The South Andothren-Thirr merge

[Yeti]

I don't really have an opinion. Ald'ruhn has an apostrophe in vanilla, but the dash might look better in this specific case.

[Gnomey]

This proposal is done.

First, here is a top-down map of Indal-ruhn:

[url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/Indal-ruhnMap.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_Indal-ruhnMap.png[/img][/url]

The numbers correspond to the numbers in [url=http://www.tamriel-rebuilt.org/files/maps/IndalRuhn.jpg]this map[/url], except for 11, which is the new slave shack. (Hence why the numbers are all jumbled).

I made the 7 changes in my original proposal, but also made a few more changes:

-I changed the TR_m4_NPC_suspiciousfellows script, which was referencing a Rethil interior that has since been renamed, causing an expression error and making the plugin unplayable, and as such un-playtest-able. I did not bother replacing the dozens of other remaining Rethil references, though.
-I moved the door in "Indal-ruhn, Torvor Dros's Shack". It was in the wrong location. Luckily, the interior accommodated the change without any difficulty. I also moved TR_m4_Torvor Dros to the other side of the interior for better ergonomics.
-a squashed one or two floating comberry bushes in the farm to the north and did a minor bit of detailing. (Just some baskets here and there).
-I added railings along the road leading south from Indal-ruhn where I thought railings would make sense.
-I may have fixed one or two other random errors along the way. (Floaters, bad texture transition, etc.)

I also made a new container. Its ID is TR_cont_m4_comberry.

There is still still some work that needs to be done:

-I gave the trader a banner, but didn't give it a unique ID. (It just reads 'Dunmer Trader').
-I placed guarskins as placeholders for the town banner, which would require a new texture. (Small Hlaalu towns appear to have such banners).
-a new signpost should be placed where I continued the road south. However, signposts should probably be treated as part of the [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=24617]road map topic[/url], if anything.
-I also accidentally introduced a small landscaping error by smoothing up to the edge of the map; a very deep and steep hole in the ground. It can be fixed by loading up map6, smoothing over the hole and then editing out the map6 cells again.

I did not clean the file. I did remember to update the pathgrids. Other than replacing every instance of 'Indal'ruhn' with 'Indal-ruhn', I did not touch dialogue.

Finally, here are some screenshots:

[url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot34.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot34.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot33.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot33.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot32.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot32.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot30.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot30.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot31.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot31.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot25.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot25.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot29.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot29.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot28.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot28.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot23.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot23.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot21.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot21.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot22.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot22.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot18.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot18.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot19.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot19.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot20.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot20.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot12.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot12.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot16.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot16.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot14.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot14.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot13.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot13.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot11.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot11.png[/img][/url][url=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/Gnomenator/media/Indal-ruhn/MGEScreenshot10.png.html][img]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g103/Gnomenator/Indal-ruhn/th_MGEScreenshot10.png[/img][/url]

[Yeti]

Looks good, Gnomey. I appreciate your fixing of the error I introduced. I'll try to find time to update Indal-ruhn's npcs soon. Until then, this file is free to modify.

[Aeven]

The town looks a lot better now! Good work!

[Swiftoak]

Taking this file for detailing the area around Indal-rhun and making it look more consistent with the rest of the TRV.

[Gnomey]

Just to be safe, could you elaborate on the specific sort of changes you will be making? Will they be limited to placing more rocks and flora and such?

[Swiftoak]

Oops. Yeah it's minor detailing (alot less work than I initially thought needed to be done, so I didn't think it warranted a whole new thread). Basically rocks and tree canopy, and perhaps something minor to draw the player's interest like a camp or a firepit, seeing as the cells are pretty much just filler wilderness.

[Swiftoak]

Detailing done - Releasing File

-Added alot of trees and rocks around the Indal-rhun area to make it match the general feel of the TRV. Previously what was formerly claim 4-26 was quite underdetailed and felt more like barren Ascadian Isles than the Thirr Valley.
-Converted the eastern shore of the TRV south of Indal into a rocky bluff, to match geography with the Eastern Thirr, but also to conceal smuggling activities in the nearby ruin.
-Added a small wilderness shrine triolith (Veloth) with offering/loot (adding play value). Soemone check if this is balanced, the area directly east of Indal was devoid of anything interesting.

To Do:
-Someome check this file for errors/missing tex shading (since I added quite a bit), and also playtest.
-Read over Gnomey's proposal for roads in this area and implement any necessary changes.

[Yeti]

Does anyone want to implement Gnomey's Road changes? Otherwise, I can take this for more NPC work.

