Unfair and Unrealistic Cave Generation: Pre-Release 12

[Koba 0]

Along with the raised height limit came a few changes to the generation of caves, and I'm not sure these are intended. The general pattern of caves now, having examined many many worlds in MCEdit, is as follows:

Surface / Rock Layer 1:

Very shallow caves that stop generating long before even reaching the second layer of rock:

Middle / Rock Layer 2:

The occasional random lake, and a large amount of disappointment and broken dreams:

Bottom / Rock Layer 3:

A horrifically beautiful amalgamation of winding cave systems, ravines, and generalized awesomeness.

The point I'm trying to make here is this: This generation is a major annoyance for gameplay, requiring the Russian Roulette-esqe act of digging straight down. Real caves are formed mainly by erosion by water, and none of these third layer caves have any access to the surface. Sure, they may have caved in over the millions of years required for their creation, but that doesn't explain why there are basically no caves at all generated in the second layer, and a ridiculous amount generated in the third. It seems like the cave generation is still acting like the sea level is at it's old value.

Bioxx, you should probably ask the third layer to share some of its caves with the second layer, it's hogging them all.

[AlexDC 8]

This is more of a bug I think maybe you should report it.

[Watsisname 0]

I'm glad you posted this, as I was getting confused/annoyed by my recent cave explorations. From what I have experienced so far, all surface caves seem to suddenly terminate with a perfectly smooth floor at y=140, almost as if the caves actually generated properly and continued deeper, but then got filled in with rock to that height (I guess that's the next rock layer spawning, since the rock type changes.)

Edit: Ravines do this, too, so I'd guess it's something with the rock layer generation than just the caves.

[RogueHydra 32]

VERY interesting. I'm glad you posted this.

[shandi235 0]

I've noticed this too - having to dig down to the 2nd and 3rd rock layer with bismuth or stone tools isn't all that fun hehe !

Be sure to bug report this

[Koba 0]

Be sure to bug report this

This is more of a bug I think maybe you should report it.

Okay, I'd like to bug report this, but Bioxx said he's not taking bug reports until the full Beta V2 is out. I guess we just have to hope he sees this thread?

[Teranz 37]

I have also noticed this a lot of caves spawn 2 close to the surface and when you trie to mine something the dirt falls on you... It is a pain in the ass!

[Lennic 0]

Agreed, very intresting find too... already had the feeling but wasn't certain

[daveboy2000 16]

its indeed annoying, but the lower ones can be explained with dried-up lava flows, with certain rock types atleast.

[Crysyn 179]

This is actually a bug report. (So I will be locking this post shortly)

The way the two layers are set up are very.. not useful for generating a world from top to bottom and must be done in two passes right now. This is why you see the top layer cut off about 10 units above where it will run into the lower chunks. I do believe this is on the list to be sorted out but this post should either be under bugs or under the main thread regarding the twice as tall terrain generation.

Thanks