Saaret : An Island Jungle Map [WIP]

[Orion1234 30]

Saaret

Release date : Estimated Q1 2023 / Q2 2023

 

Saaret is my first map for Arma 3. All structures placed on the map are from Arma 3 assets, no mods such as CUP - Core. It is a completely fictional terrain. Plopper is used for object placement.

 

The islands are divided into 3 different zones namely,

• The Northern Islands : Consists of three islands which are connected via causeways and contains the capital of this archipelago.
• The Middle Islands : All three islands are controlled by the military and are used for bases as well as training purposes.
• The Southern Islands : Two islands, one natural and the other man made which is an airport.

 

Description

Terrain Size : 8192m x 8192m

Map Size : 2048 x 2048

Cell Size : 4

Version : 0.6.4

Number of Objects : 91424

 

Features

This map takes inspiration from the South Pacific, especially The Solomon Islands and The Marianas. The clutter is quite tall, such that even in third person you can barely see what is ahead of you, so be prepared for close quarter combat. Bunkers can be hidden in rocks and trees, airports are protected using rock formations, an underwater tunnel for moving undetected using a SDV across the middle islands.

 

There is a high tree density on the islands, which combined with the tall clutter does not cause a major performance drop while moving or flying on the islands.

 

The image album is available here. More images will be posted in this thread.

 

Goals

Initial goals are to populate all islands with man-made structures, roads and lights

After that I will start to add trees to the islands. Dependent upon how Arma 3 handles the map, the clutter size will be reduced or the tree density will be reduced.

Finally all the underwater stuff will be added.

 

Links

• Steam Workshop : https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2619970987
• Youtube links : 
  • North Island Showcase - https://youtu.be/4NiBvRqHlyQ
  • Causeway showcase - https://youtu.be/y-8q7hi9urg
  • Saaret Night Flying - https://youtu.be/gKvpoaAwLZY
  • Saaret Showcase - 

 

Any and all feedback is appreciated.

 

Changelog:

Spoiler

Version 0.6.4

Config Changes
1. Updated the picture map and also the UI map with the current map.

2. Added new keypoints to the map.

 

Heightmap changes
1. Added a port in the centre of the southern island for variety.
2. Shifted the hangar bay to the side for the third airport.
3. Increased the dock space for the port in the middle islands.
4. Added a trench system to the middle island.

 

Southern Island
1. Added school, office area and hotel area. City is finished.
2. Added port on the Southern Island.
4. Split the race track due to port in the centre. 
5. Rail track around the island.
6. Trees added to the island.
7. Race track details added at the grandstand area.
8. Added street lights and industrial lights to the city and port.

 

Version 0.6.3

Southern Island

1. Added third part of the city.

2. Added race track artifacts, the seating area and the pitstop area.

 

Version 0.6.2

 

Southern Island
1. Added second part of the only city on the island.
2. Fixed race track paths and size as it was too small earlier.

 

Version 0.6.1: 

 

Southern Island:
1. Added hilttop resort, Corre Alter Corrn Conti
2. Added the firs part of the only city on the island.
3. 3 Race tracks are laid down with a common starting point. They differ in lengths, but the first leg and ending leg are the same.

Config:
1. Removed taxiways from the map as they appear off the island. The runways are still outlined.

 

Version 0.5.1.1:

Man Made Airport

1. Added one completed bridge and another under construction.
2. Added miscellaneous lights arounf the island.
3. Added runways to the config, so that the landing autopilot can be used.

 

Version 0.5.0.1:

Man Made Airport

1. Changed the mask and sat image to reflect the man-made structure-ness of it.
2. Added 2 intersecting runways.
3. Added terminal, lights, taxiways and hangars for the airport.

 

North Western Island

1. Added lights to the island.

 

Version 0.5 :

1. Created a better satellite image and merged it with the light image to make features stand out.
2. Changed the terrain lighting config values for the map to make the satellite map blend better with the clutter mask.
3. Updating mask and satellite image to reflect farms properly.
4. Heightmap fixed for the bridge on the north-western island.
5. Fixed the clutter height to make the grass taller than the shrub.
6. Reducing the clutter a bit as it is too tall for playing.