[Gnomey]

I didn't realize we had agreed on implementing the road changes; I only proposed them. Either way, as far as I am concerned, I think you can continue NPC work.

I did spot a few relatively minor errors in Swiftoak's file, but those can also wait. Neither those errors nor the roads really stand in the way of NPCing.

[Yeti]

Claiming then

[Yeti]

Just stopping by to say I'm still working on this. I've populated all the new caves and tombs and have started sorting out Indal-ruhn's dialogue and NPCs.

[Swiftoak]

Awesome. Can we have a progress file? I hope it's not unreasonable, but we will be releasing something soon and I would like the latest version for the alpha merge.

First, can you fix this?

Code: Select all

Unable to find referenced object "TR_m4_Hobert Robsville" in script TR_m4_piethief.

Also, could you rename the "Selas Ancestral Tomb" to something else, since I derped and it actually conflicts with an tomb already in ML.

If you're also doing alot of dialogue, I recommend not focusing too much on the Oran and Romalen characters, as their role in Hlaalu needs to be expanded on first. It would also be neat if you established some sort of connection between the various smugglers here, as I imagine a few of them would actually be collaborating with each other/tied somehow to the CT/Hlaalu intrigue we have in this area.

[Yeti]

Awesome. Can we have a progress file? I hope it's not unreasonable, but we will be releasing something soon and I would like the latest version for the alpha merge.

Sure, I can have a file up tonight.

First, can you fix this?

Code: Select all

Unable to find referenced object "TR_m4_Hobert Robsville" in script TR_m4_piethief.

Sure

Also, could you rename the "Selas Ancestral Tomb" to something else, since I derped and it actually conflicts with an tomb already in ML.

Okay

If you're also doing alot of dialogue, I recommend not focusing too much on the Oran and Romalen characters, as their role in Hlaalu needs to be expanded on first. It would also be neat if you established some sort of connection between the various smugglers here, as I imagine a few of them would actually be collaborating with each other/tied somehow to the CT/Hlaalu intrigue we have in this area.

I'll probably start a new thread soon for discussing major Hlaalu characters in the Thirr River Valley. Until then, I'll focus on the other NPCs in the file.

[Swiftoak]

Hey Yeti, really sorry for pestering you again. Seems like I've been doing that alot lately

I really need the file now. I also need you to release it to me asap so I can do some cleaning and region painting fixes for the alpha. We're releasing really soon, and I would like to have your file in there. Once I claim this (I will make a post acknolwedging this), I will only need the file for an hour, after which I can hand it right back to you if you still need/want to work on it.

Looking forward to seeing what you do!

[Yeti]

Here's my most recent file. I'll continue working on dialogue in a Word document while you do your thing, Swiftoak.

[Swiftoak]

Here you are Yeti, thanks!

Here's the list of changes made:
-Fixed piethief script so that it points to the dude's new name (this removes load errors).
-Region painted the non-TRV parts of this file and removed their old cell IDs.
-Cleaned some dirty cells to the south.
-Renamed "Selas Ancestral Tomb" -> "Ravith Ancestral Tomb"

[Yeti]

New file with Indal-ruhn dialogue updated. Dropping for now.

[Gnomey]

I'm claiming this file to make the changes to roads proposed in [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=24617]this thread[/url]. I may also fix errors while I'm at it. (Stuff like floaters and bleeders).

I'll try to put together a final proposal for the [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=24311]buffer zone[/url] by the time I'm done with the above proposal so that that can finally be dealt with as well, as soon as this is done.

Naturally, though, if someone else wants to do some work on this file -- such as on dialogue -- just say so. I'm not sure how quickly I will be done with this proposal, though hopefully I will take no longer than a week.

[Gnomey]

First file. The roads are retextured and I fixed up the places like crossroads where the textures got messed up by the changes, so this is mostly done. I still need to go through the roads and make sure they look polished. Vertex shading is a mess. I also took the liberty to make slight adjustments to Indal-ruhn; the stub of dirt road looked a little odd now that the field it led to is gone.

[Gnomey]

I tested my file in-game, and aside from the technical errors, (quite a few do not appear to have been caused by my changes; I think the TRV probably requires some pretty thorough error-quashing), I noticed that a few places could use railings and that the road in eastern Roth Roryn is completely flat. I should still be able to finished the work this weekend, though.

[Rats]

Just dropping by to say that this section is doing pretty awesome job (also +1 for efficiency and coordination). Whatever changes you've made to the plantation area are way cool.

