Three Rivers Region

[Battlecat 14]

Wow!  Another fantastic series of updates!  Your eye candy posts are a great aside!  Those canyons are beautiful!  Great to see you figured out the murkiness problem, and thanks for posting the solution! 

[jacqulina 162]

love what you have done great pics too

[dedgren 830]

So, the last time we worked on our "surface water" valley, we stopped here.

#1


The next element of superdetailing we'll add is a very important one- trees.

Not just any trees, mind you.  These trees are special.  Not in and themselves, but in the way that they are used.  I have selected, across Three Rivers Region, a particular type of tree: cycledogg's Subalpine Fir Forest, to place along shorelines, riverbanks and streamsides on a consistent basis.  Why?  So that when the viewer sees these trees, he or she has been conditioned to think that there is water there...even if there is not necessarily any that is visible.  More about this, with an illustration, in a bit.

The Subalpine Fir Forest shows up in the Mayor Mode Plant Flora submenu most of the way to the bottom.  This and other ploppable cycledogg trees from his Columbus Mod are installed when you install the mod, which, as noted, can be obtained at at Cycle Puppy's World.  Once you install the Columbus Mod, you should then go on the STEX and download and install per the included directions two updated textures recently uploaded by cycledogg which are located here

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=16031

and here

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=16030.

Once you've done this, your Columbus Mod files will be up to date.

Let's select the Subalpine Fir Forest plop tool...

#2


...and randomly plop these trees along and around the stream banks.

#3


Here's a pic from a little further away of what we've just accomplished.

#4


Now, we could admire this for the rest of the day, but we've still got the rest of the stream to do.  I'll move through the steps assuming that you've reviewed the previous parts of the tutorial...

...you have reviewed the previous parts of the tutorial, haven't you?

...what do you mean, you're just here for the pretty pictures?

...wait a minute, don't leave- you can stay.  Everyone is welcome at 3RR, whether you're following the tutorials or not.  Relax.  Enjoy.

...so things'll go pretty quick.

We'll start by placing brtim2's Edmonton Water in our valley downstream from the point where the valley forks at the base of the mountain.

#5


Next, we'll place broken lines of Goldiva's Rocks up in the headwaters area where the stream bed would be.

...but you didn't plop any Edmonton Water...

Shhhhhhhh- just wait a few, eh.

#6

Next, we'll plop a few of the boulder (larger) size Maxis Plop Rocks in with Goldiva's Rocks.

#7


Then we'll start plopping Subalpine Fir Forest trees along these headwaters stream beds.

#8

Now, if you didn't know we hadn't put surface water tiles under there, could you really tell, as you look at this area, that they aren't there?

Didn't think so.  Pretty effective, isn't it?  The French call this trompe l'oeil.,  which I understand to mean (I don't make any pretensions about speaking French- heck, English is a challenge some days) "fool the eye."

#9

A few points.  As you have noticed, brtim2's Edmonton Water plops are far too big and clumsy, being about the size of a grid square, for any kind of fine detailing.  It's my understanding that a grid square is 15m by 15m EDIT: 16m by 16m (thanks brtim2!), that means (in my non-metric sense) that you can't do anything with a surface water stream less than 50 feet wide.  That is simply unacceptable, from a land design sense.  I mean, what's the use of being God if you can't make a stream a few feet wide?

At some point, I hope to perhaps collaborate with brtim2 and others to address this shortfall.  In the meantime, as noted, I have more or less established cycledogg's subalpine trees in my regions as being about the only ones I use along river and stream banks, as well as lakeshores.  This conditions the viewer's eye to see these trees and think, "ahhhh, flowing water.".  The other ploppable stuff is used in the same vein.  Goldiva's rocks appear almost nowhere else in my cities except along rivers and streams.  Those, along with the Maxis plop rocks, are really another key to fooling the viewer's eye.  As the rocks and trees are much "narrower" that the surface water plop, I just continue a line of them on from my last surface water plop, which I try to also obscure with other devices, such as a little grove of trees, a small swale arond it, or the like.

So now we move on to place some rocks and logs downstrean from the forks.

#10

The addition of the big Maxis plop rocks really makes a difference.

#11

And there's some small ones.

#12

Adding a few Maxis plop bushes and Gizmo's water flora plants hardly seems noticeable, until you realize that's because the superdetailing is blending together to create a harmonius whole.  Any one part only plays a small role, but taken together they are very powerful.

#13

Now come the trees, first on the left bank...

#14

 

...then on the right.  Notice how the end of the Edmonton Water plops at the forks is now completely hidden.  If you thinks that's by accident- well...

#15

Stepping back, we now have this.

#16

Placing some trees in the immediate area using the God Mod Cheat more or less completes this area of the stream.  So, SC4 landscaping isn't such hard work, and your fingernails are still clean.  That wasn't so bad.

