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Regions are the second interactive LWM element. They're quite important as are the drivers of the actual campaign - you want to control all the regions! Contrary to what you might expect, they are not controlled by livingworldregions.ini at all, but rather by the individual campaign files (gondorcampaign and mordorcampaign.ini). There are three w3ds involved, a Fill region (for selecting and the region fills, standard is LMR_(side)_Fill,w3d), an Edge region (for those edges that pop up on mouseover, LMR_(side)_Edge.w3d) and a Border region which contains outlines of the regions (LMR_(side)_Brdr.w3d).

Region General Comments and Code

              

Code

LivingWorldRegionCampaign    MordorCampaign

This bit defines the beginning of the region code. It has two sections: general art parameters and region definitions. However, there's an insanely important piece of code here...

              

Code

ZOffset            = 157

This tells the came where to put regions, armies, and anything else without a directly specified Z-coordinate. It works this way: the 'bottom' of the LWM is automatically set at the lowest point of all the objects contained in livingmap.w3d. This is usually the seafloor. This is where the grid is created initially. If you want your regions and various armies to appear on the surface instead of below it, you will need to offset it using this Zoffset. So, if your seafloor was at say, Z=-150 and your land surface was at Z=-50, you would need to apply a Z-offset of 100 to get armies to walk on the surface. This will become very difficult to get right if your land surface isn't flat, which is why I earlier recommended that you keep all areas with walkable regions at the same elevation.

Also pay attention to the line:

              

Code

RegionObject            = LMR_Evil_Fill

This line tells the engine which W3D to use for mouseovers in code.

The next big chunk of code talks about what happens when you mouse over a region. I'll go over that now and explain as best I can.

              

Code

RegionPopupDefaultColor = R:246 G:246 B:147 A:128     RegionPopupOverColor = R:246 G:246 B:147 A:255          RegionConqueredSound = Gui_RegionConqueredEvil

These tell you things about the conquered effects for a region. When you conquer it it will pop up a message relating to the conquest; this code lets you define the colour and sound that plays when this occurs. Standard RGBA values.

              

Code

EnemyBordersEffect         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Brdr         ControlPoint             Position X:0.248 Y:0.211 Z:0.043        ; 1/4 yellow             Time 0.0         End     End          FriendlyBordersEffect         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Brdr         ControlPoint             Position X:0.2 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.0         End     End          HilightBordersEffect         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Brdr         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Fill         ControlPoint             Position X:0.0 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.0         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.248 Y:0.211 Z:0.043        ; 1/4 yellow             Time 0.5         End     End

This code chunk defines the border effects for regions.

For each there's a set of basic commands: Geometry controls the object used, by w3d name. You can have multiple Geometry entries, they will all be affected by the effects in that case. ControlPoint allows the animation of the colour used in the geometry object. Each controlpoint needs a Position and a Time. Position has an X, Y and Z value that correspond to R, G and B values. They are on a scale from 0 to 1 where 0 = 0 and 1.0 = 255. Time is in seconds. The engine will interpolate the XYZ values between each control point, so you can animate the colour. Note that as the shader used is additive, black will be transparent.

For a Friendly region belonging to the player, this code says that the Border w3d will be used. It will always (Time 0) be a colour defined by the position (in this case reddish).

For an Enemy region belonging to the computer, this code says that the Border w3d will be used. It will always (Time 0) be a colour defined by the position (in this case yellowish).

For a region Hilight (when you click on a region), both the Border and Fill w3ds will be used. They will start at black (transparent) and increase to a yellowish colour by Time = 0.5.

              

Code

ConqueredEffectEvenglow         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Edge         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Fill ;        Opacity            0.4         ControlPoint             Position X:0.0 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.0         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.2 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.5         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.2 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 5.5         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.0 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 6.0         End     End     ConqueredEffectFlareup         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Edge         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Fill ;        Opacity            0.4         ControlPoint             Position X:0.0 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.0         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.0 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 3.0         End         ControlPoint             Position X:1.2 Y:0.4 Z:0.4        ; RGB values of color             Time 3.1         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.2 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 3.2         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.2 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 3.22         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.2 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 5.5         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.0 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 6.0         End     End

This code controls the effects playedon the region when conquered. There is a flare up and a flashed glow. In the latter's case over 6 seconds the Edge and Fill w3ds will flash red. In the former's case there will be a more complex red flare.

              

Code

MouseoverEffectFlareupOwned         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Edge         Geometry        LMR_Evil_brdr         ControlPoint             Position X:0.0 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.0         End         ControlPoint             Position X:1.2 Y:0.4 Z:0.4        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.15         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.2 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.4         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.2 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 1.0         End     End          MouseoutEffectFlareupOwned         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Edge         Geometry        LMR_Evil_brdr         ControlPoint             Position X:0.2 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.0         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.0 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.5         End     End

This section controls effects played when the player mouses over a friendly region. The two components control the animation played when the mouse moves over, and then when the mouse moves away.

