Sands - 41km Desert Terrain

[[APS]Gnat]

Sands
41km Desert Terrain by Gnat
Before I waste too much time on it, wanted to get some feedback on some specific questions.
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IDEA
- 5 airbases generally layed out in corners and 1 center
- No water
- Terrain is 41km x 41km at 100m to 1000m
- Its a huge area, best for air operations, not really meant for foot or wheeled/tracked
- No towns or other (yet)
- No roads
- More designed to strategic missions, CTI, warefare or Dynamic missions etc
- Infinite terrain works well
- I will give plains, ridges and peaks specific names

QUESTIONS
1)
Five Airbase: is that OK?

2)
Didn't think any of the ArmA2 vegitation suited the terrain, so I'm only going to use Clutter. Anyone think of any plants that might suit the terrain?

3)
No specific towns, industrial areas or landmarks. Was thinking I'd leave it to mission makers to add "targets". Could use "templates" to generate towns or villages etc. Problem?

4)
Simple landmarks: Was thinking I might at a few small random landmarks like a few of the big lattic radio towers on mountain peaks (not the big TV tower, probably). Problem?

5)
No roads, mainly because its a huge map and no landmarks except airbases, so there seems little point. Thoughts?

6)
Rocks: Adding them will be a problem on such a huge landscape, and they will reduce/kill the very nice FPS its got now. I could add a few "clumps" here and there, but not sure their real worth. Thoughts?

As I'm away for work for a month ....
SANDS - BETA 0.1
FILEFRONT DOWNLOAD

Armed Assualt dot Info LINK

Armaholic LINK
Also includes a very rushed crCTI Warefare (last tweaked prior by Squeeze) to suit.
Air transport added to start, along with cheap Aircraft
God knows its probably badly unbalanced

[Requiem007]

1)
Sounds like enough.

2)
I'm not a game modder nor a vegetation specialist so I don't know the names of these types of trees and plants. But here are a few photos of what I deem could be suitable in your Desert Terrain map, http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...3-48-24-83.jpg , this for on top of those mountains even though I think you're planning on using clutter http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...3-49-02-42.jpg , http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/g...3-50-14-24.jpg , http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/g...3-50-24-95.jpg

3)
Don't think I understand the question, but me being a foot-mobile (infantry) junkie I think there should be some form of buildings around the map, and possibly towns. I believe it could be a problem, but I'm apathetic on the matter.

4)
Sounds good for sure, I think their should be some civilization around those towers though, otherwise why would they be there possibly?

5)
Sounds good, dirt roads would probably be nice, but depending on how you plan to map it, it probably won't be necessary.

6)
If there is infantry combat, it could be useful for cover. I think a few heaps of rocks, here and there, would be good.

Hope my input helped a bit.

[Sgt.Spoetnik]

Hi Gnat, its looking good so far, a bit empty in the deserts but indeed great place for air to air combat or big ground combat ops.

first for your questions-
1:you can do with 4 and loose the middle 1, or add 1 extra but think 4 or 5 is enough, ppl can still make a small airbase extra in editor or with template.
2: i dont know all bushes in arma2 but if you got some small brown/green
bushes you can use some off that,
3:think thats ok, mayby only in and around the airfield some buildings and indeed missionmakers can always puth in more buildings.
4:like above,mayby place them in area around the airfield and /off any town
mayby use some Castles ruines,or something else that would fit in.
5:up to you really, I think only a road between the airfields is more than enough, but we still could move around even without a road!
6: like you said,not to many rocks in, only here and there some rocks with some small grub/bush around it.

hope it helps a bit, always nice to see a new map!

cya

[Alex72]

I think only a road between the airfields is more than enough, but we still could move around even without a road!

Yep, and dont forget EMERYS fast attack buggy's are coming. Stand alone (me thinks?) and he donated them to the ACE crew as well to be in ACE2. So there it is. We will have fast offroad movers coupled with a transport helo for them.

Looking good Gnat btw! I concurr with the guys. Some stones/cover and if there is some fitting bushes they could be scattered widely here and there. A lot can be made in the editor by mission makers.

Alex

[Kremator]

Gnat, this is a super idea. Please release. We do need a map that will give us flyboys the room to breathe !

[Merlin]

3)No specific towns, industrial areas or landmarks. Was thinking I'd leave it to mission makers to add "targets". Could use "templates" to generate towns or villages etc. Problem?
i'm not sure if you've seen the film "the Beast" (about a russian tank crew cut off from the rest of it's group and it's battle with a group of mujaheddin) but this map seems pretty similar to Afghanistan, i think some villages would be of tremendous use in missions, however i dont think any urban or industrial areas are necessary, but some pre-placed farming villages composed of slums and clutter definitely do the map good.

4)Simple landmarks: Was thinking I might at a few small random landmarks like a few of the big lattic radio towers on mountain peaks (not the big TV tower, probably). Problem?
definitely like to see some landmarks, they make excellent objectives.

5)No roads, mainly because its a huge map and no landmarks except airbases, so there seems little point. Thoughts?
i think roads are still necessary, at least paths are. paved roads in the middle of the desert not very common, but i think some paths are necessary for convoy missions and ambushes.

[Lee_H._Oswald]

I'm pretty sure, you are doing a great job Gnat!

But in my opinion, a huge desert isn't really interesting, even for air combat.

Rather then a huge desert I would like to see a huge "water world" with many many "desert islands with palm trees".

Some bigger islands for the airports, some medium size for landing strips and a lot of smaller ones with only a helicopter pad with fuel support maybe.



This could be very usefull for aircombat too and players can make use of naval units and the static carrier.



I also hope, that in a near future, we will see the "RKSL CARGO SYSTEM" in ArmA2 so a CTI/Warfare based game where you have to transport

weapons/fuel/support trucks/etc from island to island will be even more fun!

I remember playing cti on AEC island(s) with BAS MH-47E addon.

It was possible to transport support trucks from one island to another, great fun!



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I really don't want to destroy your ideas Gnat, so please see this only as an idea.

Keep up the good work!


MfG Lee

[NoRailgunner]

1) four airbases are ok: two small ones for helicopters/V-STOL planes and two bigger ones for transport/support. At least AI should be able land/start on those two big airports too.

2) think that few desert plants will be ok

3) what about oases?

4) few (ancient) fortifications or ruins, abandoned small desert villages would fit very well too

5) imho some dirt (main) roads connecting airports/villages are better, so there are some working Main Supply Routes.

6) no need for rocks if they dont fit into terrain and make problems.

Would be nice to see a nice and natural looking terrain aswell as proper placed airbases/towns/landmarks etc.

I dont like those artificial islands/terrains which are only made for "comfortable and balanced mission design". They are looking more like those maps from C&C universe.

[andersson]

1 - yes
2 - dry bushes maybe (if there are any), else stone clutter
3 - templates sounds good!
4 - not so sure, easy for missionmakers to put out.
5 - roads will only be necessary if you put buildings on the map.
6 - Rocks please

About 3 and 5, they are dependent on each other. I like roads and you can use them for many scenarious. If you have buildings, templates or not, there should be roads. Its a pain to place roads in the mission editor.. So maybe you should have some towns and villages connected with roads and then templates for smaller building clusters and ruins out for themself.

Or connect the airbases with a roadnetwork and let people place villages through templates along the route!

[ezechiel]

Hi

Seem very nice, but maybe the central airfield could have more buildings, like a "real" military base, like somes barracks and some bunker (i remember a pick of RKSL desert's arma1 map like this; http://img188.imageshack.us/i/bunkery.jpg/
do you see what i mean ?
One road will be cool, just for attack convois stuff ?