#17

We've run the clock forward and completed the superdetailing downstream from the bridge.

#18

A pic from another angle.

#19

And a last pic of the area.

#20

I'll stop there for the time being.  The last section of this update, which I'll try to post in the next few days, will show you what we've accomplished overall, clean up a few related details, start a "surface water" wish list and introduce you to our next update topic.

Until then...later.  Thanks, as always, for stopping by 3RR.

EDIT:  (8/16/06)  Moved pics to ImageShack.

[tchaos713 5]

David,

Excellent. Now I "see" the illusion. Quite well done. Shall I go on?

Now I just have to get back to Louisville (I've been in York, PA for the last week on a guest dancing trip) and implement this!

Daniel

[Battlecat 14]

Nice illusion!  That's a great idea for ending the surface water streams!  I'm looking forward to your final thoughts.  

Now, I just need to review this to get a list of the ploppable item plugins I'm missing.  Thanks again!

[bat 6]

Great update!

bat

[ElBarto92 7]

Awesome techniques, David, can't wait to learn some more of your landscaping secrets!

[Fabiocb 1]

What an awesome work man, and with all those explanation, it is truly briliant and the results are awesome, and there's lot of work in here as I can see.

[Fabiocb 1]

ops sorry double post.

[Ramona Brie 121]

Where do you get the mod to convert the God Mode trees to the CP ones? The link did not work.

[brtim2 11]

"15m by 15m"

*cough*16m by 16m *cough*

"I mean, what's the use of being God if you can't make a stream a few feet wide?"

Way ahead of you there, buddy.

Ok, actually I'm not, or am I? I can't remember, how far I've gotten, but I do remember thinking my prop was just a little too wide (a bit wide, actually) and was planning on making a half wide version. In fact, I think I already shrunk it down in BAT, or maybe I thought I did....

Either way there is no new version in my game yet. But that should be fixed at some point. Whenever.

I'm planning a half size and a quarter size (8 x 8 and 4 x 4 meters, respectively (sic?)) addition. The BATting shouldn't be too hard, but I've always had problems with the modding.

But, I am on the same page with you, do not worry. I'll keep you updated.

You just keep updating with the, eh, updates.

[szarkoz 8]

I enjoy this tutorial very much, your streams are so good detailed. Nice job!

[dedgren 830]

N.B.  I think I blew up ST...all of the sudden, all of the "We've got Mail" posts EDIT: my posts on this page (GAHHHH- it's alive!) are in this new "easy to read" (yeah, from a mile away) format...trust me, folks, I'm not yelling at you.  The editor says Tahoma, size xx-small.  Sorry!

EDIT 2:  Whoever fixed the problem (and, trust me if you didn't see it- it was a problem)...THANK YOU!

EDIT 3:  It didn't stay fixed...HELP!

EDIT 4:  On my laptop, at about 5:25 AST, it's fixed again.  The font is like agate type- really, really small.  What's goin' on?

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So, okay, we haven't answered the mail since...since...lemme see...

...March 23, 2006.

Gee, thanks for tellin' me that.

...87 days ago.

Oh, thanks for that, too.

...that's almost three months.

Yeah, yeah, I'm...

...within days of a quarter of the year.

...really sorry.  There's been...

...an entire season has passed.

...stuff...Spring, was that spring?  That's right, it's almost summer here in Alaska.

...how long, oh how long...

Oh, shut up.

...

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Well, I've debated with myself (try it- it's fun!) over what to do about the situation.  Apologize profusely, then move on?  Ignore the situation, then move on?  Spend a year in Timbuktu contemplating mail-ness, then move on?  Suicide, then move on?

It seems that the common thread through all these things is to move on.

So I will...

...after I answer the mail.

Now, here's how I'm going to do that.

...you didn't say there was going to be rules...

No rules...just guidelines.  I've started with the oldest unanswered post, which was Torben's (GMT - Greater Columbia River) on March 23rd.  I've then added after his name all the subsequent posts he made up 'til now.  Each has a linkie to the page of 3RR that it appears on.  The next person to post after Torben was Daniel (tchaos713 - Ballet Fan Club).  The same method is followed for him and each subsequent person.  Sooner or later, you'll work your way to the post today by szarkoz (The Free Democratic Nation of Caledonia), which was where I stopped.

Oh, and this "We've got Mail" will be posted in several installments, not because I wanted to, but because all the links make ST's software barf.  I lost several hours of work this morning trying to get it all up in one go.

And yet another rule guideline.  The references to posts will go up at first without my responses.  Why?  Because I'm still writing them.  I've actually carried them around on a laptop for a while working on them.  So you'll have to check back from time to time after this first goes up.

