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Rough Procedural Placement Forest Guide by Chubacca

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This guide outlines how to place forests using the Procedural Placement tool. Follow these steps carefully to ensure success. Note that it can be a bit tricky to figure out and setup, make sure to use a test map first, and you have a decent knowledge of the Editor.

Step 1: Verify Map.i3d Setup/Coding

Ensure your map.i3d file contains the following section. This will ensure you have the *basic* scripts needed:

Below Scenes:
<ProceduralPlacement>
    <Types>
      <Type name="defaultFoliage">
        <Distance to="defaultFoliage" min="0" />
        <Distance to="defaultReference" min="0" />
        <Distance to="parentTrees" min="0" />
      </Type>
      <Type name="defaultReference">
        <Distance to="defaultFoliage" min="0" />
        <Distance to="defaultReference" min="4" />
        <Distance to="mediumTree" min="5" />
        <Distance to="parentTrees" min="6" />
        <Distance to="smallTrees" min="3" />
      </Type>
      <Type name="defaultTexture">
        <Distance to="defaultTexture" min="0" />
      </Type>
      <Type name="mediumTree">
        <Distance to="defaultReference" min="5" />
        <Distance to="mediumTree" min="6" />
        <Distance to="parentTrees" min="7" />
        <Distance to="smallTrees" min="4" />
      </Type>
      <Type name="parentTrees">
        <Distance to="defaultFoliage" min="0" />
        <Distance to="defaultReference" min="6" />
        <Distance to="mediumTree" min="7" />
        <Distance to="parentTrees" min="20" />
        <Distance to="smallTrees" min="4" />
      </Type>
      <Type name="smallTrees">
        <Distance to="defaultReference" min="3" />
        <Distance to="mediumTree" min="4" />
        <Distance to="parentTrees" min="4" />
        <Distance to="smallTrees" min="2" />
      </Type>
    </Types>
    <Objects>
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="F_AcreDetail" foliageTypeName="terrainDetail" channels="2" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="F_GrassSmall" foliageTypeName="decoFoliage" channels="289" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="F_GrassMedium" foliageTypeName="decoFoliage" channels="321" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="F_Meadow" foliageTypeName="meadow" channels="131" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="F_DecoFSmall" foliageTypeName="decoFoliage" channels="33" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="F_DecoFSmallRumex" foliageTypeName="decoFoliage" channels="65" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="F_DecoChaero" foliageTypeName="decoFoliage" channels="129" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="F_DecoCheno" foliageTypeName="decoFoliage" channels="161" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="F_DecoCirsium" foliageTypeName="decoFoliage" channels="193" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="F_DecoRumex" foliageTypeName="decoFoliage" channels="257" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="F_BushSmall" foliageTypeName="decoBush" channels="1" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="ForestDryBranch" foliageTypeName="forestPlants" channels="36" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="ForestClover" foliageTypeName="forestPlants" channels="68" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="ForestStarFlower" foliageTypeName="forestPlants" channels="100" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="ForestBunchBerry" foliageTypeName="forestPlants" channels="132" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="ForestSalmonBerry" foliageTypeName="forestPlants" channels="164" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="ForestStarryFalse" foliageTypeName="forestPlants" channels="196" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="ForestSwordFern" foliageTypeName="forestPlants" channels="228" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="ForestDeerFern" foliageTypeName="forestPlants" channels="260" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="ForestGrass" foliageTypeName="forestPlants" channels="292" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushCommon01" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="34" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushCommon02" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="66" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushCommon03" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="98" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushDynamite01" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="130" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushDynamite02" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="162" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushDynamite03" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="194" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushPaw01" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="226" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushPaw02" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="258" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushPaw03" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="290" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushWaterElm01" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="322" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushWaterElm02" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="354" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushWaterElm03" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="386" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushSumac" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="418" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushHazel01" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="450" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
      <Object type="terrainFoliage" name="BushHazel02" foliageTypeName="decoBushUS" channels="482" ppType="defaultFoliage" />
    </Objects>
    <Rules>
      <Rule name="GEN_Roads" isMainRule="true" objectMinDistance="0" slopeStart="0" slopeEnd="90" >
        <Script name="createRoadMaskUS.lua" >
          <Arg name="includeChildren" type="boolean" value="false" />
