Descr terrain.txt

From TWC Wiki

Descr_terrain.txt will be found in the data/world/maps/base folder of a vanilla installation, it may also be placed in the data/world/maps/campaign/campaign_name folder if the other map files are copied there as well.

This is a very small text file that controls some overall functions for the entire campaign and battle map system.

 dimensions
 {
     width  255
     height  156
 }

The dimensions given in the first section must be the size in pixels of the map_regions.tga

 heights
 {
     min_sea_height  -3122.256
     max_land_height  7511.272
 }

Altering the max_land_height figure increases or decreases the scale of the heights on the map, so with the same map_heights.tga you can get a much steeper or flatter effect. Note that changes made to this figure effect the slopes on the battle map as well as on the campaign map.

Changes to the min_sea_height do not have such an immediate visual effect but they do have an effect on some bits of fine detail around the coast line. The sea in map_heights.tga can have a 'depth' set by using different intensities of pure blue hue RGB 0,0,250 or 0,0,253 etc which effects the angle of slope where the coast emerges from the sea - changing the min_sea_height effects that.

Descr_terrain.txt also has values for 'roughness' 'fractal' and 'lattitude' an explanation of the effects of those values is needed.

When increasing or decreasing the max_land_height you automatically have to adjust the min_sea_height. Here's a little formule:

7511.272 - 3122.256 = 4389.016 so land - sea = 4389.016 -> sea = land - 4389.016

You have to make sure that when you increase you land height, you decrease your sea depth by using this formula. This will prevent the screwed-up coastlines you get.