Less trees on battlefield

[Mont]

Does anyone knows how to reduce the number of trees on the battlefield, I looked around at some of the files and tried a few things but got nowhere, just find all those trees clutter up my battles on this otherwise fantastic mod.
Im talking about the battlefield generated by the campaign map.

[CenturiO-LuciuS-VorenuS]

I think its Vegetation detail...but i'm not sure..i play with everthing maxed out in graphic options...
anyone feel free to correct what i write...

[Mont]

Thank you for the reply, but I think its abit more complex than that but Ill have a look at it.
+rep to you.

[tone]

Which particular climates are you talking about?
Each climate is pretty easily recognisable by its vegetation......show me some screenshots and I can point you in the right direction.

It's all about adjusting the descr_geography.db, but these data are much easier to adjust now that Squid's editor has come out.

[Úlfhéðinn]

Does anyone knows how to reduce the number of trees on the battlefield, I looked around at some of the files and tried a few things but got nowhere, just find all those trees clutter up my battles on this otherwise fantastic mod.
Im talking about the battlefield generated by the campaign map.

If it's not a matter of lagging caused by trees I wouldn't want to take any of them away.

I would have to say I find the trees in this mod some of the best features. Me and a friend let the battle ravage while just marvelling at all the pretty trees in 3D in the background.
So many different models and they look very good. Much more realistic than those empty fields that make battlefield management too easy.
Well done RS2 team!

[tone]

Thanks. Of all the things I've contributed to this mod, the vegetation, particularly the beech/birch forests and the winter trees, is the thing I feel most pleased with.

[Bull3pr00f de Bodemloze]

You really should be, tone. It's better than any vegetation I've ever seen in the TW series.

[MadJackMcJack]

I think what you want is some way to make the trees transparent, similar to the way banners dissapear when you zoom in. That way, you get all the fun of having a whole load of trees and none of the downside of not being able to see a damn thing. In all fairness to Tone, this is a issue Rome has had since it was released. Can't see the battle for the forest and all that

[Mont]

I also think the trees look great, thanks for your work on some of these Tone, its not a issue of lagging either, its simply personal choice. Its not that I dont like the trees its the number of trees I encounter especialy the small shruby looking ones on the battlefield. I like a more open battlefield so I can see whats happening, the kind I am use to on other mods in areas traditionally more open. I have had alook at Squids editor but could not use it cause I need some other programs to run it but I might give it another look in. I believe that the battles of this period with some exceptions took place on terrain that was reasonably flat and open so that the armies could manouver, ie Greece is mountainous but the battles occur in on the plains usually by mutual consent, set piece battles usually do not occur unless both side feel they have a chance of winning. Thank you all for the replys, its really is not a major issue, if I can not ajust things its Ok, I still enjoy the mod.

+rep to all.

[Octavius-Augustus]

Does anyone knows how to reduce the number of trees on the battlefield, I looked around at some of the files and tried a few things but got nowhere, just find all those trees clutter up my battles on this otherwise fantastic mod.
Im talking about the battlefield generated by the campaign map.

Interesting, I was also thinking of posting a similar request regarding vegetation. I really like the new and immersive, lush vegetation, it really puts me in ancient atmosphere, since vegetation was a lot more back then in some places. No need to comment on the quality of tone's work, it's breathtaking and revolutionary in RTW modding.

Still, I'm cursed with a crappy PC (mainly videocard wise) so in some battles - especially when one of the armies is stepping on vegetation on the campaign map - I get a map that has trees covering up to 70-80% of the battlefield and the surrounding terrain (which is in some cases also rendered on screen, I can see lots of trees very far in the distance), so this is a lot for my PC to take, along with two stacks of units. It seems to happen a lot with a very tall variant of a tree - they look 'cloned'; same height, unlike regular RS II battle vegetation that is way more diverse, it seems to me.

It's vital to explain that I play with every single setting on 'Low' to avoid any lag. The game experience is not as fun or pretty as it should be but I get very much lagless battles when the terrain doesn't have hundreds, maybe thousands of trees all around the battle map. I even see them as 'sprites'/low detail, yet their sheer number and density seem to affect performance... And also in battle, units have a hard time maneuvering such obstacles.

I have to admit this issue doesn't bother me that much because I try to avoid fighting in woods anyway (since I play as Rome and this doesn't happen all the time) but if I play a Barbaric factions, ambushes are a must from my side. So, is it possible that the future patch or maybe a submod fixes this for guys with low-end PCs like me could use?

I'm not trying to complain just because I have an old graphics card. I'm just saying this seems like an issue both performance and gameplay wise, at least for me personally. I maybe could be able to post a few screens of some example battles, if that's necessary.

[tone]

Interesting, I was also thinking of posting a similar request regarding vegetation. I really like the new and immersive, lush vegetation, it really puts me in ancient atmosphere, since vegetation was a lot more back then in some places. No need to comment on the quality of tone's work, it's breathtaking and revolutionary in RTW modding.

