I have given V2.0 a first try in campaign ...

The visual effect in the game is good ... in fact very VERY good! The ground is much more hummocky, especially in no-mans-land, and the landscape looks much more realistic and interesting. Great work!! I hope OBD will consider porting this work directly into the game once you have this finalized Xjouve.

Contrary to others, I am getting a drop in FPS. My typical fps is solid 60 in the past but now about 47 with the mod installed. I have a strong GPU (RTX2070) but only a modest CPU (i5 4670K at 4.1 GHz). Maybe the slightly toned down version 4 would be better for me?

Well, I'll look deeper. That's weird considering the modest size of the mod.

Maybe everybody should wait a bit before trying as well.

Where did you fly?

@xjouve -- I haven't tried it yet; but I notice that the v2.0 exhi file is missing the cfs3msh1.zx and cfs3msh3.xz files in the terrains directory. Is that on purpose?

That isn't That's why I've removed the link and I'm currently uploading v2.01.

Actually, you can use v2.0 but remove the .xz files of CFS3 first. The game will automatically recreate them on next start.

I may have an idea. I'll look at this for v2.02

Very good progress, l hope to test again.

Maybe a long shot, but is there a way to test the mod without trees? I suspect that the trees are hogging the CPU cycles.

Good idea, I'll post a landclass file without forests and trees for testing purposes.

Here's the link

At least on my system (Ryzen 7 3700X and RTX 2070 Super) version 2.01 shows no loss in FPS versus the stock files.

It does provide a visible increase in relief for the terrain features, and they look great in most cases.

The extra relief occasionally leads to the top of a hill looking pointy where the triangles come together at a sharp angle because of the increased pitch.

It also highlights more of the logical placement conflicts with some of the textures like rivers, streams, and roads.

Overall I'm quite impressed with the improvement.

zip file is labeled "exhi" but the compacted file inside is labeled "hi" -- probably just a naming issue I am guessing, but just thought I would point that out.

Have now finally tested ver. 1.0 of the highest-level terrains mesh in one of my casual campaigns and it works just fine - didn't notice any drop in typical fps that I have already with my GPU Tuner patch installed. And terrain is now indeed more undulating, rolling, etc.

Will give ver. 2.01 a go soon - sounds like a nice compromise between super-high and max-high packs from ver. 1.0 - with 200 MB of size shaved off to boot. Will comment again once I check over ave. fps with ver. 2.01.

Von S

Thanks!

That's indeed my biggest challenge now. Make elevations and waterbeds to fit. I'm not far off, these are only layers over layers, so adjustment is possible. But none of them is 100% perfectly accurate, because of source data and limitations in CFS3 itself. Therefore, I might very well decide to use a lesser resolution of terrain variations.

Here's a screenshot taken with v2.01 and a test version of my Somme River theater. As you can see both layers are not perfectly adjusted; but it is really close.

Great! Glad to hear.

Hopefully, you'll notice a big difference between v1 and v2.

PS: Started using your GPU tuner patch today. I really like it!

Compliments to Xjouve for this initiative.

I just tried a reenactment of Stachel’s first kill from “The Blue Max”, a low-level 1v1 between a Pfalz and an SE5a (except I was in the SE5a.. ). This new terrain mod gave much greater “depth” to the scenery, a greater sense of actually flying low level.

Also, no FPS degradation noted (though I have max FPS pegged at 72, to ensure max smoothness).

Well done!

Hallo @xjouve,

now I have had time to test it.
My system is a little bit older, nevertheless I have tested the Mod5-2.01. And indeed I see the differences and ... have no FPS-breaks!
Compliment and keep it up!!

Hi xjouve, this is a long - awaited upgrade to the mesh. There was an improved one developed for the ETO CFS3 addon, but it was never fully implemented and there were some anomalies at the land/sea interface.

Given the occasional comment about flat sided features, have you had a look at the meshbuilderbudgets file? This file may need editing to match the more detailed mesh.

And just another quick thought - some of the zip files in the terains folders apparently load better if the files are extracted, and placed in a normal folder, but still named with the .zip ending (if you follow what I mean). I will give this a try and see if there are any differences.

Hallo @xjouve,

only a thought:
the word "terrain-mod" can irritate some members, because Sim-Fans connect this word with a new sim-world.
All as I know that is not the content of your mod, but an improved elevation (mesh-data) in combination with the more accurate waterworld /rivers. So I would call it "topography-mod" more likely (only a suggestion).

Greetings!

Just a quick post, as promised, that I've now tested v. 2.01 of the highest-quality mesh files and they work beautifully - more subtle undulations visible, and I didn't notice any visible decrease in fps, when compared with the larger ver. 1.0 variant of the same-quality textures. Very impressed. I will also keep handy in my WOFF install the default quality (but smaller size) version of the mesh, as well as the "super high" quality patch that is only a bit larger than the default files - and which I particularly like. Thank you again for these mods Xjouve - wonderful stuff. And pleased that you're finding my GPU Tuner Patch helpful - it works just fine with your mesh improvements installed and I don't foresee any incompatibilities.

Happy flying all,
Von S

@Xav great work and like VonS has mentioned the mesh files work beautifully. Thanks again

@Daiwilletti its Great to see you over here from SOH,thank you for your V2 of the upgrade package from over there,hope to see more of you over here at SimHQ pal