the terrain tutorials leave it at, this is how you raise land, the is how you make water, this is how you place textures, but the end result is always just a mish mosh of random terrain editing.
I was curious if there already is a tutorial or if someone could create a tutorial on how to create some nicer looking scenes in the galaxy editor. Right now I am just practicing to see how far that will get me. It has been working great so far. I just was hoping I could see what the greats are doing because I have seen some amazing terrain art.
The difference between making triggers and terrain, is that with triggers: The more you know the the more you can accomplish.
But with terrain you cant just memorize everything, it just come out of your imagination like a painting. There isnt a rule that simply states you use this doodad this way. Take an object, and instead of saying "where do i put this", just change your thought and say "what can i do with this"
As for the basics, for example how to change variations, directions, ambience, scale. Those static things i can teach you, but as for 'making' a landscape, its all you.
One of my major issues right now seems to be actually getting the the terrain to resemble what is in my mind. I think there is some core piece of information I am missing, but after messing around with the terrain for a while, I find myself designing around what galaxy editor decided to do. So I guess the main thing I am looking for is: How to control the terrain editor is a more percise way.
I figured by either reading a tutorial on someone making something or watching a video some of the control might be transfered to me, but the tutorials I have seen so far is just quickly raising land and not really paying any attention to detail. So for me right now it is like trying to drawing with a crayon. I am sure it just takes practice though.
ive seen your thread sir, and you've got some amazing maps
whats your work flow? design layout in photoshop then move to GE? or straight into GE and go?
Well i have just a sketch book on what the groundplan of the map will look like.
For example this screenshot looks just like it would be in my sketch book. (just about 4-8 minutes or drawing)
But after that its all just imagination.
From what i started with, you could see it progressivly change every time i used the editor. The map would simply evolve.
have you figured out how to grab a section of terrain and 'move' it to another spot on the overall map? i havn't had much luck in that department
While in the terrain tab, press space so it shows the default cursor. And just highlight what ever you want. Simply copy and paste using the 'Edit' tab.
also you can use the option to flip/rotate. And easy way to make mirrored maps or maps with identical parts.
One of my major issues right now seems to be actually getting the the terrain to resemble what is in my mind. I think there is some core piece of information I am missing, but after messing around with the terrain for a while, I find myself designing around what galaxy editor decided to do. So I guess the main thing I am looking for is: How to control the terrain editor is a more percise way.
I figured by either reading a tutorial on someone making something or watching a video some of the control might be transfered to me, but the tutorials I have seen so far is just quickly raising land and not really paying any attention to detail. So for me right now it is like trying to drawing with a crayon. I am sure it just takes practice though.
Let me try and explain what my flow of thought when terraining is; open up a new map, and bare with me.
For a moment, forget everything that doesn't have to do with the terrain. This is not a melee map, it doesn't have to be walkable, screw the pathing, it doesn't need to be balanced, it just needs to have terrain. Start off with a basic idea. Like "I want to make a canyon". Then, you make a simple canyon by getting in some low ground.
Next, you have a look at the textures. Ask yourself "what would make sense?". Obviously, the same sandy texture all over again is ugly. Rocky ground probably won't fit too well in a canyon which would naturally be filled with sand. So try and mix various types of sand. You can use the rocky ground for the actual cliffs.
Then, go to the doodads. See what's in there and see if you can make it interesting. For example, turn it into an ex-'mining colony' that has been overrun with Zerg. Lots of destroyed buildings, mine entrances, and crystals would work. Try and make the terrain 'tell a story'. If you look at it and see all the stuff that's around, you should have a rough picture in your head of what has transpired here. Once you've got the basics of that laid out, fill up the emptiness with some plants, vegetation and rocks. Put them in places so that they look somewhat natural. So no huge clusters, but groups of three, rocks near cliff edges, etc.
P.S. To place objects on lower ground you need to hold the shift button while placing them.
Once all that's done, you've come a far end and only need to do the 'finishing touches' - scroll through the doodad and textures screens again and see if there's anything you can use in a creative way. This is basically where you differentiate your maps from having "nice terrain" to "amazing".
This is basically how I built this;
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/1990/coyotecanyon2.jpg
It's not exactly my best piece of work, but it's a start. See if you can get something similar and if my way of working suits you - post what you come up with and let us give you some feedback, if you feel like it. Lets see if we can help you along.
@Mozared:
Nice idea you got there with that sunken mine entrance. Maybe 1 or 2 too much sandbags in the background (next to the destroyed battleship.)
btw. you've got a pretty nice style to write, you made me want to terrain so bad. :D
Thanks for the positive reply =). I love terraining and if I can get more people into it, the better ;)
As for the sandbags next to the battleship; maybe it makes more sense if I zoom in on it for you:
http://img815.imageshack.us/img815/7863/coyotecanyon3.jpg
The 'idea' behind that specific bit is that a battlecruiser came to the aid of the mining station, but was shot down - after that the survivors of the crash laid down a defensive perimeter to defend their wreckage while they tried to rebuild it. Keeping that in mind and looking at the new picture, do you still reckon it looks odd? I'm not unwilling to change it if it's indeed for the better, but want to be detailed and clear before I do.
