Mapping: Terrain Morphing 4km vs 2km

[CodeRedFox]

[Info] The polygon diffrence between a 2km (12024x2) and a 4km (1024x4) maps.

Hello mappers,

Heres some quick Info on Terrain LODS when dealing with 4km maps.



The image above represents how the BF2 engine creates ground. A series of polygons.

A 1km map will have 1024 x 1024 polygons in a box formation.

Now a 4km has the same 1024 x 1024 but is stretched out 400% bigger. So where you had 4 polygons you now have only one.

• Flat ground: Image show what flat ground looks like.
• Share Incline: Image show what allot of areas on Feyzabad look like (little more drastic here). See the stretched polygons? The game doesn't like this. and at distance tries to un-stretch the polygon.
• Smooth Incline: Image show how the BF2 engine prefers the ground to be. Very little stretching.

Blue color is the polygon size of a 1km map
Green color is the polygon size of a 4lk map (Polygons are twice a big/scaled)



Stretching at distance.



As you can see without smoothing surfaces the engine tries to smooth it at a distance. As you move closer the engine returns the polygons to its correct shape.

Hope that helps all of you.

[=Romagnolo=]

So, was it that messed your new map ? I see it a lot in kashan in the moutain parts. Good to know, thank you for the research.

[CodeRedFox]

This is the exact problem.

[CoOlaiD]

and is there absolutely no way of working around it? and if u import terrian in from max or sum other model software? i know it a pain but dose the same problem occur?

[CodeRedFox]

Yes the way you work around it is smooth it out

You could possibility add the ground in as a static but all of our tests have been bad.

[Rhino]

fixed your title and a little bit in your topic, a 1024x2 map is not 1km, its a 2km squared map

[CodeRedFox]

OH Duh LOL yes

[wuschel]

I am not into mapping, but here is my question:

Would it not help to use 4096x1 instead of 1024x4 for a 4km? As I understood it, we speak about a "polygon stretching problem". With more points in the map, maybe we could take some some strain out.

[Pride]

maximum allowed 'amount of polygons' is 1024x1024.

Therefore the only way to get a 4km map is to use a 1024 scale 4.

[marcoelnk]

it somehow works to create a 2024 x 2024 map but only if everything that is bigger than 1024 x 1024 is water afaik.... and it will be quite buggy i assume. so dont try that.