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[WillowLuman]

Wonder if we could rig something up to DF to turn worldgen data into height maps...

[Eric Blank]

I don't normally promote the 5 finger discount on software, but old bryce 5 from the mid 90s works great for making height maps. Has options to simulate erosion and all sorts of fun.

Creating the greyscale images for the heightmap is pretty simple, actually, and there are a ton of ways to go about doing that. It's converting it for and getting it into the Skyrim CS that's a challenge. I think it's likely that modders will get fed up enough that someody will come up with an easier work-around. There's hope at least...

I actually intend to look into using Oblivion's TES:CS to produce the heightmaps, and see if the .esp can then be used in the Skyrim CS.

Wonder if we could rig something up to DF to turn worldgen data into height maps...

That is absolutely genius. DF does have the option to export an elevation map, luckily. There'd have to be some way to ensure that other games can then take advantage of this heightmap, though... A program that analyzes these heighmaps and produces an .esp (for TES games, at least. You certainly couldn't easily do that for Source-based games.) based on the data would be amazing!

[MrButtchicker]

I don't normally promote the 5 finger discount on software, but old bryce 5 from the mid 90s works great for making height maps. Has options to simulate erosion and all sorts of fun.

Creating the greyscale images for the heightmap is pretty simple, actually, and there are a ton of ways to go about doing that. It's converting it for and getting it into the Skyrim CS that's a challenge. I think it's likely that modders will get fed up enough that someody will come up with an easier work-around. There's hope at least...
I actually intend to look into using Oblivion's TES:CS to produce the heightmaps, and see if the .esp can then be used in the Skyrim CS.

Wonder if we could rig something up to DF to turn worldgen data into height maps...

That is absolutely genius. DF does have the option to export an elevation map, luckily. There'd have to be some way to ensure that other games can then take advantage of this heightmap, though... A program that analyzes these heighmaps and produces an .esp (for TES games, at least. You certainly couldn't easily do that for Source-based games.) based on the data would be amazing!

How did this come up? When this actually happens, you people talking about this will be the first of the furnace operators. And I will be the monarch for restoring peace to society.

[Eric Blank]

It all started with a discussion about 3d modelling. And was perpetuated in the vacuum of missing conversation...

[wierd]

Quite right.

I am working in the dark here, as I don't have skyrim or the CS for it.

I do know that the esp data between versions is not conserved. They have different data structures.

I refuse to buy the game, for specific reasons I won't mention, unless it is second hand, and dirt cheap. (Bethesda shit in my cheerios, essentially.)

I might see if I can use the CS as a stand alone without the main game datafiles though, just to experiment with how to get heightmap data in and out.

[WillowLuman]

Quite right.

I am working in the dark here, as I don't have skyrim or the CS for it.

I do know that the esp data between versions is not conserved. They have different data structures.

I refuse to buy the game, for specific reasons I won't mention, unless it is second hand, and dirt cheap. (Bethesda shit in my cheerios, essentially.)

I might see if I can use the CS as a stand alone without the main game datafiles though, just to experiment with how to get heightmap data in and out.

They went all EA on our asses with how they distributed Skyrim. Not cool, but I had already preordered. It was fun while it lasted, though (until my comp broke down).

EDIT: Wow, a whole day and no posts?

[Eric Blank]

Yup!

If Bay Forum were a Mountain Hall... It would die of FPS poisoning.

[wierd]

I concentrated my engineering energies.

I designed a simple to construct modular solar cooker.

Sadly, I can't push any data about it on this post, since its on a thumbdrive, and I am posting from a phone at work.

So, instead I will describe it, because it is pure genius in simplicity!

What is it:

A solar cooker, made from 5 sections, rivetted together.

What so special about it:

It is designed to use flat stock! Most people have a very hard time getting a parabolic curvature for the cooker. This design was engineered digitally, and has 11 rivets in each segment. Each segment has 22 holes. This allows each segment to be rivetted to 2 others, completing a circular pattern with 5 segments.

The kicker, is that for the rivet pattern to line up, it can't be flat! It has no choice but to become parabolic as a result of the rivets going in!

Genius!

I made a version previously out of flimsy cardstock using plain old spray adhesive and tinfoil. It is ugly as sin, is not terribly well made (jeeze, its cardboard people! Lol!) But tests earlier today had a 10 deg F increase in temp at the focal point. Not bad for wobbly, inaccurate papercrafts!

Here's a picture of "papercraft beta version"

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[KodKod]

Wow, fascinating work.

The real question is, is this thing more or less effective at cooking than say... fire?

[wierd]

Yup!

If Bay Forum were a Mountain Hall... It would die of FPS poisoning.

I just had a real life strange mood! Is that so wrong!?

Kodkod:

That is a cardboard beta. Its not nearly effective enough. It was a test of concept, nothing more.

This weekend will see the sheetmetal and rivet version created.  Engineering FTW! Whee!

[WillowLuman]

This will improve people's lives! Good work!
Now, the question is could be produce it in the Twelfth Bay?

[Corai]

The kobold is here.


And ironically, I cant draw a kobold without having the ear be the left side of the body.

[Eric Blank]

I just had a real life strange mood! Is that so wrong!?

Only if "incredibly dwarfy" is wrong!

[Talvieno]

I don't normally promote the 5 finger discount on software, but old bryce 5 from the mid 90s works great for making height maps. Has options to simulate erosion and all sorts of fun.

Creating the greyscale images for the heightmap is pretty simple, actually, and there are a ton of ways to go about doing that. It's converting it for and getting it into the Skyrim CS that's a challenge. I think it's likely that modders will get fed up enough that someody will come up with an easier work-around. There's hope at least...
I actually intend to look into using Oblivion's TES:CS to produce the heightmaps, and see if the .esp can then be used in the Skyrim CS.

Wonder if we could rig something up to DF to turn worldgen data into height maps...

That is absolutely genius. DF does have the option to export an elevation map, luckily. There'd have to be some way to ensure that other games can then take advantage of this heightmap, though... A program that analyzes these heighmaps and produces an .esp (for TES games, at least. You certainly couldn't easily do that for Source-based games.) based on the data would be amazing!

How did this come up? When this actually happens, you people talking about this will be the first of the furnace operators. And I will be the monarch for restoring peace to society.

It's called "On Break". They're in the dining room. Or statue garden - one or the other.

[gzoker]

Well fell moods are dangerous. And yesterday i was thinking about building a solar cooker too. What a coincidence.