Company of Heroes: Eastern Front

Eastern Front Mod (Read-Only) => Mapping => Topic started by: cephalos on May 15, 2011, 11:11:05 PM

Title: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on May 15, 2011, 11:11:05 PM
.... no, it's not topic about weather. We already have may :)

As we all know ( well, at least the majority), one of the most important battles on Eastern Front took place during winter. Harsh and cold one. In EF maps we would like to recreate this winter. That's why I think there is need for topic like this: how to make maps look more " snowy"?

I know trick with desaturation value, but that's not enough. It just looks... gray, like in thick fog. White sunlight also creates effect of reflections.

Has anyone other ideas how to imitate snow& ice in World Builder?
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on May 15, 2011, 11:16:35 PM
With the Atmosphere Settings you already stated, I'd also add the usage of sand textures to imitate snow (sand_rough, sand_base, sand_base_hires).
For winter-like looking trees try the dead versions of the trees (oak_dead, ...).
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: IJoe on May 15, 2011, 11:17:27 PM
.... no, it's not topic about weather. We already have may :)

As we all know ( well, at least the majority), one of the most important battles on Eastern Front took place during winter. Harsh and cold one. In EF maps we would like to recreate this winter. That's why I think there is need for topic like this: how to make maps look more " snowy"?

I know trick with desaturation value, but that's not enough. It just looks... gray, like in thick fog. White sunlight also creates effect of reflections.

Has anyone other ideas how to imitate snow& ice in World Builder?
See Kiev map.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Seeme on May 17, 2011, 10:56:17 PM
Like this?
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: beagletank on May 18, 2011, 01:02:56 PM
Hi cephalos,

I created a tutorial about winter maps at hq-coh.com.
It is in german, but the pictures should help you. ;)
(soldier and sunlight should be white)

http://hq-coh.com/forum/index.php/topic,24918.0.html (http://hq-coh.com/forum/index.php/topic,24918.0.html)

Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on May 18, 2011, 01:42:36 PM
thanks beagle :) useful tutorial

just one question, what type of grass would you use? I'm trying to recreat Kalach, so I need all possible hints.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: IJoe on May 18, 2011, 01:45:53 PM
thanks beagle :) useful tutorial

just one question, what type of grass would you use? I'm trying to recreat Kalach, so I need all possible hints.
Don't forget to save the map in progress frequently, and best wishes to your work!  ;)
I'm eagerly awaiting it's release, and I bet, I'm not the only one  :)
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on May 18, 2011, 01:53:30 PM
thanks, pariah gave an idea of using a USB driver and making 2 copies. I'll be safe now :)
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: IJoe on May 18, 2011, 02:10:07 PM
thanks, pariah gave an idea of using a USB driver and making 2 copies. I'll be safe now :)
Or you could just save the progress to a new file every time, like Kalach1.sga, Kalach2.sga, Kalach3.sga and so on.  ;)
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on May 18, 2011, 02:33:32 PM
For the grass: Use grass_dead01. It looks white and snow-covered.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on May 18, 2011, 04:44:59 PM
Yup.

I made a few tests and search for some pictures. I came up with one conclusion - winter covers everything in snow, reducing available cover. But also provides additional cover:

(http://imageshack.us/m/692/5046/zaspa.png)

In this picture we can see a characteristic pile of snow - I made snow brighter, because it's fresh and over the older snow ( a bit grayer).

(http://imageshack.us/m/30/5886/zaspaoslona.png)

In this picture we can see situation as above, but in "cover mode" - a pile of snow is big enough to provide additional cover for soliders.

Why I bother? Because the winter, especially when we are talking about plains, where you can hardly find cover reduces this possibility
of finding a good protection ( no trees, no bushes, no ditches or holes in ground). That's why I decided to create some additional cover using snow :)

Kalach v2.0 is going to be very realistic....
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: pariah on May 18, 2011, 05:11:01 PM
Would that happen in real life? Wouldn't the snow land pretty evenly, instead of random piles?
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on May 18, 2011, 05:21:28 PM
well, yes, but there's wind blowing  ::) in some places snow is getting blown away to finish on other snow  ;)
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: pariah on May 18, 2011, 05:38:12 PM
Well that would move all the snow, wouldn't it? :-\

Anyway, how do you turn that into cover? Just curious is all.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on May 18, 2011, 05:45:28 PM
haha, magic trick  ;) . But I can show you if you want.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Blackbishop on May 18, 2011, 05:52:23 PM
haha, magic trick  ;) . But I can show you if you want.
A magician ought never reveal the secrets of the guild :P.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: pariah on May 18, 2011, 05:53:37 PM
If it puts you out, don't worry about it.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Blackbishop on May 18, 2011, 06:09:58 PM
If it puts you out, don't worry about it.
I was joking ;D... you know.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on May 18, 2011, 06:12:45 PM
It's easy. Just follow this steps:

1. Make a spline in WB.
2. find DITCH_HEAVY_01 and assaign
3. make circle around hill ( you need a small hill)
4. click it and find  'Colourize' option
5. what you will see:

(http://imageshack.us/m/151/8062/78648443.jpg)

select lines circled in red, and make them touch each other.

