Improved Level Generator

Crono · #1 12-09-2006, 10:06 PM

We really need an updated Level Generator. I understand it's meant to quickly generate groundwork to build up from, but cliffs need to be seriously revised. Below I've posted a generated cliff and next to it corrections I made to it.

I don't see why these corrections are not being generated to begin with, they're quite basic. As basic as connecting dirt paths, which the generator ironically does correctly.

The Pictures:

The one to the left is the one from the level generator and the one to the right is one that I have connected.

Important Notes

The water cliffing is also messed up, but you get the general idea by my land cliffing.

The top section of the cliffs had to be pushed down one tile due to the way Graal's up direction cliffs are messed up. The style I use for the up direction (the /\ /\ /\ style) was one presented to me by WanDaMan which eliminates the natural tile errors the cliff tiles present.

Notice how the sides of the cliffs have those annoying little dots (on the generated one, which is solved in my screenshot).

Minor Notes

The shadows sare annoying because they go around the cliffs which is unrealistic. In level gen we should have some kind of "Sun direction" option which corrects this along with shadows on for example houses.

I do realize the screenshots are a bit different in terms of location, the first one was done on a gmap so more was visible. The second one was offline so I hope that explains why they don't look exactly the same.

Devil · #2 12-10-2006, 01:00 AM

I never really noticed that stupid shadow around the cliffs until you pointed it out, definately needs to be changed..

Crono · #3 12-10-2006, 01:27 AM

Look at the cliff sizes, they are wrong. Look at the way cliffs are connected, also wrong. Look at all those tile errors, all wrong. I hope Stefan replies or something, because this is a big deal.

Devil · #4 12-10-2006, 01:33 AM

Yeah it is a big deal, I totally agree.. Graal has been around for enough years now to fix these errors, it's about time to fix them I say.

I hope everyone else around here agrees also.

Admins · #5 12-10-2006, 01:58 AM

The level generator uses a grid, can't make it perfect for each possible situation, although there are scripted level generators out there which might work better in that case. The same for the shadow.

Crono · #6 12-10-2006, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

The level generator uses a grid, can't make it perfect for each possible situation, although there are scripted level generators out there which might work better in that case. The same for the shadow.

But can't you make it atleast use the correct cliff length and corners? I mean the dirt tiles are connected perfectly. I see nothing wrong with fine tuning the current Level Generator. I mean this is a basic developmental tool everyone uses for GMAPs and such. It might as well be correct.

excaliber7388 · #7 12-10-2006, 04:03 AM

Again with a "do it better yourself" approach? =\

p2p_Sir_Link · #8 12-10-2006, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excaliber7388

Again with a "do it better yourself" approach? =\

What was the name of that guy a year ago or so who was asking for the development of tools to make a server for him?

excaliber7388 · #9 12-10-2006, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by p2p_Sir_Link

What was the name of that guy a year ago or so who was asking for the development of tools to make a server for him?

Skyld · #10 12-10-2006, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by p2p_Sir_Link

What was the name of that guy a year ago or so who was asking for the development of tools to make a server for him?

Xcessive54321, if I am correct.

The level generator could do with some improvements; I have previously found it to be quite patchy.

p2p_Sir_Link · #11 12-11-2006, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyld

Xcessive54321, if I am correct.

The level generator could do with some improvements; I have previously found it to be quite patchy.

Ah yea, that was the guy.

To make the Level Generator better, you'd probably have to slightly improve it's ability to read a PNG, and perhaps add some options for how to have the shadows.

Admins · #12 12-10-2006, 02:29 PM

Well it could be possible at some time to convert the level generator to graal script so that servers can use it and improve it

Tyhm · #13 12-10-2006, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

Well it could be possible at some time to convert the level generator to graal script so that servers can use it and improve it

I like this plan. Then Mac and Linux users would have access.

excaliber7388 · #14 12-10-2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyhm

I like this plan. Then Mac and Linux users would have access.

As long as someone does it

maximus_asinus · #15 12-10-2006, 07:40 PM

I make my GMAPs from scratch. Sure it may take a little longer, but I can put something together that looks a hell of a lot better then what comes out of the generator, and is exactly what I want.