Precise terraforming part1: Mayor Mode tools - raising and lowering the terrain

[Ennedi]

Edit 26.11.2008: After publishing the second part of this tutorial I changed it's title. The previous one was "Precise terraforming Part 1: Mayor Mode tools - basic information". I think the current title is more apropriate and consistent with the second part theme.


Mayor Mode terraforming tools act on smaller area than God Mode tools and their strength is less. So it is easier to use them to precise terraform the terrain.
What I call "precise terraforming and when is it useful?

The first idea of it was showed in Jeronij's tutorial "How to build a nice slope". Jeronij showed how to soften the steep angled tram of road using Mayor Mode tools.
I had the feeling this method has a great potential and decided to make some experiments and here are their effects 

1. Is it possible to move (raise/lower/flatten) one and only one tile?
No, but you can move only one node of the grid. I means you can move one corner of the single terrain tile. It is a common point of 4 neighboring tiles.

2. How to do it?
  2.1. You must set the tool (let's say we will use raising tool) to the size smaller than 1 tile. Saying more precise, the diameter of the tool must be less than 16 m wchich is 1 tile width.
The best size is the smallest one, you can set it by choosing the tool and then pressing Shift - 1. Bigger sizes (Shift-2 and Shift-3) are good too, but working with the smallest one is more comfortable.
  2.2. Now you must set the tool strength (pressing Shift-F1  to  Shift-F10). You can use Shift-F1 for very precise terraforming, but the tool will act slowly in this case. If you are a bit more experienced, you can use Shift-F2 and Shift-F3.
  2.3. Place the tool on the tile, click once or click and hold. One corner of the tile will raise.

3. Wchich corner will raise?
The North-West one. Always, independently of your viewing direction.
But where is North? On upper side of your region map Edit: North is also showed by a little arrow in the upper left hand corner of your city - thanks RippleJet!

See pictures below. The tool is placed on the same tile on each picture.



















4. You can place the tool in any place on the tile:





It is not important, you always will raise/lower the North-West corner of it. But you must always identify the node wchich will move and it can be comfortable to place the tool near this node (and this is why I use the smallest size).

5. You can place the tool on two tiles (I'm still speaking about tool size smaller than 1 tile). But you will still move only one node.
Wchich one?
The Nort-West corner of the tile on wchich you have more than half of the tool circle.



6. The tool shows where you have more than half of it 



But only in the East-West direction   



Examples for points 5 and 6:





7. Of course you can use bigger tool sizes



But in this case the effect is much more complicated and you can't use it to easy and precise terraforming.



I will show practical examples of using these method in separate posts.

Cheers
Adam

[TheTeaCat]

Nice one Adam.

Thank you for experimenting and showing us the results.  This has been most informative and will make it easier to terraform in the future. I never knew that it was restricted to the NW corner of the tile and needless to say this has caused many moments of frustration and    

maybe now I can sort out my Fields

Very clear and easy to understand tutorial

Kettle's on dude

Derry

[RippleJet]

But where is North? On upper side of your region map

This little arrow in the upper left hand corner of your city view always points to the north:

[Ennedi]

This little arrow in the upper left hand corner of your city view always points to the north:

Thank you, sometimes I have moments of an unbelievable stupidity 

[cogeo]

Excellent tutorial Ennedi!
I didnt even know that terraforming tools could become so small and they have adjustable strength. I just used the standard size (modified by pressing the Alt, Ctrl or Shift button, can't remember), which is very awkward and in most cases a money waster. So I used to flatten areas plopping 1x1 street tiles.

[Ennedi]

So I used to flatten areas plopping 1x1 street tiles.

Sometimes you can't do it - for example on very steep slopes or if the tile is partially below the water level. And this method works always.
Thank you for nice words! 

[KatHuntoon]

This tutorial is a life and sanity saver. . thank you so much!