I had planned to include some words about how people come and go, and how much I appreciate, and so on, but you know all that.  You also know that, if you have a CJ or another site, I've been there, and as often as possible have left a comment.  I really appreciate this community- being a part of it means a lot to me.

So, without further adieu (or is that adieux? ...whatever)...

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Torben (GMT) - Greater Columbia River [ March 23rd, 3RR page 3 ] [ April 11th, 3RR page 5 ] [ May 22nd, 3RR page 8 ] [ June 8th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 11th, 3RR page 12 ]

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Daniel (tchaos713) - Ballet Fan Club [ March 23rd, 3RR page 3 ] [ March 28th, March 31st, 3RR page 4 ] [ April 10th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 27th (2), May 13th, 3RR page 6 ] [ May 24th, May 25th, 3RR page 8 ] [ May 27th, 3RR page 9 ] [ May 29th, June 6th, 3RR page 10 ] [ June 7th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 11th, June 12th, June 15th, 3RR page 12 ] [ June 16th, 3RR page 13 ]

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ElBarto92 - Tom's Town [ March 23rd, 3RR page 3 ] [ March 31st, 3RR page 4 ] [ April 28th, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 26th, 3RR page 9 ] [ June 8th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 16th, 3RR page 13 ]

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WRXpilot [ March 23rd, 3RR page 3 ] [ March 31st, 3RR page 4 ]

Well, WRXpilot, if you're out there, come in...over.

...static...

One of the things this CJer worries about (and I won't make any claim to being generally representative of the class) is when someone comes along out of nowhere, posts some really nice comments over the space of a few days, then disappears without a trace.  WRXpilot did just that- he joined ST on March 21st, posted here two days later, once again a week later and spread five other posts over other threads, several of which he started, over that time.

Then he was gone...

I'm really proud that he chose to grace 3RR with just over 28% of what he left behind for posterity- those seven comments.  We know nothing else.  WRXpilot never filled us in with personal information in his profile; his avatar and his nic only hint at who he might have been.  According to world-airport-codes.com, WRX is not a valid airport code for any city.  His avatar hints at the medical professions- or a dust or germ phobia.  His posts speak of a gentle kindness, not to mention discerning taste (he after all did say very nice things about 3RR).

So, WRXpilot, wherever you are today, c'mon back.  We miss you here at 3RR, where that call from RL has been placed on permanent hold.  And if you don't, that's okay, too.  Thanks for your kind comments- best of luck!

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rewright (Crystal Bay) [ March 24th, 3RR page 3 ]

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John (Darmok) - Anduin Valley Revisited [ March 24th, 3RR page 3 ] [ April 3rd, April 10th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 12th, April 17th, 3RR page 6 ] [ May 14th, May 22nd, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 22nd, May 23rd (2), May 24th (2), 3RR page 8 ] [ May 27th, May 29th, 3RR page 9 ] [ May 30th, June 5th, June 6th, June 7th, 3RR page 10 ] [ June 8th, June 10th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 10th, June 12th, June 15th, 3RR page 12 ]

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sloppet (Anwakee County) [ March 24th, 3RR page 3 ] [ March 30th, 3RR page 4 ] [ April 3rd, April 10th, April 11th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 12th, 3RR page 6 ] [ May 14th, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 28th, 3RR page 9 ] [ June 5th (2), 3RR page 10 ] [ June 11th, 3RR page 12 ]

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Rheal (rw0381c) [ March 24th, 3RR page 3 ] [ March 30th, 3RR page 4 ] [ April 11th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 18th, 3RR page 6 ] [ May 20th, May 22nd, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 25th, 3RR page 9 ] [ June 3rd, June 6th, 3RR page 10 ] 

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seemurray2 - Port Evergreen [ March 24th, 3RR page 3 ]

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Phil (PhilsCafe) - Acorn Creek Region - An American Story [ March 24th, 3RR page 3 ] [ April 10th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 22nd, 3RR page 6 ] [ May 17th, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 25th, 3RR page 9 ]

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Dustin (dussin23) [ March 24th, 3RR page 3 ] [ March 31st, 3RR page 4 ] [ April 10th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 13th, April 25th, 3RR page 6 ] [ May 16th, 3RR page 7 ]

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Kwakelaar [ March 25th, March 30th, 3RR page 4 ]

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Terry (terrymunweihao) - Botania - City of Hopes and Greens [ March 25th, March 30th, 3RR page 4 ] [ April 13th, April 21st, April 22nd, 3RR page 6 ]

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Shadow (Shadow_Assassin) - The Savannah Way [ March 25th, March 30th, 3RR page 4 ] [ April 13th, 3RR page 6 ] [ June 11th, June 15th, 3RR page 12 ]

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Afro (AfroThunda) - Welcome to Depoe Bay [ March 25th, 3RR page 4 ]

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djrules5454_simtropolisedition [ March 28th, 3RR page 4 ]

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More in a bit.

