UPDATE, MAR 26, 2022: The original block has been made to look like a managed plantation, and an additional 'Jungle' block has been added, having a 'scruffier', wild look about it, with much undergrowth.
======================================================================================NOTE: Later versions of B.A.T. (possibly from 4.1?) already include the 'Plantation' object; consult the B.A.T. readme file, or search your static.ini file.
The two palm block types. The original is on the right, now called a 'Jungle' block due to the amount of extraneous vegetation that blocks visibility into and through the object. I did somewhat reduce the amount of undergrowth blockage by adding/enlarging the existing gaps somewhat in the alpha channel.
The new block is on the left, although it has the original 'Plantation' name, and the tree trunks have been made anew so as to better match the other pacific coconut palm trees (if my bushy palm mod is in effect, anyway). This has the tidier appearance of a planted pattern of maintained trees.
Get it here (same link as before):
https://www.mediafire.com/file/h54xeg40ydm6ogz/Pac_Palm_Plantation_Block_40m.7z/fileFrom the included, updated readme.txt:
40m x 40m Pacific Palm Block Object, Plantation and Jungle Variants, by WxTech
Note that later versions of B.A.T. include the original "Plantation" object, and it will appear in static.ini as the first of the two entries supplied below. You can do a search in static.ini to verify if the "Plantation" object is already present, and if so add just the second "Jungle" entry after it.
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Mar 25, 2022:
- Made new side textures to tidy up the 'jungle' aspect and show just the palm trunks, for a 'cleaner' plantation appearance.
- Added an additional "Jungle" object, using the original side textures, for a wilder, more natural jungle look. The alpha channel in these textures has been altered to reduced the amount of 'clutter', providing a bit better visibility through gaps between the trees.
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To cover any sizeable area with a decent density of existing palm trees in order to simulate a palm plantation would involve a notable or even awful frame rate hit due to the huge numbers of polygons to draw.
This object covers a 40m square patch that represents fully 36 trees with a mere 52 polygons! If, say, a 400m x 120m plantation is to be built, 30 of these blocks represent just over 1,000 trees, drawn with only 1,560 polygons. Compare to the stock palm trees, where 1 tree comprises about 100 polys (or 100,000 polys for 1,000 trees.) This is a polygon useage of 1/69th; you get 69 times more trees for given resource useage.
I added more transparency cut-outs among the tree trunks, which gives an effective 3-D effect due to seeing inside to other texture layers.
The collision box sides correspond to the 'solid wall' edges, which are 3-4 meters inside the outermost extensions of the perpendicular edges. The top of the collision box is 10m above ground, or about at the height of the tree trunks. That is, you can safely swish through the uppermost fronds--but don't push your luck too far!
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To use this object, plunk down one, adjust the orientation as desired, then add a bunch more, all of which will have the same orientation as the first. Fine tune the placement so that no unwanted gaps are seen where a contiguous appearance is desired. Occasional gaps here and there add variety, perhaps representing spaces for easier travel with a vehicle or some such.
To break up the inevitable appearance of a long, uniform 'wall' add some 'proper' palm trees, either singletons or groups, just offset from the blocks themselves. A relatively small number of these very nicely does the trick.
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If you don't already have it (it is included in more recent B.A.T. versions), might I suggest you obtain my bushy palm tree mod, available here:
https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,63897.0.html=================================================================
Add to static.ini (the first might already be present in your game):
[buildings.House$Pac_Palm_Plantation_Block_40m]
Title Pac_Palm_Plantation_Block_40m
MeshLive 3do/ForestSides/Pac_Palm_Plantation_Block_40m/mono.sim
MeshDead
AddHeightLive 0
AlignToLand 0
Body RockMiddle
Panzer 9.96 //0.12
[buildings.House$Pac_Palm_Jungle_Block_40m]
Title Pac_Palm_Jungle_Block_40m
MeshLive 3do/ForestSides/Pac_Palm_Plantation_Block_40m/mono_jungle.sim
MeshDead
AddHeightLive 0
AlignToLand 0
Body RockMiddle
Panzer 9.96 //0.12
This work is offered for use by any and all, for any purpose, without restriction.
WxTech
Nov 13, 2020
Mar 25, 2022