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[Roughshod]

Reposted from elsewhere

Question 1: Generation APIs

@Roughshod

Mainly I was curious about generation API. I realize it’s literally being written now, so I know specifics aren’t available.

How much control will we have to script changes to the initial generation? Such as can I specify special starting terrain (example: from a Qubicle model), or would I need to use the API to create “in-game” this terrain? It seems hard to insert a custom area into a generated map is why I ask.

A better example: Say I need a large lake with an island on it, and I need it fairly specific to fit these buildings and events that I plan for a module. Is it possible for me to specify this, and if so, is it done thru generation APIs or via importing a giant lake model I drew up in Qubicle. Just curious if I should start modeling a bunch of lakes

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Ok I have a second question now too

Question 2: Global values.

What sort of global variables / attributes do you suspect will be included into the game, as it relates to terrain and biomes. Specifically: let’s suppose the SH engine has a global attribute called “temperature.” Will this be the determining factor in the engine’s processing of biome type?

Pseudocode examples:

temperature range 0-100
if temp <= 32; precipitation = snow, water state = ice
if temp <= 15; add effect: hail
else temp >32; precipitation = rain, water state = fluid

(for crops)
if temp < 50; crop grow rate = 0.5 
if temp > 50 & < 90 crop grow rate = 1

etc etc.

So this is what I’m curious about - how will the overall game allow us to tie events to the biomes, and the biomes to events. For example, lets say I want to mod in coats. I can set a trigger in the villager AI to detect if weather is ‘cold’ then they can swap models to the ‘coat’ model, and so on. I can trigger all sorts of tangental stuff to this temperature value, and to the person playing the game, it all looks seamless. Of course people get coats when its cold, crops grow slower, etc.

For myself, I was hoping this mechanic is inherent in the engine because I was hoping to copy/paste/modify it to have a ‘radiation’ global value in addition to temp

What is important to me is does this fall into the “you coooould do this… but it would be reeeeeally hard…” category like reprogramming pathfinding, or is it “oh yeah, it’s totally doable,” like adding another faction type.

[Edited for numerous spelling errors and plot holes.]

[color=blue]Mod edit: Now being answered, count your blessings and praise your gods.[/color]

[color=blue]Answer: functions to manipulate terrain - yes, any terrain you want (functionally); working on logic to allow custom terrain (tile) blend in with randomly generated; yes to coat logic (general idea)[/color]