              

Code

MouseoverEffectFlareupContested         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Edge         Geometry        LMR_Evil_brdr         ControlPoint             Position X:0.0 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.0         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.992 Y:0.847 Z:0.172        ; yellow             Time 0.15         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.165 Y:0.141 Z:0.028        ; 1/6 yellow             Time 0.4         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.165 Y:0.141 Z:0.028        ; 1/6 yellow             Time 1.0         End     End     MouseoutEffectFlareupContested         Geometry        LMR_Evil_Edge         Geometry        LMR_Evil_brdr         ControlPoint             Position X:0.165 Y:0.141 Z:0.028        ; 1/6 yellow             Time 0.0         End         ControlPoint             Position X:0.0 Y:0.0 Z:0.0        ; RGB values of color             Time 0.5         End     End

This section controls effects played when the player mouses over an enemy region, despite the "contested" name. The two components control the animation played when the mouse moves over, and then when the mouse moves away.

That's the end of that bit, it's relatively simple keyframe interpolation for colour. Now, onto the next section of the file that actually defines the regions.

              

Code

Region Gap_of_Rohan         DisplayName                    = LW:DisplayNameGapofRohan         ConqueredNotice                = APT:LivingWorldRegionConqueredNotice         MapName                        = "MAP SPS EVIL Gap of Rohan"         MovieNameFirstTime            = EvilGapOfRohan_Intro         MovieNameRepeat                = EvilGapOfRohan_Intro         SkirmishStillImage            = Skirmish261_RT_R1         SkirmishVoiceTrack            = EvilIntroGapOfRohan1         SkirmishMusicTrack            = BaEvil09         SubObject                    = T4         RegionPortrait                = MPGapOfRohan         DisplayActNum                = 3         MissionObjectiveTag         = SCRIPT:OBJECTIVESPSVsGood01         BonusMissionObjectiveTag    = BONUSROUND:SPSEVILGAPOFROHANDESTORY    ; Bonus: Destroy the refugee camps.         BonusMissionObjectiveTag    = BONUSROUND:SPSEVILGAPOFROHANBUILD     ; Bonus: Build 4 lumber mills.         CustomCenterPoint            = Yes                ; use a custom center-point         CenterPoint                    = X:182 Y:493        ; custom center point in world-coordinates         UnpackCamps                 = Yes                         ConnectsTo                    = Isengard Enedwaith Eaves_of_Fangorn Fords_of_Isen Westfold         ArmyBonus                    = 25              ;////////////////////////////////////////////         ;// Skirmish map opponent data                 ;////////////////////////////////////////////         SkirmishOpponent             Name                =    Rohan_Tutorial        ; Build Limits - Warg Pit, Siege Works, Pikemen             Faction                =    FactionRohan             StartPosition        =    1             TeamID                 =    1             AllowInActs            =    Three         End         SkirmishOpponent             Name                =    Rohan_DL1            ; Build Limits - Warg Pit, Explosive Mine             Faction                =    FactionRohan             StartPosition        =    1             TeamID                 =    1             AllowInActs            =    Four Five Six         End         SkirmishOpponent             Name                =    Rohan_DL2            ; Build Limits - Explosive Mine             Faction                =    FactionRohan             StartPosition        =    1             TeamID                 =    1             AllowInActs            =    Seven Eight Nine         End         SkirmishOpponent             Name                =    Rohan_DL3             Faction                =    FactionRohan             StartPosition        =    1             TeamID                 =    1             AllowInActs            =    Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen         End         SkirmishOpponent             Name                =    Rohan_DL4             Faction                =    FactionRohan             StartPosition        =    1             TeamID                 =    1             AllowInActs            =    Nineteen Twenty Twenty_One Twenty_Two Twenty_Three Twenty_Four Twenty_Five Twenty_Six Twenty_Seven Twenty_Eight Twenty_Nine Thirty Thirty_One Thirty_Two Thirty_Three Thirty_Four Thirty_Five Thirty_Six Thirty_Seven Thirty_Eight Thirty_Nine         End         SkirmishOpponent             Name                =    Refugee_Camps             Faction                =    FactionRohan             StartPosition        =    0             TeamID                 =    1             AllowInActs            =    Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen Twenty Twenty_One Twenty_Two Twenty_Three Twenty_Four Twenty_Five Twenty_Six Twenty_Seven Twenty_Eight Twenty_Nine Thirty Thirty_One Thirty_Two Thirty_Three Thirty_Four Thirty_Five Thirty_Six Thirty_Seven Thirty_Eight Thirty_Nine         End         SkirmishOpponent             Name                =    Player_Animal             Faction                =    FactionCivilian             StartPosition        =    3             TeamID                 =    1             AllowInActs            =    Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen Twenty Twenty_One Twenty_Two Twenty_Three Twenty_Four Twenty_Five Twenty_Six Twenty_Seven Twenty_Eight Twenty_Nine Thirty Thirty_One Thirty_Two Thirty_Three Thirty_Four Thirty_Five Thirty_Six Thirty_Seven Thirty_Eight Thirty_Nine         End         SkirmishOpponent             Name                 =    SkirmishIsengard    ; Skirmish named player that exists in the map.             Faction                =    FactionIsengard        ; Faction of the player, has to match the named player             StartPosition        =    2             TeamID                 =    2             IsPlayer            =    Yes                 ; Specifies if this opponent is the human player         End              End

