Possible solution for harbor rendering bug

Zel · 12-14-10, 07:27 PM

We know the problem with sh4's harbors is that they are rendered up to maybe 3 km distance or so. Beyond that they disappear.

While I was working on destructible land units, an idea occured to me. We could turn a whole harbor into a land unit. Land units are rendered at full distance.

I tried it. I placed a 3D map location Wilhelmshaven, and right on top of it a Land unit Wilhelmshaven (cloned dat). It worked. I could see the harbor from 12 km away!

The land unit is not enough, it has no collision zones. So the regular 3D map location has to be in the exact spot, as it provides the collision zones.

Jan Kyster · 12-15-10, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zel

...an idea occured to me.

Another brilliant one, I must say!

Always found it annoying you couldn't see the harbour until up close and on the old system it always caused a kind of "lag", when it was rendered (on the new system - not so much

) so this will be a very welcomed addition!

So... now you add destructible land units to all harbours and you will also transfer all harbours to land units?

When is it released?

Zel · 12-15-10, 08:42 AM

Looks like i'll be doing an overhaul of Campaign_LOC! The one i have on my system, honestly i don't recall which mod it came from. I probably merged different ones. It has about 970 map locations.

I'm working on the fixed harbors now. Adding destructible buildings to the campaign is going to take more time. I could use some help with that.

The harbors themselves aren't destructible, but I could add destructible buildings close to the harbors.

I was thinking of adding army camps, lookout towers, factories and oil depots to the campaign layers for the US campaign. Maybe even land based radars.

12-15-10, 09:37 AM

it always drove me crazy to line up take a well aimed long range shot (usually with the last one or two torps i had left) at a ship in the harbor only to hit the "invisible" dock that hasnt rendered yet because im too far away to see it

Zel · 12-15-10, 10:47 AM

Hopefully we'll be able to fix this now.

I've done some tests, and it seems that height placement is an issue with some harbors. I could move them a bit, but this could cause problems with docked ships.

A standard harbor location is height adjusted according to the entire 3d model. But the land unit is adjusted according to the center point, which can mean sunken harbors.

I'll see what can be done about this.

Zel · 12-17-10, 12:07 PM

I've resolved the harbor height issue, and still have some height issues with cities.

The harbor fix is on the way, about 1/3 complete now. I'm only fixing the harbors in the pacific.

Alky · 12-17-10, 06:49 PM

It would be nice to make the land based artillery destructable. Those pesky things keep shooting at me while I'm trying to take out the stationery ships, good thing their aim sux

Zel · 12-18-10, 12:27 PM

Your idea came in the right time.. i've just got my Jap Tank working.. the little bugger actually shoots! I'll still need a 3d model of a dirt hill or something, so i can place it on elevations above 1 m.

And if i made the coastal guns destructible, i'd have to check the coastal_battery layers, to make sure all of them are on low elevation. Otherwise they would end up inside the terrain!

Zel · 12-18-10, 07:39 PM

Is anyone interested in some beta testing for the harbor fix?

Jan Kyster · 12-18-10, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zel

.. i've just got my Jap Tank working.. the little bugger actually shoots!

Great! One more thing that throws stuff after us!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zel

...coastal_battery layers, to make sure all of them are on low elevation. Otherwise they would end up inside the terrain!

No complaints here!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zel

Is anyone interested in some beta testing for the harbor fix?

Ship links and instructions and I'm at your service!

12-14-10, 07:27 PM	#1
Zel Sailor man Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 45 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Possible solution for harbor rendering bug We know the problem with sh4's harbors is that they are rendered up to maybe 3 km distance or so. Beyond that they disappear. While I was working on destructible land units, an idea occured to me. We could turn a whole harbor into a land unit. Land units are rendered at full distance. I tried it. I placed a 3D map location Wilhelmshaven, and right on top of it a Land unit Wilhelmshaven (cloned dat). It worked. I could see the harbor from 12 km away! The land unit is not enough, it has no collision zones. So the regular 3D map location has to be in the exact spot, as it provides the collision zones.

12-17-10, 06:49 PM	#7
Alky Lieutenant Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Abbotsford BC Canada Posts: 258 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 0	It would be nice to make the land based artillery destructable. Those pesky things keep shooting at me while I'm trying to take out the stationery ships, good thing their aim sux __________________

12-15-10, 08:42 AM	#3
Zel Sailor man Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 45 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Looks like i'll be doing an overhaul of Campaign_LOC! The one i have on my system, honestly i don't recall which mod it came from. I probably merged different ones. It has about 970 map locations. I'm working on the fixed harbors now. Adding destructible buildings to the campaign is going to take more time. I could use some help with that. The harbors themselves aren't destructible, but I could add destructible buildings close to the harbors. I was thinking of adding army camps, lookout towers, factories and oil depots to the campaign layers for the US campaign. Maybe even land based radars.

12-15-10, 09:37 AM	#4
Webster Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	it always drove me crazy to line up take a well aimed long range shot (usually with the last one or two torps i had left) at a ship in the harbor only to hit the "invisible" dock that hasnt rendered yet because im too far away to see it

12-15-10, 10:47 AM	#5
Zel Sailor man Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 45 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Hopefully we'll be able to fix this now. I've done some tests, and it seems that height placement is an issue with some harbors. I could move them a bit, but this could cause problems with docked ships. A standard harbor location is height adjusted according to the entire 3d model. But the land unit is adjusted according to the center point, which can mean sunken harbors. I'll see what can be done about this.

12-17-10, 12:07 PM	#6
Zel Sailor man Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 45 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	I've resolved the harbor height issue, and still have some height issues with cities. The harbor fix is on the way, about 1/3 complete now. I'm only fixing the harbors in the pacific.

12-18-10, 12:27 PM	#8
Zel Sailor man Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 45 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Your idea came in the right time.. i've just got my Jap Tank working.. the little bugger actually shoots! I'll still need a 3d model of a dirt hill or something, so i can place it on elevations above 1 m. And if i made the coastal guns destructible, i'd have to check the coastal_battery layers, to make sure all of them are on low elevation. Otherwise they would end up inside the terrain!

12-18-10, 07:39 PM	#9
Zel Sailor man Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 45 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Is anyone interested in some beta testing for the harbor fix?