Terrain Confusion
LadieStorm
🖼️ 50 images Surveyor
I know my newbie questions must be a pain, and I apologize for that...but the manuals don't seem to cover everything. I haven't had the chance to purchase the time of ultimate mapping yet (hubby won't let me yet) and I'm a little confused about the terrain and the sheets and effects.
I've noticed on the sheets and effects list, there is a sheet for terrain, but then there are also sheets for different types of terrain: mountain, forest, desert, etc. I also notice that there are terrain fills under the default terrain 'button'. Which terrain goes with which sheet?
Explanation: on my map in the show and tell area, I am missing two key areas to my map. I need a few wasteland areas and a few evil land areas, to show where wild magic has warped and twisted the landscape. The default terrain has those fills, but I want to use the edge fade,inner for a gradual effect, like the land conture, but nothing I try works. I assume it's because I'm not using the correct sheet. Or am I using the wrong effect?
I've noticed on the sheets and effects list, there is a sheet for terrain, but then there are also sheets for different types of terrain: mountain, forest, desert, etc. I also notice that there are terrain fills under the default terrain 'button'. Which terrain goes with which sheet?
Explanation: on my map in the show and tell area, I am missing two key areas to my map. I need a few wasteland areas and a few evil land areas, to show where wild magic has warped and twisted the landscape. The default terrain has those fills, but I want to use the edge fade,inner for a gradual effect, like the land conture, but nothing I try works. I assume it's because I'm not using the correct sheet. Or am I using the wrong effect?
Comments
The best way is probably to try it and see. You can always erase or undo.
I put in my mountains, rivers and forest, fit my settlements, towns, cities, ruins and stuff among them, then added my farmland... And my farmland automatically faded. I also noticed that when I added my roads, whenever the roads went through mountains or forests, they automatically tucked themselves behind, as if they are going through, and not set on top.
If I understand you correctly, this is because of the order in which the sheets are placed in the list?
If its:
mountains
roads
then the roads will be on top of the mountains.
If its:
roads
mountains
the roads will be under the mountains.
It makes me think about the land as a whole from the beginning (where I want everything) but that is probably a good thing!
I am fairly sure I understand sheets now. Hopefully.
My early maps were for gaming, not so much showing them off. Hopefully now they look good and are good for gaming.
C'mon, get it. After the investment for the software, this is essential to make using the software as simple as possible. Like buying a computer, and not getting an operating system. Scrimp a bit for a month or two if you have to. You will be glad when you have it.
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PS: The Missing Manual book was much more expensive than what Profantasy is charging for the Tome.
As Ithril points out, most software, including CC3+, comes with a complete user's manual that explains how to use the software. There is also online help, which often covers things in more detail than the user manual. But then, head over to a book store and take a look at the software section to find shelves and shelves of books that go into extra detail and provide tips and tricks and workarounds.
The User's Manual for CC3+ is pretty complete, as far as explaining how to use the software. Throw in the Essentials Guide and the online help and, really, you have most of what you need. The Tome of Ultimate Mapping goes the extra mile and also includes documentation for all the add-ons (even if you haven't purchased them yet) and has additional tricks and tips and examples.
The most relevant and important piece of advice ever given to me was to "do the tutorials provided with the manuals". Not because people didn't want to answer questions but because the tutorials were kind of essential to understanding even some of the most basic functions of the software (Right Click vs. Left Click, Command Prompt, entity selection, modifying entities, TRIM, COPY and even node adds/deletes, etc.).
I remember when I first got CC2. I was so excited and wanted to immediately start mapping my campaign continent. Within a few hours I was riven by frustration and unadulterated hatred. I was ready to chuck the software out the window along with my computer, as well as request a full refund from Profantasy and hopefully have some heads roll.
Then somebody suggested that I start by doing the tutorials. Within the span of 2-3 tutorials my frustration was gone. I began to understand the way the software actually works. Instead of assuming that something worked like X, I now understood that it worked like Y. What had taken me hours upon hours and great frustration the first time, was done in a lot less time and with no frustration. Once I learned how the basics of the software worked.
So I'm going to start recommending going over the tutorials to most new users. They do a much better job of explaining even the simplest things than most of my explanations.
If you want to use the tutorials open up CC3+ and go to the HELP menu and select QuickStart Guide. This tutorial goes over most of the basics of the software and explains some concepts that are extremely important. Between that tutorial and the CC3+ Manual you will get a really good understanding of the software.
There are now some helpful you tube videos as well, located at Joe Sweeney's You Tube Channel. I wish I had these when I was learning the software. They are very comprehensive.
The one piece of advice, that I wish I had received in the beginning, was to forget everything I thought I knew, accept everything the documentation says without question, and embrace styles and tools. I came from a CAD background and tried to treat CC3 solely as a CAD program with pretty symbols. I created everything manually (ignoring tools for continents, dungeon corridors/rooms, etc) and completely ignored all mention of styles. As a result, I fought the program for a long time. When I finally got over my I-want-to-do-it-myself mentality, and approached the program the way the documentation told me to, I had a much easier time. Once I embraced that approach, everything started to make sense. Now I can't imagine working without those features.
Nonetheless, CC3 does have a steep learning curve. I understand the frustration many new people feel when first getting started. But go slow, work through the tutorials, and take a break frequently. It won't come immediately, but it will make sense relatively soon.
Lastly, the Tome of Ultimate Mapping is an amazing resource. It is well worth the modest price they are asking. Monson (the person behind the ToUM) is a brilliant mapper with wonderful insights.
I actually did read the manuals that came with cc3+, and I have watched Joe Sweeney's tutorials more than once. And then when I have a question that the manuals and tutorials don't mention, I come here!