New terrain generator sneak preview?

[Potjeh]

Hi, devs!

Could you please post some of the results you got with the map generator you're working on right now? I think it'd be neat to see the progress thus far. That is, if it's in a state where it can actually generate maps.

Thanks.

[Lightning2]

Map needs more trees

[Lightning4]

Map needs more trees

IMPOSTOR!

Some little preview images would be nice. I heard the improved tile graphics slipped out for a moment but I missed them.

[Xarx]

Map needs more trees

IMPOSTOR!

Some little preview images would be nice. I heard the improved tile graphics slipped out for a moment but I missed them.

Improved wouldn't be the word I would use. They were different, the Water however looked really cool, couldn't say the same for dirt or swamp though.

[Orion]

Agreed, water looked badass.
The desert would look better if the change from grass to dirt wasn't so sudden. Also dunes would be badass.
Clay/Desert should be seperate tiles as well.

Same applies with swamp. Too sudden of a change.

[loftar]

Could you please post some of the results you got with the map generator you're working on right now? I think it'd be neat to see the progress thus far. That is, if it's in a state where it can actually generate maps.

It's a continued evolution of the current generator, so it can certainly generate maps; however, we're still changing things quite a bit forth and back, so I don't think anything we'd post right now would be too meaningful with regards to the end result. Besides, we want to keep a few surprises to ourselves for now. :)

I think I can safely say so much, though:
* Even though the current mapgen is used as the base for the new one, the new maps will be quite different from the current ones. Certainly in terms of terrain features, but we'll also be changing the mechanics of the various terrain types quite a bit, so the basic gameplay will probably become quite a bit different.
* There will, as previously discussed, be deep water through which you can only swim (until we add boats). Swimming, as we currently imagine it, will have the effects of a constant and rather high stamina drain, which, if draining all stamina, will cause the character to drown (permadie, that is); and that you won't be able to carry things while swimming. Thanks to one of the new terrain surprises, swimming will also, most likely, be rather important. Boats, by the way, will be added, but maybe not until after we have replaced the maps.
* I will, in all likelyhood, see to it that the map is infinitely extendable, as discussed elsewhere. We'll probably post a new map image with the same extent as the current one for public perusal as to the terrain around the RoB.
* The minimap will be continuously updated. (well, not continuously, but at least periodically -- probably once per day)
* It is highly likely that I'll manage to add the cartography skill as discussed elsewhere, but it, too, may not come until after we've replaced the maps.
* We're still discussing exactly what to do with items currently kept by players.

[RaptorJedi]

* There will, as previously discussed, be deep water through which you can only swim (until we add boats). Swimming, as we currently imagine it, will have the effects of a constant and rather high stamina drain, which, if draining all stamina, will cause the character to drown (permadie, that is); and that you won't be able to carry things while swimming. Thanks to one of the new terrain surprises, swimming will also, most likely, be rather important. Boats, by the way, will be added, but maybe not until after we have replaced the maps.

Would this new terrain surprise involve stuff that is under the water, and maybe requires diving to reach?

[loftar]

Would this new terrain surprise involve stuff that is under the water, and maybe requires diving to reach?

That is not something which we have planned yet.

[Potjeh]

Or it could be stuff that's under water, and reaches you when you go for a swim. *dun dun dun*

Anyway, I can understand your reasoning, Loftar. I must admit that I prefer getting most of it as a surprise, but I was really curious about the shape of terrain types. Are they still just blobs, or will they conform to terrain? You know, light forest along river banks, open grassland where there's little shelter from wind and stuff like that.

[Peter]

I think what is meant is that the new map is likely to have quite a few isolated islands, which is awesome. I for one intend to go west until I reach a nice biiiiig ocean, stockpile lumber, and cross the sea, then cross the next continent, build another boat, get to the west coast of THAT next major land mass, then build my settlement there. And I still probably won't be out of reach of most invaders, but it'll be a start.

Failing that, I will instead live entirely at sea, farming in the hold if necessary.