I've been puttering around with how to make trenches effectively the last week. Made some prop models last night to line the sides of the displacement surface trenches with. Below are some ugly no-rad game shots. Anyone else working on anything similar?

http://www.orst.edu/~holtt/foxgreen0007.jpg

http://www.orst.edu/~holtt/foxgreen0008.jpg

Nice weave effect Waldo. Looks good.

I havent gotten to that stage in my map but I'm planning on doing the same thing with logs

Very well done Waldo - those look great

wow, this trench looks awesome, very realistic :)

I think most trenches out there look unrealistic because we almost never see any bridges across them. Pics like these show what I mean:

http://www.petrifiedtruth.com/archives/ovillers%20trenches.jpg
http://faculty.kirkwood.edu/ryost/stereographs/WWI%20Illustrations/Post%20Cards/Trenches%20Malbrooch%20Hill%20(American).gif
http://inauspicious.org/photos/films/047/02/trenches-at-sanctuary-wood-02.5.jpg

There were more ways across the trenches than simply going around them or jumping from one side to the other. Also, there were some "steps" to allow jumping quickly out of the trenches...

I'd also like to see more soldiers shelters, stuff quickly thrown about that indicate life in the trenches.

This was only the case when soldiers had the time to make proper trenches before battles of course, so that applies to the beach heads for the Germans, but generally speaking realistic looking trenches wouldn't be of a "|_|" or "\_/" shape unless supported by a wooden structure. It would be more like a river bed, especially after some use, as parts of it always end up falling before others, piece by piece. Displacements offer the possibility to do this now...

Obviously in both cases the use of alpha texturing is essential, much like what is being done on the beach maps projects on this forum.

not to be the bad guy here, but did they really make trenches like that? honest question, because I don't know.

I can see what you are trying to do, and its a good idea, but right now it reminds me of my moms wicker chairs. :P

Originally posted by Furyo
I think most trenches out there look unrealistic because we almost never see any bridges across them. Pics like these show what I mean:


Yey I have them in my map :D

would affix a piccie but my pc is busy compiling a movie :(

Love the trenches waldo I was looking for an inespensive way of adding the wood / weave to my trenches but im no modler :(

good idea. i was always inspired by the Iron Storm trenches.

Originally posted by josh_u[RR]
not to be the bad guy here, but did they really make trenches like that? honest question, because I don't know.

I can see what you are trying to do, and its a good idea, but right now it reminds me of my moms wicker chairs. :P

Sure, at least for trenches that had been specifically constructed for more "permanent" use, like the German defenses in Normandy. Not that Hollywood == Truth all the time, but if you watch the 2nd episode of Band of Brothers (Day of Days) where they take out the 88s, there's a lot of trench combat.

That style - the woven stuff. It's sometimes called a "wattle" or "hurdle". A fairly common old way to make a fence of sorts.

I need to do some LOD work on those. They could basically turn into flat polys with alpha masked textures when not that far away from them.

Yeah i did some trenches for a beach map i am doing, ill post some pics as soon as i have more of the bluff area finished

Originally posted by Waldo
Not that Hollywood == Truth all the time

SFTU!! you can't tell me that SPR isn't gospel truth!! :P

cool, thanks for the info. it will be nice to see a variety of trench styles in different maps. I look forward to seeing how the models turn out. as I obviously haven't see an example of those trenches, take this with a grain of salt, but maybe the weave would look better if the boards were a bit wider, more like planks? the only thing I've got to go by is fences out west done in that style, so maybe I'm way off base.

hahaha

did trenches have that sharp angle like in the second pic? for some reason it strikes me as wrong just looking at it...

i want to see trenches like this in maps though... keep up the good work!

maybe also have different heights at certain places because it looks so perfect

definitely put some junk in the trenches give the appearance of occupation by soldiers.

