The Landscape - A Final Plea

[Ralf]

quote: Originally posted by Theben on 05-12-2001 03:07 PM However Ralf's idea about having very slight increases/decreases to note elevation might help- those mountains do seem to be coming up out of nowhere.

Glad you pointed that out! Slight is the word! I certainly dont want anything half- to full square in height, like in SC-3000. Perhaps 1/4 of a square in height is OK (imagine with help of these Screenshots to get some idea). Too much? Too little? Also, NOT 3-10 land-layers on top of each other; SC-3000 style, either. Two land levels above ocean is more then enough, I think.

I believe that the clear 1/4 square height-difference between shallow ocean (level 2) and beach/lowlands (level 3) and is of particular importance in order to get that protruding island/continent-feel. So if nothing else - at least that must change!!

quote: BTW does this mean that they're still using the "patchwork" map generator? The screenshots seem to say so. I was kinda hoping that the maps would flow together a bit better, and not have desert here, jungle & swamp next to it, then some grassland and 1 or 2 tundra...

Hmmm! I kind of prefered the Civ-2 map-generator - at least compared with the one in CTP. Anyway: perhaps they should add percentage-sliderbars to all world-map generating options, including presence of terrain-types, for ultimate control. Also some optional patch- or sprinkle-patterns to choose between, perhaps. If I remember it correctly; CTP had map-generating slider-bar controls: I yanked those back-and-forth but the result was unclear & unresponsive. If Civ-3 will have slider-bar controls they must see to it that they work significantly better then they did in the CTP map-generator.

[This message has been edited by Ralf (edited May 12, 2001).]

[Russian King]

I dunno how much this matches with you all guys but:
-There should be 3 levels(3 maps)


Deep sea: supports deep ocean where subs can swim unnoticed.

Midland: supports ALL land terrain, shallow sea and top of deep sea.
Subs can swim surfaced and small Planes can land(if out of fuel)so
that a special refuelling unit can reach them(flat terrain only)

High Air: Supports sky terrain, which can be acsessed by planes/heli's
that have taken off. Planes should have 1 turn of fuel (unless
turns will be divided into days and hours )

You should be able to see through high air and through the surface of deep ocean when 1 of the modes is on.

Note: I think this is the ONLY way to ACTUALLY solve the SUB problem where you cant swim over them(and walk under aircraft.

[Ralf]

quote: Originally posted by Russian King on 05-13-2001 05:46 AM Note: I think this is the ONLY way to ACTUALLY solve the SUB problem where you cant swim over them(and walk under aircraft.

Three separate maps on top of each over - switching back-and-forth between them? NO thanks!!! We had such feature in TOT - please, let it stay there. TOT was not exactly a Civ-update success by the way. Besides; have the so called "problem" descibed in above quote really ever been that much of a problem? I dont thinks so - It just complicate things and detracts from the core-gameplay, the way I see it.

[tniem]

I undertand your disgust with the SMAC maps, but I don't think it was due to elevation but instead to color choices. Despite this I can live without major elevation shifs. Just give us something.

I would agree with Ralf's slight shifts. All I know is that looking at the current maps I see a flat surface that is not much of an improvement over Civ I or II. I really want more to see on the screen in terms of how the world comes alive.

[Ralf]

quote: Originally posted by tniem on 05-13-2001 03:51 PM I undertand your disgust with the SMAC maps, but I don't think it was due to elevation but instead to color choices.

Well, your probably right. I didnt like those dark-brown/blue SMAC-colours.

quote: All I know is that looking at the current maps I see a flat surface that is not much of an improvement over Civ I or II. I really want more to see on the screen in terms of how the world comes alive.

Agree! I especially dont like the flat transition from ocean to land. Also some terrain-types looks reasonably OK (just about), but some just looks cheesy and tacky. It have been said before; maybe they are just temporary place-holders. Sure hope so.

[This message has been edited by Ralf (edited May 13, 2001).]