This update is a big one!
While multiplayer was the biggest update for the game overall, this one is the biggest improvement to map making since Rolling Line's release. You can now make proper 3D smooth terrain in-game, entirely using in-game tools.
In the past the way I made the official maps was to use external 3D software (in this case, Blender) to make a 3D model to use for terrain. I would then import this terrain into the game using the terrain modding tools.
The other main way of making terrain was to use in-game props. Starting from flat tables, you can stack up hills and rocks to make some quite impressive 3D terrain, but this process is quite slow and limiting.
But all of that changes now! You can sculpt your own terrain in-game and create proper 3D terrain just like the official maps with all the features (like rivers and oceans) you would see in maps like the Sierra Logging and Top Of The South.
With these new tools you can:
Adjust the height of terrain with a sculpting brush
Flatten/smooth terrain
Cut holes in the terrain (for tunnel entrances and caves)
Set a water level for effects like lakes, oceans and rivers
Paint colors on to the terrain
You can find a full guide on how to use these new features here:
This new terrain system works just like the old tables already in the game. You can grab a table from the drawer and place it on the ground, but you will now notice some arrows around the table. You can click these arrows to extend the table in that direction!
You can use the new terrain sculpting tool (box cutter) to adjust the height of the ground, cut holes, and even make fine-tuned adjustments to each individual vertex (3D point) on the terrain.
Terrain sculpting:
Cutting holes for tunnels:
Moving vertices:
The other main part of this terrain system is an air brush tool for painting colors on to terrain:
You can use any color you want, and there's no limit to the number of colors you can use on a single piece of terrain.
Using the air brush tool you can select colors from the drawers, or directly from a piece of terrain:
On a completely different note, this update also adds an excellent quality of life feature where you can now toggle turnouts using the hand-held locomotive controller.
So you no longer need to put the controller away to interact with turnout levers, just simply point at them, select them, and then press Q or E to switch the lever:
And that's everything for this update!
I'm so happy with how this new terrain system turned out, and it's going to completely change how everyone makes maps in the game. I've already been having a lot of fun myself using it to make various scenery test demos to see what the system is capable of:
Also if you want to try out an example on the Steam Workshop then have a look at this lovely map by DOLLIN:
My goal with this update was to make an in-game system that does everything that I would usually do in external 3D software to make terrain for official maps, but re-create it all in-game. That means that this system is built from scratch to be perfectly designed for Rolling Line.
The end result is quite a unique style of terrain editor which really suits the art style of the game and hopefully fits into the game really well.
If you want to hear more about my development process and how the terrain system works, I made a big devlog video over on my Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-terrain-154283018
Current Patreons:
DOLLIN, Skilker, Gazzac100, Taerom, Trainiac 21, Codebag Playz, Clae, The_President, Teapop311, Chloe Surett, Rowan Mackenzie, Matt, Ábris Pataki, ItzAerozic, Matthew Johnson, Microcosmologist, Blake Prevett, TrainTiny, Thomas Merolla, Don Willis, Jayton Hawkins, Helga Nordgren, TheAmazingRyry, HuskyDynamics, Outertoaster, Nathan Perez, TrainMann, Railraider, Garst, Richard Prior, Joblogh, Detroit_, CAMOGUY54321, Ben Burch, Gustavo Sanchez, Michelle chan, Jack Fruh, Jonathan Ginsburg, Lynk_Wyland, SmokeStream, KathalLasagna
Previous Patreons:
Joey Drysdale, Ethan Lamont, NESecretWeapon, JohnR, Lutz, Leto Gloas, Rivet, Trackmeister
You can join the Patreon to help support me to keep making free updates!