Originally posted by alby13
did trenches have that sharp angle like in the second pic? for some reason it strikes me as wrong just looking at it...


im assuming that there is a straight path that continues behind his current point of view. and the path you see on his left is just an extension, or additional trench that is just another part of the trench system.
i think it looks fine

@Waldo, nice trench prop mate :)

Also you might want to try making the trench abit differently with displacements. By this I mean make one seperate displacement for the bottom of the trench, then add to vertical sides in behind your trench side prop and then at the top of the trench side prop add displacements. This way it stops that nasty sharp angled bit of displacement in behind the trench prop where players can accidently get stuck.

Hope thats understandable Waldo :)

nice trenches waldo, if i knew how to make props i would have done the same. i had to make use of what i had and improvise my trenches, i tried different techniques for realistic looking trenches. not sure if its the best, but heres the stuff ive done


top left, using sandbags to line dirtwalls,
middle right, using worldbrush built pieces like seen in Saving Prviate Ryan
bottom left, using fence props from flash

that is one sexual sig neu :).

Yeah waldo I work for a mod called the somme valley which is ww1 @ hl2. just cant seem to find my files for it atm :'<

nice looking model !!

:)

Part of my trench (not completed yet though)

Originally posted by travis
that is one sexual sig neu :).

Yeah waldo I work for a mod called the somme valley which is ww1 @ hl2. just cant seem to find my files for it atm :'<

Cool Travis, i'd be interested to see what it uses. I started working on some "module" models tonite. T intersection, left 90, 45 degree turn, right turns, etc.

I shouldn't have put up those shots as they are pretty damned ugly compared to what they could be. Ah well i'll get something better soon :^)

yeah its deffinately a bit tricky to get realism going, can be a nightmare - i found myself mapping a simple trench for 3 days :E

Im interested to see what you come up with too waldo, always on the lookout for better techniques

Some WIPs of the trench props set im working on.
Still have to figure why I dont get my collision boxes to work :/

Ill add some german crates, boards, floorplanks,some rocks, maybe an indoor/outdoor transition and whatever you can suggest ;)

sweet jesus, very nice KominAaa - cant wait for that

Originally posted by KominAaa


Some WIPs of the trench props set im working on.
Still have to figure why I dont get my collision boxes to work :/

Ill add some german crates, boards, floorplanks,some rocks, maybe an indoor/outdoor transition and whatever you can suggest ;)

:donrluvs: :donrluvs:

Very nice!
Nice work everyone!

Nice Komin, i might be able to help you with the VPhys if you want, i could deffinately use those models too

PM me if you want some help

Nice work, all.

When i see that, i cant wait for some nice trenchwars :)

Noice monsoir


:D

Très joli Kominaaa ;) je réponds en francais comme ca GL n'aura pas tenté pour rien ;)

Nice work ;)

worked on these some more :)

I guess Ill make a big king of the hill map with 3 flags,a flak88 on a crucial observation hillpoint inside the bocage.

It will have trench and openfield combat around an barn,giving an opportunity to finally use these ironsights ;)

Id like to release the trench props with the map,however if you really want them for your map,pm me.

**falls off chair**

wow, i dont fall off chairs very much anymore but holy cow

great work!

very nice komi, show up some shots in hammer of your technique plz :D? very very niiiiice

Excellent work KominAaa that´s the thrench of the trenches so far. I can´t stop gazing at this incredible trenches ;)

Originally posted by KominAaa


worked on these some more :)

I guess Ill make a big king of the hill map with 3 flags,a flak88 on a crucial observation hillpoint inside the bocage.

It will have trench and openfield combat around an barn,giving an opportunity to finally use these ironsights ;)

Id like to release the trench props with the map,however if you really want them for your map,pm me.

Nice stuff! /me tosses previous efforts....

Hi Kominaaa,

I was wondering if it would be possible for me to use these wonderful models in a map i'm currently working on?

I sent you a pm and an email already.

:)

Edit: It seems Kominaaa has not posted for awhile, does anyone know how to get a hold of these models?

I'll talk to him on MSN, see if I can get him to reply :)

Originally posted by Furyo
I'll talk to him on MSN, see if I can get him to reply :)

Thanks a million man !!

:)