Bush's Geotypical Microterrains - Source Files & Beginners Guide

[Bushlurker]

Bush's Geotypical Microterrains - A Beginners Guide

1st Edition

Finally, as promised quite some time ago , here's the first of my "microterrain" Source File packages, plus a fairly detailed Beginners Guide... (42 page/18,000 word pdf file with clickable main index).

This guide is primarily designed to accompany the Bush's Geotypical Microterrains series of source files packages. As such, it's not really a complete, from-scratch, teach-you-everything-you'll-ever-need-to-know-about-terrainmaking tutorial. However, there is a pretty comprehensive "beginners" section which, after some initial install and setup instructions, directs you to Sgt Ace's Tutorial - thereafter, the rest of this guide is more like a mechanics manual - the simple mechanics of getting basic terrain structures working and in-game are discussed in some detail... the files you need, what they are, what they do and where to put them.

After an introductory setup section for beginners, the main part of this guide takes the form of a walkthrough of the Afghan Valley - Ghor Province example terrain source files. As we consider each folder and file, there's instructions on repathing and renaming each of the example files into your own "Namespace" or "Tag Folder", including renaming the terrain itself. By the end of the guide, the reader should have a complete and working renamed version of Afghan Valley... your terrain now, and your working structure! You can use that as a basis for your own project - adding your own enhancements to that basic framework, or use the whole folder structure as a project template.

Some of those enhancements will be illustrated by subsequent terrains in the series - with "advanced-level" appendices added to the end of the guide. Etah Plateau, for example, will include custom "terrainHit" sounds (footsteps to you and me), and appropriate discussion of the extra files and steps involved will be added to the guide. The Faffindale source files pack will contain its associated WorldTools project file, so there'll be some brief matching discussion of basic forest masks and importing vegetation, etc.

What's not discussed much, if at all, is any of the truly creative stuff, like sculpting heightmaps, or painting Satellite or Mask files. Nor will I be covering roads, or placing buildings and objects, etc. When you get to that creative stage there's a wide variety of options - real or artificial heightmaps? satellite or hand-painted satmaps? Regardless of how you choose to actually make these parts of your terrain project, the final result will depend on one common factor - getting them into Visitor in a coherent structure it expects, then getting that terrain through binarization and into the game. This guide will focus on that basic, practical procedure at a very simple "entry" level.


I'll release subsequent terrain source files packages plus a matching updated version of the guide as and when my other commitments allow...

Download

Bush's Geotypical Microterrains - A Beginners Guide. 1st Edition.
Armaholic Mirror - Guide & Source Files Link


Additional Downloads
Bush's GM Heightmap Bonus Pack #1
Full details in this post

Credits & Thanks
Spoiler:

show spoiler

Many people have contributed directly and indirectly to this guide - from the Old Pros who answered my own dumb beginners questions back when I was starting out, to more recent and direct contributions, in the form of custom parameters, files and scripts contributed specifically for this series... Without your early encouragement and ongoing support I'd have missed out on all the truly unique and creative fun that making your own World from scratch can be!

Gentlemen... I thank you all...

Opteryx
OldBear
IceBreakr
Gnat
Planck
Beton
Atsche
Alliexx
Shezan74
Tupolov
Prowler.Wolf
Mondkalb
Mikero
Wolle
JRWalker
Q / Kju / PvPscene
... and all the others I just haven't remembered yet...

B

[ArmAriffic]

Sweet

[Fogu]

your my hero.
thx

[kimmo]

Thanks Bush Amazing

[Foxhound]

Release frontpaged on the Armaholic homepage.

Bush's Geotypical Microterrains - A Beginners Guide - 1st Edition


Arma 2 (for the source files)

The source files are available for download on the Beginners Guide downloadpage!

[EOOQE]

Nice !! That´s what i was waiting for !!!

[Glowbal]

Thank you for this!

[EOOQE]

Strange ...

i tryed your Tutorial now 2 times . First exactly as you wrote ...retagged everything etc. Works so far in Visitor and looks nice in Buldozer. After Binpbo i got hunderts of errors in the log file and the map dont show up in arma.

second try with Bush\ Tag as they were and P:\Bush\AfghanValley

same thing ... i dont know what to do now The P Drive is set up via ARMA2P, without errors etc ... all fine.

and Idea Bush ?

