I'm feeling like making a cityscape at dawn. It will be a senerio of something if I ever get it done. Anyway, what I want to do is make a powerful Dominion city, like Korhal. I'm not sure where to begin since I automatically mirror things without thinking.
I know the fundimentals, but it's good to see them written out.
Here is a pic of the first area I worked on just to give you an idea. Yes, I know it's very small and not much but here. I guess I can call this one a "showcase" that I might turn into a campaignstyle if good enough.
edit: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo...... IT CRASHED!!!!!!
Well, I'd say you have to think it out more. Do you want 'a city' or a buzzling metropolis? For the latter, lowering ground and adding an extra dimension by placing skyscrapers and flying units/cars there works well. For the first, you'll have to imitate a normal city like New York, mostly. Also consider what's going to be on the outskirts of your city - is the entire map going to be cityscape or are you creating an 'entrance' to the city?
I was hoping I could create TRON city, minus the flying cars and such. I guess I want it to be like the heart of an empire. It will have grassy or rocky areas on the outside because I am trying to create the entire metropolis. Here is a great city I found through someone else but I am going to be using Korhal not Tarsonis.
Well I am making mountains on the outer edges and then using cliffs to define the edges of the city itself. I like it so far and I'll keep you posted.
If you want to make it "realistic", I think you should try to emulate basic city stuff. Search stuff every city has, and place them around. For example, a hospital or a security base, as well as markets and urbanizations. Try to make a logic train route, too, as well as roads and streets.
Later, you could try to make different districts, following themes like "miner district" or "rich district".
I think another good thing is to start out at one side, or the middle.. and build it from there, expand your map bounds if you need etc because right now I am sure you will end up with a lack of space or spaces you don't know what you should do with. Maybe it's too small, too big etc...
The dominion train might be a unit. Or a campaign dependant doodad. As for the monorail track - aren't there just different pieces of rail you can put next to eachother?
When designing a city environment, I personally find it best to layout the roads first. So lay down your roads, get nice 45 and 90 degree angles on everything, think up some interesting (and realistic layouts). Remember that any functioning city has parking lots - lots of them! Throw some parking spaces in. Once your streets are layed out you can go ahead and start placing down the largest buildings.
At this point you'll see a general city start to form - continue with smaller buildings, and eventually moving to small details like sidewalks if you like, street lights, foliage, and more.
Remember, 45 degree angles are your friend :) Placing doodads at those angles can look a lot nicer than the 90 degree head-on angles you are using now.
Edit: here's some good examples... this stuff is not my own work. These are screens from red alert 3.
Here's two practical examples of what I mean, took these really quick from a map im working on.
The first pic you can see I've just layed out the very basic road shapes and blocked out roughly where buildings will go. Then into mspaint to draw on some more smaller roads.
Pic #2 shows what it becomes, my example is more of a middle-eastern desert town, but the same principles will apply if you are building a bustling metropolis. Road layout - buildings - details (in that order).
I'm feeling like making a cityscape at dawn. It will be a senerio of something if I ever get it done. Anyway, what I want to do is make a powerful Dominion city, like Korhal. I'm not sure where to begin since I automatically mirror things without thinking.
Does this help? You might already know some of that, but if you just need to get started...
@Mozared: Go
I know the fundimentals, but it's good to see them written out.
Here is a pic of the first area I worked on just to give you an idea. Yes, I know it's very small and not much but here. I guess I can call this one a "showcase" that I might turn into a campaignstyle if good enough.
edit: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo...... IT CRASHED!!!!!!
Well, I'd say you have to think it out more. Do you want 'a city' or a buzzling metropolis? For the latter, lowering ground and adding an extra dimension by placing skyscrapers and flying units/cars there works well. For the first, you'll have to imitate a normal city like New York, mostly. Also consider what's going to be on the outskirts of your city - is the entire map going to be cityscape or are you creating an 'entrance' to the city?
@Mozared: Go
I was hoping I could create TRON city, minus the flying cars and such. I guess I want it to be like the heart of an empire. It will have grassy or rocky areas on the outside because I am trying to create the entire metropolis. Here is a great city I found through someone else but I am going to be using Korhal not Tarsonis.
Well I am making mountains on the outer edges and then using cliffs to define the edges of the city itself. I like it so far and I'll keep you posted.
So how do I turn this into a city from here?
If you want to make it "realistic", I think you should try to emulate basic city stuff. Search stuff every city has, and place them around. For example, a hospital or a security base, as well as markets and urbanizations. Try to make a logic train route, too, as well as roads and streets.
Later, you could try to make different districts, following themes like "miner district" or "rich district".
Hope it's of help :).
I think another good thing is to start out at one side, or the middle.. and build it from there, expand your map bounds if you need etc because right now I am sure you will end up with a lack of space or spaces you don't know what you should do with. Maybe it's too small, too big etc...
@Lonami: Go
So where can i find train traks? I can't find them...
There's a monorail track in the doodads.
@Mozared: Go
I meant the dominion train. How do you use the monorail track post doodad?
The dominion train might be a unit. Or a campaign dependant doodad. As for the monorail track - aren't there just different pieces of rail you can put next to eachother?
@Mozared: Go
Which I am doing yes. I was wondering how do I make a station though. Where you get on and off. that is.
I think its a unit..or doodad...I only know that i already saw it the editor.
So this is after tons of work. Still not sure if I like it though...
@Reaper872: Go
When designing a city environment, I personally find it best to layout the roads first. So lay down your roads, get nice 45 and 90 degree angles on everything, think up some interesting (and realistic layouts). Remember that any functioning city has parking lots - lots of them! Throw some parking spaces in. Once your streets are layed out you can go ahead and start placing down the largest buildings.
At this point you'll see a general city start to form - continue with smaller buildings, and eventually moving to small details like sidewalks if you like, street lights, foliage, and more.
Remember, 45 degree angles are your friend :) Placing doodads at those angles can look a lot nicer than the 90 degree head-on angles you are using now.
Edit: here's some good examples... this stuff is not my own work. These are screens from red alert 3.
http://www.cncgames.com/redalert3_screens/ra3aug05.jpg
http://www.cncgames.com/redalert3_screens/ra3aug02.jpg
Here's two practical examples of what I mean, took these really quick from a map im working on.
The first pic you can see I've just layed out the very basic road shapes and blocked out roughly where buildings will go. Then into mspaint to draw on some more smaller roads.
Pic #2 shows what it becomes, my example is more of a middle-eastern desert town, but the same principles will apply if you are building a bustling metropolis. Road layout - buildings - details (in that order).
@alexbis: Go
How did you get that sweet slightly lowered road look along the edges?
@alexbis: Go
YOU WANT A PARKING LOT?!? YOU GET A PARKING LOT, xD. Also tried to make a quick park.
I think he's using quite alot of custom models in there.