large areas of water

[justinroth]

where I come from, we call em lakes! I am working on a semi-freelance northern Ohio/Great lakes route. I have been building since August, learning along the way (and subsequently going back to correct). I haven't done much driving but what I am wondering is the best way to do a large area of water. I have used a muddy river spline, textures, and textures under water, the latter being imho the best looking by a long shot. How much of an impact on performace would.....well, lets say I have some areas of 10+ baseboards just for lake and shore areas. Currently these large areas are texture only and they don't look half bad, would adding water kill my framerate on an outdated computer?

 

[jlp1551]

Don't know, but maybe you could try this. Put in the water, save it as a different session and run it. If the frame rate gets slow, just delete the modified session. I have tried things, then run the session after saving it. If I don't like it I go back to surveyor and undo the changes. I only lose some time, and find things that won't work. And, I learn from it. Nice thing about this virtual modeling, sometimes it is easier to repair goofs than in the real world of modeling, and you don't lose as much time. Not to mention the expense of the hardware.

 

[jlp1551]

Another thought, just do as much area as youcan see from shore. Just like the real world, it is assumed the water goes beyond the horizon.

 

[justinroth]

Another thought, just do as much area as youcan see from shore. Just like the real world, it is assumed the water goes beyond the horizon.

that is what I am doing. I should've specified... not 10+ boards deep,only around 2 or 3,sometimes 4 if theres track on either side of a lake/wide river/coal dock ect.
I like that second session idear...going to have to try that and hope it saves properly.