New to terraforming

[. Rarity .]

So, I decided to take a look at my rating, and im not quite sure, but after K.K visits you've beaten the game I think? I closed the game right away after I saw my rating
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But I could probably start the famous terraforming soon. Ive heard mixed messages. Im also just curious in general.

Some people say its awesome, some say its hard, and boring. Then some say that you could ruin your whole island using it! Some also say that its a good idea to completely flatten your island when you get it?

Im rather conflicted.. I was curious if anyone had tips, or what their opinions, and advice is.

 

[VanitasFan26]

Ah yes Terraforming. I have mixed feelings on it personally. One one hand its very awesome where you can make rivers and cliffs however you wanted it to. At the time I thought this was a really great idea. However, trying to do terraforming is easier said than done. When I first played this game I had no idea what I was even doing with terraforming. I was trying to make cliffs and make rivers to how I wanted it to be but, I just couldn't get it right. I find myself having to start over and terraform again but then I just screamed because I couldn't make the right paths.

Then I checked people's islands to see what they did and even watched tutorials on YouTube to find out how they did those certain things. So then I got a better understanding for how Terraforming works. I was able to make a lot open rivers, high cliffs, and of course waterfalls on my island. It was hard work and let me just say it takes a long time to do. I put in over 3,000 hours (yeah I know its crazy but that was the most time I spent in this game during the lockdown) into this game terraforming. There was a moment I was happy with how my island was but then its like I wanted to do it all over again. So then I flatten my island.

Let me just say this is the most annoying part about terraforming. It takes a very long while to do tear down a lot of cliffs and get rid of rivers on your island. Also sometimes whenever I tear down my character for some reason tries to rebuild a cliff or water, but then I wanted to tear it down. This took forever but at the end of the day it was worth it.

Overall Its one of the best features ever added to this game, but also the most tedious thing to do. Now just take your time and just make whatever you feel stands out to you. What I usually like to do is start connecting the rivers (depending on what River layout you have) and then I start working on the cliffs to find out how it can connect, so then I start to piece together where everything will go with the Bridges and inclines. Finally I use custom patterns to mark where buildings will go. Thats some tips I can give. Again just make what you feel stands out to you and take your time.

 

[mushroombee]

it really just depends what your taste is! i find it relaxing and i usually watch a show or youtube in the background, if you want to completely do whatever you want for sure flatten it its much easier! also done focus on your whole map try to focus on small sections it can get over whelming. for how to actually terraform its depends on your theme, i personally have a super natural island so i curve all my cliffs and rivers! i just dont like the sharpen and squared aesthetic! keep in mind you can have 8 inclines and 6 bridges and you should be good! just take your time and dont compare yourself to others! <3

 

[. Rarity .]

Ah yes Terraforming. I have mixed feelings on it personally. One one hand its very awesome where you can make rivers and cliffs however you wanted it to. At the time I thought this was a really great idea. However, trying to do terraforming is easier said than done. When I first played this game I had no idea what I was even doing with terraforming. I was trying to make cliffs and make rivers to how I wanted it to be but, I just couldn't get it right. I find myself having to start over and terraform again but then I just screamed because I couldn't make the right paths.

Then I checked people's islands to see what they did and even watched tutorials on YouTube to find out how they did those certain things. So then I got a better understanding for how Terraforming works. I was able to make a lot open rivers, high cliffs, and of course waterfalls on my island. It was hard work and let me just say it takes a long time to do. I put in over 3,000 hours (yeah I know its crazy but that was the most time I spent in this game during the lockdown) into this game terraforming. There was a moment I was happy with how my island was but then its like I wanted to do it all over again. So then I flatten my island.

Let me just say this is the most annoying part about terraforming. It takes a very long while to do tear down a lot of cliffs and get rid of rivers on your island. Also sometimes whenever I tear down my character for some reason tries to rebuild a cliff or water, but then I wanted to tear it down. This took forever but at the end of the day it was worth it.

Overall Its one of the best features ever added to this game, but also the most tedious thing to do. Now just take your time and just make whatever you feel stands out to you. What I usually like to do is start connecting the rivers (depending on what River layout you have) and then I start working on the cliffs to find out how it can connect, so then I start to piece together where everything will go with the Bridges and inclines. Finally I use custom patterns to mark where buildings will go. Thats some tips I can give. Again just make what you feel stands out to you and take your time.

If a cliff your trying to get rid of has a custom design on it, do you have remove the design first? Since Its not really just regular terrain?

 

[VanitasFan26]

If a cliff your trying to get rid of has a custom design on it, do you have remove the design first? Since Its not really just regular terrain?

Well if you use the Cliff Tool you can destroy the cliff with the custom design on it so it does go away when you do that.

 

[Neprezi]

I find it to be both awesome and tedious and boring, personally. It's an incredible tool you can make some really cool stuff with but only being able to place down one water tile or cliff at a time makes building large structures take sooooo long. That and I'm pretty butterfingered and accidentally break/build cliffs I didn't mean to a lot lol.

You'll get the hang of it eventually, I really recommend looking up tutorials for inspiration.

 

[Moritz]

My best advice is to stay away from worrying about making fancy waterfalls and stuff.
Try to start with practical changes you want to see to your island.

If there are any changes you actively want to see on your island, those are good points to terraform on. For example if there is a cliff where your path would naturally lead you, maybe knock it down.
Feel like your path is just one long line? Maybe raise some of it up a level.
Area you just can't find items to put stuff? Make a pond.

Its a great tool and can really change up your island. But i wouldn't start using it unless you knew what you wanted to get out of it.