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RA2/YR Trees in Final Alert2: The ones you can use and the ones you can't
by CannisRabidus. Published: 3/13/03. Last update: 3/13/03.
Like all artwork in the game, trees use theater-specific images. That means some trees will appear in some theaters and not
in others. The Final Alert2 map editor attempts to filter this, but it does so improperly. This creates 2 problems: 1) It
allows you to place trees that aren't visible in the game; and 2) It prevents you from placing trees that you can use.
The first problem means that there will be invisible objects on your map which will impede unit movement and will prevent
building placement - and these effects will be inexplicable to the player, and will annoy him. The second problem prevents
you from making your map look as good as it could.
Here's how you can fix this so FA2 shows you the proper trees automatically, for each theater you choose to edit in.
Look where you installed Final Alert2 (the most current version is FA2-Yuri 1.01). You'll find a file called FAData.ini.
Open this file in notepad, and scroll down until you find [LUNARLimits]. You will see this:
[LUNARLimits]
TreeMax=999
TreeMin=999
This says that the range of allowable tree numbers is 999-999, in other words you will see no trees for LUNAR maps. Change
it to read:
[LUNARLimits]
TreeMax=999
Now you will see and be able to use all the trees in the game when making lunar maps. You should keep in mind that none of
the trees are drawn in the proper palette for the LUNAR theater. But maybe your lighting settings will make them look sort
of OK. In any event, it's better to have a feature than not have it, so you may as well enable this.
Continue to the next section, [URBANLimits]. Here's where you set what trees you see in the URBAN theater. This section now
looks like this:
[URBANLimits]
TreeMax=999
;TreeMax=27
These settings allow you to use all the trees in the game, but many of those trees have no artwork in this theater. So they
would be invisible! You need to limit this list, so change things to look like so:
[URBANLimits]
TreeMax=28
Now you can use only the trees that will work in URBAN, and none of the ones that won't.
Next we move on to [TEMPERATELimits].
[TEMPERATELimits]
TreeMax=999
;TreeMax=27
TEMPERATE has the exact same problem as URBAN. The solution is the same:
[TEMPERATELimits]
TreeMax=28
The next section is for the snow theater, named [SNOWLimits] as you would expect. Same problem here too.
[SNOWLimits]
TreeMax=999
;TreeMax=27
And again the same solution.
[SNOWLimits]
TreeMax=28
Now we come to the NEWURBAN theater's section, [NEWURBANLimits]. Depending on the FA2 version you have, this section may be
named wrong, and if it is, you'll see no trees at all! Or, perhaps you have the latest version (1.01) which fixes this.
Regardless of what version you have, here's what it should look like. If it doesn't, edit it so it does look like this:
[NEWURBANLimits]
TreeMax=999
Now you can use all the trees in the game. And they'll all show up in the game too.
Next up is DESERT: [DESERTLimits]. This one is really messed up:
[DESERTLimits]
TreeMin=30
TreeMax=999
This means you can only use TREE30 through TREE36. When in fact you can use them all - including a third cactus type, which
is very welcome in this theater. Here's the proper code:
[DESERTLimits]
TreeMax=999
When you are done with these changes, save the FAData.ini file and fire up FA2. Enjoy all the tree choices available to you,
and you can be confident that every tree you place will be visible in the game.
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