The Right Tool for the Job?

[PeanutMocha]

Currently I create continent-size maps for a pen & paper role playing game using 2D mapping software (Profantasy CC3).  Now I want to take that to the next level.

My plan is to find a terrain creation package that will let me (an experienced programmer) extract data from my 2D maps (I can do that now) and shape the generated terrain to roughly match the existing maps.  By that, I mean I would like to:

- Force land below sea level that's outside the boundary of my continent.
- Generate generally mountainous terrain in areas marked so on the map.
- Ditto for hilly terrain (limit the size of mountains), plains, deserts, ...
- Select coloration methods appropriate for the type of terrain (I have a 2D map layer that indicates desert, green hills, etc).
- Ideally generate rivers to match existing map rivers, else have the ability to post-edit rivers in the correct position.

Once the terrain is generated, I would like to be able to:

- Import objects to represent castles, villages, cities, whatever
- Refine the terrain of local areas in iterations
- Walk/Fly from anywhere to anywhere in the world, by
  - Exporting to a 3D package such as Ogre (Paging Landscape Scene Manager 2)
  - Photorealistic rendering of fixed camera path (animation)
 
Nice to have:

- Realistically render rivers, lakes, oceans without manual editing
- Tools for foilage
- Easy LOD support

Does this sound like a feasible project?  Is TerraGen 2 the right tool?  What complementary tools would I need?  What am I missing.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[Goms]

I think that's quiet possible, only the realistic movement of water is a little bit difficult and the export as 3D package might be hard (but also possible as far as i know).
Of course it will take some time to get handy with the program, so just download the free version an try.
I can try to put together some basic scenery, but give me some time.

[Oshyan]

Hello Goms, it sounds like you want a "world builder" more than a "world renderer". In other words, if I understand you correctly, you intend to use the world you create outside of the software in which you create it, potentially in a game engine/environment or elsewhere. Terragen 2 is a powerful procedural world builder, but it is not particularly optimized for large-scale export of all its assets for rendering and use in other packages. One of its greatest strengths is its built-in renderer, and it is optimized for rendering terrain and basic objects internally, rather than for export.

I think other tools will probably serve you better if your goal is to eventually use the created world in other systems. I would look at dedicated heightfield modelers like Leveller, World Machine, L3DT, Geocontrol, Wilbur (the only free one on that list), or even Fractal Terrains Pro (powerful but somewhat limited at the same time).

I hope that gives you a good starting point. If you do find that you want to render your worlds in TG2, then perhaps we can talk about the best ways to build your desired scene elements either within TG2 itself, or in other applications for easy import into TG2.

- Oshyan