Barthek's CAUCASUS REDONE 2022

[Archer.xd]

Guess I'll play with these when not playing in a public server, still great job man it really feels like a new map. Being someone who has seen the region irl and familiar with it, these new textures are spot on! Thanks a lot for your work 

[Ironhand]

On 9/14/2022 at 5:35 PM, Barthek said:

Some early development shots of the optional  late autumn / snowless winter.

 

 

 

 

 

Just installed this and WOW!!! Pure delight.

[Mike_CK]

Do I have to use the JSGME system for this or is will it work dropping into a mod folder?

[Ironhand]

2 hours ago, Mike_CK said:

Do I have to use the JSGME system for this or is will it work dropping into a mod folder?

It has to replace core files. So a MOD folder doesn't work.

[RedeyeStorm]

4 hours ago, Ironhand said:

It has to replace core files. So a MOD folder doesn't work.

Not true. I use JSME to install mods in the core install. Works fine. You don’t need a mod-installer for mods that go into the save folder.

[Hiob]

7 hours ago, Mike_CK said:

Do I have to use the JSGME system for this or is will it work dropping into a mod folder?

The files need to be in the core game installation path, not in the savegames folder. You can nevertheless copy them by hand but a (any) mod-manager is recommended for messing with the core installation. First, it can easily be reversed if anything is not working out and second, you can easily reapply after an update of DCS.

[Ironhand]

5 hours ago, RedeyeStorm said:

Not true…

???

[RedeyeStorm]

55 minutes ago, Ironhand said:

???

Apology, didn’t read the posts correctly. My mistake.

[BRAVO_16]

@Barthek
Hi, will it work if I copy the Bazar folder into my Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Mods folder?
Alongside the Terrains folder?

Or is it a must that I have to override game files in the DCS install folder?

[speed-of-heat]

AFAIK the only way is to mod the Dcs install folder, but try your suggestion and see...

[Ironhand]

2 hours ago, speed-of-heat said:

AFAIK the only way is to mod the Dcs install folder, but try your suggestion and see...

Which is exactly what I told Mike_CK. You can’t just dump the files into a Mod folder. You need to use JSGME or something similar to place them in main DCS directory. Either that or place them there manually.

[BRAVO_16]

May I ask why?  Surely that is what the Saved Games Mods folder is for, to keep the integrity of the game files.

 

[fagulha]

On 9/28/2022 at 7:26 PM, BRAVO_16 said:

May I ask why?  Surely that is what the Saved Games Mods folder is for, to keep the integrity of the game files.

 

Some mods modify core DCS files that´s why you use OVGme, or other. If you install it manually it might corrupt your DCS installation and you´ll need to do a Repair/Cleanup afterwards; everytime DCS updates it will erase those modified files and you´ll need to install your mod all over again. With a modding tool like OVGme you Enable/Disable your mods with a click, useful before an update for instance. And if you install the mods, that modify DCS core files, in savedgames folder they just don´t work (savedgames mod folder is a duplicate of the one in main DCS folder.  "core mods" don´t have the same folder path that the "savedgames mods" have).

Just a note: Savedgames folder is not overwritten when DCS updates so you don´t need to use OVGme, but you can. I usually install those mods manually and use OVGme for mods that need DCS core installation.

Edited October 4, 2022 by fagulha

[virulosity]

I tried simply dragging the folders into my DCS directory to overwrite the original files and now the game won't launch.  Doing a repair now...

[Morpheus]

3 hours ago, virulosity said:

I tried simply dragging the folders into my DCS directory to overwrite the original files and now the game won't launch.  Doing a repair now...

Mod is OvGME ready so why do not use this soft to install the mod ?? Update brake the mod too, another reason to use mod manager.....

[Hiob]

4 hours ago, virulosity said:

I tried simply dragging the folders into my DCS directory to overwrite the original files and now the game won't launch.  Doing a repair now...

 

29 minutes ago, Morpheus said:

Mod is OvGME ready so why do not use this soft to install the mod ?? Update brake the mod too, another reason to use mod manager.....

