Bay 12 Games Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

Author Topic: World Gen Size Preferences?  (Read 1020 times)

ThrowerOfStones

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
    • Alea Iacta Est
World Gen Size Preferences?
« on: August 26, 2014, 04:06:17 pm »

I'm ridiculously picky when it comes to site selection. I usually want a source of running water so I can make mist generators/water falls easily. I love both evil and good biomes, and often wish to play on one or the other. I want a good mix of metals, and I'd prefer flux although I can deal with not having any. I want to have elven and goblins neighbors, and I'd prefer to have human as well. If I can get a volcano I will although I often find it isn't feasible to always start on a volcano if there are other options. Oftentimes I want to do something ridiculous like catching sperm whales through an elaborate trap system and that thus necessitates an ocean.

As such I tend to generate large worlds so I get a wide range of sites to choose from. I also justify this on the basis of wanting a broad history for my fort to draw on and the like. But I've been wondering, does it actually matter? Would generating smaller worlds with more tailored gen stats be more effective, and perhaps more likely to get me the neighbors I want? Anyone have any insight on the affect of world size on getting good sites as well as general fortress play? I've heard it can reduce lag to have smaller worlds and shorter histories.

Thoughts?
Logged
The dead do not respond to context.
Pencil and Paper Blog Ahoy!

neblime

  • Bay Watcher
  • More GG more skill
    • View Profile
Re: World Gen Size Preferences?
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2014, 07:02:36 pm »

you definitely want to generate larger worlds if you want something really specific - more rolls of the die to actually get it
however the larger the world (and usually, the longer your history) the more performance issues you might experience. 
I generally never generate anything bigger than small because of my processor limitations, however if you still get a good fps and calendar speed etc (or can tolerate a lower one) no reason not to go with large world every time.
definitely try and refine your worldgen paramaters though, that can save you a lot of generations
Logged
http://i.imgur.com/Gv6I6JO.png
I am quite looking forward to the next 20 or 30 years or so of developmental madness