121
Realistic Terrain
Minecraft land. I am sure that all of us have walked through the infinite world, looking for wonders arranged in blocks. Mountains, forests, rivers, swamps, ravines... It was a journey well worth the time. However, regardless of your interest, it eventually pales. Nothing new is to be found. You have explored every forest, swung through every jungle, climbed every mountain, and boated down every river. At least, that is what it seems like - as they are all the same. Tiring of the repetitive terrain, with no variation save for some surface features.
That is where Realistic Land comes in. In it's most basic components, it is a More Biomes and Better Terrain Generation - but as a whole, far more than those tired and overdone mods.
Imagine your thoughts as you start a world and see the same old terrain. Nothing new. Nothing epic. Nothing interesting. Sighing, you settle down to mine. You have memorized the ore percentages and levels, so that holds no surprises either.
Boredom overtakes you.
Now imagine something else. If you kept a journal while using the Realistic Land modification, it may look like this:
Would that not be so much better? A new experience? Well, if you are shaking your head... Perhaps these shall change your mind:
That entice your longing a little more? Inflame your unknown desire for the epic terrain of our imagination to be released into the game we all play?
If you said yes, read on.
If you said no... Someone is lying to themselves.
Main Features:
- New Terrain Generation
---- Epic mountains
---- Improved Rivers
---- New ground materials
- New Forest Types
---- More along the lines of those swamp trees
---- Different forests so that no two feel alike
---- More tree types still built with vanilla blocks
- New Ore Layouts
---- Different areas of the map would have different ore concentrations
---- Different areas would also have higher or lower percentage of a certain ore
---- Height limits would also be different depending on the area
- 'New' Biomes
---- Biome Objects would be included within the mod
---- These would spawn and make the area feel like a new biome, without actually having anything but the default biomes
---- NO NEW BIOMES, merely a manipulation of old ones
- High Customization
---- Biome objects could be grouped and changed at your whim
---- Features can be turned on and off
- Easy Ability to Apply to Servers
---- The map could be generated in Single Player and drag n' dropped to a server with no plugin
---- No new blocks or biomes guarantee that the map could still be used
---- I don't know how hard it would be to make a plugin that makes server-generated land be created in the same way, but that would be a distinct possibility
- Would Add a New Feel to Minecraft
---- Even the most unfazed of players could discover something new
- No Mod Conflicts
---- It would be a generation option, like superflat, default, and large biomes
---- The lack of new items and the like would make it so conflicts would be very few and far between
---- Even other generation mods would remain unaffected, as it is an option in the world creation menu
- New Underground Pockets
---- Desert biomes and the like would be able to have Sandstone pockets running throughout the stone underneath
---- Pockets of ice in snow biomes
---- These can also be customized and changed
- ...and Much More!
---- As you shall see explained farther in the upcoming sections, such a mod could redefine much of what Minecraft is
How to do it:
Yeah, this is all good. Epic terrain, created and snapped pictures. A journal written and put on a blog post with an idea for a modification. Indeed, many ideas stopped here... But I thought a bit more about it.
Looking at what I was imagining, it first seemed impossible to me. Impossible or at the very least difficult and unwieldy. Perhaps it still is, but I yet attempted to contrive a solution.
Alright. Here goes...
Basically, new biomes would be created - but not under the name of biomes. Let's call them Areas for now. Areas would have a few variables contained within them, to decide what they are, what they contain underground, and what lies upon their surface. For example, say a Mountain Area that is rich with iron ore and cavern-riddled spawns. This would have followed a flowchart for the first bit.
The first selection would be the terrain. For this example, it was a Mountain. Once that is chosen, there are some possibilities for other decisions eliminated - It wouldn't do to have a coral reef spawn on a mountain side, would it?
From the terrain, it goes to the weather. It has a choice between solid snow, snow cover, no snow, and height difference. Our mountain chooses height difference. From here, it decides from a preset condition what height features bare rock, snow cover, and solid snow.
Now that it has that, it chooses its biome objects. The aforementioned coral reef has been eliminated, so say it is left with... A pine forest, frozen waterfalls, bare trees, glacial cover, and no objects at all. First, it chooses a number to decide how many of the options it takes. Let's say it comes up with two. Obviously, some would be incompatible - Glacier and Pine Forest, for example. This time, it chooses bare trees and frozen waterfalls. Now for intensity - another random number. It chooses med-high for the frozen waterfalls, and low for the pine trees. This creates land that is criss-crossed with frozen pools and waterfalls connecting them, and it has a smattering of pine trees throughout.
Have a headache yet?
Next is ore. First, it has to choose whether or not to feature a more prevalent ore - it chooses yes, only one, high increase, and iron. From here, it also says that iron can extend to 255. It has the option to lower the amounts of other ore relative to the increase of iron, and does it.