EDIT:  (8/16/06)  Moved pic to ImageShack.

[GaBoR 7]

Love your tutorials, this one in particular mkase the Edmonton water more realistic, also great writing... Never get bored in 3RR!!! Nice thing doing this post list!!!

[dedgren 830]

 

We stopped with djrules5454_simtropolisedition.  Here goes No. 2-

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Marc (Micah) - Kingwood [ March 28th, 3RR page 4 ] [ April 27th, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 23rd, 3RR page 8 ]

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Fabio (Fabiocb) - Rasec [ March 29th, 3RR page 4 ] [ April 15th, 3RR page 6 ] [ May 25th, 3RR page 9 ] [ June 16th (2), 3RR page 13 ]

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wouanagaine - Genesus [ March 31st, 3RR page 4 ]

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tag_one - Tag_One's SimCity 4 Production Site [ March 31st, 3RR page 4 ]

tnx for sharingquote>

From someone who has made it a personal crusade to "Stop Noobism on the STEX" I'll take that as high praise.  C'mon back by, t_one- we've shared a bunch more here, and would think it great that you would be part of it.  You might want to watch, too, as 3RR begins to develop- I think you'll recognize some of the BATs.

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SC4Noobie [ March 31st, 3RR page 4 ] [ April 10th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 27th, 3RR page 6 ] [ May 15th, 3RR page 7 ]

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lardonbur [ March 31st, 3RR page 4 ] [ April 12th, 3RR page 5 ] [ June 7th, 3RR page 11 ]

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Scott (shizu00) [ April 3rd, April 11th, 3RR page 5 ]

Scott:

My concern is that you are going to burn yourself out maintaining such a high level of perfection!quote>

Hey, I'm smokin' around the edges a little, but, like Neil Young said,

"It's better to burn out...'cos, rust never sleeps."

In your second post, you said,

Have you thought about separating your 3RR cj from your tutorials, and posting your tutorials in the "City-Building Concepts" section or such? That way both CJ and Tutorial audiences get their fix based on their particular interest without sifting or risking losing one segment of the audience, and those of us who like both can just follow both threads... you could put the link to both CJ and Tutorials in your sig for easy reference...

And if you're building 3RR from what you're doing in the tutorials, so much the better, as in the tutorial you can say "check out how it turns out here" and in the CJ say "if you like this and want to see how it's done take a look here"... that sort of thing. quote>

Thanks for taking the time to make these suggestions- I'm working now in the background, so to speak, to package the past "tutorial" content of 3RR as bona fide tutorials, which I'll offer up to any SC4 site that wants to host such.  I say that because I got a kinda sorta lukewarm response from the Simtropolis Help Squad when I indicated on their "official" topic that they were welcome to anything I had written.  I don't want to feel like I'm forcing the info I'm providing on anyone- when people see it here at 3RR, they more or less have voted with their feet to see it because they have chosen to come here in the first place.  I make no secret that I'm not trying to tell a story at 3RR, or document the growth of a city, or illustrate the life of some Sim- I'm simply trying to pass along what I've learned from my own Sim City experience over the years, along with (I hope) some sense of the enjoyment I get from playing the game.

So, having walked you around the block, I'll directly answer your question- I plan to continue to present new material as tutorials as appropriate.  I will try to make it more modular, though, so that the tutorial content can be lifted out of the CJ at some later date without leaving a smoking hole.

Thanks for your thoughts, and the kind comments that accompanied them.  One more thing, come back, please.  I've seen you post on other CJs since you did so here, and hope that your absence is only a temporary (albeit extended) one.

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jacqulina - Paradise Falls [ April 4th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 27th, 3RR page 6 ] [ April 28th, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 28th, May 29th, 3RR page 9 ] [ June 10th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 12th, 3RR page 12 ] [ June 15th, 3RR page 13 ]

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Silvio (Rayden) - ELS PIRINEUS - Life in the Mountains [ April 10th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 12th, 3RR page 6 ] [ May 21st, May 22nd, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 24th (2), 3RR page 8 ] [ May 29th (2), 3RR page 9 ] [ May 30th, 3RR page 10 ] [ June 7th, June 10th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 10th, 3RR page 12 ]

Silvio:  You first popped up back in mid-April, and thanks for the congrats.  They, btw, are richly deserved in the other direction.  ELS PIRINEUS is a work that is just breathtaking.  Is that the area I grew up learning back in geography classes called the Pyrenees Mountains?  Wherever you draw your inspiration from, you are creating a CJ that both amazes and delights with every visit- you have tamed the mountains without subjugating them.  I've been woefully deficient in not commenting yet...no longer.  New Haven is also a favorite- I'm pleased to say that I made the first comment after you started it.