No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.noDetailDist'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.fullDetailDist'.
'/' is not a value
Cannot open object ca\plants_e\clutter\c_brush_hard_ep1.p3d
Cannot open object ca\plants_e\clutter\c_brush_soft_ep1.p3d
Cannot open object ca\plants_e\clutter\c_plants_violet_ep1.p3d
Cannot open object ca\plants_e\clutter\c_plants_white_ep1.p3d
Cannot open object ca\plants_e\clutter\c_weed_thistle_ep1.p3d
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.Rain'.
No entry '.raindrop'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.skyObject'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.starsObject'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.pointObject'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.horizontObject'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.haloObject'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.Weather'.
No entry '.Overcast'.
No entry '.Lighting'.
No weather defined in .Overcast
No lighting defined in .Lighting
No entry '.ThunderboltNorm'.
No entry '.model'.
'/' is not a value
No entry '.soundFar'.
Size: '/' not an array
No entry '.soundNear'.
Size: '/' not an array
No entry '.ThunderboltHeavy'.
No entry '.model'.
'/' is not a value
No entry '.soundFar'.
Size: '/' not an array
No entry '.soundNear'.
Size: '/' not an array
No entry '.temperatureDayMax'.
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Warning: expected 12 values in the array , but only 0 present
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Error: unable to load content of the array 
No entry '.temperatureDayMin'.
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Warning: expected 12 values in the array , but only 0 present
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Error: unable to load content of the array 
No entry '.temperatureNightMax'.
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Warning: expected 12 values in the array , but only 0 present
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Error: unable to load content of the array 
No entry '.temperatureNightMin'.
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Warning: expected 12 values in the array , but only 0 present
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Size: '/' not an array
Error: unable to load content of the array 
No entry '.overcastTemperatureFactor'.
'/' is not a value
No entry '.blackSurfaceTemperatureDelta'.
'/' is not a value
No entry '.whiteSurfaceTemperatureDelta'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.seaTexture'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.Rain'.
No entry '.texture'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.seaMaterial'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.shoreMaterial'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.shoreFoamMaterial'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.shoreWetMaterial'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.terrainMaterial'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.clouds'.
[]: '/' not an array
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.clouds'.
[]: '/' not an array
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.clouds'.
[]: '/' not an array
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.clouds'.
[]: '/' not an array
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.clutterGrid'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.clutterDist'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.noDetailDist'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.fullDetailDist'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.Rain'.
No entry '.raindrop'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.skyObject'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.starsObject'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.pointObject'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.horizontObject'.
'/' is not a value
No entry 'X:\BIS TOOLS\BinMake\Binarize\bin\config.cpp/CfgWorlds/AfghanValley.haloObject'.
'/' is not a value
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_000-000_l01_n.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_000-000_l01_n.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_000-000_l01_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_000-000_l01_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_001-000_n_l01_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_001-000_n_l01_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_001-000_n_n_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_001-000_n_n_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_001-000_l00_n_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_001-000_l00_n_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_001-000_l00_l01_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_001-000_l00_l01_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_002-000_n_l01_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_002-000_n_l01_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_002-000_n_n_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_002-000_n_n_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_002-000_l00_n_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_002-000_l00_n_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_002-000_l00_l01_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_002-000_l00_l01_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_003-000_n_n_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_003-000_n_n_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_003-000_l00_n_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_003-000_l00_n_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_003-000_l00_l01_l02.rvmat.
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_003-000_l00_l01_l02.rvmat
Cannot load material file bush\afghanvalley\data\layers\p_004-000_n_n_l02.rvmat.

[Bushlurker]

aaah!

Looks like you're missing all the Arrowhead stuff - do you have Arrowhead installed? or CO?
The terrain itself would probably work OK in Visitor & Buldozer, even with an Arma2-only setup - the config and the Takistan parameters & clutter don't kick in until the binarizing stage - which is where it seems theres a problem....

I made a big thing about the terrains "requiring CO" (mostly), but I forgot entirely about the guide... I'll amend the first post to mention that... my apologies if that's what the problem is...

B

[EOOQE]

aaah!

Looks like you're missing all the Arrowhead stuff - do you have Arrowhead installed? or CO?
The terrain itself would probably work OK in Visitor & Buldozer, even with an Arma2-only setup - the config and the Takistan parameters & clutter don't kick in until the binarizing stage - which is where it seems theres a problem....

I made a big thing about the terrains "requiring CO" (mostly), but I forgot entirely about the guide... I'll amend the first post to mention that...

B

Sure i have Arma2 , Arrowhead , BAF and PMC installed ..all working with tons of addons , maps etc ... as CO installed correctly ... strange

just checked again : Cannot open object ca\plants_e\clutter\c_brush_hard_ep1.p3d
the file is there ! also all other _e Folder from Arrowhead , even the BAF and PMC folders are in CA on P Drive