Finding the right ores in the right rocks

[Terex 108]

Hey all,

 

I'm using the guide on the wiki to locate ores in different rock types but I've come across some anomalies. I have two so far (below). Anyone else find ores where they are not expected?

 

Both in upper layer:

- Olivine in Schist

- Borax in Gneiss (together with graphite)

 

Link to wiki page.

[Terex 108]

Sphalerite in Gneiss

Can you spot it?

[dunkleosteus 2,425]

This is actually really helpful. I have suspicions that our rock layers aren't being tracked properly. When ores are being generated, they assume the information they are getting on what rock type they are generating in is correct, but this might not be the case. If you guys want to work on this, it would be great.

 

Thanks!

[Rev 11]

Yeah I got cinnabar at the top rocklayer.

[Terex 108]

Saltpeter and olivine together in Chert

 

 

[aeroc 51]

In a B76 server map I found many lapis lazuli blobs in limestone and other non-marble layers nearby. I had tunnels throughout the surrounding area, in all three layers, and there was no hint of marble anywhere. The oregen code is ancient, ore can still generate in vanilla sandstone:

createOreVein(TFCBlocks.Ore.blockID, 0,new int[]{TFCBlocks.StoneIgEx.blockID,-1,Block.sandStone.blockID,-1},//IgEx and Sandstone, veins

[Terex 108]

Kaolinite in chalk rock. Wiki says that should not be possible.

 

 

http://terrafirmacraft.com/wiki/Ores

[aeroc 51]

I'm working on an ore gen mod for our TFC server and I replaced the code that identifies the rock layers using DataLayers with world.getBlockId( x, y, z ) calls instead.

 

So instead of (WorldGenOre.createOre() and WorldGenOre.createOreVein() ):

 

DataLayer rockLayer1 = ((TFCWorldChunkManager)world.getWorldChunkManager()).getRockLayerAt(chunkX, chunkZ, 0);

DataLayer rockLayer2 = ((TFCWorldChunkManager)world.getWorldChunkManager()).getRockLayerAt(chunkX, chunkZ, 1);

DataLayer rockLayer3 = ((TFCWorldChunkManager)world.getWorldChunkManager()).getRockLayerAt(chunkX, chunkZ, 2);

 

You may want to use something like this:world.getBlockId( x, oreHeight, z );

 

This way you can be certain that the ore vein is generating in the proper rock blocks, in case you think that the DataLayer results are inaccurate.

 

 

[Terex 108]

Cool! You know i noticed that ores are usually concentrated at levels 130 and 60 (sometimes 90). Is that still going to be the same or should ore veins spawn more randomly?

 

Furthermore, is there a relation between the contact of two different rock types and the type of ore vein that spawns? That would be nice, making the search for the right ores more strategic.

[aeroc 51]

Cool! You know i noticed that ores are usually concentrated at levels 130 and 60 (sometimes 90). Is that still going to be the same or should ore veins spawn more randomly?

 

Furthermore, is there a relation between the contact of two different rock types and the type of ore vein that spawns? That would be nice, making the search for the right ores more strategic.

 

Well I'm only speaking for the mod I'm writing, I'm not sure what the devs have in mind for TFC's future. But yes, I did away with predictable levels and blob veins. I've always wondered if there was a technical reason for having those levels you mentioned, or if it was intentional because it never made sense to me why they would do that. So far I've coded snaky veins that grow and shrink in diameter, have variable density, spawn branch veins, and go in any direction (including vertically). I still have to make a bed-like vein for sedimentary minerals, also thinking about making a vertical kimberlite pipe vein type. This mod implements a seed-based ore regionizer that only allows specific ores to spawn in specific regions in an effort to make ore types sparse relative to one another, we want players on our server to explore and work together and not get red steel within the first week the world goes live.

[Terex 108]

Oh I see. You're making it even harder? ha ha Maybe OK for multiplayer, but for single player that is making it very challenging and time-consuming unless there is a guarantee than when you find the right rock type you get the appropriate ore somewhere in that layer. 

[Kittychanley 1,002]

Oh I see. You're making it even harder? ha ha Maybe OK for multiplayer, but for single player that is making it very challenging and time-consuming unless there is a guarantee than when you find the right rock type you get the appropriate ore somewhere in that layer. 

 

It has already been stated in a few places that TFC is being balanced for multiplayer and not single player.

[Terex 108]

I was talking about his mod to TFC... And if I am talking about TFC, then all I am is curious about is why ores spawn they way they do currently. 

[Kittychanley 1,002]

Because the ore generation was modified from the Better Ore Distribution Mod.. and some little mistakes in the code caused the y-level glitch of everything spawning at certain layers.

[Terex 108]

Ok thanks. I did not know that.

[aeroc 51]

Because the ore generation was modified from the Better Ore Distribution Mod.. and some little mistakes in the code caused the y-level glitch of everything spawning at certain layers.

 

Could you elaborate a bit on this? This is the first time I've seen an explanation. From reading the TFC code the 4 y-levels appear to be hardcoded and deliberate. But you seem to be saying it's a long established glitch. If it's a bug, why has it persisted for such a long time, especially considering the importance of ore generation?

[Kittychanley 1,002]

From what I understand, and I want to put a clause in here that I may be completely wrong, Bioxx didn't realize that it was hardcoded until recently, since he didn't code it. He knew that ores spawned at certain layers, but wasn't completely sure why. It also wasn't considered that major of a bug.. maybe an exploit, but not something so major that it needed immediate fixing.. so it was just kind of left alone until he felt like fixing it.

[aeroc 51]

^^ Thanks