Anyway, you said

of course all this info is worth well.quote>

That's sort of funny...I never meant that my CJ would turn into one long tutorial after another.  I think that approach might turn a few people off who are just here for the pics (and that's fine, too (not turning people off- I meant to be here to look at the pics)- I get a lot of pleasure out of knowing that people see merit in things that I've created).  There's just a few things that I do and really enjoy, such as "game" land bridges, that I know aren't widely used because there's just a bunch of little things folks need to have learned in order to create them.  In the future, I hope to do more "Eye Candy" stuff like the Roaring Fork one a bit ago.  I have a few ideas right now, in fact...

April 12th:

A soap opera tutorialquote>

...

Heh!  I do have a mean drama streak, don't I?  The Roger Corman of CJs- that's me.

After the hiatus I went on in late April and most of May, you were one of the first to welcome 3RR back.  It felt good to know that folks like you were watching my CJ for signs of life.  Unfortunately, I had medical, family and work things that kept me from, next to wife and kids, doing something I really care about.  Those issues affect all of us, and I think the community of friends we have formed on ST helps all of us in some way to carry through.  It was about this time you added Three Rivers Region to your sig- you were the first, and I continue to be very honored.

On May 22nd, you asked

I have a question, how can you do it, a bridge on land, I mean on land because plop water is not the same as real one. I've try it before, but could never achieve a bridge, it always draws a road and carves the terrain if necessary.quote>

I spent the next few weeks on the tutorial that I hope has answered that question for you and everyone else interested in this aspect of the game.  I could tell over your next few posts that you were really interested in this information:

Damn, no bridge yet quote>

Finally, on May 29th

Land bridge, Land bridge,quote>

I can't do justice to the dancing bananas that followed.  I was really jazzed, though, that the info was helping folks out.

On June 7th, you noted

Hehe, David's way of reporting his work, makes us hold our breath and get closer to the screen to avoid loosing any small detailquote>

I think a lot of the real pleasure of SC4 is found in getting the details right.  As has been said here many times, anyone can lay roads and streets and then zone like a maniac.  A city will grow.  But it looks like everyone else's city who plays that way until you take the time to pay some attention to the finer points of the game.

In the last post noted above, you said something really important, in my view:

In a landscaping like that, one doesn't feel like building anything else, would ruin the paisage.quote>

Just like attention to detail, one of the true secrets of really making an SC4 region your own is knowing where to stop.  It's hard for me- I always want to do that one more thing.  Usually I restrain myself.  Usually I regret it when I don't.

So now, Silvio, you know what I mean when I post "We've got Mail."  It means I am taking the time to, and having the pleasure of getting back to tthe folks who make doing 3RR all worthwhile.  I'll be seeing you around, both here at Three Rivers Region and in ELS PIRINEUS and New Haven.


Cheers to you, too!


Your friend,


David

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Still more in another bit.

EDIT:  (8/16/06)  Moved pic to ImageShack.

[dedgren 830]

 

We last stopped with Silvio (Rayden - ELS PIRINEUS - Life in the Mountains).  Here goes No. 3-

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Cjah - Callisto) [ April 10th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 12th, 3RR page 6 ][ April 29th, 3RR page 7 ] [ June 12th, 3RR page 12 ]

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magpieshooter - Kinata Region) [ April 10th, 3RR page 5 ]

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Isaac (van1357) [ April 10th, 3RR page 5 ]

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bat [ April 11th, 3RR page 5 ] [ May 25th, 3RR page 8 ] [ June 3rd, 3RR page 10 ] [ June 8th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 15th, 3RR page 12 ] [ June 16th, 3RR page 13 ]

You've been a part of 3RR since shortly after we started.  Way back on page 2, I said

thanks for flying by.  Your nic makes me wonder why there do not appear to be any cave-entrance BATs on the STEX.  'Course, once we got one, it'd have to be transit-enabled and...quote>

Your posts here confirm for me that cyberspace, and in particular the SC4 cyberspace that exists at ST, can be a place where borders, oceans and vast distances mean nothing.  Knowing that we have something here at 3RR that generates as much interest in Bielefeld, Germany as down the road from me in Wasilla, Alaska (thanks again, Koffee!) is one of the most exciting aspects of CJing for me.

Be seeing you around- take it easy.

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Robert (bobbo662) - RWBobbCO - Architects and Builders [ April 11th, 3RR page 5 ]

I have to admit as to puzzlement on my part that the folks at Maxis would leave something as fundamental as gas stations out of the game.  Apparently Robert felt the same way.  But it didn't stop there.