[Gnomey]

New file. This one is dodgy, for a few reasons:

First of all, I have encountered my first landtear (yay!). The top left cell was hit. As I naturally had made all of the above changes before discovering the landtear, I decided to try cleaning the affected cell out and merging an earlier version of the cell in rather than simply reverting to the older file, and so far it seems to have worked. (The cell is now called 'SAVEME'). Please test it to make sure everything is above board.
Then there is the fact that a vanilla grass model seems to have been renamed 'zzzz', probably by myself, which appears to have dirtied up all of the vanilla cells in which the model was used. I tested to see if I could tidily clean it out, but got an error message after doing so, so I'm leaving it in for someone with more cleaning experience to deal with.

I still need to fix a few errors and re-do my work on the SAVEME cell. I also noticed that half of the large trees are inexplicably free of vertex shading, so I'll be adding some of that.
I'm frankly beginning to think we should do some work on the eastern Roth Roryn area after all, as it appears to be somewhat sparsely cluttered, contains quite a few placement errors and isn't necessarily very visually appealing, but it isn't bad enough to require immediate work, and so that topic can probably be deferred to a later date.

[arvisrend]

Cleaned version of the file attached.

For the record, here is the tes3cmd evocations used:

Code: Select all

E:\games\mw>tes3cmd modify --replace "/zzzz/flora_grass_02/" "Data Files\TR_AndothrenThirrSouth_v0.041.ESP"

E:\games\mw>tes3cmd clean "Data Files\TR_AndothrenThirrSouth_v0.041.ESP"

E:\games\mw>tes3cmd delete --type cell --match "Reference_Count:0" "Data Files\TR_AndothrenThirrSouth_v0.041.ESP"

[Swiftoak]

Fixed an issue where some Othrleth region paint was lost due to old Data. Cleaned more junk cells.

[Gnomey]

This proposal is done.

I've also fixed probably dozens of placement and vertex shading errors around the TRV, and attempted to fix a pathgrid problem in Indal-ruhn, though I haven't properly tested my fix. (NPCs were getting stuck when trying to get off of a canal mesh onto a pier). I am sure that I missed a lot of errors.

This file may require another cleaning, at the very least to remove the 'SAVEME' cell name.

Edit: I forgot to fix a collection of placement errors in the SAVEME cell; basically every object near TR_terrain_rock_gl_18; -10296, -160616, 477 (-2, -20) is either bleeding or caspering in some way.

[rot]

Similar to the other half-merge-
Is there a todo list for this file? Either way, TODO is reviewing the NPC-quests claim 4-13 [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=23852](see this thread in archive for relevant info)[/url]

edit: bug reports from Malchik, (I guess the file will rather need a NPC review as a whole then? also I now see some of the [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=24249]alpha reports[/url] may be relevant to these section files)

- In the Dwemer ruin of Bthungtch the bandit leader's journal refers to him finding a key to lock the lower levels. I could not find the key, should it not be on him? Also it says he took a peek and saw dwemer sphere centurions. There are no sphere centurions in the zone. Either such should be added or the journal changed to read 'spiders' which are present.

- Zeddan slaves are missing their "go free" entries
"In the cave Zeddan there is a silver slave key. It opens the gate to the slaves but does not unlock their bracers."

[Gnomey]

I haven't really been keeping up with the NPC side of things. As far as the exterior is concerned, I think the TRV is pretty solid at this point, though it could probably still use extensive in-game testing. (Note also the minor placement errors I mentioned in my last post).

The [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=24311]Armun buffer zone[/url] would be the next exterior priority, but at this point I'm not confidant we'll have a clear consensus anytime soon, and I think we should continue to focus on the TRV itself if possible. I might return to the issue, but I don't really want to be bogged down by it.

After that, I do think the eastern Roth Roryn area needs to be discussed, but only after that. I think it could use some fairly minor work mostly in the way of detailing, but for the most part I think the value of that area is in tying its surroundings together -- which I do not think it does a good job of at the moment -- and that requires the surroundings to be finished first.

[Gnomey]

Claiming. As discussed in the [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=24486]Skype meetings[/url], (all of them, funnily enough, for which I have written the summaries, but mostly in the first), I'll be shifting my focus from Indoril-Thirr to this file for a while. My objectives:

-implement the [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=24311&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=40]buffer zone[/url], finally.
-as part of that, I'll be slightly widening the Thirr River Valley.
-I'll also make a few object placement fixes I forgot to include in my last file and widen a narrow bit of road west of Indal-ruhn.

I might also check to see if there are any interiors I can merge into the file, but for me that is a lesser priority.

[Gnomey]

Change-log:
-knocked two chunks out of the AI mountains to turn into TRV.
-search-and-replaced a bunch of rocks around the Daedric ruin sinkhole.
-started search-and-replacing a bunch of rocks around the Hlaalu outpost.
-fixed the aforementioned placement errors.
-widened the bit of road west of Indal-ruhn, though it may need more widening.