Now for caverns. High intensity and medium caverns feature a network of medium sized caverns, with intersecting paths. Small size caverns would be normal Minecraft, medium similar to the lava lake caverns pictured above (minus the lava), and large to be massive caverns with stalagmites and stalactites. Think Blackreach.
Pretty complex, no? Well, not really - just has a ton of options. As I said previously, a massive flowchart would be applicable. I would make one, but managed to procrastinate to the second to last day to enter the contest - if anyone wants one (For whatever reason), I would be happy to oblige.
Now it gets even thicker. The mountain from the previous example was, let's say, a medium sized area. Each area has an edging area that has some properties that can transition between radically different areas. The edging of the mountain would read all the properties of the mountain (Ore, caverns, biome objects, ect) AND the properties of the area on the other side of it. With these two sets of values, it would average out each individual variable and set itself to be that average - creating an acceptable transition.
NOW you must have a headache...
Customization:
Alright, now for something that I bet piqued your interest. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to create such things without actually being a modder or having any knowledge of java? Well, with this, you actually could. You see, there would be a text document that has all the options of the aforementioned flowchart contained within. Knowing this, you could add biome objects to certain groups - merely put in a section that has your file directory in it. You could completely turn off any of the options - don't want any deserts, any mountains, no oceans? Sure, why not!
This might be a little messy and difficult to completely comprehend, but with this you could tailor your world to your specific needs and desires.
Why Use This?
Don't get me wrong, I love the iconic Minecraft terrain as well. But have you not never wished for something more? Something fresh, something unique? Servers are a prime example of this desire. Hell, all plugins and modifications are indicative of this urge. This could make a new world, something so new and different yet still distinctly minecraft, and yet not add any new blocks or other items!
I don't believe I even need to say how much of an advantage this would be for servers. Already, custom maps that are really good are very attractive to players - with the customization feature, you could make a world to your specifications without having any direct control of how it turns out. Wouldn't that be a neat concept for an RP server - exploring the map as you go, and even the admins not having any idea what lies beyond the next ridge of peaks.
Plus, it is an option. Want the old generation back? Just select default rather than Realistic.
So, all in all, why WOULDN'T you use it?
- Lord Sauron
PS: If you are a judge and had to read through all that, sorry! I hope what you found was worth the length. I hope... ;)
Minecraft land. I am sure that all of us have walked through the infinite world, looking for wonders arranged in blocks. Mountains, forests, rivers, swamps, ravines... It was a journey well worth the time. However, regardless of your interest, it eventually pales. Nothing new is to be found. You have explored every forest, swung through every jungle, climbed every mountain, and boated down every river. At least, that is what it seems like - as they are all the same. Tiring of the repetitive terrain, with no variation save for some surface features.
That is where Realistic Land comes in. In it's most basic components, it is a More Biomes and Better Terrain Generation - but as a whole, far more than those tired and overdone mods.
Imagine your thoughts as you start a world and see the same old terrain. Nothing new. Nothing epic. Nothing interesting. Sighing, you settle down to mine. You have memorized the ore percentages and levels, so that holds no surprises either.
Boredom overtakes you.
Now imagine something else. If you kept a journal while using the Realistic Land modification, it may look like this:
Would that not be so much better? A new experience? Well, if you are shaking your head... Perhaps these shall change your mind:
That entice your longing a little more? Inflame your unknown desire for the epic terrain of our imagination to be released into the game we all play?
If you said yes, read on.
If you said no... Someone is lying to themselves.
Main Features:
- New Terrain Generation
---- Epic mountains
---- Improved Rivers
---- New ground materials
- New Forest Types
---- More along the lines of those swamp trees
---- Different forests so that no two feel alike
---- More tree types still built with vanilla blocks
- New Ore Layouts
---- Different areas of the map would have different ore concentrations
---- Different areas would also have higher or lower percentage of a certain ore
---- Height limits would also be different depending on the area
- 'New' Biomes
---- Biome Objects would be included within the mod
---- These would spawn and make the area feel like a new biome, without actually having anything but the default biomes
---- NO NEW BIOMES, merely a manipulation of old ones
- High Customization
---- Biome objects could be grouped and changed at your whim
---- Features can be turned on and off
- Easy Ability to Apply to Servers
---- The map could be generated in Single Player and drag n' dropped to a server with no plugin
---- No new blocks or biomes guarantee that the map could still be used
---- I don't know how hard it would be to make a plugin that makes server-generated land be created in the same way, but that would be a distinct possibility
- Would Add a New Feel to Minecraft
---- Even the most unfazed of players could discover something new
- No Mod Conflicts
---- It would be a generation option, like superflat, default, and large biomes
---- The lack of new items and the like would make it so conflicts would be very few and far between
---- Even other generation mods would remain unaffected, as it is an option in the world creation menu
- New Underground Pockets
---- Desert biomes and the like would be able to have Sandstone pockets running throughout the stone underneath
---- Pockets of ice in snow biomes
---- These can also be customized and changed
- ...and Much More!