I had some trouble unzipping one of Robert's files and left a comment that there might be a problem.  Within just a bit, Robert PM'd me back and offered to email me the file directly.  We struck up a conversation, and even though we haven't been in touch lately, I felt once again that sense of connection that seems to go hand in hand with playing SC4 as part of a larger community.

I was also really jazzed by the fact that, over the years, Robert has posted at precisely two CJs, and one of them is 3RR (the other is bourneid's masterful Broome County).

Finally, check out Robert's great website, which I've linked to above.  This guy is way more than just the Gas Station God- you won't be disappointed.

Hey, bobbo, don't be a stranger...hope to see you back in 3RR soon.

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bluemax [ April 11th, 3RR page 5 ]

I find an attorney with a sense of humor and who enjoys creating fantastic looking mini-worlds to be quite refreshingquote>

Humor?  Humor?  Wait 'til all of you get the bill for the time I've spent at $195 per for reading and responding to all these posts...

I don't know how many attorneys you've been around in RL, bluemax, but you're probably right- "creating fantastic looking mini-worlds (awwww...shucks, thanks)" is probably not way up there on the average skillset.  You just don't know- after a tough day of evicting little old ladies and orphans, an SC4 session is just what the doctor ordered.

...oh, we sued the doctor, too?

Anyway, it was great to have you stop by.  Lookin' forward to the next visit.

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latazyo - Schlooble [ April 11th, April 12th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 21st, 3RR page 6 ]

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capitol1 - Reveska Valley [ April 11th, 3RR page 5 ] [ April 21st, 3RR page 6 ] [ May 22nd, 3RR page 8 ]

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Tommy (Tommy_Vercetti3) - Ridge - Moving On) [ April 12th, 3RR page 5 ] [ June 9th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 10th, 3RR page 12 ]

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Martin (packersfan) - Cambellsport) [ April 12th, 3RR page 6 ]

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John (mightygoose) - Vil-valad, a DHD City Journal [ April 17th, April 27th, 3RR page 6 ] [ May 22nd, May 24th, 3RR page 8 ] [ June 10th, 3RR page 11 ]

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yoman3 - United Republic of Ankara [ April 21st, 3RR page 6 ] [ April 29th, May 16th, 3RR page 7 ] [May 22nd, May 23rd, 3RR page 8 ] [ June 5th, 3RR page 10 ] [ June 10th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 11th, June 15tth, 3RR page 12 ]

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Dubya - Indica Hills  [ April 21st, 3RR page 6 ]




Four billion, one hundred seventy-two million, eight hundred seventy-three thousand, two hundred sixteen simoleans.

A CJer after my own heart.

can't wait for more!quote>

Dubya, dude, ya' said that back in April...come back!  There's more!

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Yet even more after breakfast.

EDIT:  (8/16/06)  Moved pics to ImageShack.

[dedgren 830]

 

We last stopped with Dubya - Indica Hills.  Here goes No. 4-

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Don (cinnebar) [ May 13th, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 22nd, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 22nd, 3RR page 8 ] [ May 24th, 3RR page 8 ] [ May 28th, 3RR page 9 ] [ May 29th, 3RR page 9 ] [ May 29th, 3RR page 10 ] [ June 10th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 15th, 3RR page 12 ]

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JoeEdwardz [ May 15th, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 29th, 3RR page 9 ]

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nathan (natedoggg) - Bayview City [ May 20th, 3RR page 7 ]

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Aaron (pickled_pig) - Winston County - a CJ from the mind of pickled_pig [ May 21st, 3RR page 7 ]

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josh (tankmank) - Dorshire  [ May 21st, 3RR page 7 ]

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AHA [ May 22nd, 3RR page 7 ] [ May 24th, 3RR page 8 ]

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owenluby - Barton Region [ May 22nd, 3RR page 7 ] [ June 15th, 3RR page 12 ]

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shivsood [ May 22nd, 3RR page 7 ]

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Russ (wallasey) - Myerscough City Region [ May 23rd, 3RR page 8 ]

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Don (homefryes) [ May 23rd, 3RR page 8 ]

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Battlecat [ May 23rd, 3RR page 8 ] [ May 24th, 3RR page 8 ] [ May 29th, 3RR page 9 ] [ June 5th, 3RR page 10 ] [ June 7th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 15th, 3RR page 13 ] [ June 16th, 3RR page 13 ]

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Dr. Neitchskrimfrauwnmoya - Raccoon City [ May 23rd, 3RR page 8 ]

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szarkoz - The Free Democratic Nation of Caledonia [ May 25th, 3RR page 8 ] [June 18th, 3RR page 13 ]

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The PeoplesPerson - The Tropics of Haalu [ May 26th, 3RR page 9 ]

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Jamie (RadioheadFan) - Pictures That Old People Might Take: A new CJ, oh my! [ May 28th, 3RR page 9 ]

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Cewl (SC4_cewl) - North Valley - Exquisite Regional Beauty [ May 29th, 3RR page 9 ]

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We're getting there, slowly but surely.

