Terraining - Waterfall

[Black_Waltz]

Black_Waltz's Terrain Tutorial (Revamped)​

Hello terrainer! As some of you may know, theres already a few terrain tutorials, but I thought I'd post my version here. I hope you find it useful I belive that the terrain is one of the key aspects of a map, and It is THE most viewed part of a map, and you want people to enjoy what they are looking at if they have to look at it for an hour or so. As a first, and what I find to be a VERY useful tip in the World Editor, is that while you are placing down doodads, holding down shift while doing so allows you to stack certain doodads. Also, you can click on a doodad, then hold Ctrl and the left mouse button, then move the mouse to rotate doodads. Another important tip, is to use the Raise and Lower tools under the Terrain Pallete. Having a flat terrain is boring. However, be careful to not overuse these tools, unless you are trying to give your terrain a jagged look.

-The Waterfall-​

Here, I will explain how to do a waterfall. But first, if you know how to import things to your map, there is a great waterfall model here http://wc3sear.ch/index.php?p=Models&ID=580&sid=. I wont be using this model for my demonstration however. To start making your waterfall, (make sure that you aren't building it on a hill that you've created, as this can cause some very odd water effects) create a realatively large cliff area using the Raise Two tool under the Terrain Palette.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b376/l3lack_Waltz/Waterfall1.jpg

Next, do this again, on the same cliff you just made, using the same tool.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b376/l3lack_Waltz/Waterfall2.jpg

Now, click the Shallow Water tool, and use it on the very top layer.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b376/l3lack_Waltz/Waterfall3.jpg

You can leave some areas untouched by this tool as you see above, so the water doesn't look so flat and boring. Next, use the Decrease One tool on the second layer from the bottom on the front like this.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b376/l3lack_Waltz/Waterfall4.jpg

Then put shallow water on the ground around the front of the area.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b376/l3lack_Waltz/Waterfall5.jpg

Now you have the basis in which to begin making your waterfall. From here, its actually very simple. Start at the top layer at the front edge, and place some big waterfall doodads.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b376/l3lack_Waltz/Waterfall6.jpg

Make sure that the waterfall dooodads line up with the edge of the cliff. Now simply repeat the process on every level of the cliffs, making sure that waterfalls below match up with the waterfalls above them. A good tip is to use smaller and smaller waterfall doodads as you move down the cliff.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b376/l3lack_Waltz/Waterfall7.jpg

Now we can begin to place envornmental doodadson and around the waterfall. You can begin with using the Rocks doodad, and holding shift as you place them on and around the structure, like so.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b376/l3lack_Waltz/Waterfall8.jpg

Putting the rocks in spaces between the waterfalls is a good way to start placing the rocks. Next, you can begin to place cattails, lily pads and shrubs around. Remember, cattails grow on the edge of the water and in it. You can place the shrubs in some bare spots, and on the rocks.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b376/l3lack_Waltz/Waterfall9.jpg

Now, you are almost finished making your waterfall. Make some finishing touches by placing some trees around, making sure that you pick trees that match your waterfall.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b376/l3lack_Waltz/Waterfall10.jpg

Now, to finish off your waterfall, use the Raise and Lower tool in some of the shallow water areas, and placing some rocky looking textures in the water, and if you want to, find some cool statues to place by the waterfall.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b376/l3lack_Waltz/Waterfall11.jpg

Now you're done! As you can see, making a good looking waterfall was quite simple. Just create it in steps.

I will be adding more terrains throughout the day, and I will take requests for demonstrations. Good luck terrainers!

 

[mixmax2]

i wouldnt really call this a tutorial, more of a showcase of your work, and only because it doesnt teach too much, you vaguely and only briefly explain what you did in the picture

what you should do is keep those pictures as a "final product" and then make pictures of what you did -step by step- pictures are always better then words and i feel that that would really help some newcomer to terrain accomplish some of these things.

EDIT= wow, with the exrta pictures u added, its pretty damn good, GJ black_waltz!

 

[und34d-rul3]

i liked it, but i agree with mixmax, it is definately too hard to knwo what to do. If i tried to do those by following tuttorial i probably wouldnt be able to

 

[Killfest2]

With the Waterfall tutorial, you say that rocks used in abundance make a good waterfall. I, a slightly-experienced waterfall-maker, disagree. Rocks are used in the joins between the waterfall doodads, as it helps to cover up this transition between doodads as if it is just water changing direction because of the rock. The way you did, to be truly honest, looks shit and unnatural. More important to waterfalls are generally the water doodads used at the top and bottom, the transition off the top of the cliff, and the surrounding shrubary.
Score: 2.5 out of 5

With your forest, you decorate the forest path edges nicely, but I notice that you appear to forget that texture variations and other plants do grow around the base of trees off the front line next to the path. I could undertand you not putting the rocky path texture under the forest area, as that is common sense, but I'm sure the long grass and leaves tile wouldn't go amiss in these areas. The doodads, however, are the main problem. From the first line of trees back, I cannot see one environmental doodad - shrubs etc. - to break up the mass of trees.
Score: 3.0 out of 5

Again, in the spooky one, you fail to neglect that doodad forms may just happen to be loctaed on the path. Otherwise, this is probably your best one, and I have to admit, that fog effect with the background is very cool, although with the trees, maybe some more doodads around the base would look more realistic.
Score: 4.0 out of 5

For some reason, I couldn't open the Icy picture, although the written tutorial seemed a little too brief, and lacking in specific points to actually help people make a good Icy terrain, as opposed to an average one.
Score: 3.5 out of 5

 

[grimmjow]

THX You

Thank You very much