Difference between revisions of "Landscape Generation"

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Fellow modders, I have been using this site (more like the people in it) for a while now to help me understand and use the CS more to it's potential. But, over this time I have seen lots of questions on distant land generation for custom worldspaces, and I believe I have a simple/reliable way of doing so, and was suggested to write this tutorial.I have experimented with the method myself to make sure it is fail safe, as long as the directions are followed correctly. If you try this and have problems, just ask and I will try to help, this works every time for me.
Please note that this was originally posted on Jan. 23rd, 2008 in the Bethesda Game Forums - [http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=800882 Landscape Generation]. It may be better to continue the discussion there, at least for a while.




==Tools==
==Tools==


The only tools you need are [http://projectmanager.f2s.com/morrowind/do...ds/TES4qLOD.zip TES4qLOD], just unpack that into the Oblivion\Date folder. I'll explain how it's used in a minute, and [http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=8665 TES4Gecko], another useful tool.
The only tools you need are:
*[[TES4qLOD]] - just unpack that into the Oblivion\Data folder; I'll explain how it's used in a minute.
*[[TES4Gecko]] - another useful tool.


==Prestep==
==(start) Move Worldspaces==


Start TES4Gecko and click 'move worldspaces', select your plugin and proceed with that, once done go to step one.
Start TES4Gecko and click '''move worldspaces''', select your plugin and proceed with that, once done go to step one.


==Step One==
==(step 1) Deleting old files==


The first thing I do to ensure no mix-ups in the files is delete all of the current LOD data for my worldspace (if any have been generated by you).The folders you delete them from are, ''Oblivion\Data\DistantLOD'' (yourworldspace.lod files), delete the heightfield in the ''Oblivion\data\Heightfield'' folder(''yourwoldspaceOverview''), next is the landscape meshes in the ''Oblivion\Data\Meshes\Landscape\LOD'' folder(.NIF files) and last is the LOD textures in the Oblivion\Data\Textures\LandscapeLOD\Generated folder(DDS files). If that makes you nervous, just don't empty your recycle bun right way. The only files you will see in these folders are things that have been generated by you, so you don't have to worry about any game files except your own previous LOD files(if any).
The first thing I do to insure no mix-ups in the files is delete all of the current LOD data for my worldspace (if any have been generated by you).The folders you delete them from are, Oblivion\Data\DistantLOD (yourworldspace.lod files), delete the heightfield in the Oblivion\data\Heightfield folder(yourwoldspaceOverview), next is the landscape meshes in the Oblivion\Data\Meshes\Landscape\LOD folder(.NIF files) and last is the LOD textures in the Oblivion\Data\Textures\LandscapeLOD\Generated folder(DDS files). If that makes you nervous, just don't empty your recycle bun right way.The only files you will see in these folders are things that have been generated by you, so you don't have to worry about any game files except your own previous LOD files(if any).


==Step Two==
==(step 2) Generating .lod files==


Now its time to open the CS, once you load up your plugin, click on the 'World' tab at the top and scroll down to 'Heightmap Editor' and click it, choose your worldspace. Once you have opened the heightmap editor click the 'View' tab and click 'regenerate overview' and click yes on the window that pops up. Nothing will appear to happen, now save the texture (this will take a minute, depending on size) by clicking the little floppy dick, once it is finished saving, click the 'file' tab go down to 'generate LOD' and click 'full'.This will begin generating .lod files for the land.Once you have complete this(in order) continue to the next step.
Now its time to open the CS, once you load up your plugin, click on the 'World' tab at the top and scroll down to 'Heightmap Editor' and click it, choose your worldspace. Once you have opened the heightmap editor click the 'View' tab and click 'regenerate overview' and click yes on the window that pops up. Nothing will appear to happen, now save the texture (this will take a minute, depending on size) by clicking the little floppy disk, once it is finished saving, click the 'file' tab go down to 'generate LOD' and click 'full'.This will begin generating .lod files for the land.Once you have complete this(in order) continue to the next step.