EDIT:  (8/16/06)  Moved pic to ImageShack.

 

[dedgren 830]

 

We last stopped with Cewl (SC4_cewl- North Valley - Exquisite Regional Beauty).  Here goes No. 5, which wraps this up-

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sandrasim1 [ May 29th, 3RR page 9 ] [ June 10th, 3RR page 11 ] [ June 12th, 3RR page 12 ]

Hey, hi and welcome to 3RR.  On your first visit, amid way too many nice comments [ blush ] you wrote:

Even though I already know how to make some of the terraforming you have shown here it has still been inspiring and the images have given me several new ideas to play with.quote>

Well, that's kind of the idea.  I think most everyone who is into SC4 on a regular basis has acquired a set of terraforming skills.  I can't tell you, though, how many "palm slaps the forehead" moments I've had seeing a CJer explain something they've done, or some result they've achieved as I realize I've been coming at trying to do the same thing the long way around.  So- I assume nothing, in the hope that everyone, however experienced at terraforming, can take some new tip or trick away from what they see here.  As for "new ideas to play with," most CJs I see leave me with something new that I just have to try the next time I open the region.  This place and the people here, as I've said before, are amazing.

In a later visit, you noted "imagination and landscaping skills" as being major reasons you enjoy 3RR (well, that's not exactly what you said, but it's close enough- again, ss1, your comments are too kind).  I know I'm not quite objective here, but I'd put the ratio between the two at about 90-10 (you might even put landscaping skills lower than me if you saw my yard).  SC4 is a great place to exercise the old imagination, which will otherwise, along with everything else, become flabby from disuse.  I just let the ideas I have run where they will- if I don't like something, I can always do it over.

Anyway, sandrasim1, thanks for gracing 3RR with your posts.  Hope to see you back b both soon and often.

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mattb325 [ May 29th, 3RR page 9 ] [ June 10th, 3RR page 11 ]

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tracker - The Tracker Files: An informal CJ [ May 29th, 3RR page 9 ] [ June 17th, 3RR page 13 ]

Hi, tracker.  Thanks for the compliment on the 29th.  I've scanned your CJ in the past week or so and will stop by for a longer review this week.  It looks like you are...

...wait for it...

...on the right track.  Did I say that?  Moving on...

In your post of the 17th, you've surfaced a problem to my attention that I don't have a quick and dirty response for.  My assumption, based on the files that are in my cycledogg and jeronij download folders, was that the Mayor Mode ploppable CP trees came with Columbus.  You have pointed out that I'm mistaken.  Apparently they crept in from somewhere else.

I did some quick looking around and testing (thanks to the Internet gods for inventing wi-fi at airports- I'm enroute as this is written from Alaska to Texas) and was able to find one sure source.  At the Sims Zone.de, there is a Columbus Tree Mod on the "Terrain" mods page at

http://www.simszone.de/simcity4/downloads/terrain_mods.php

It's at the bottom of the page.  It will install the Mayor Mode CP trees, probably along with the rest of the Columbus stuff.  There's one catch, though.  Your trees ("baume," I think) will all have German names when the popup appears in the menu.  I didn't check other effects, like for better beer in in the region's pubs and for a cuckoo clock in every R$ house.

I'll get on figuring out where I picked those up over the next few days, unless some nice passer-by sees this and knows.

Thanks for being a part of 3RR.

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Gaby (GaBoR) - Oro Bruno -- GaBoR's First Cj [ May 29th, 3RR page 9 ] [ May 29th, 3RR page 10 ] [ June 12th, 3RR page 12 ]

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Pixelrage [ May 30th, 3RR page 10 ] [ June 9th, 3RR page 11 ]

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pvarcoe - Bow River Valley [ May 30th, 3RR page 10 ]

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gmavignier [ May 31st, 3RR page 10 ]

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iquere [ May 31st, 3RR page 10 ]

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ringo [ May 31st, 3RR page 10 ]

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Psteve (psteverific) - Queenston [ June 1st, 3RR page 10 ] [ June 5th, 3RR page 10 ] 

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sebes [ June 3rd, 3RR page 10 ] [ June 7th, 3RR page 11 ]

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Frederick (mrbisonm) - Nexis of Genesis [ June 5th, 3RR page 10 ]

Fred:

I'm jazzed.  Seeing your avatar and post was like finding a note from Einstein on one's desk saying nice things about checkbook balancing skills or from Picasso in one's living room complimenting choices in the artwork.  I've been a fan of NofG for so long, and of your stuff on the STEX, I just take those things for granted.

I agree with you about leaving on the grid in non-technical pics or where it serves no purpose.  I will do better.

