Winter in USSR

[cephalos]

.... 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?

[Max 'DonXavi' von B.]

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, ...).

[IJoe]

.... 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.

[Seeme]

Like this?

[beagletank]

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

[cephalos]

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.

[IJoe]

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 

[cephalos]

thanks, pariah gave an idea of using a USB driver and making 2 copies. I'll be safe now

[IJoe]

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. 

[Max 'DonXavi' von B.]

For the grass: Use grass_dead01. It looks white and snow-covered.

[cephalos]

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:



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).



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....

[pariah]

Would that happen in real life? Wouldn't the snow land pretty evenly, instead of random piles?

[cephalos]

well, yes, but there's wind blowing  in some places snow is getting blown away to finish on other snow 

[pariah]

Well that would move all the snow, wouldn't it?

Anyway, how do you turn that into cover? Just curious is all.

[cephalos]

haha, magic trick  . But I can show you if you want.