posted 01-14-07 12:33 PM CT (US)
Designing Forests Effectively
Once you've done this, create a few triggers. For example... To make the terrain more interesting, we're going to use some Gaia objects. Use Flowers 1-4 (in Gaia/Others) for spaces imbetween trees, and use Pile of Food (in Gaia/Units) in open spots and near trees. Use rocks (in Gaia/Others), and Pile of Stone (in Gaia/Others) in open spots, try not to put them too near to trees as this will look unrealistic. Use stumps, broken carts, etc. to add more to your forest. Now, you'll need to add mud to your forest by using Paths 1-4. Don't use too many in one spot, as the game will lag like who knows what. Once you've placed objects, place some Gaia units. Deer, mostly, but a few wolves and wild horses as well. Now you're pretty much done.
Designing forests in AoK is quite a difficult task, and I have seen many scenarios ruined by big chunks of trees that look nothing like forests. Sure, forests are thick, and some are almost impossible to move through, but I am sick of seeing them being designed lazily and without much effort. So now I will show everyone who is unsure how to design a very nice looking and interesting forest.
Now no-one has ever been to a flat forest, so we have to make sure that our forest allows room for both ditches and hills if neccesary. Plus, most forests are on hills anyway, so it's useful to design them on high ground. Put down some Leaves (in the terrain tab) and then elevate them with elevation 4.
Yes, I know we just put down a big block of elevation, but now we shall make our leaves look a little more interesting by using Elevation 3 and Elevation 5 to add both ditches and hills. Now, you may be wondering why I haven't mixed terrain - it's because there isn't a 'Mud' terrain. We will add more colour with Gaia objects. So for now, elevation will do.
Obviously a forest needs trees. I'm going for one in full bloom, with all the leaves on all the trees. Later, I will explain how to make Autumn (Fall to you yanks 
) forests and eventually Winter ones. Go to the units tab, then select Player: Gaia, and then Other. Dot some forest trees around, but be sure to space them out a bit. Once you've done that, place some Pine trees, imbetween and around the forest trees. Once that's done, place some Tree A - Tree TDs, but DON'T place any Tree Is. You'll see why in a moment. When you're happy with the number of trees you've place, move on.
Now, usually when I go into the forests around where I live there are trees that have fallen down. Most of you are probably thinking 'Stumps?' No, I'm talking about trees that have fallen down and are laying on the floor. How to achieve this? There is a simple way. Basically, we will place trees with villagers next to them, task the villagers to the trees and then once the villager has chopped the tree down remove the villager to reveal a fallen tree. Now, you'll need to place a tree that you can spot easily. This is where the Tree I. Place a couple of Tree Is, and place two allied villagers next to them, like so...
Name: Villager chop tree down 1
Starting state: On/Off
Looping: Yes/No
Effect 1
Task Object: Villager
Set Area: Tile under Villager
Set Location: Tree I
Effect 2
Activate Trigger: Remove villager 1
Name: Remove villager 1
Starting state: On/Off
Looping: Yes/No
Condition 1
Timer: 5
Effect 1
Remove object: Villager
Set area: Area around Tree I
Just make some changes as you see fit, add flower beds if you wish (I didn't use them as I think they look a little too exotic for an English forest). Watch out for the next two installments - Autumn (Fall...) and Winter forests.
Mistadobalina
Don't be sad it happened, be happy it's over.
Keep it up
Perhaps S_TC or whoever picks up the project can do.
