Starting out on the road to mod roads

[ScreaminAbdabs 1]

Hi,

I have been fiddling with roads in the asset editor.

However so far all I have had any success with is turning 2 way into 1 way roads, so make a 4 lane 1 way road for example.

To start with I'd like to make a road where the tram tracks run down the outside of the road, rather than the inside, this sounds simple, but I cannot figure how you move the models around. So I define a lane, its position etc but the road's model does not update with the expected texture. There does not appear to be any link to the lanes and nodes just baffle me.

Do you need to have access to raw models - say from Blender - or can you use the assets from the game? I just cannot get things to work right now.

Can someone post a link to a suitable tutorial?

Many thanks.

[Bad Peanut 826]

If you do not have any basic skills at 3D modeling and texturing then you will need to start there before considering what you're thinking.  Try checking out YouTube videos, including ronyx's channel, lynda.com for tutorials on different software for modeling and texturing. 

Best of luck

[ScreaminAbdabs 1]

Hi BP,

Sorry its taken so long to reply - real life got in the way in a big way - I have Blender experience and have put together some assets ( a 2 track metro station and a quiet mono-rail - though I am having problems with the rotor shader on that one), but have not done any roads so there is a lot I need to know like...

How do Blender or other units correspond to in game road widths? Is it 1:1 or am I going to have the same scaling 'fun' you get when you import a building?

How long do you need to make a 3d model for a road in the game, obviously it has to be long enough for the game to be able to tile the texture but how long is long enough?

Similarly how wide do you need to make a model? It looks like each type of lane is modelled in some cases where in others the whole road is (bridges and the like). Some roads - like the bus lane ones - look like the bus lane texture is part of the road, same with tram tracks(?). However could I model just some tram tracks and then overlay them onto an existing road in the same way as you overlay the tram wire supports and wires?

I think I have worked out how the various nodes, lanes etc work in the asset ed so one of the 1st things I want to do is put a monorail underground. I can create the necessary lanes etc in the asset editor, but the in game tunnel entrance is too low for the monorail to fit, so I'll need to build a new one and then some-how connect this to the road node. Thing is I have no idea how to do the latter.

Finally... having been baffled by the above I am utterly stumped on how you add different types to a road. How do you add a slope, bridge, etc to a road, or remove one you don't need in the asset ed?

In short I really need a guide on how to do this, but the ones I have found just go on about how to build junctions etc, not brand new roads.

Any help you can give would be hugely appreciated.

[Bad Peanut 826]

18 hours ago, ScreaminAbdabs said:

I am having problems with the rotor shader on that one

you can't use building /props shaders on roads.

18 hours ago, ScreaminAbdabs said:

How do Blender or other units correspond to in game road widths? Is it 1:1 or am I going to have the same scaling 'fun' you get when you import a building?

as long as you have set up your CAD units set up correctly it should be 1:1. however you need to make sure your blender units are the units you're using (so if you're thinking in meters make sure blender is in meters.)

18 hours ago, ScreaminAbdabs said:

How long do you need to make a 3d model for a road in the game, obviously it has to be long enough for the game to be able to tile the texture but how long is long enough?

I hope you've read through the skylines wiki these things are explained very clearly. I'm happy to help with things that are less clear but simple easily obtained knowledge is up to you to find.

18 hours ago, ScreaminAbdabs said:

1st things I want to do is put a monorail underground.

Have you tested this in game and found the monorail works? (just test the mechanics not the meshes)

18 hours ago, ScreaminAbdabs said:

How do you add a slope, bridge, etc to a road, or remove one you don't need in the asset ed?

Try not to add as this can easily break the road - but you can remove by using modtools, finding the correct elevation in the NetAI and hit unset to delete the elevation. save and load to see it take effect. you can try adding by finding the elevation you want from another road, copy and paste it with modtools but I don't think there's much success - kind of hit and miss

18 hours ago, ScreaminAbdabs said:

Any help you can give would be hugely appreciated.

have a go with what I've suggested and make sure you use some trial and error - save various versions and see if they load and load with your corrections etc.