Oversized Roadway LOD holes

[[aps]gnat 28]

A lesson learnt from playing again with the Kuznetsov.

Even if you create a static object (building or static ship for example) with a Roadway LOD (for walking on) and you dont exceed the (approx) 50mx50mx50m limit for object size, you may STILL find the Roadway lod gets "holes" in it that you can fall through.

After trail and error, I've found that limiting the p3d file to these LODs;

- Resolution LOD

- Geometry LOD

- Roadway LOD

- Pathway LOD

significantly reduces the chance of this problem.

More specifically

- DON'T include a Memory LOD unless you really really have to.

- Don't leave the Geometry LOD empty, fill it with a tiny box with weight at a minimum.

I found the Memory LOD being present causes the highest risk.

Obviously not suitable for every project, but what I did when I needed a memory LOD was to make 2 p3d's. 1 placed for walking on, the other placed exactly the same spot containing no Roadway LOD, but containing the required memory LOD.

Anyway, thought it may help a rare few people experimenting on such stuff.

Also another VERY important fact to be aware of. The problem may not manifest itself until you place the object on terrain in just some random certain spot. Its almost like standard BIS terrain is broken into an invisible grid, and if your addon happens to be place *just* so it overlaps one of these invisible lines, boom, the problem appears. Move it 5 meters to the left or something, and bingo! Problem disappears :confused:

Edited June 27, 2010 by [APS]Gnat

[[aps]gnat 28]

UPDATE

Found you can't really have empty Resolution LODs either, the Roadway breaks up again if you do.

So my solution, just place a tiny box anywhere in 0.0 resolution lod, such that it will never be seen/out of sight.