Little Tutorial on Subterranean Dungeons
anomiecoalition
Traveler
I was working on a new map that depicts an underground dungeon. I wanted to achieve a similar effect to another map I had done (http://forum.profantasy.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=3196&page=1#Item_9). It was getting terribly annoying to keep opening up the old map to see what setting I used so I decided to create a little reminder for myself. In the process I thought that maybe I would just create a little mini-tutorial on my method. I don't claim that this is a great method (or even a good one) but it works for me until I figure out a better way (or until I buy the Annual with the cave issue - which is gonna happen sooner rather than later). Its attached in PDF format...enjoy.
Comments
Going to try your tutorial one of theese days.
Hasn't been easy :-)
But I figured it out.
Though its more or less the same way you do it.
Will explain later when i have more time.
First, the big picture: An underground complex with both a natural cave system and dwelling space. I understand that once a plan is modified in a graphic software, it cannot be brought back into CC2/CC2 Pro/CC3. Incidently, I prefer using CC2/CC2 Pro whenever I can, as the original plan was constructed in this medium. I want to use line drawing when I am able, since it goes with the plan - hence, I usually use the "hollow" fill setting when I am able.
1. How simple must the plan be to be able to multipoly it? I would like to add a colored background to the plan, but the "hollow" fill setting and bleeding multipolies make that very difficult.
2. Should all text and symbols be eliminated from the plan beforehand?
3. Is the addition of a cave system a problem to this?
I could use some guidance, if you have the time. Here is a copy of the plan that I earlier posted without internal walls, text, or symbols (and a .jpeg for good measure):
Thanks heaps,
Sorpaw
2. If you have to do any multipolying - its easier to simply hide text and symbol sheets while your doing the editing - just so things don't get too confusing.
3. If you were to try to mulitipoly this entire shape you have here, there are two problems I see right away. The first is that in the lower left corner, your circular shape is not connected to your square shape. You would need to connect those two otherwise, you will get bleeding. The second problem is that the cave shape in the top right would need to be connected to one of the other shapes (or both). After those two problems are fixed, you should be able to multipoly the entire thing and create one large weird shaped polygon. From there, you can follow the instructions for creating a background sheet as described in #1. *This assumes that there are no areas in your drawing where lines do not meet end to end exactly. Intersections in the lines are what causes bleeding. Figuring out where the lines are intersection can be difficult and time consuming - after you have to fix it once, you learn to start drawing them so all the lines meet up correctly the first time.
So give it a shot and let me know how it turns out.
But as anomiecoalition says, gaps in the outline are a problem, as they will cause "bleeding.
But the main problem in your map, as I check it, is that you have many double or even mutliple entities on top of each other. Try selecting the cave on the upper right, it's actually six entities on top of each other. You need to go through this map and use DELDUPS (delete duplicates) to remove all the double entities.
Back to subterranean dungeons.
Is there a way of "cookie cuttering" a plan, so that you have (Dungeon) on (Solid floor fill) on (Background) to get a floor inside walls, inside a different color background?
Anomiecoalition, I think that I have fixed connection problems with the lower left round room and the upper right cave shape so that they are connected. Can I multipoly now? If you want, you can see the whole thing (what a headache!). If so, let me know.
Thanks,
Sorpaw
If the connection problems are fixed then try multipolying...and yes, post a screenshot of success of failure.
Sorpaw
I've quickly gone through your map and used DELDUPS to delete all double entities, then mutlipolied the dungeon. The result is attached.
P.S.: You can see that you have a double entity by selecting just one straight wall in the original map (e.g. with the Erase command). The command line in CC3 will show how many entities you have selected - if it's 2 instead of the expected 1, there is a duplicate.
I appreciate the looks that you have taken at the plan; I hope that you did not spend too much time playing with it (I have spent enough for everyone). I will have a look at the multipolied version of Ralf''s..I was taken aback at number of duplicate entities that there were. If two lines overlap, will a DELDUPS remove one of the lines or the intersection?
Thanks,
Sorpaw
Any thoughts as to how to detect overlapping lines?
Thanks,
Sorpaw
Thanks,
Sorpaw