Tonight's build includes the new tree settings with more options, an override to use the old trees if you prefer them, and the falling leaves system. The new cherry blossoms and new weeping willows are also in this build!
If you want to use the new trees, be sure to go into the settings and uncheck the "Override to use old trees" check-box. Even if you've changed the settings to use the new trees, you'll still need to do this. This is the default for now as all of the videos and screenshots for HammerHelm use the old trees and I'm still testing the new trees. Once everything is updated, the new trees will become the default.
There are five tree options in the slider. These can only be changed in the title menu settings window. Old saves can use any setting so you don't have to start over if you want to use the new trees or want to try switching between the settings.
- One tree type, one color (green), not animated. This is the highest performance setting but has the least diversity. The falling leaves system is also turned off for this option. The cherry blossoms and weeping willows do animate with this setting, but I'll be creating non-animated versions so this setting is super focused on performance.
- One tree type, one color (green), animated. This is basically the same as #1 except the tree leaves do animate. In this setting and all others following, the weeping willows and cherry trees will also animate. The falling leaves system is turned off as this option is also mostly focused on performance.
- One tree type, three colors (red, orange, green), animated. This is the middle range option and the first one to include the falling leaves systems. The next two options also include the falling leaves.
- Two tree types, three colors (red, orange, green), animated. Similar to the above except there are two different trees.
- All tree types, three colors (red, orange, green), animated. The highest setting and includes all trees and colors.
Note for now I have turned off the small birch trees as I didn't want them taking up spots for choppable trees. These will be added soon as decor similar to bushes and other plants and will be included in the last two options.
The last option is a checkbox that allows you to use the old trees if you prefer them. Checking this will override whatever setting you have in the tree quality slider. In this case the world will also load the old cherry blossoms and weeping willows. The falling leaves system is turned off as it's not compatible with the old trees.
I'd say I'm about 75% of the way through updating the world map with the new art. Still left to do:
- Update the chopping trees system to use the animated falling tree. This would be used in the last two options. The previous options will have falling trees similar to the ones in the game now.
- Add the birch trees, new bushes, and flowers. These will also be dynamic depending on which tree option you choose. The higher the option, the more bushes and flowers and the more variety.
- Decide what to do with the new pine trees. These look great and I'm thinking about changing the map so the pine trees are mostly closer together, creating a pine forest and something new to explore. If I do this for the new trees I'll do the same for the old trees. They're very different shapes though, so this might be a bit easier said than done. I plan to do this last.
And last, while this isn't specific to the trees, I'm also going to be doing a lighting pass as the sun's current brightness blows out the color on some of the trees, especially the cherry blossoms. This also happens with the new water that I previewed so I'll be adding that after the lighting pass too!