==Step Three==
==(step 3) Generating textures==


Here's where the TES4qLOD come into play, no landscape modder show go without this. Minimize the CS and go to you ''Oblivion\Data'' folder and open the command consolen (you extracted this from TES4qlod earlier), the command you type is '''TES4qLOD nameofyourworldspace yourplugin.esp'''. If you have converted your plugin into a master just use .esm instead of .esp. If the command was entered correctly it will start it generate textures. Once completed, open up the CS again and click the 'World' tab, scroll down to 'World testing' and click 'update distant LOD data'. Once the box comes up, find your worldspace in the list and click 'Export' (this worldspace only) once its done, save your plugin, try it out and enjoy!
Here's where the TES4qLOD come into play, no landscape modder show go without this. Minimize the CS and go to you ''Oblivion\Data'' folder and open the command console (you extracted this from TES4qlod earlier), the command you type is '''TES4qLOD nameofyourworldspace yourplugin.esp'''. If you have converted your plugin into a master just use .esm instead of .esp. If the command was entered correctly it will start it generate textures. Once completed, open up the CS again and click the 'World' tab, scroll down to 'World testing' and click 'update distant LOD data'. Once the box comes up, find your worldspace in the list and click 'Export' (this worldspace only) once its done, save your plugin, try it out and enjoy!


----
Please note that this was originally posted in the Bethesda Game Forums [http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=800882 here].


[[Category:Tutorials]]
[[Category:Tutorials]]
[[Category:Worldbuilding_Tutorials]]
[[Category:Worldbuilding_Tutorials]]

Latest revision as of 14:10, 4 March 2010

Please note that this was originally posted on Jan. 23rd, 2008 in the Bethesda Game Forums - Landscape Generation. It may be better to continue the discussion there, at least for a while.


Tools[edit | edit source]

The only tools you need are:

  • TES4qLOD - just unpack that into the Oblivion\Data folder; I'll explain how it's used in a minute.
  • TES4Gecko - another useful tool.

(start) Move Worldspaces[edit | edit source]

Start TES4Gecko and click move worldspaces, select your plugin and proceed with that, once done go to step one.

(step 1) Deleting old files[edit | edit source]

The first thing I do to insure no mix-ups in the files is delete all of the current LOD data for my worldspace (if any have been generated by you).The folders you delete them from are, Oblivion\Data\DistantLOD (yourworldspace.lod files), delete the heightfield in the Oblivion\data\Heightfield folder(yourwoldspaceOverview), next is the landscape meshes in the Oblivion\Data\Meshes\Landscape\LOD folder(.NIF files) and last is the LOD textures in the Oblivion\Data\Textures\LandscapeLOD\Generated folder(DDS files). If that makes you nervous, just don't empty your recycle bun right way.The only files you will see in these folders are things that have been generated by you, so you don't have to worry about any game files except your own previous LOD files(if any).

(step 2) Generating .lod files[edit | edit source]

Now its time to open the CS, once you load up your plugin, click on the 'World' tab at the top and scroll down to 'Heightmap Editor' and click it, choose your worldspace. Once you have opened the heightmap editor click the 'View' tab and click 'regenerate overview' and click yes on the window that pops up. Nothing will appear to happen, now save the texture (this will take a minute, depending on size) by clicking the little floppy disk, once it is finished saving, click the 'file' tab go down to 'generate LOD' and click 'full'.This will begin generating .lod files for the land.Once you have complete this(in order) continue to the next step.

(step 3) Generating textures[edit | edit source]

Here's where the TES4qLOD come into play, no landscape modder show go without this. Minimize the CS and go to you Oblivion\Data folder and open the command console (you extracted this from TES4qlod earlier), the command you type is TES4qLOD nameofyourworldspace yourplugin.esp. If you have converted your plugin into a master just use .esm instead of .esp. If the command was entered correctly it will start it generate textures. Once completed, open up the CS again and click the 'World' tab, scroll down to 'World testing' and click 'update distant LOD data'. Once the box comes up, find your worldspace in the list and click 'Export' (this worldspace only) once its done, save your plugin, try it out and enjoy!