I was reluctant towards mod managers in the past too, but I would very strongly recommend them (OvGME in my case) now. Easy to use, save, and for mods like this almost mandatory.
Actually OvGME does nothing other than copying files to the right location (this is probably where you messed up), but it keeps track and saves backups of the files it replaces and swaps them back if necessary. Also like Morpheus said, it's much easier to reapply after an update.

[LucShep]

Barthek, this is really good work! This time around, I love what you did to the Caucasus textures (also with the optional snowless winter - beautiful!).   
Actually, in some areas I may prefer it to my version.

If I can offer some criticism, there's only three points I'd rather see changed, though none of them are big deal breakers (but please consider?) :

1. Spring season textures have colors a bit too strong, greens too vibrant.
   Could it be the parameters of the new "shadingOptions" you include? (haven't look at it yet)
   Maybe not the best solution but, for a quick fix for Spring season, I prefered instead to use terrain textures of Summer, but kept the fields of Spring (and looks great, for me anyway).
    
2. Trees should be a bit darker (IMO; and spring ones are also way too vibrant).
   I know that we can use the "Better Trees for Caucasus" from Taz, but still...
    
3. Currently, only "HIGH" textures are present in the mod.
   Plenty people using the "LOW" option for terrain texture in-game, because the VRAM consumption of DCS is outrageous, so this is badly missing.
   PS: if you wish, I can try to assist by preparing packages with the LOW textures, for you to add in your mod.
    

Edited October 6, 2022 by LucShep

[swartbyron]

+1 for what LucShep says!

This is your best work yet and I love what you have done with the shadingOptions. That’s where the real magic is and gets rid of that Caucasus washed out look perfectly.

The green of spring tiles and trees are the only things that spoil it for me. Swapping out the spring textures and trees for summer but keeping the fields could produce a lovely result.

Edited October 6, 2022 by swartbyron

[Barthek]

Thank you for the feedback, guys! 

Could you please provide me with some screenshots showing the textures you consider too strong / vibrant? It would make it easier for me to address the issue. I have to admit it was my goal not to exaggerate with the colours of the spring and on my monitor they look ok. I assume you don't use additional post-processing features like sweetfx?

As for the trees, you can adjust their darkness by editing the "gamma" parameter found in: BARTHEK's CAUCASUS REDONE 2022\Mods\terrains\Caucasus\shadingOptions\Caucasus (I've attached a screenshot as a reference). Experiment with this value and set it to your liking.

I am still adding some modifications here and there. Once I consider the mod fully finished, I'll try to create the LOW set of textures for those struggling with performance. It is a time-consuming task, therefore I want to be sure I'm dealing with the final version of the mod.

 

Cheers!

Edited October 6, 2022 by Barthek

[Hiob]

@Barthek For which ingame gamma setting have you calibrated your colors? I think that (or better the gamma setting of the user) has much influence on the perceived colors.

[Barthek]

1 minute ago, Hiob said:

@Barthek For which ingame gamma setting have you calibrated your colors? I think that (or better the gamma setting of the user) has much influence on the perceived colors.

 Might be so! In the installation guide included in the first post I recommend using gamma of 2.6.

[Hiob]

16 minutes ago, Barthek said:

 Might be so! In the installation guide included in the first post I recommend using gamma of 2.6.

Just out of curiosity - why have you deviated from the default value (which is 2.2 if I'm not mistaken)? Doesn't that call for trouble, since the gamma also affects the cockpit?
Don't get me wrong - I don't experience problems with your mod and I love it, I'm just curious.

[Art-J]

Whoa, thay's probabbly the reason why after switching from CGTC mod to this one the first thing that struck me was overall darkness of all the scenery (except for trees). I use default 2.2 (while in 2.5.xx. days I sometimes went down to 1.8 even). I guess that's also why I have to use Taz's "dark" trees mod here, while in CGTC "medium" ones were sufficient for me.

I'm getting used to the darkness, 'cause I don't feel like changing gamma everytime I switch between different maps.

Edited October 6, 2022 by Art-J

[gunhead9]

Amazing. Espeazialy the SNOWLESS WINTER edition

Thank you Barthek

Do you think it's possible to place a closed snowpack in the Highlands or just in the highest mountains (all above 6-7k feet)?

but I can understand that it would require major interventions in the code (only from ED...)

[ak22]

Great work! thanks a lot