As a Roblox Developer that focuses on realistic & expansive maps, we are heavily restrained by the lack of terrain customization.
- There are currently 23 default terrain materials on Roblox. We are able to edit 21 of these materials, but not create entirely new ones.
- Some of these are even completely useless, such as “WoodPlanks” & “Bricks”, due to being stuck in an un-editable & inconvenient voxel-shape.
We would normally use five to 10 unique materials for each biome of our map, and that quickly adds up between multiple biomes, meaning we have to make sure our materials can work with various different biomes, leading to less diversity. Due to this, many of the biomes feel the same, due to re-used terrain materials.
- In the picture above, we are for example using the same dirt texture that is used all across the map. We don’t have more material “slots” to diversify the material for each biome. Additionally, the sand texture that is used, is the same one employed on the beach.
- This eventually means we cannot make large maps, with both deserts, jungles, mountains & tundra, since each biome requires a plethora of unique textures to look appropriate. We are forced to keep everything similar for each individual map.
- In the picture above, I have created a realistic rendition of a Giant Sequoia Forest. It is using a fully custom set of terrain materials. These materials are unique to Sequoia Forests. They cannot be re-used for other biomes & that’s where the problem lies. We simply cannot create enough biome diversity on Roblox as it currently stands, with the limitations at hand.
- With this level of detail, we’d be able to have a grand total of three unique biomes pr. map knowing the current material limitations. That’s to say the least, not a lot.
So, my question is mainly this:
Why can we create infinite materials for meshes, but not for terrain, which is arguably just as important?
Best regards,
- Jaco2811, Lead Developer @ Jacys Studios.