EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0IJbN.jpg)
Recently while working on an upcoming project, I discovered a method that essentially allowed me to make bridges look like legit bridges. In other words, you could see things under them. Upon my discovery, SUPEROUMAN used this technique on his map Cherno to give his bridges a nice and legitimate aesthetic look.
So today, I thought I'd like to go ahead and reveal the method that makes this possible to the community, as there has been much speculation on how it was done. Take note that in the following instructions, I used this technique to make a bridge simply as an example. The same technique can be applied for other uses which I shortly discuss after the instructions.
Instructions
1.Make a bridge.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/5laoo.jpg)
2.Designate a cliff type for the bridge.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/8qWuJ.jpg)
3.Open "terrain cliffs" in the data module.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/A8UWV.jpg)
4.Find the cliff type you used on the bridge, select "cliff mesh", and set it to 'none'.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/gKN2O.jpg)
5. You are left with a bridge with an invisible cliff. Sometimes you might need to use the 'Same level cliff' tool to reset the cliff to its new non-existing model. However, there is an issue. Part of the black squares are pathable. This is a result of the missing terrain cells that are removed when you remove the cliff model.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/cyQ18.jpg)
6. To re-add the cliff cells, go to the "terrain objects" tool and use 'show terrain cells'. This will allow you to reapply the missing, yet pathable, terrain cells.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/UADIA.jpg)
7. When doing this, you should get something like this.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/yC6nq.jpg)
*Side Note*
If you try and apply tile where the invisible cliff is, you will get these strange deformations. This just means that you've gone past the pathable terrain and that you need to remove those terrain cells that are causing the deformation.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/j7sEE.jpg)
8. Once you complete this step, you can see that the terrain cells match the pathable terrain much more closely than the other side, which still has missing tiles.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/xDZS7.jpg)
9. Add doodads, water, skybox, etc to cover the black spots and give the bridge look. The only disadvantage to this bridge idea yet is that when using reflective water, the bridge itself does not reflect. However, doodads and units do which does look kinda funny.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/AQ52L.jpg)
10. To fix this, just turn off the reflectivity of the water, or just don't use water at all. Lava, skybox, etc are certainly safe from the reflective effect.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/63hTk.jpg)
1.Make a bridge.
+ Show Spoiler +
2.Designate a cliff type for the bridge.
+ Show Spoiler +
3.Open "terrain cliffs" in the data module.
+ Show Spoiler +
4.Find the cliff type you used on the bridge, select "cliff mesh", and set it to 'none'.
+ Show Spoiler +
5. You are left with a bridge with an invisible cliff. Sometimes you might need to use the 'Same level cliff' tool to reset the cliff to its new non-existing model. However, there is an issue. Part of the black squares are pathable. This is a result of the missing terrain cells that are removed when you remove the cliff model.
+ Show Spoiler +
6. To re-add the cliff cells, go to the "terrain objects" tool and use 'show terrain cells'. This will allow you to reapply the missing, yet pathable, terrain cells.
+ Show Spoiler +
7. When doing this, you should get something like this.
+ Show Spoiler +
*Side Note*
If you try and apply tile where the invisible cliff is, you will get these strange deformations. This just means that you've gone past the pathable terrain and that you need to remove those terrain cells that are causing the deformation.
+ Show Spoiler +
8. Once you complete this step, you can see that the terrain cells match the pathable terrain much more closely than the other side, which still has missing tiles.
+ Show Spoiler +
9. Add doodads, water, skybox, etc to cover the black spots and give the bridge look. The only disadvantage to this bridge idea yet is that when using reflective water, the bridge itself does not reflect. However, doodads and units do which does look kinda funny.
+ Show Spoiler +
10. To fix this, just turn off the reflectivity of the water, or just don't use water at all. Lava, skybox, etc are certainly safe from the reflective effect.
+ Show Spoiler +
Of course, the idea of making cliffs invisible can be used for way more things than just bridges. It can be used to make your own custom cliffs, or to put things under the map such as support columns, buildings, etc. Simply put, this allows you to place doodads, water, etc where you otherwise couldn't because cliffs were blocking it.
Do be careful though. I would not use this on cliffwalkable cliffs, as players may very well get confused when their colossus starts walking over a cliff that isn't there, or over something that doesn't look like a cliff. For that matter I would only really use this in areas where cliffwalking is clearly not possible in the first place.
To this day, the only issues that I have come across while testing are the reflective water issues I mentioned in the steps, and how the doodads you use to hide the black squares affect pathing. All I can suggest is to test in game to see whether the doodads on your bridges are effecting pathing as intended, and adjust them accordingly. I have not really tested frame rate changes as a result of this, but I certainly do think this should be looked into.
With all that said, I hope this helps make your bridges and cliffs look more awesome. Happy mapping!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/AJCsn.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/wNoKU.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/73XgH.jpg)
