Hey everyone,
An update just went onto the Production server adding the promised stair/slab/wall/fence variants for terrainsets.
Something I definitely should have done a long time ago.
Since this is a fairly substantial addition, I want to set up some ground rules for updates and create a new thread to allow specific communication of any issues that arise.
First, I do not expect nor condone the use of these variants as a "general substitute" for the full blocks in terraforming. That is, using the variants as some sort of "micro-block" for creating entirely higher resolution mountains in MC. There are a couple reasons for this, one practical and one stylistic. The practical reason is that, from the testing I've done so far, it's incredibly tedious to try to WorldEdit the variants like this in such a way that looks good, even using fancy techniques like adjacency mask. Unless someone manages to create fancy scripts that give good results, I expect it will remain tedious to the point where most will not even attempt it (I know I won't bother in my own builds). The stylistic reason is that it would seem incredibly weird to have these higher resolution mountains in one area, and then full block mountains when you walk to the next project over. Some degree of consistency is desired. And again, unless an easily automated script is devised for updating large chunks of existing land, updating existing land to that higher resolution is pretty much a non-starter. Even the slippery slope of re-painting the map fails, since WorldPainter cannot support this level of block placement.
It's helpful to look at what Conquest-based servers have done, since they've had far more stone variants available for years. Even at major builds on a server like Ardacraft, terraforms predominantly use the full block stone blocks, and only use the variants for accents and details that appear to be manually edited. Here's an example from near Arda's Helm's Deep build. Note that the only use of these variants are the slab blocks towards the center and the wall blocks towards the top right, and to rather good effect.
Second, these blocks should obviously be used to replace the existing uses of cobble stairs/slabs/etc. mixed in with terrainset. This is especially common in cave-like builds with stalactites, such as /warp mistcave, as well as forests which used the rock schemsets, so these will all need to be thoroughly updated (plus the schemsets themselves). Here are some rules to follow in updating these:
Feel free to ask if you have any questions about the above. I'll update this post if I think of anything I forgot.
An update just went onto the Production server adding the promised stair/slab/wall/fence variants for terrainsets.
Something I definitely should have done a long time ago.Since this is a fairly substantial addition, I want to set up some ground rules for updates and create a new thread to allow specific communication of any issues that arise.
First, I do not expect nor condone the use of these variants as a "general substitute" for the full blocks in terraforming. That is, using the variants as some sort of "micro-block" for creating entirely higher resolution mountains in MC. There are a couple reasons for this, one practical and one stylistic. The practical reason is that, from the testing I've done so far, it's incredibly tedious to try to WorldEdit the variants like this in such a way that looks good, even using fancy techniques like adjacency mask. Unless someone manages to create fancy scripts that give good results, I expect it will remain tedious to the point where most will not even attempt it (I know I won't bother in my own builds). The stylistic reason is that it would seem incredibly weird to have these higher resolution mountains in one area, and then full block mountains when you walk to the next project over. Some degree of consistency is desired. And again, unless an easily automated script is devised for updating large chunks of existing land, updating existing land to that higher resolution is pretty much a non-starter. Even the slippery slope of re-painting the map fails, since WorldPainter cannot support this level of block placement.
It's helpful to look at what Conquest-based servers have done, since they've had far more stone variants available for years. Even at major builds on a server like Ardacraft, terraforms predominantly use the full block stone blocks, and only use the variants for accents and details that appear to be manually edited. Here's an example from near Arda's Helm's Deep build. Note that the only use of these variants are the slab blocks towards the center and the wall blocks towards the top right, and to rather good effect.
Second, these blocks should obviously be used to replace the existing uses of cobble stairs/slabs/etc. mixed in with terrainset. This is especially common in cave-like builds with stalactites, such as /warp mistcave, as well as forests which used the rock schemsets, so these will all need to be thoroughly updated (plus the schemsets themselves). Here are some rules to follow in updating these:
- Older builds: Editors+ are free to replace obviously dated mixes of cobble slab/stair/etc. details with the terrainset equivalents on sight. For adding terrainset slabs/stairs/etc. to an area which lacks any sort of slab/stair/etc. details (e.g. sprucing up an old cliff face with nice-looking striations using the slabs), Editors should first ask permission from a mod (sort of like a small unofficial terra project).
- Active builds (& builds previously lead by a currently active builder): Editors+ should ask permission from the project lead. For instance, since @jmcmarq is still an active builder with us, he should have first call on how he wants /warp mistcave to be updated. When in doubt, ask around. The project lead can obviously ask an Editor+ for help replacing these blocks in their projects.
Feel free to ask if you have any questions about the above. I'll update this post if I think of anything I forgot.