          <Arg name="excludeChildren" type="boolean" value="false" />
          <Arg name="nodesInclude" type="nodes" value="@184486>0{{!}};" />
          <Arg name="nodesExclude" type="nodes" value="5857;" />
        </Script>
      </Rule>
      <Rule name="T_Asphalt" isMainRule="true" objectMinDistance="0" slopeStart="0" slopeEnd="90" >
        <Script name="scatterInMask.lua" >
          <Arg name="mask" type="mask" value="GEN_Roads" />
        </Script>
        <Object id="1" childRule="" objectName="ASPHALT" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
      </Rule>
      <Rule name="T_Forest01" isMainRule="true" objectMinDistance="0" slopeStart="0" slopeEnd="90" >
        <Script name="scatterInMask.lua" >
          <Arg name="mask" type="mask" value="PG_Forest" />
        </Script>
        <Object id="1" childRule="" objectName="FOREST_GROUND" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="2" />
        <Object id="2" childRule="" objectName="FOREST_GRASS" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="3" />
        <Object id="3" childRule="" objectName="FOREST_ROOTS" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
      </Rule>
      <Rule name="T_Forest02" isMainRule="true" objectMinDistance="0" slopeStart="0" slopeEnd="90" >
        <Script name="scatterInPerlinNoise.lua" >
          <Arg name="seed" type="int" value="44" />
          <Arg name="clampThreshold" type="int" value="127" />
          <Arg name="frequency" type="float" value="0.154000" />
          <Arg name="clamped" type="boolean" value="true" />
          <Arg name="mask" type="mask" value="PG_Forest" />
        </Script>
        <Object id="1" childRule="" objectName="FOREST_LEAVES" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
        <Object id="2" childRule="" objectName="FOREST_NEEDELS" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
      </Rule>
      <Rule name="F_ForestGrass" isMainRule="true" objectMinDistance="0" slopeStart="0" slopeEnd="90" >
        <Script name="scatterInPerlinNoise.lua" >
          <Arg name="seed" type="int" value="2377" />
          <Arg name="clampThreshold" type="int" value="128" />
          <Arg name="frequency" type="float" value="0.400000" />
          <Arg name="clamped" type="boolean" value="true" />
          <Arg name="mask" type="mask" value="PG_Forest" />
        </Script>
        <Object id="1" childRule="" objectName="ForestGrass" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="4" />
        <Object id="2" childRule="" objectName="F_GrassSmall" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="2" />
        <Object id="3" childRule="" objectName="F_GrassMedium" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
        <Object id="4" childRule="" objectName="F_DecoFSmall" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="3" />
      </Rule>
      <Rule name="F_ForestPatches" isMainRule="true" objectMinDistance="0" slopeStart="0" slopeEnd="90" >
        <Script name="scatterInPerlinNoise.lua" >
          <Arg name="seed" type="int" value="1549" />
          <Arg name="clampThreshold" type="int" value="100" />
          <Arg name="frequency" type="float" value="0.500000" />
          <Arg name="clamped" type="boolean" value="true" />
          <Arg name="mask" type="mask" value="PG_Forest" />
        </Script>
        <Object id="6" childRule="" objectName="ForestClover" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
      </Rule>
      <Rule name="F_ForestClutter" isMainRule="true" objectMinDistance="0" slopeStart="0" slopeEnd="90" >
        <Script name="scatterInPerlinNoise.lua" >
          <Arg name="seed" type="int" value="478" />
          <Arg name="clampThreshold" type="int" value="121" />
          <Arg name="frequency" type="float" value="0.180000" />
          <Arg name="clamped" type="boolean" value="true" />
          <Arg name="mask" type="mask" value="PG_Forest" />
        </Script>
        <Object id="6" childRule="" objectName="ForestBunchBerry" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="4" />
        <Object id="7" childRule="" objectName="ForestStarFlower" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
        <Object id="8" childRule="" objectName="ForestSalmonBerry" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
        <Object id="9" childRule="" objectName="ForestStarryFalse" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
        <Object id="10" childRule="" objectName="ForestSwordFern" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
        <Object id="11" childRule="" objectName="ForestDeerFern" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="2" />
      </Rule>
      <Rule name="F_ForestBushes" isMainRule="true" objectMinDistance="0" slopeStart="0" slopeEnd="90" >
        <Script name="scatterInPerlinNoise.lua" >
          <Arg name="seed" type="int" value="9784" />
          <Arg name="clampThreshold" type="int" value="100" />
          <Arg name="frequency" type="float" value="0.540000" />
          <Arg name="clamped" type="boolean" value="true" />
          <Arg name="mask" type="mask" value="PG_Forest" />
        </Script>
        <Object id="1" childRule="" objectName="BushCommon01" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="2" />
        <Object id="2" childRule="" objectName="BushCommon02" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="2" />
        <Object id="3" childRule="" objectName="BushCommon03" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
        <Object id="7" childRule="" objectName="BushPaw01" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="2" />
        <Object id="8" childRule="" objectName="BushPaw02" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="2" />
        <Object id="9" childRule="" objectName="BushPaw03" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
        <Object id="10" childRule="" objectName="BushWaterElm01" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="2" />
        <Object id="11" childRule="" objectName="BushWaterElm02" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="2" />
        <Object id="12" childRule="" objectName="BushWaterElm03" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="1" />
        <Object id="13" childRule="" objectName="BushHazel01" childMinCount="1" childMaxCount="10" childMinRadius="0" childMaxRadius="20" probability="2" />
      </Rule>
    </Rules>
</ProceduralPlacement>


