Question: Can you over-zone a map?

[The_Dan]

OK, heres a quick question thats been in my mind recently:

In my map, I've got 20-30 zones, some of which just cover particular corridors/rooms. Are there any potential problems that could be caused by having too excess zones (when a LocationId would do the same job: provide a name for that area)?

(Ie. I already know that you can't have more than 64 zones, but other than that, are there any negative consequences of creating lots of different zones?)

[ElJoelio]

Good zoning can save CPU time by discarding entire areas of the level during rendering, saving the need to check if each and every polygon in that zone needs to be rendered.

I usually use 1 zone per room, 1 per hallway etc. I think movers block the zone checks too, so a door would prevent the zone behind it from being rendered, if the room beyond the door was a different zone to the one you were viewing from.

Go here to learns abouts teh good zone usage. As long as you follow the advice given on that page, it shouldn't matter how many zones you have in your level.

[The_Dan]

Cheers Joel

[Apache{NAD}]

That was a good article. Thanx

[LegalAssassin]

I think movers block the zone checks too, so a door would prevent the zone behind it from being rendered, if the room beyond the door was a different zone to the one you were viewing from.

I don't think so, are you sure? Anybody check this?

[The_Dan]

I think movers block the zone checks too, so a door would prevent the zone behind it from being rendered, if the room beyond the door was a different zone to the one you were viewing from.

I don't think so, are you sure? Anybody check this?

Hmm, I don't have much of an idea about this. But I've had some strange issues with ambient lighting, when a Th-Door has partially opened through a zone portal.

Therefore, all my zone-portals are on the opposite side, to which the door swings; which isn't ideal, but is just a temporary measure.

(Get the map working first, deal with lag later)

[Nachimir]

I don't think so, are you sure? Anybody check this?

I have tried it with a door that encompasses a portal when closed. The zone stats alter according to the position of the door, so it seems that doors do indeed block portals from zone checks.

N.B. Command: STAT ZONE

[Switch`]

if the zone portals are too big, they may slow down your map instead of making it faster