MMPs....how much is too much?

[larryparadise 10]

if you use MMPs in one area do you have to pretty much cover the map tile with it to keep it consistent or can you let some areas slide?

 

for example...i have a medium map tile with part of a mountain range in it and i'd like to build a creek with all the trimmings, but then i got to thinking about if i'd have to do that throughout the map, like put rocks up in the mountains, and other things like that.

 

does this question make sense? 

 

i was reading the beginner's tutorial for usng MMPs effectively and all that, which was very informative, but it didn't really mention taking up the rest of the tile with MMPs either.

[Prophet42 1,503]

It is really up to you and what you prefer.  If you want a consistent look, then you will probably want to add MMP's to the other areas.  If you just want to concentrate on one tile, that's okay too.

[lhrob 213]

does this question make sense?

 

Well, assuming I understand it, yes it makes sense.  MMPs are, by their very nature, meant to be plopped at will.  There is nothing that dictates you have to cover an entire map with them.  Part of the reason for having MMPs is so you can express your creativity when you want, where you want.

 

You mention wanting to create a detailed creek, but ask if the entire mountain has to be covered in the same MMPs you use in the creek.  Have you ever been to the Great Smoky Mountains NP?  The entire park consists of mountains for as far as your eye can see, and they are all covered in forests....with a few exceptions here and there where you find some balds or meadows.  But by and large, when you are driving through the park, you see a bunch of forest-covered mountains.  However, one of my all-time favorite places in the Smokies is actually a stream that is filled with boulders and waterfalls and fallen logs.  But unless you take a drive off the beaten path to see it, you wouldn't know it's there by just looking at the park as a whole.  My point is that if you wanted to recreate the Smokies, more than anything you'd be relying on a God-mode tree mod to cover it.  And then to recreate my favorite creek, you'd need MMPs to plop the water, boulders and fallen trees.

 

So hopefully that answers your question.   It's your city......make it what you want it to be.  There are no hard and fast rules about how to build things in this game. 

[mrbisonm 1,622]

All depends how you will like it and what you want it to be.

Below is a river that I did in my city (mediumtile), it only covers about 30 % of the width of the citytile, enough for me. The rest I did in canals. That way, it looks like part of the river stayed untouched while the rest was "tamed " into a small canal.

One thing that you have to remember though when using MMP's. The more you put on the map, the slower your computer. MMP's take a lot of computerspace when running, especially in medium and large citytiles.

 

Have fun

 

mrb

 

[Shortsonfire 67]

The more you put on the map, the slower your computer. MMP's take a lot of computerspace when running, especially in medium and large citytiles.

Aww, I guess if I want to use those nice looking MMP I'll have to stop playing SC4 on my laptop. Its already pretty laggy. That river you made looks fantastic! I really need to look into that mod.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

It really is a matter of choice.  The thing to remember is that ever object of any kind you insert into a tile has to be accounted for by the simulation on each pass.  Nice scenery generally means a small town.

[larryparadise 10]

One thing that you have to remember though when using MMP's. The more you put on the map, the slower your computer. MMP's take a lot of computerspace when running, especially in medium and large citytiles.

 

that's good to know, i didn't realize the MMPs slowed it down that much.  that's a nice looking river too by the way...i have trouble using those turbulent water textures but you did pretty well with it.  do you have a CJ going?

 

does this question make sense?

 

My point is that if you wanted to recreate the Smokies, more than anything you'd be relying on a God-mode tree mod to cover it.  And then to recreate my favorite creek, you'd need MMPs to plop the water, boulders and fallen trees.

 

So hopefully that answers your question.   It's your city......make it what you want it to be.  There are no hard and fast rules about how to build things in this game. 

 

 

yep that makes sense and that's the route i was going to take but once i started plopping rocks by the mountain base to simulate a rockslide- errosion type deal, i went a little overboard and it started looking wrong.  i had a pretty nice little lake scene going too, but i struggle with knowing what type of shoreline to use so it looks right and makes sense.  like if i have a lake near a mountain, then chances are the shoreline would be pepple/gravel i would think...and then more of a sand/mossy if it's in the riverland type area.  am i right in that thinking?

It is really up to you and what you prefer.  If you want a consistent look, then you will probably want to add MMP's to the other areas.  If you just want to concentrate on one tile, that's okay too.

 

It really is a matter of choice.  The thing to remember is that ever object of any kind you insert into a tile has to be accounted for by the simulation on each pass.  Nice scenery generally means a small town.

 

thanks guys...i know it's a matter of choice and all that, just wanted some input from those who used MMPs more than i have...i look at all these CJs but it's hard to get the big picture of the extent that they're used relative to the god-mode stuff.

[mrbisonm 1,622]

 

  do you have a CJ going?

 

 

Check the CJ section of ST at the end of May or beginning of June, and look for " My Sim's Tymbactou", a region I played on for the last ten years. It will have hundreds of never-seen-before BATs to show and a concept somewhat out of the usual.   I'm sure you'll like it.

 

At the Moment I have "The Windning River Project" on SC4D, but it is on Pause until next fall.

 

Good luck with your MMP'ing.

 

mrb

[larryparadise 10]

 

 

  do you have a CJ going?

 

 

Check the CJ section of ST at the end of May or beginning of June, and look for " My Sim's Tymbactou", a region I played on for the last ten years. It will have hundreds of never-seen-before BATs to show and a concept somewhat out of the usual.   I'm sure you'll like it.

 

At the Moment I have "The Windning River Project" on SC4D, but it is on Pause until next fall.

 

Good luck with your MMP'ing.

 

mrb

 

 thanks mrb...i'll definitely be on the lookout for your CJ in the next couple of months.

[lhrob 213]

yep that makes sense and that's the route i was going to take but once i started plopping rocks by the mountain base to simulate a rockslide- errosion type deal, i went a little overboard and it started looking wrong.  i had a pretty nice little lake scene going too, but i struggle with knowing what type of shoreline to use so it looks right and makes sense.  like if i have a lake near a mountain, then chances are the shoreline would be pepple/gravel i would think...and then more of a sand/mossy if it's in the riverland type area.  am i right in that thinking?

I think it depends on the geographical region. For instance, in the Great Lakes region the shorelines are a combination of sandy/pebbly gravel and rocks - but by and large those aren't even mountainous areas. You will also see some rocky cliffs, or sand dunes (such as you find along Lake Michigan). However, the shorelines of smaller lakes in the state parks of places like Ohio or Indiana are actually just dirt and some fallen trees - that's it. I'm not really sure what the lakes are like in the Rockies, or even the Finger Lakes region of New York. But the point is you can make it what you want.

If I can make a suggestion, do a Google image search of some different lakes from various regions such as the mountains or farmlands, and see what they look like. Then try to mimic them.

[larryparadise 10]

 

I think it depends on the geographical region. For instance, in the Great Lakes region the shorelines are a combination of sandy/pebbly gravel and rocks - but by and large those aren't even mountainous areas. You will also see some rocky cliffs, or sand dunes (such as you find along Lake Michigan). However, the shorelines of smaller lakes in the state parks of places like Ohio or Indiana are actually just dirt and some fallen trees - that's it. I'm not really sure what the lakes are like in the Rockies, or even the Finger Lakes region of New York. But the point is you can make it what you want.

If I can make a suggestion, do a Google image search of some different lakes from various regions such as the mountains or farmlands, and see what they look like. Then try to mimic them.

 

 

thanks...i'll give that a try.  i think i was on the right track but let my overthinking throw me and started second guessing myself.  i'm in the greatlakes area myself and we get all kinds of stuff around here, old murky mud lakes and pristine (sp) rock bottom clear water lakes.