---- As you shall see explained farther in the upcoming sections, such a mod could redefine much of what Minecraft is
How to do it:
Yeah, this is all good. Epic terrain, created and snapped pictures. A journal written and put on a blog post with an idea for a modification. Indeed, many ideas stopped here... But I thought a bit more about it.
Looking at what I was imagining, it first seemed impossible to me. Impossible or at the very least difficult and unwieldy. Perhaps it still is, but I yet attempted to contrive a solution.
Alright. Here goes...
Basically, new biomes would be created - but not under the name of biomes. Let's call them Areas for now. Areas would have a few variables contained within them, to decide what they are, what they contain underground, and what lies upon their surface. For example, say a Mountain Area that is rich with iron ore and cavern-riddled spawns. This would have followed a flowchart for the first bit.
The first selection would be the terrain. For this example, it was a Mountain. Once that is chosen, there are some possibilities for other decisions eliminated - It wouldn't do to have a coral reef spawn on a mountain side, would it?
From the terrain, it goes to the weather. It has a choice between solid snow, snow cover, no snow, and height difference. Our mountain chooses height difference. From here, it decides from a preset condition what height features bare rock, snow cover, and solid snow.
Now that it has that, it chooses its biome objects. The aforementioned coral reef has been eliminated, so say it is left with... A pine forest, frozen waterfalls, bare trees, glacial cover, and no objects at all. First, it chooses a number to decide how many of the options it takes. Let's say it comes up with two. Obviously, some would be incompatible - Glacier and Pine Forest, for example. This time, it chooses bare trees and frozen waterfalls. Now for intensity - another random number. It chooses med-high for the frozen waterfalls, and low for the pine trees. This creates land that is criss-crossed with frozen pools and waterfalls connecting them, and it has a smattering of pine trees throughout.
Have a headache yet?
Next is ore. First, it has to choose whether or not to feature a more prevalent ore - it chooses yes, only one, high increase, and iron. From here, it also says that iron can extend to 255. It has the option to lower the amounts of other ore relative to the increase of iron, and does it.
Now for caverns. High intensity and medium caverns feature a network of medium sized caverns, with intersecting paths. Small size caverns would be normal Minecraft, medium similar to the lava lake caverns pictured above (minus the lava), and large to be massive caverns with stalagmites and stalactites. Think Blackreach.
Pretty complex, no? Well, not really - just has a ton of options. As I said previously, a massive flowchart would be applicable. I would make one, but managed to procrastinate to the second to last day to enter the contest - if anyone wants one (For whatever reason), I would be happy to oblige.
Now it gets even thicker. The mountain from the previous example was, let's say, a medium sized area. Each area has an edging area that has some properties that can transition between radically different areas. The edging of the mountain would read all the properties of the mountain (Ore, caverns, biome objects, ect) AND the properties of the area on the other side of it. With these two sets of values, it would average out each individual variable and set itself to be that average - creating an acceptable transition.
NOW you must have a headache...
Customization:
Alright, now for something that I bet piqued your interest. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to create such things without actually being a modder or having any knowledge of java? Well, with this, you actually could. You see, there would be a text document that has all the options of the aforementioned flowchart contained within. Knowing this, you could add biome objects to certain groups - merely put in a section that has your file directory in it. You could completely turn off any of the options - don't want any deserts, any mountains, no oceans? Sure, why not!
This might be a little messy and difficult to completely comprehend, but with this you could tailor your world to your specific needs and desires.
Why Use This?
Don't get me wrong, I love the iconic Minecraft terrain as well. But have you not never wished for something more? Something fresh, something unique? Servers are a prime example of this desire. Hell, all plugins and modifications are indicative of this urge. This could make a new world, something so new and different yet still distinctly minecraft, and yet not add any new blocks or other items!
I don't believe I even need to say how much of an advantage this would be for servers. Already, custom maps that are really good are very attractive to players - with the customization feature, you could make a world to your specifications without having any direct control of how it turns out. Wouldn't that be a neat concept for an RP server - exploring the map as you go, and even the admins not having any idea what lies beyond the next ridge of peaks.
Plus, it is an option. Want the old generation back? Just select default rather than Realistic.
So, all in all, why WOULDN'T you use it?
- Lord Sauron
PS: If you are a judge and had to read through all that, sorry! I hope what you found was worth the length. I hope... ;)
| Credit | Worldpainter and Eihort for the images. All terrain and pictures were created and taken by me, however. |
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I would love a download!