(http://imageshack.us/m/194/4379/99507177.jpg)

in this way. now select each line and set Alpha to 0 ( it's above)

(http://imageshack.us/m/852/5593/85617138.jpg)

just like that. the lowest line should be black

apply and it's done  :)






Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on May 18, 2011, 06:20:01 PM
Damn, I was too slow..  :(

@ceph: You're using good old XP, haha  ;D

It's a good way to create cover. Just like that, you can easily add negative cover to a big open plain by using street textures and put them the same way like what cephalos posted.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: pariah on May 18, 2011, 06:24:42 PM
If it puts you out, don't worry about it.
I was joking ;D... you know.
My post was in reply to cephalos, not you. You just posted before me. ;)

So is this form of cover destructible? I was never aware of this type of cover before... So this will be exclusive to your map, right?
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on May 18, 2011, 06:32:11 PM
This type of cover is indestructible, because the texture always stays there, even if a shitload of artillery was dropped on the little snow hill.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: pariah on May 18, 2011, 06:34:39 PM
Fantastic Havok physics, ey? ;D
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on May 18, 2011, 06:37:18 PM
Yeah. But there might be an opton to destroy the cover. IIRC, artillery craters provide yellow cover, so if the texture (which is invisible) was destroyed, there might be the option that the green cover is replaced by yellow cover where the arty hit. Going to test it this evening.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on May 18, 2011, 06:44:00 PM
you gonna love new Kalach  ;D
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on May 18, 2011, 07:00:00 PM
Are there any screenshots yet? :D
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on May 18, 2011, 08:05:24 PM
oh, curious, huh?  ;)
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on May 18, 2011, 08:29:56 PM
Tak :D
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on May 26, 2011, 12:33:40 PM
(http://imageshack.us/m/28/9440/jeziorko.png)

I found a way to create frozen lake :D

Using SPLATs, exectly NM_SAND----> DITCH_SAND2

quite good effect, don't you think?
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Walentin 'Walki' L. on May 26, 2011, 12:57:45 PM
wow that looks nice. if you want to make even nicer! Use the heightmap editor make a hole in the lake put water into it and then make the terrain higher again. If a mortar hits the lake there will be a water splash instead of a simple crater.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on May 26, 2011, 01:01:57 PM
thanks walki1  :D
I never knew that....
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on May 26, 2011, 01:44:53 PM
wow congrats ceph, that looks really amazing! :D
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on June 25, 2011, 08:15:23 PM
umm... does anyone know how to make snow falling? Like in Leningrad? I need this for my map.... Walki1  ::) pleeeeeaaaasseeeee.....
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on June 25, 2011, 08:22:55 PM
I'm not walki1, but well, here you go:
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Walentin 'Walki' L. on June 26, 2011, 03:27:31 PM
Leningrad has no snow anymore :P.
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on June 26, 2011, 03:48:20 PM
@Maxi - what should I do with this file?
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on June 26, 2011, 03:53:22 PM
Extract it, then load the .aps file using your Worldbuilder (Atmosphere Properties > Load) - if you don't have copes WB fix however, it will crash during loading. Do you own it or should I upload it for you?
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on June 26, 2011, 08:37:52 PM
well, send it to me, because it doesn't work at all  >:(
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: Max 'DonXavi' von B. on June 26, 2011, 10:51:34 PM
CREDITS TO COPERNICUS (I hope I won't get cope'd for this)

This is to place in C:\Users\%username%\Documents\My Games\Company of Heroes
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: RedGuard on June 26, 2011, 11:01:22 PM
beatiful work, keep em comin we appreciate it ;) :) :-*
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: BurroDiablo on June 27, 2011, 03:17:47 AM
If you're still wondering how to make falling snow, Cephalos, copy this under the 'Weather' tab in 'Atmosphere Properties' -

(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/Elburro/Loomis/Chumps/snowsettings.jpg)

Change the density and speed to suit your needs ;)
Title: Re: Winter in USSR
Post by: cephalos on June 27, 2011, 12:53:28 PM
thanks Burro... I'm gonna try both ways though  ::)

and I won't post results till thursday. My pc is coming home, and so do I ( soon).