Big Smoke - London-inspired* British world for TS3 (WIP)
Gonna pin this post and update the map and content as I go along :)
If you wanna keep updated on the progress of the world this is the post <3 Warning I will yap a whole bunch below the line.
Concept
If you've been following me you've probably seen that I've started a few different iterations of a London or UK themed CAW project.
You can't recreate a city in full using CAW. Worlds have a limit of only around 2km in size, and then they need a lot of padding around the edges of the playable area for various reasons, so 2km quickly becomes something more in the region of 1-1.5km. You also wanna keep under 100 or so lots for the thing to run well.
In real life, the Thames alone is 300m wide in Central London, and there are a lot more than 100 buildings along its banks.
So, I've set out with the goal to make a world in which each street feels like a street that could be in London, but isn't a faithful recreation of the real thing or any of its landmarks.
The Map
Condensing London into 2km, making it look pretty and making journey times work, you have to break a few eggs. The layout is inspired by London but not really at all faithful to actual geography. There are also features added solely for ts3 gameplay that don't exist irl (a massive sandy beach under Westminster Bridge??). I've split the plan into various themed areas:
Central Densest part of the world; a main thoroughfare inspired by Oxford St cuts through the centre of it, which will be lined principally with regency style commercial buildings housing the commercial rabbitholes and other community venues, as well as some Georgian townhouses.
West Wealthiest part of the world, with apartment buildings, townhouses and mansions in various pre-war styles.
City Based on the City of London and Canary Wharf, with a few skyscrapers for the business, criminal and other rabbitholes.
Wharf Modern apartment buildings taking cues from stuff you'd see around Isle of Dogs and along the canals of East London.
East Shoreditch, Dalston, Hackney Wick - arts-y community venues, nightlife, warehouse apartments, etc
North Leafy streets lined with Victorian & Edwardian terraced housing, a bit of streamline moderne and a couple nice pubs.
Palace & Grounds Palace and a couple other homes for minor royals, on a large landscaped estate.
South Bank This will be home to a couple of large show venues and other nightlife along the river.
South East Greenwhich inspired; maritime themed with cobbled streets, pubs, small parks
South A second, smaller commercial hub mirroring Central & City on the other side - bit of nightlife, the Shard, more community lots and homes.
Suburban 1930s & Postwar homes - bay windows, mock tudor, bigger gardens
Counties A kind of barrier between the city and the big green fields around it, these will be small rural-ish areas inspired by towns in the Home Counties
Park Landscaped park area with a few lots housing a lido, playpark, and a graveyard.
Woods A much more natural park with wooded areas, on hills overlooking the city. Nice walks and great views.
Content
This is the main thing I'm working on right now - meshing and texturing all the CC needed to make the world feel right at street level. A bit of a checklist to go:
Street & world deco - mostly done
Rabbitholes - in progress
Build sets (georgian, victorian, regency, 1930s semi) - all meshed, still need texturing and packaging
Buy sets (pub decor; home decor; vehicles) - not yet started