Still, I'm cursed with a crappy PC (mainly videocard wise) so in some battles - especially when one of the armies is stepping on vegetation on the campaign map - I get a map that has trees covering up to 70-80% of the battlefield and the surrounding terrain (which is in some cases also rendered on screen, I can see lots of trees very far in the distance), so this is a lot for my PC to take, along with two stacks of units. It seems to happen a lot with a very tall variant of a tree - they look 'cloned'; same height, unlike regular RS II battle vegetation that is way more diverse, it seems to me.

It's vital to explain that I play with every single setting on 'Low' to avoid any lag. The game experience is not as fun or pretty as it should be but I get very much lagless battles when the terrain doesn't have hundreds, maybe thousands of trees all around the battle map. I even see them as 'sprites'/low detail, yet their sheer number and density seem to affect performance... And also in battle, units have a hard time maneuvering such obstacles.

I have to admit this issue doesn't bother me that much because I try to avoid fighting in woods anyway (since I play as Rome and this doesn't happen all the time) but if I play a Barbaric factions, ambushes are a must from my side. So, is it possible that the future patch or maybe a submod fixes this for guys with low-end PCs like me could use?

I'm not trying to complain just because I have an old graphics card. I'm just saying this seems like an issue both performance and gameplay wise, at least for me personally. I maybe could be able to post a few screens of some example battles, if that's necessary.

The far trees are 2D sprites so shouldn't affect things too much.
Have you tried the "low res vegetation" in the launcher? It reduces tree density somewhat in the forests.

It seems to happen a lot with a very tall variant of a tree

Screenshot please

[Octavius-Augustus]

The far trees are 2D sprites so shouldn't affect things too much.
Have you tried the "low res vegetation" in the launcher? It reduces tree density somewhat in the forests.



Screenshot please

Thanks tone, I had no idea of the 'low res' option, as it asks you only if you click the button 'Click to change vegetation'.

Not only the far trees are sprites because I have all graphics options to a minimum. They shouldn't be a problem as in most battles, when tree density/cover of battlefield is 'normal'. In some cases though, the sheer number of trees was so overwhelming that it causes a significant lag, the type which makes the game unplayable.


I'll try out the 'low res' option and see how it changes things. Or maybe first I'll try to take screens of the 'normal' vegetation so you can see what I was trying to explain in the first place.

[Mont]

Perhaps some one could release a sub mod of the descr_geography.db for players that have issues with the large number of trees, cause I really have no idea about how to mod such things I really just play the game.

I to also have a crappy PC.

[Gromovnik]

Perhaps some one could release a sub mod of the descr_geography.db for players that have issues with the large number of trees, cause I really have no idea about how to mod such things I really just play the game.

I to also have a crappy PC.

my thoughts exactly, I really need a new machine...

[Octavius-Augustus]

my thoughts exactly, I really need a new machine...

Finally, some comrades with which I have a low-end computer in common

I think what you want is some way to make the trees transparent, similar to the way banners dissapear when you zoom in. That way, you get all the fun of having a whole load of trees and none of the downside of not being able to see a damn thing. In all fairness to Tone, this is a issue Rome has had since it was released. Can't see the battle for the forest and all that

Nice idea with the 'invisible' trees, I might add a similar solution might be to make the 'huge' type of tree I mentioned earlier a very small tree/bush. Still, I believe that such abundance of trees I get on some occassions will inevitably cause lag whatever the model. I might be wrong, though.

[Mont]

Brotherhood of the crappy PCs, lol. I have tinkered with some files, basically tried substituting from other mods, still can not get the tree count down, I would be happy just to revert to the original RTW set up but nothing I do even changes things, substituted the descr_geography db, and still nothing changed? I would be happy even if I could get rid of those small shruby looking trees that look like cheery blossoms. Would any body know how to revert to the original RTW vegetation and battlefield ( I appreciate the work of Tone and others, but I am willing to put up with those huge tree trunks etc). I dont think even changing the layouts in the battlefield folder makes a diffrence.

[dvk901]

There is a folder in the _Important_stuff folder called 'Low_res_Vegetation'....actually, there are three variations: High-Res, Default (which is what the mod comes with), and Low-Res. These three basically change the density and distance at which trees are seen.

As for changing the density of trees on the battlefield, there are two ways. As Tone said, you can use Squid's Geography.DB editor.......but to be honest, unless you spend hours and hour...and then more hours and weeks figuring out how to really use this thing without breaking stuff, I wouldn't touch it. Even I have no idea how Tone adjusts tree density with that program, and I started working on the environment a couple years ago!

The only other way is to change the 'layout' files for the climate....but here again, you cannot do this. The vegetation can't be regenerated in RS2, and you would screw up all the sprites and canopy\edging files even if it could.

I would suggest trying the Low_res Vegetation for anyone with a lower end PC, and definitely reduce unit sizes to normal or Large.

[Mont]

Thanks for your advise dvk901, I have had a look at things you have mentioned, and have concluded to leave things alone.

[viktorslama]

Since I use a mac, the only way of altering trees for me must not involve the Launcher. If I understand it correctly, I have to copy the low-res trees folder into the main Data folder? Even if I use BI? There appears to be no vegetation files in BI's or the PlayX's folders.

tl;dr low'res files go into main Data?

[CatoTheYounger]

Maybe this is the same guy that hates hills. Give him generic grassy flatlands and he is in Valhalla.