Mapdev:height
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The height of the terrain is generally defined with a greyscale displacement map with black representing the lowest point on the terrain and white the highest. The height of the terrain can also be modified in game via lua scripting.
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Example Height Map | Ingame Result |
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Specification
mapinfo.lua
local mapinfo = {
...
smf = {
minHeight = 1000,
maxHeight = -300,
...
},
...
}
minHeight and maxHeight
Any values below zero are underwater, see Mapdev:water
Image File
File Location | The height map is an intermediary file compiled into the SMF/SMT files using MapConv or MapConvNG. | ||||||||||||||
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File Format | Any that the Mapconv programs support | ||||||||||||||
Colour Depth | 16bpp recommended, however 8bpp will work. | ||||||||||||||
Channels | Greyscale | ||||||||||||||
Resolution |
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8 vs 16 bpp
These two images show the differences in prescision that the bit depth of the image makes. The effect has been exaggerated here for clarity.
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8bpp | 16bpp |
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+1 pixel
When each pixel represents a vertex you need one extra pixel than the number of quads you are attempting to represent
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Additional Information
ROAM terrain engine
- Official ROAM page
- Gamasutra has a nice article on ROAM
- various other implementations of LOD terrain