The new vonBiomes version 24 is finally done! It overhauls — or better extends — the integrated lighting system, volumetric clouds, atmospheres, and skies by a quite impactful level, and it includes a new biome: Savanna. And there is a new preview mod, too: vonPlanets (more info below)
Fast Downloads vonBiomes 24:
Or get it from Steam & Nexus
Downloads vonPlanets:
What's new in vonBiomes:
vonBiomes Lighting Extensions
The new version marks a further jump in lighting, fog, and weather quality in vonBiomes. What started as a little overhaul of the volumetric clouds resulted in a week-long work streak, improving everything and pop. Light flows are improved, sun classes now also influence horizon colorings, and much more.
Notes:
* Make sure no other lighting mod overrides vonBiomes (or runs alongside it) to see it fully in action and get all integrated features like foliage colors by sun-class, all the sky bodies, etc..
* Please re-check your mod options — I recommend the standard settings, and perhaps currently the cinematic high contrast mode can be too much. One more thing to further test in the future with the new lighting system.
And the usual side note: there have been maaaany changes, and everything is highly dynamic and full of dice rolls. If you encounter anything off or looking weird, please let me know, best on Discord with some screenshots: https://discord.gg/eaTa8zGbRf - Thank you!
Volumetric Cloud V2
I have completely recreated and overhauled the integrated volumetric clouds for more dramatic skies while still keeping up variety and dynamic parameters, so every planet looks unique. There are now many more parameters going into the calculation, from plant orbits, sun classes, sky tints, sky body color, nebulas, and much more. This makes the coloring and style of the volumetric clouds react to the environment.
Fog Updates
The volumetric fog — which you can enable in Mod Options — has also gotten some tweaks and changes, with even the volumetric clouds (if active) casting slight shadows, changed dynamic color parameters to counteract overbright fog, and more adjustments.
New Biome: Savanna
An earth-like savanna biome was still on the to-do list — and now it is there. I have created a new set of savanna trees and larger bushes, new grass, new textures, and all that is necessary for a new biome. Hakuna Matata!
New Underwater Water
Coming from the latest vonMissions Arena Update, the underwater looks are upgraded and improved. Take a dive in a vonBiomes lake to enjoy the new submerged style!
Biome Updates & more:
Improvements, fixes, and minor updates are in for a range of biome objects and biomes across the board. There is still some backlog, but all step-by-step ;) Also a range of other updates are in the new version, like too much to note on its own, but a general quality upgrade here, there, and repeat.
Due to the major changes, I will also upload the new version directly to Nexus and Steam to have it in snyc. I hope that is okay, but there is also something special for Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/posts/vonbiomes-24-new-136314626?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
New Preview Mod: vonPlanets
I have always found the look & feel of the orbit view of planets from the dropship's cockpit a little stale. I mean, there is an invasion ongoing - but your Leopard is the only ship there, and nothing is happening. So I started to change that. It is a tricky task and still quite work in progress. Nevertheless, you can preview it already with this new temporary mod!
The planets now have space objects in orbit, and it changes the feeling of being alone in the universe quite a lot.
The system will be integrated into vonBiomes in the future, but since it is not finished, the randomization does not kick in currently for each jump, and there are orbit ships visible also in the jump sequence arrival for a brief moment. Nothing gamebreaking, but also it needs more time and work, so I decided to put it for now in its own mod file for now. Just drop it in your mod list, enable, and enjoy some more scenery in Mechwarrior!
Next Steps:
* vonPlanets Orbits: I will continue working on the new system, so on one hand it is running well, and on the other hand it integrates star system and mission parameters. The number of ships in orbit will change per tech level or number of missions in the solar system, and if you are at an industrial hub, there will be more and also new orbital objects. When done, this all goes into vonBiomes.
* vonBiomes: With the new lighting system in place it is surely possible we will require a patch update there too at some point, when reports come in. Let's cross our fingers!
* Upcoming MW5 DLC: This is also on the agenda soon — likely each mod needs an update, and especially I need to take a look at what we can do with the many new biomes coming in the DLC. (or better: biome reskins, as they mostly simply add new color variants — which honestly would be better done with material parameters instead of full biomes — but lets see what it brings first;)
I will be off for some days for summer holiday, and after I am back I will look more into the new orbits and more.. enjoy the sun, everyone! :)
Thanks for your support, all the beer, coffee, and pizza and ... see you soon!
- Jonathan