Go to your map folder and ensure you have a folder within data named masks.

Step 2: Overview of the Procedural Placement Window

  1. Open the Procedural Placement window (Windows > Procedural Placement).
    1. If it asks you to select a file for a BLOCKMASK, go to the previously mentioned masks folder and name it BLOCKMASK. This will create a BLOCKMASK.png.
  2. Masks Tab (1st tab):
    1. Create masks for placement later.
    2. Select Add Mask and double-click the empty field under Filename. Name it (e.g., Forest1).
    3. To the left, name it again (e.g., Forest1) for the Layers applied on the map.
    4. Apply changes and save the map to retain these settings.
    5. Ensure the resolution matches your map (e.g., 2048x2048 for base maps).
  3. Scripts Tab (2nd tab):
    1. Displays the scripts included in your map.i3d.
    2. Advanced users can modify scripts, but they are not required initially.
  4. Distance Matrix (3rd tab):
    1. Avoid modifying this tab.
  5. Objects Tab (4th tab):
    1. Add foliage and objects for Procedural Placement.
    2. For objects:
      1. Click Add i3d reference.
      2. Select the desired i3d file (e.g., pinusSylvestris\_stage05.i3d).
      3. Name the tree (e.g., pinusSylvestris\_stage05) and choose the appropriate type (e.g., ParentTree). This is to help PP use the correct distances setup in the Distance Matrix.
    3. Save after every addition.
  6. Rules Tab (5th tab):
    1. Configure and manage Procedural Placement rules.
    2. Rules are read top-down:
      1. Add textures first, followed by foliage and objects.
      2. Use the ScatterInMask script for the FIRST rule you use.
      3. Use scatterInPerlinNoise for subsequent rules.
    3. Select the appropriate mask for each rule (e.g., Forest1).
    4. Add textures, foliage, and objects with adjustable probabilities and scales.
    5. Place Objects runs the script, do *not* use now, only when all steps are completed.

Step 3: Set Up Your Objects and Rules

  1. Verify i3d paths for all objects.
  2. Name rules using a consistent format (e.g., T_whatever for textures, F_ whatever for foliage and objects).
  3. Keep textures, foliages and objects on separate rules!
  4. Arrange rules in the following order:
    1. Textures (placed first).
    2. Foliage and objects (placed below textures).
  5. Use at least three textures to avoid default placement issues.
  6. Save your map after every modification.

Step 4: Place Down Your Forest

  1. Select the Procedural Placement terrain tool (next to the Foliage tool).
  2. Choose the correct layer (e.g., Forest1) in the Procedural Placement Area menu.
  3. Paint the desired area for the forest. (Save your map to keep the mask in case of a crash during PP).
  4. In the Procedural Placement window:
    1. Go to the Rules tab.
    2. Verify rule order and scripts.
    3. Ensure textures are placed first, followed by foliage and objects.
    4. You can have many rules running on the same mask to create a more diverse Forest.
    5. Click Place Objects.

Note: If the editor crashes, review your setup and try again.

Step 5: Finalize the Placement

  1. Rename the Procedural Group in the Scenegraph (e.g., Forest1). This prevents PP from using it again for future generations.
  2. Save your map.
  3. Restart the editor before placing additional forests to prevent issues; this resets PP memory.

Additional Notes

  • Re-run placements immediately if unsatisfied, perhaps changing textures in rules, or foliage, etc.
  • Test new setups on a separate map to avoid corruption. (Make a copy of current map to keep all settings!)
  • Create multiple masks for different forests. Forest1, Forest2, Forest3, etc.
  • Avoid reusing masks unless rules are identical. This will affect previously placed things within that mask.

Thanks to Gamerdesigns and StrauntMaunt for testing and findings!

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