Graphical Enhancement 2.5, version 3 is in Pioneer's Guild.

[italiano]

A little bright for my taste. Below is good

Edit: something arid (ignore the trees, they will probably more olive-coloured).

 

[Sockeye]

Great work here, fellas, and a big thank you for the replacement border especially.  I had been commenting out the lines that load the border files in the modules.ini, but this is much more convenient and aesthetically pleasing 

Seeing post #394 makes me think that it's too bad seasons aren't available (yet?) in Calradia so we could take full advantage of multiple sets, but that's a matter for the module system and those who dare.

I'm always keeping my eyes on this thread, so keep up the good work!

 

[italiano]

the replacement border especially

I have no idea why we were closed in by hills, lowering them opens up the map quite nicely. Ultimately I'd like to improve the borders so they expand further, but also throw in forests, towns/castles on the horizon etc. This would barely affect performance, but wouldn't certainly make the map feel much more alive.

too bad seasons aren't available

Different sets for seasons, weather, day/night...wouldn't it be great? I'm sure it's possible as the Peasants mod has seasons. Something to look into when 1.0 comes out.

 

[duinnin]

Excellent work, Zaro.  I look forward to the alternative versions; they look simply amazing.  I do hope you will actually be using a separate map texture for plain and steppe?  That is perhaps my sole complaint with Dark, but I've just been using the steppe texture by Punkt to differentiate.

The addition of the border hills and new skyboxes only beautify M&B.  I too use the HDR mod, but with a low bloom, so no where near as blown out as your screens portray.

Keep up the good work.

 

[italiano]

I do hope you will actually be using a separate map texture for plain and steppe?

Yes, that was just overlooked in the first release.

I too use the HDR mod, but with a low bloom, so no where near as blown out as your screens portray

I mix it up between none, low and full-on. I post the full-on shots because it shows just how significantly it can change the appearance of the game. My current skies are quite light so the full-on bloom is actually quite blinding.

Some shots of what I will be calling the 'Bleak' version (with a little too much bloom):

 

[Loriano]

wooooooow that look's awesome 
Can you say specifications of this mod ?? Are they greater than Native??

 

[italiano]

wooooooow that look's awesome 
Can you say specifications of this mod ?? Are they greater than Native??

Yes. All of the textures are currently high resolution, about 4x the size of the native textures. Most people have said that there doesn't seem to be much of a hit in performance, but the best way is to just try it out for yourself. The HDR mod (what's giving the high contrast and glowing effect), however, definitely affects the performance and you should only use it if you have a good computer.

 

[dablade]

Great job with the borders! It looks so much better! How did you do it? (if you don't mind telling us)

 

[italiano]

Great job with the borders! It looks so much better! How did you do it? (if you don't mind telling us)

Just lowered the higher vertices of the mesh. You can actually see some almost-squashed trees meshes on them occasionally . I'd like to redo them at some point so they appear much larger, adding features like forests, castles etc.

 

[dablade]

Cool, I never liked the shape of those bumpy hills

 

[Vovolov]

Those last pictures remind me of Assassin's Creed.

Awesome work!

 

[italiano]

Thanks.

A couple of shots with the 'normal' version and the HDR mod (significantly lowered bloom):

Unfortuntely that's with gamma maxed and it will be a bit dark for some, so I'll have to brighten it up a little. Apart from that I like the settings.

 

[Vorenus]

where cna I make this texture map?

 

[War_B*stard]

Nice work, really makes big difference to the 'feel' of the game. I particularly like the skyboxes + border fix.
I wonder though, will all subsequent releases of texture packs be optimised for HDR? HDR looks nice and all, but I get the impression it's a bit fiddly.

 

[Lynores]

Yes, the last ones are even better. Gorgeous.

Zaro, I trust you will list your HDR settings when the next version is wrapped up?

 

[Someone_forgotten]

Can you upload the HDR Mod to somewhere. I tried to download but its deleted.

 

[dablade]

I think it looks much better with less bloom.

 

[Sirgorge]

The top image from your last post is just perfection! 

 

[italiano]

Testing the formations kit in battle. Some nice shots I think (note, I haven't lowered the bloom yet):

 

[Valorian]

Amazing pictures Zaro! especially the forth and fifth.

About the tree in my screenshots on the other topic - I don't know for sure, I am using your (both base and dark) along
with the less Hilly Borders and Skybox fix. The ini for hdr I am using is based on Ursca settings.

Here is few more screens, I hope they might help to find if the trees are right or not.