Mapdev:height

Height

The height of the terrain is generally defined with a greyscale displacement map with black representing the lowest point on the terrain and white the highest. The height map is an intermediary file compiled into the SMF file using MapConv or MapConvNG. The height of the terrain can also be modified in game via lua scripting.

Example Height Map	In Game Result

Specification

mapinfo.lua

The relevant sections of the mapinfo.lua file that effect the height of the ground are in the SMF subtable

local mapinfo = {
   ...
   smf = {
      minHeight = 1000,
      maxHeight = -300,
      ...
   },
   ...
}

Image File

• 8 or 16 bpp Greyscale

Spring Map Size*	pixels = Spring Map Size * 64 + 1
2	129
4	257
6	385
...	...
32	2049

8 vs 16 bpp

These two images show the differences in prescision that the bit depth of the image makes. The effect has been exaggerated here for clarity.

8bpp	16bpp

* must be multiples of 2

+1 pixel

When each pixel represents a vertex you need one extra pixel than the number of quads you are attempting to represent

Example

Additional Information

ROAM terrain engine

• Official ROAM page
• Gamasutra has a nice article on ROAM
• various other implementations of LOD terrain