Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:10 am Post subject:
Tip when creating new terrain items
After my thoughts about my work I have seen people thinking about making their own tiles. Here is an important tip.....Don't try adding tiles to an existing tileset. The reason for this is because if the number of tiles in that tileset is 10 and you add more tiles you will screw up the tiles and any map you try to load will be screwed up and if you distribute this to anyone their maps will be screwed up. When creating a tileset group....if you have 10 tiles in there, make the tiles in set say 20, just in case you decide to add something. I have not found any problems when i have done this, but like i said never add tiles to works already done. _________________ I am authorized to send out the TMP Studio, PM ME IF YOU WANT IT And check this out, these were sent to me for help with terrain and zdata help along with TMP Studio/Builder
It's common sense to not add anything to vanilla tile sets as this will basically destroy the game. When adding new tile sets, the maximum tiles in set number should ALWAYS be set to 99, no more, no less. Not 10, not 20, not 75, 99. This isn't vital, but it'll come in handy if you plan to add more tiles to your new set. The maximum limit of tiles that can be in a set is 99, do not exceed this number, if your new tilesets feature more than 99 tiles you're going to have to create a new set for the additional tiles. A good idea would also to be add much larger tiles to a new tile set as it screws up the tile viewing system in FinalSun/FinalAlert/Map Editors like shores which unfortunately can not be changed unless you plan on removing every pre-made map form the game. An example of what I mean:
0090 - Debris Tiles
0091 - Large Debris Tiles
This is common sense, any decent terrain artist should know this.
Another good thing to do would be to create your tilesets one by one and add them to the game in an organized fashion once you feel you're ready, you can even make placeholder entries in temperat.ini etc. by adding the tag 'AllowToPlace=no' to your tile set. Again, this isn't necessary but does definitely come in handy. Last edited by Aro on Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:24 am; edited 1 time in total QUICK_EDIT
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 2:23 am Post subject:
tip
well, i remembered doing this when i first started this (screwing it up). Then seeing someone else mention making tiles I just realized that this tip might come in handy so they don't go through what I did when I first messed around with tiles. I usually have 40 tiles in the tileset, even if i only have 20, the extra 20 is just in case. _________________ I am authorized to send out the TMP Studio, PM ME IF YOU WANT IT And check this out, these were sent to me for help with terrain and zdata help along with TMP Studio/Builder
Well, i don't go crazy with the tiles, but ive seen your work and you say 99 so 99 it is. Some of my tilesets have 10 tiles in it the max i think is 35, but i put 40 for the listing just to have 5 to play with. If I have to go over that than its create a new tileset group. So Aro, do you have anything you would like to contribute to a new mix file of terrain objects? Seen some of your work and I think what i have seen would diffidently add to the RA2 world. _________________ I am authorized to send out the TMP Studio, PM ME IF YOU WANT IT And check this out, these were sent to me for help with terrain and zdata help along with TMP Studio/Builder
Trust me, 99 is the best choice, for TS and YR alike. As for me contributing to Red Alert 2, at some point in time me and Mig Eater might take over RA2:TX and add some additional things like, new structures, trees, terrain tiles etc. but we've both gained interest in each others projects which to be honest is more interesting that taking over TX, but we'll see what happens. If I find any old material from my old RA2 mods that I don't need anymore, I'll release them like I have many of my other things (I donated Intox. terrain to a mod project so that wont be released publicly). QUICK_EDIT
Aye 99 is always best cause despite what you may think now you could want to add even more tiles than the limit you have set later on, which would mean your screwed. QUICK_EDIT
yeah, 99 seems the best way to go if you are just starting out. I know my way around stuff pretty well, but since I know Aro really knows his way around the works my future tilesets will have 99. _________________ I am authorized to send out the TMP Studio, PM ME IF YOU WANT IT And check this out, these were sent to me for help with terrain and zdata help along with TMP Studio/Builder
Same with this. If I understand the whole deal. If I have 30 tiles in 155, and 30 in 156, if later I want to add another tile to 155, any map that was created prior to the new additions will be screwed up. I find it is best to make the ini file first, even if you use Aro's wisdom and make the TIS 99....this way if you do add tiles nothing gets screwed up _________________ I am authorized to send out the TMP Studio, PM ME IF YOU WANT IT And check this out, these were sent to me for help with terrain and zdata help along with TMP Studio/Builder
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:30 am Post subject:
map
well in my case it did. i increased the number of tiles in that set and added few more tiles. when i went back to the map that was created with the older ini file, pieces were screwed up. i havent had a problem since i started creating pieces first and maps later. it saves me a whole lot of headaches. any new previews crevio? _________________ I am authorized to send out the TMP Studio, PM ME IF YOU WANT IT And check this out, these were sent to me for help with terrain and zdata help along with TMP Studio/Builder
LastTilesInSet= is meant to be a backup just in case you need to add new tiles to an old set & shouldn't really be used to add new stuff on a long term. _________________
LastTilesInSet doesn't work with FA2 IIRC and will only fix up old maps that are loaded into RA2 with new tiles added. Maps created with the new tiles added will break IIRC. My belief is that it was set by WW temporarily to load an old map during development to be resaved with corrected tile numbering in their editor. It was some time ago, but I remember testing this extensively during the development of the TX, its useless to us. QUICK_EDIT
Adding 99 is not the best thing to do since you have to put a place holder tile in the file and you will have a down load of mega proportions. This is always a balancing act. For groups like ground and slops there are defined amounts of tiles. You will have to look at the game. For others you will have to use your best judgment. And make sure the tiles in the group go together for end user easy of use. QUICK_EDIT
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
Tip when creating new terrain items
