Getting group objects to conform to bumpy landscape

[Lataxe]

I can create a herd of cows by cloning an Auran speed tree group and substituting various cow kuids for the various trees. I can change the orientation of these cows so that they don't all face the same way, using the "orientation n,n,n" line in the config file, for each cow. (The last number rotates the cow). However, I can't seem to get the individual cows in the herd to conform to a bumpy landscape, even though I set the "position n,n,n" line for each individual cow so that the third n is always 0.

When I do a similar thing but substitute one tree for a different tree, in a cloned speed tree group, I leave the speed tree custom plugin kuid that is referenced in the config file; (I take this out when making the cow herd group). The cloned speed tree group containing the substituted trees also has the third n of "position" set to 0 in all cases and this does make each tree conform to a bumpy landscape.

Can anyone tell me how to get these floating cows back to earth? Can I reference the speed tree custom plugin, for instance, even though the cows are not trees?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

 

[ZecMurphy]

Good Evening Lataxe
This is the main reason we don't recommend using 'group' type objects anymore (with a well designed mesh, that can take advantage of stitching/etc, there's no real performance saving), as Trainz does not move the meshes to sit on the landscape.

At this time, the SpeedTree objects do move to conform to the landscape, however we cannot guarantee that this will remain this way in future releases. As your cows are not built using the SpeedTree system, they cannot use the Speed Tree plugin.

Regards

 

[Lataxe]

Good Evening Lataxe
This is the main reason we don't recommend using 'group' type objects anymore (with a well designed mesh, that can take advantage of stitching/etc, there's no real performance saving), as Trainz does not move the meshes to sit on the landscape.

At this time, the SpeedTree objects do move to conform to the landscape, however we cannot guarantee that this will remain this way in future releases. As your cows are not built using the SpeedTree system, they cannot use the Speed Tree plugin.

Regards

Mr M,

Thanks for your reply and the clarification.

The only reason I want to make these groups is to speed up the population of any pastures within a route with the items in question. It works very well for speedtrees and can help cut the time taken to fill a grid square by a significant amount. I notice there are some other herds on the DLS, using a different form of configuration; but, as you say, not allowing the individual cows to "land" at different heights.

Lataxe.

 

[oknotsen]

The only reason I want to make these groups is to speed up the population of any pastures within a route with the items in question.

Faster / Alternative solution:
Make an area with the assets you like. Copy-paste that area. You can even rotate the paste area in steps of 90 degrees to avoid checker blocks effect.

This is how I populate my area with tree's: I created a 160x160m area with tree's and copy-paste-rotate that.

 

[Lataxe]

Faster / Alternative solution:
Make an area with the assets you like. Copy-paste that area. You can even rotate the paste area in steps of 90 degrees to avoid checker blocks effect.

This is how I populate my area with tree's: I created a 160x160m area with tree's and copy-paste-rotate that.

Mr O,

I think you're right, about the cows and similar certainly. And the copy-paste certainly works with the trees too. In fact, being able to include a ground texture as well as the items-above-ground means that your suggestion of copy-paste is probably the superior method.

But a lad likes to play about in his efforts to learn good route building skills.

Lataxe