There is one of these for each region. Looks intimidating, but it's pretty simple. I'm only going to discuss a few of these in detail as the rest are pretty campaign-specific.

• DisplayName: the string that is used to name the region
  
• ConqueredNotice    : the string to display when the region is conquered by the player
  
• MapName: the name of the map to load
  
• MovieNameFirstTime: The movie to play on the loading screen when played the first time. defined in video.ini
  
• MovieNameRepeat: The movie to play on the loading screen when played again
  
• SkirmishStillImage: the image to show when loading the map. Found in mappedimages\handcreated\handcreatedmappedimages.ini
  
• SkirmishVoiceTrack: the sound to play when loading, defined in video.ini
  
• SkirmishMusicTrack: music to play during the map
  
• SubObject: The subobject in the Geometry that this region uses. The engine will look for this subobject in the Fill, Border and Edge layers so it is important to be consistent in your naming between each W3D
  
• RegionPortrait: the portrait shown in the palantir for the region. Like any palantir image, it's defined elsewhere. In mappedimages\aptimages\mapregionportraits.ini to be precise
  
• DisplayActNum: regions display the act they can be accessed in in the palantir
  
• MissionObjectiveTag: string to indicate the standard objective
  
• BonusMissionObjectiveTag: string to indicate the bonus objective
  
• CustomCenterPoint: specifies whether a region needs a custom center point or not
  
• CenterPoint: This center point is where an army reaching this region will travel to (XY coordinates)
  
• UnpackCamps: do we unpack the camps in skirmish
  
• ConnectsTo: the other regions that this one connects to and therefore allows passage.
  
• ArmyBonus: the command point bonus when a region is conquered. There are similar entries for PP and resource bonuses
  
• SkirmishOpponent: Each one of the entries enables or disables various AI or player armies in the skirmish. Pretty self-explanatory.
  

Ok, enough code. The actual geometry will be discussed next.

Region Borders

Borders are the rings around regions. When modeling new regions, it's easiest to start with these.

Using a Line spline, draw the border of your region in the top viewport. Make sure to Close Spline when it asks you to.

Open up the Rendering panel and Enable in Viewport. Set to Rectangular and then lock your Aspect Ratio at 1. Size the rectangle so that it works for your border size.

Open up the Interpolation panel, disable Optimize and Adaptive. Set the Steps to something that makes it look decently smooth.

Now, this is essentially your border object. Using Editable Spline you could shape it to terrain if necessary. Name the object something like 'R01'

The material for this object is reasonably simple, and does not even require mapping. You can extract it with WDump or use the settings I provide here:

Region Edges

Edges are a bit more difficult. To begin, save your file as a copy. Then, hit ctrl-V and copy your spline (keep the name the same!).

Hide one copy, you'll need it later for the Fill.

Now, convert the spline to an editable poly.

Using face selection, select all the faces at the "top' of the spline.

Now, using the move tool, move these faces up a bit.

Now go to vertex selection and select the moved vertices

The Weld tool is used to connect the top rings. Set the Weld Threshold to whatever works for your border. This creates your edge object. To further refine it you can delete the hidden faces on the bottom of the triangle, or even delete the inside faces and set the W3D settings to 2-sided.

To unwrap it, you could use a face map, just make sure it's facing the right way.

The material here is more complex - scrolling and transparent. The settings I will provide here, but they aren't perfect so I recommend a Wdump check. Getting this one looking like the stock LWM edges requires precise mapping tweaking.

Region Fills

The region fills are quite simple to do. First, load your original Border spline and untick the Enable in Viewport under Rendering.

Then add a Cap Holes modifier. 99% of the time this will do the job, but should it intersect with terrain you will need to use edit poly to modify the shape a bit.

To map, a simple planar map will suffice.

The material in this case is also complex, but can be easily extracted with WDump (wow, I've said that at least 20 times). As usual, I'll give you my settings here

That concludes the regions portion. There are one or two things to emphasize - 1) Naming of regions must be consistent across all 3 w3ds 2) the scale and extent of all regions must also be consistent.

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