Forum Discussion

luthienrising's avatar
luthienrising
Hero+
7 years ago

Terrain Tools patch SimGuru/Maxis-Sourced Info

So, given we've got at least a month lead-up to this patch and appear to have more info incoming about it, I thought it's probably time to get a thread going to collect said info. What's coming: p...
how to's
luthienrising's avatar
luthienrising
Hero+
7 years ago
From the Terrain tools livestream:


  • Finding the tools: In Build mode, the terrain tool set is where the terrain paint was (and still is, too), with a shovel in it.
  • Tool options: Terrain tools raise, lower (including below ground level), smooth, and flatten. There are size options, a softness slider, and a speed slider.
  • Slope textures: Slope textures were designed per world. They are not currently paintable.
  • Guides: Grid lines and topology lines (think of the lines showing you hills and mountains on a map) help you see where the lot is flat and where it isn't. They can be used to know where objects can be placed and also to "flatten to height" to make plateaus.
  • Foundations: The foundation slider is now accessed on a "block" itself - click on the building. There can now be separate foundation heights (including no foundation) for separate buildings on a single lot. When you drag a foundation to the same height as another one, that other one will be highlighted so you can see that they match. Re. true split level: "This is something we want to add in the future" - this is one step closer to that now. Foundation heights can be quite extreme. Get Famous will have new foundation patterns.
  • Wall heights: "Currently," if you change the wall height on "level 1" of a building, all the level 1's of all the buildings on the lot will change.
  • Building placement: Terrain will remove itself for a building as you place blocks, but if you delete the room, the terrain will return. The system is nondestructive.
  • Ponds, Pools, and Fountains: There is not currently a pond tool, but they want to do one in the future. Pools cut into hills like foundations do. If you pull a fountain up, it gets terrain, not foundation.
  • Stairs: Stairs can be built between terrain levels as well as building levels. If some blocks have foundations and others don't, ones that don't will need a little step for routing in. Stair heights are not limited to a single level. "CTRL" is a toggle for stairs to search up or down.
  • Terrain tiles: You can place a terrain tile and drag it to flatten land.
  • Fences: A "yard fence" conforms to the terrain (don't start it touching a building). A "block fence" starts at a building and has a fixed level. Gates need flat terrain.
  • Windows and Doors: These cannot go into basements or foundations.
  • Routing: There will be places Sims can't route: "If you can see these lines, the Sims probably can't route". "There was a lot of math that went into this!" You can use smoothing to create routability. "Sims can route to the end of the terrain. They will not be able to jump off, obviously."
  • Compatibility with Seasons: "Snow works!"
  • Plant placement: MOO allows placement on unroutable, sloped terrain.
  • New half walls: There are even more "half-wall" heights now.
  • Bridges: "Greg, build a bridge."
  • Roofs: Roofs do not affect terrain.

Note: I've ended up missing some things for sure because I had to miss some parts.


About The Sims 4 General Discussion

Join lively discussions, share tips, and exchange experiences on Sims 4 Expansion Packs, Game Packs, Stuff Packs & Kits.

33,183 PostsLatest Activity: 2 hours ago