Hope you didn't mind me snooping around in your CJ and making suggestions.....lolquote>

Mind?  Me?  Greetz, indeed.  See you around, Fred.  See you around.

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Tiago (Caddielook) [ June 5th, 3RR page 10 ]

Tiago:

The grass textures are actually in integral part of cycledogg's Columbus Mod, which can be obtained here.

http://www.clefsdeschampsserrurier.com/CyclePuppy/CyclePuppyColumbus.htm  

After you go there and get the mod, check out the stuff cycledogg and others have posted on the STEX at

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?page=2&Keyword=cycledogg&type=all

Finally, there is a really useful and informative forum topic about the mod at

https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=22&threadid=62911

Hope this info helps.  Thanks for the nice comments and don't be a stranger here.

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thetryer [ June 7th, 3RR page 11 ]

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Daddy-O [ June 8th, 3RR page 11 ]

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georgec5614 [ June 9th, 3RR page 11 ]

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Steve (hamsterTK) - Andover Island [ June 10th, 3RR page 10 ]

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jasperdeman.nl [ June 10th, 3RR page 11 ]

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koffee [ June 11th, 3RR page 12 ]

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JoeMeister [ June 12th, 3RR page 12 ] [ June 14th, 3RR page 12 ]

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brtim2 - Terketmek [ June 17th, 3RR page 13 ]

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Well, that's the last post in this "We've got Mail."  If I missed anyone, or missed a link, or got something else wrong, I'll clean it up as I respond.  I do want to say that I feel like I've just spent some time making a list not just of folks who stopped by 3RR, but of friends.  I look forward to seeing everyone up there back by again soon.  For those who have CJs or other online places to go, count on my lurking, and probably posting (no threat intended) sometime soon.  If you don't have a CJ...yet...you will.  It's part of being here.  And, if I can help, just ask.

I thought I'd do the following before I go for those who have got to have pics.

You've seen this area recently...

#1


#2


...but not this one (sorry 'bout the grid, mrb).

#3


That's all, folks.  I'll be posting my responses over the next few days several months.

Hey, I'm not going to mislead you...it's mid-August as this is typed, and I still have never completed all these responses.  I do continue to work on them from time to time, and some were lost as a result of the great "ST-Crash-While-I-Was-Posting" in late July.  I'll keep the victims notified on an ongoing basis somehow- sort of like getting one of those letters that gets tied up in the mail for a year or two.

EDIT: (8/16/06) Moved pics to ImageShack and updated as to the timeliness of my responses.

[Fallon144 1]

absolutely amazing, not only the fact that your city looks beautiful and detailed. setting up tutorials really helps a lot of people and you obviously get enjoyment out of it, thank you for this wonderful CJ

[Kwakelaar 92]

Still going strong and still making some very beautiful scenery here. Nice work on your tutorial.

[Ramona Brie 121]

I'm waiting for my response on the CP conversion.

[dedgren 830]

Tracker:

A bit ago, you wrote

I'm waiting for my response on the CP conversion.quote>

Well, squeaky wheels get the first grease, or so they say.  Check my response in "We've got Mail" above and you may find that which you seek.

See you around.

[Rayden 7]

I know I'm quite new around here, despite so many posts on your CJ (that means it's good), but this We've got Mail thing got me confused. Do you care to explain me.

Nice new update, that 3 shots above, just perfect.

[GMT 389]

your tutorial on the rivers is great!

waiting for more

[Battlecat 14]

Well, the final product looks great!  Nicely done! 

[ElBarto92 7]

David,

Awesome, awesome, awesome job listing the posts, and if you're able to respond to every single one, you'll be my City Journalist hero. I have not yet seen a CJ'er that pays so much attention to his (/her) readers. I think I speak for the whole community when I say: Thanks!

Your devoted reader,

Andr

[Darmok 34]

That very last pic.....

Nature, simplicity, beauty

Shutting up and admiring!

**in a hushed voice**

Take care......

[dedgren 830]

Silvio:

I know I'm quite new around here, despite so many posts on your CJ (that means it's good), but this We've got Mail thing got me confused. Do you care to explain me. quote>

Hey, you can't fool me.  I've seen ELS PIRINEUS and New Haven- you CJ (I've created a verb!) with the best of them.

Check out your entry in "We've got Mail," above.  I think I answered your question.

Later.

David

[choco1 4]

Great work here dedgren, you have some really nice visuals! I love your organic style of designing, very realistic and your river beds look great. Well done!

Although I must ask, what is this whole 'you've got mail thing' why are you linking to other people's posts in your CJ?

Anyway, I just LOVE your rivers.

Cheers, choco.

[JoeMeister 1]

Last update is looking great! That little river is just so.... so.... aaaaaaawww.... lovely