[Gnomey]

Haven't gotten around to working on this too much for the last day or two, so I'm tossing up my latest file. I've got the rough shape of the RR valley mostly chiseled out, but still have quite a bit of mountain range to go. I've also made an early attempt at the OM ruin, but am trying not to sink too much time into it for the time being. I still haven't tested a lot of the mountain paths in-game, nor have I updated my pathgrids.

[Gnomey]

A quick, messy update. I plan to post something tidier with pictures and stuff later, but I've been neglecting working on this file for a while, and even when I was working on it I notice I didn't update the file often.

I got a bunch done today; knocked out the rough outline of the Ashlander camp discussed in the [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=24486]Skype meeting of Feb. 22[/url] at (-1, -22), roughly shaped the mountains down to the Hlaalu stronghold and messed around with a lot of miscellaneous detailing.

I also messed around a little more with the second iteration of the castle-estate ruins at (1, -24), and it's an improvement, anyway, though I'm still very much swimming in the dark. Feedback would be very welcome. There are still a bunch of floating models everywhere I haven't pulled back down or gotten rid of.

[Aeven]

Gnomey that castle estate ruin is looking great! Stellar job. Somehow I feel this place should be a non-hostile place, maybe some sort of presence here might be nice.

[Gnomey]

Yeah, I have no idea what should go there. Ghosts? It's something to be discussed, certainly. If we can pull it off, making the ruin completely devoid of life could be atmospheric, but that would be challenging. I think I'm starting to get comfortable enough with the set to consider giving the [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=24668]Old Mournhold Ruins[/url] thread another go...

Edit: on another note, Swiftoak and I were getting an odd bug with distant land where the new peak meshes show up dark, as if enveloped in shadow. There's a chance that, when I do get around to taking new screenshots, they'll be ugly as a result.

[Gnomey]

Slight update from the last file, and I'll write a proper post this time. I might as well mention here that I won't be around between the 14th and 16th.

First of all, [url=http://imgur.com/a/vXDHX#1]here[/url] is an album with 45 screenshots of the v.0.071.5 file.

I'm keeping a counter of all the small tombs and caves I've added (hopefully I haven't forgotten one):

[spoiler]ex_cave_door_01 [-8377.956, -174225.656, 3467.357] - small cave with a spring; bandits/outlaws
ex_cave_door_01 [-1899.327, -171320.141, 3750.202] - critter-filled crystal cave
ex_cave_door_01 [5973.292, -193058.063, 5474.015] - animal den
ex_cave_door_01 [8121.719, -218635.516, 538.484] - smugglers? Or bandits, or critters...
ex_cave_door_01 [5925.278, -222997.813, 5916.635] - isolated and high up. Maybe vampires? Winged Twilights because why not?
ex_velothi_loaddoor_01 [8500.924, -199693.484, 2825.178] - ancestral tomb[/spoiler]

Change-log:
-retextured Veloth pilgrimage road to match Indoril-Thirr file.
-roughly sculpted mountains down to Hlaalu outpost; adjusted the mountains further north a little.
-made a start at ashlands-AI mountain transition; I'll play around with this a little bit more.
-added Ashlander camp.
-dropped some of the floating statics back down, especially to the northern half of the valley.
-made a second attempt at the castle-estate ruins, as in the post above. It's still a WIP, especially the eastern entrance.

Plans:
A lot to do, naturally, but aside from the general working more on various aspects of the file:
-I'd like to remove the current travel service providers and add one to Indal-ruhn to bring it in line with this map.
-add some natural Kwama caves and other natural caves.
-perhaps add a Velothi tower? Maybe even two? For this, I'd first want to solidify our concept for Velothi towers.

[Rats]

That is some superb stuff, Gnomey! I particularly like how the little dried river looks. The ruinous OM city also looks mighty cool; not unlike the ancient cliff cities found in Southwestern US.

edit: After taking a walk in the Buffer Zone I must repeat myself that this is pretty cool. Surely, this little subregion warrants its own name?

[Aeven]

Looking good, Gnomey!

[Nemon]

The ruins overlooking 4-13 looks good, that'll be a nice addition to the border area.

But y no mgexe grass?

[Gnomey]

Mostly laziness, but these are also progress screenshots, and mge grass would obscure stuff like vertex shading and detailing.

[Seneca37]

Here is the lastest section file for AT South.

In addition, is a zip file of the spreadsheet to be used to clean future files. See the [url=http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/old_forum/viewtopic.php?t=25100]Admin Resources[/url] for the program which uses this file.