Terrain objects are objects that modify the height terrain via a model. They can be used whenever you want units to walk over a model. This includes bridges, stairs, etc. This can be used to create some very interesting terrain.
In order to create a Terrain Object, go to the Terrain Objects data type, hit Add Object, change Based On to "CTerrainObject" and click ok.
Each object has the following important properties:
Footprint - specifies the pathing map of the object, and placement behaviors of the object. (More on this later)
Model - specifies the model
Number of Cells Across (width) / Number of Cells Down (height) - how many terrain cells are hidden by this object. Cells that are hidden can be restored via the terrain editor.
Radius - Space taken up by this object. 2 terrain objects cannot exist within each other's radii. Set this to 0 to be able to stack terrain objects.
Fields for use in Editor:
Texture Sets - set this to the texture set you are using so that the object shows up in the Terrain Editor.
Further investigation required:
Cliff Set - Not clear how objects interact with cliffs. Perhaps though height codes?
Height Codes - Binding points for terrain objects? Don't seem to have any effect from testing. Perhaps requires special models?
Here's an example of a complete Terrain Object:
This object can be placed in the editor via the Terrain Layer -> Terrain Object -> Add Terrain Object Menu. You should see something like this:
If you actually place the object, you'll notice that the height is defaulted to 0. I haven't be able to figure out a way to set this height via the editor (if someone does, please let me know). For now, the only way to change the height is to open the map in an MPQ editor, open t3Terrain.xml, and find the entries that look like:
The values I found (testing a-z & 0-9) were A,B,C,D
Each represent a cliff level (A being cliff height level 0 (below the map) to D being cliff level height 3)
You put in a set such as AAAAA|AAAAA|AAAAA and you get a 3 by 5 square deform of the terrain cliff height to be at the floor (cliff height 0).
I.E. ACCCCCC|CCCCCC|CCCCCC gives you one your object at the bottom (cant stand there) cliff height and a pile of terrain on top of it in all but one square.
The only use I have found for this above and beyond useing the terrain editor and doodads/units(with custom footprints) manualy is that it allows a change in cliff height without having the cliff mesh (just a steep as hell slope instead)
The function is clearly ment for more than this so whoever figures out the next step, please post : )
@MrZ3r0: Go
Never mind, i fix it, but the bridge can't connect between 2 cliffs, it lie on the ground.
You have to change the object's height manually inside the map file (unless blizzard fixed it in a recent patch) as it says at the end of the guide.
@MrZ3r0: Go
same with me, mine doesn't place at all or show up actually.
If your ground height in the Terrain Editor is higher than 0 you won't see the Terrain Object (since it'll be under ground). Drop the ground down below that. Also your object will need a footprint to "destroy" the terrain above it - use THIS as a rough guide on doing that.
If the object doesn't appear at all in Editor, make sure you inherited from Terrain Object in the object, and try restarting GE as someone mentioned.
I seem to be getting these huge "void zones" for my bridges. My units can walk in and out of it, but if I deselect my units while they're in it, they are lost forever. click for screenshot (my bridge is on top of that screenshot)
^And following that link to the footprint stuff, I was playing around with them having no luck.
I seem to be getting these huge "void zones" for my bridges. My units can walk in and out of it, but if I deselect my units while they're in it, they are lost forever.
click for screenshot (my bridge is on top of that screenshot)
^And following that link to the footprint stuff, I was playing around with them having no luck.
I'm having this same problem. It could be fixed if i could find a way to place the center of the model at the center of the terrain object. Unfortunately the model is displayed off center of the terrain object itself
Probably we have to wait for the blizzard bridges at the release to see how it works.
However, I did like told in the tut and saved the map in the data editor. My bridge shows up and aligns to cliffs...
Unfortunately I don't think Blizzard is adding bridges. Or else, why wouldn't they already have them? I think they're excluding them because of the complications of having ground units being able to walk over and under each other.
Sholdak, that looks sweet, but can units actually go across and under the bridge at the same time?
Hey Hey, i like this tutorial, though there is one problem i am having with the bridges, when you rotate them, you can only have them going horizontal or verticle, has anyone found a way to have the going diagonal in either direction ?? or have the found a way to have them going in a certain amount of degress?
If anyone knows an answer for this it would be soooo helpful :)
This is making no sense at all. I have tried everything on this thread with no luck. I have tried to make the bridge across cliffs and from hill to hill. There is no 'Bridge' appearing in the data type "Terrain Objects". I have manually added and linked another footprint with 'ground' set as the attribute and no luck. I've even lowered the bridge (Mar Sara - Bridge - Long - Type 1) below ground level and tried to make is so units don't 'step up' onto the bridge but step down onto it. No luck. I've tried to make ground even with the bridge the delete the texture however the ground is either over or under bridge so sprites appear to wade through or hover over bridge. I'm at my final tether.
Essentially, I have NO TERRAIN objects whatsoever to choose from. Objects can ONLY interact with terrain.
My brain hurts :(
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Terrain objects
Terrain objects are objects that modify the height terrain via a model. They can be used whenever you want units to walk over a model. This includes bridges, stairs, etc. This can be used to create some very interesting terrain.