Most of the tutorials around the internet deal with how to make new units with new abilities and other more technical details. I have not been able to find a decent tutorial for how to design the terrain. Most of the terrain tutorials leave it at, this is how you raise land, the is how you make water, this is how you place textures, but the end result is always just a mish mosh of random terrain editing.
I was curious if there already is a tutorial or if someone could create a tutorial on how to create some nicer looking scenes in the galaxy editor. Right now I am just practicing to see how far that will get me. It has been working great so far. I just was hoping I could see what the greats are doing because I have seen some amazing terrain art.
Thanks for any help/advice/information.
The difference between making triggers and terrain, is that with triggers: The more you know the the more you can accomplish. But with terrain you cant just memorize everything, it just come out of your imagination like a painting. There isnt a rule that simply states you use this doodad this way. Take an object, and instead of saying "where do i put this", just change your thought and say "what can i do with this"
As for the basics, for example how to change variations, directions, ambience, scale. Those static things i can teach you, but as for 'making' a landscape, its all you.
@TimeIbis: Go
ive seen your thread sir, and you've got some amazing maps
whats your work flow? design layout in photoshop then move to GE? or straight into GE and go?
@TimeIbis: Go
One of my major issues right now seems to be actually getting the the terrain to resemble what is in my mind. I think there is some core piece of information I am missing, but after messing around with the terrain for a while, I find myself designing around what galaxy editor decided to do. So I guess the main thing I am looking for is: How to control the terrain editor is a more percise way.
I figured by either reading a tutorial on someone making something or watching a video some of the control might be transfered to me, but the tutorials I have seen so far is just quickly raising land and not really paying any attention to detail. So for me right now it is like trying to drawing with a crayon. I am sure it just takes practice though.
Well i have just a sketch book on what the groundplan of the map will look like. For example this screenshot looks just like it would be in my sketch book. (just about 4-8 minutes or drawing)
But after that its all just imagination.
From what i started with, you could see it progressivly change every time i used the editor. The map would simply evolve.
@TimeIbis: Go
k that makes sense.
have you figured out how to grab a section of terrain and 'move' it to another spot on the overall map? i havn't had much luck in that department
While in the terrain tab, press space so it shows the default cursor. And just highlight what ever you want. Simply copy and paste using the 'Edit' tab. also you can use the option to flip/rotate. And easy way to make mirrored maps or maps with identical parts.
@TimeIbis: Go
you sir are the friggin man.
all the hardest things are the most obvious eh?
Let me try and explain what my flow of thought when terraining is; open up a new map, and bare with me.
For a moment, forget everything that doesn't have to do with the terrain. This is not a melee map, it doesn't have to be walkable, screw the pathing, it doesn't need to be balanced, it just needs to have terrain. Start off with a basic idea. Like "I want to make a canyon". Then, you make a simple canyon by getting in some low ground.
Next, you have a look at the textures. Ask yourself "what would make sense?". Obviously, the same sandy texture all over again is ugly. Rocky ground probably won't fit too well in a canyon which would naturally be filled with sand. So try and mix various types of sand. You can use the rocky ground for the actual cliffs.
Then, go to the doodads. See what's in there and see if you can make it interesting. For example, turn it into an ex-'mining colony' that has been overrun with Zerg. Lots of destroyed buildings, mine entrances, and crystals would work. Try and make the terrain 'tell a story'. If you look at it and see all the stuff that's around, you should have a rough picture in your head of what has transpired here. Once you've got the basics of that laid out, fill up the emptiness with some plants, vegetation and rocks. Put them in places so that they look somewhat natural. So no huge clusters, but groups of three, rocks near cliff edges, etc. P.S. To place objects on lower ground you need to hold the shift button while placing them.
Once all that's done, you've come a far end and only need to do the 'finishing touches' - scroll through the doodad and textures screens again and see if there's anything you can use in a creative way. This is basically where you differentiate your maps from having "nice terrain" to "amazing".
This is basically how I built this; http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/1990/coyotecanyon2.jpg It's not exactly my best piece of work, but it's a start. See if you can get something similar and if my way of working suits you - post what you come up with and let us give you some feedback, if you feel like it. Lets see if we can help you along.
@Lennywing: Go
Thanks for the positive reply =). I love terraining and if I can get more people into it, the better ;)
As for the sandbags next to the battleship; maybe it makes more sense if I zoom in on it for you: http://img815.imageshack.us/img815/7863/coyotecanyon3.jpg The 'idea' behind that specific bit is that a battlecruiser came to the aid of the mining station, but was shot down - after that the survivors of the crash laid down a defensive perimeter to defend their wreckage while they tried to rebuild it. Keeping that in mind and looking at the new picture, do you still reckon it looks odd? I'm not unwilling to change it if it's indeed for the better, but want to be detailed and clear before I do.
Yeah, I had a problem with Copying terrain until recently.