 

Ocean :

1. Add windmills at sea on concrete platforms.

 

North-Western Island

1. Adding the Port on the sourthern edge.
2. Added farms on the northern edge.
3. Adding the office on the top of the mountain.
4. Either small trees and bush or large trees and bush. Bush scale should be set between 2 and 2.5, both inclusive.
5. Adding a residential structures to the western and northern edge of the island, 3 cities present on the island

 

[Orion1234 30]

[Orion1234 30]

Version 0.4.3 Changelog =>

1. Remade the heightmap to suit a larger land bridges with more trees on it.
2. Added trees to the Northern and North-Easter islands.
3. Added dirt trails to the North-Eastern Island.
4. Added a wall around the training area on the North-Eastern Island.
5. Fixed the port on the eastern edge of the island.

[Orion1234 30]

 

 

[Orion1234 30]

North-Western Island Farms

 

[Orion1234 30]

North Western Farms with roads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Orion1234 30]

 

The first major city on the North-Western Island

 

 

 

 

 

[-Joe- 101]

Just a thought - would a slight change in the terrain texture under the houses, or some pavements, help to make the town look a little more town-y? It's a bit odd looking at it being grass, when dirt or concrete might help it stand out more.

[Orion1234 30]

@-Joe- 

Yeah I am thinking of changing the mask and satellite images when all structures are placed. It's part of a long list of to-dos.

I actually have no place for pavements as I completely forgot about those while making this city and the next one[the next reply has an aerial top-down view]. In the third one I'll put down the pavements, as there may be some space.

 

Roads is a definite as I have to change the mask as well as satellite image for them. The residential areas will need some tinkering about.

 

For the cities, it may just turn out be like the farms, as that is faster and less messier then changing the satellite and mask image for each individual house.

Edited March 14, 2022 by Orion1234
slightly more clarification

[Orion1234 30]

 

Aerial view of the second city

 

[Orion1234 30]

North Western Island Port

 

 

[Orion1234 30]

Version 0.5 :

1. Created a better satellite image and merged it with the light image to make features stand out.
2. Changed the terrain lighting config values for the map to make the satellite map blend better with the clutter mask.
3. Updating mask and satellite image to reflect farms properly.
4. Heightmap fixed for the bridge on the north-western island.
5. Fixed the clutter height to make the grass taller than the shrub.
6. Reducing the clutter a bit as it is too tall for playing.

Ocean :

1. Add windmills at sea on concrete platforms.

North-Western Island

1. Adding the Port on the sourthern edge.
2. Added farms on the northern edge.
3. Adding the office on the top of the mountain.
4. Either small trees and bush or large trees and bush. Bush scale should be set between 2 and 2.5, both inclusive.
5. Adding a residential structures to the western and northern edge of the island, 3 cities present on the island

[Orion1234 30]

 

 

 

[Broseph_Stalin90 72]

This is looking good! I'm interested in seeing the final product, these somewhat smaller maps (like BI Utes or Porto) can open up for some unique map wide, smaller scale operations.

[Orion1234 30]

Version 0.5.0.1 Changelog

 

Man Made Airport

1. Changed the mask and sat image to reflect the man-made structure-ness of it.
2. Added 2 intersecting runways.
3. Added terminal, lights, taxiways and hangars for the airport.

North Western Island

1. Added lights to the island.

[Orion1234 30]

Airport on the Manmade Island

 

Currently configuring the runways for AI

 

 

[Orion1234 30]

At night

 

[Orion1234 30]

Version 0.5.1.1:

 

Man Made Airport

1. Added one completed bridge and another under construction.
2. Added miscellaneous lights arounf the island.
3. Added runways to the config, so that the landing autopilot can be used.

[Orion1234 30]

 

 

Showcase of the map with the F/A-18 C mod made by Firewill.

[Orion1234 30]

 

Some pictures from what is expected in the next big update

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Orion1234 30]

I will be updating the mod to 0.6.1 soon, it will contain the resort above along with a smaller city just below it. they city is part of a bigger layout, but wanted to test out a few things first. Here are some pictures of the city being built

 

 

 

The city is only houses, hedges and pavements, will add trees, playground structures and lights before pushing 0.6.1 .

[Orion1234 30]

 

[Orion1234 30]

Version 0.6.1: 

 

Southern Island:
1. Added hilttop resort, Corre Alter Corrn Conti
2. Added the firs part of the only city on the island.
3. 3 Race tracks are laid down with a common starting point. They differ in lengths, but the first leg and ending leg are the same.

Config:
1. Removed taxiways from the map as they appear off the island. The runways are still outlined.

[Orion1234 30]

Images will come later, there is a lot of stuff to do and update to reach V0.7

 

I will keep posting WIP pictures though

Edited October 6, 2022 by Orion1234

[Orion1234 30]

Images from the V0.6.1 update featuring the Hatchet H-60 mod