In order to create a Terrain Object, go to the Terrain Objects data type, hit Add Object, change Based On to "CTerrainObject" and click ok. Each object has the following important properties:
Fields for use in Editor:
Further investigation required:
Here's an example of a complete Terrain Object:
This object can be placed in the editor via the Terrain Layer -> Terrain Object -> Add Terrain Object Menu. You should see something like this:
If you actually place the object, you'll notice that the height is defaulted to 0. I haven't be able to figure out a way to set this height via the editor (if someone does, please let me know). For now, the only way to change the height is to open the map in an MPQ editor, open t3Terrain.xml, and find the entries that look like:
Set the last value of pos to the desired height. Note: Most cliffs sets have heights of (-8,0,2,4).
Now that we have an object that modifies the terrain height, it's time to make it pathable via a footprint (to be continued...).
The value B does not refer to block I dont think
The values I found (testing a-z & 0-9) were A,B,C,D Each represent a cliff level (A being cliff height level 0 (below the map) to D being cliff level height 3)
You put in a set such as AAAAA|AAAAA|AAAAA and you get a 3 by 5 square deform of the terrain cliff height to be at the floor (cliff height 0).
I.E. ACCCCCC|CCCCCC|CCCCCC gives you one your object at the bottom (cant stand there) cliff height and a pile of terrain on top of it in all but one square.
The only use I have found for this above and beyond useing the terrain editor and doodads/units(with custom footprints) manualy is that it allows a change in cliff height without having the cliff mesh (just a steep as hell slope instead)
The function is clearly ment for more than this so whoever figures out the next step, please post : )
use pageup/down to raise and lower doodads, not sure if this work with terrain objects
For some reason the Terrain Object never seems to show up in the Terrain Editor for me. Does anyone know why that might be?
@Ardnived: Go
same with me, mine doesnt place at all or show up actually.
@ZeroAme: Go
I dont have any either.
@All of u above: Did u guy try to close and reopen the map. Everyone know that, each time u create something belong to terrain, u should do that ;)
I had another problem: the object appear in the list, but there are no model:
Never mind, i fix it, but the bridge can't connect between 2 cliffs, it lie on the ground.
@MrZ3r0: Go
Yes I tried saving the map, closing out of the editor, and reopening, no change.
Probably we have to wait for the blizzard bridges at the release to see how it works.
However, I did like told in the tut and saved the map in the data editor. My bridge shows up and aligns to cliffs...
@MrZ3r0: Go Never mind, i fix it, but the bridge can't connect between 2 cliffs, it lie on the ground.
You have to change the object's height manually inside the map file (unless blizzard fixed it in a recent patch) as it says at the end of the guide.
@MrZ3r0: Go same with me, mine doesn't place at all or show up actually.
If your ground height in the Terrain Editor is higher than 0 you won't see the Terrain Object (since it'll be under ground). Drop the ground down below that. Also your object will need a footprint to "destroy" the terrain above it - use THIS as a rough guide on doing that.
If the object doesn't appear at all in Editor, make sure you inherited from Terrain Object in the object, and try restarting GE as someone mentioned.
I seem to be getting these huge "void zones" for my bridges. My units can walk in and out of it, but if I deselect my units while they're in it, they are lost forever.
click for screenshot (my bridge is on top of that screenshot)
^And following that link to the footprint stuff, I was playing around with them having no luck.
@kii064: Go
I'm having this s
I'm having this same problem. It could be fixed if i could find a way to place the center of the model at the center of the terrain object. Unfortunately the model is displayed off center of the terrain object itself
Unfortunately I don't think Blizzard is adding bridges. Or else, why wouldn't they already have them? I think they're excluding them because of the complications of having ground units being able to walk over and under each other.
Sholdak, that looks sweet, but can units actually go across and under the bridge at the same time?
@Pandonetho: Go
I definitely reckon they will at least add bridges that connect cliffs and can be walked upon. Warcraft 3 had this support, why wouldn't Starcraft?
Well yeah, I think they'll do that too.
I meant true bridges. Bridges that can be walked underneath and at the same time be walked over.
Also, does anyone know why Blizzard opted to only have 4 tiers of Terrain when WC3 had 16?
@Pandonetho: Go
That might also have just been a beta-editor thing. That said, I *am* getting curious as to the real product now.
@Mozared: Go
Read http://forums.sc2mapster.com/development/map-development/3075-terrain-objects/
Hey Hey, i like this tutorial, though there is one problem i am having with the bridges, when you rotate them, you can only have them going horizontal or verticle, has anyone found a way to have the going diagonal in either direction ?? or have the found a way to have them going in a certain amount of degress?
If anyone knows an answer for this it would be soooo helpful :)
Thanks a lot !
This is making no sense at all. I have tried everything on this thread with no luck. I have tried to make the bridge across cliffs and from hill to hill. There is no 'Bridge' appearing in the data type "Terrain Objects". I have manually added and linked another footprint with 'ground' set as the attribute and no luck. I've even lowered the bridge (Mar Sara - Bridge - Long - Type 1) below ground level and tried to make is so units don't 'step up' onto the bridge but step down onto it. No luck. I've tried to make ground even with the bridge the delete the texture however the ground is either over or under bridge so sprites appear to wade through or hover over bridge. I'm at my final tether.
Essentially, I have NO TERRAIN objects whatsoever to choose from. Objects can ONLY interact with terrain.
My brain hurts :(