[Util] ZDoom Terrain Generator

[wildweasel]

Sorry for bumping this, but it won't run for some reason. How do I use it too?

What are you trying to do with it? If you're only double-clicking on it, then of course it won't "run" - it needs command line arguments from a CMD window.

[enderkevin13]

Sorry for bumping this, but it won't run for some reason. How do I use it too?

What are you trying to do with it? If you're only double-clicking on it, then of course it won't "run" - it needs command line arguments from a CMD window.

Ahh okay.

[Kappes Buur]

Sorry for bumping this, but it won't run for some reason. How do I use it too?

For a more modern approach to terrain see this viewtopic.php?f=3&t=50827#p884605

But to answers your question.
ZTerrain is used with small 8 bit greyscale graphics files, not larger then 64x64, in either bmp or pcx format. I usually have used bmp.
This file represents a heightmap, whites are peaks and blacks are depths.

For example:
for the floor and for the ceiling

From the ZTerrain_Help.txt file you can set up a batch file with appropriate settings

Code: Select all • Expand view

zterrain -size 128 -height 2 -floor f2s.bmp -floortex FLAT5_8 -ceiling c1s.bmp -ceilingz 784 -ceilingtex FLOOR3_3 -lighttype 1 -light 128 -light1 255 -surface 1 -surfacez 128

which creates somewhat of a cave



In GZDoom Builder it looks like this



Insert some monsters on the flat part and you get this in GZDoom



And some more images

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[Graf Zahl]

... and I think the editor screenshot perfectly shows the problem with this tool. It uses an old and horribly outdated method of defining slopes that completely lacks the necessary precision.

[Deybar_TECH]

Wow that's great.
It seems I found what I needed.
I'll test if this works on the island.

EDIT:
But what a mistake.
I had to inform myself more about the subject.

by Nash » Thu May 22, 2014 9:25 pm

On a separate note, ZTerrain is very outdated and uses old techniques (involving slope things) to create slopes. I wouldn't recommend it.

A modern way to create terrain for ZDoom maps is to model the terrain in a 3D program (like Blender), export it as an OBJ and use GZDoom Builder's "import terrain" feature. The resulting map will actually use vertex coordinates to define the slope (modern) VS slope things (outdated).

[Kappes Buur]

I had used Grubber's Terrain Generator extensively in the past. It is great for making the terrain but very difficult to edit in additional features like buildings.

Nowadays you are much better off using vertex height things. They are far more versatile.

If I knew how to use obj models I would use that. I tried but never had any success at it.

[Enjay]

Nowadays you are much better off using vertex height things. They are far more versatile.

Is that better than giving the vertex a height directly (in UDMF)? If so, how?

[Graf Zahl]

They do exactly the same thing,so with UDMF the direct properties make more sense because they add less overhead to the map data.