GET YOUR BEARINGS
Plan your next Terra Firma 2 session
Our independent guide walks you through Terra Firma 2’s core systems—terrain, tectonics, climate, ecosystems and export—so you can build methodical workflows that highlight each simulation layer without relying on undocumented shortcuts.
01 / THE GUIDE
Baseline Terrain Layout
Use a broad brush to outline a continent, then zoom in to watch natural water channels form. Compare the initial shape with the eroded result after a short simulation run to see how the terrain self‑adjusts.
- Start with large‑scale brushes to outline continents before adding detail.
- Watch how water reroutes after each major edit to anticipate natural erosion.
02 / THE GUIDE
Mountain Range Formation
Place a convergent tectonic boundary and raise the plates gradually. Record how uplift creates peaks, then increase rainfall to observe alpine flora appearing, noting the timing of each ecological layer.
- Combine convergent zones with high rainfall to encourage alpine forests.
- Use divergent boundaries to generate low basins that can become wetlands.
03 / THE GUIDE
Rift Valley Hydrology
Introduce a divergent boundary to split land, forming a low basin. Melt any snowcaps by raising temperature and watch the water level rise, observing how new wetlands develop in the valley.
- Test extreme temperature shifts to see how quickly biomes transition.
- Observe water‑level changes after melting snowcaps to plan coastal habitats.
04 / THE GUIDE
Biome Transition Test
Select a moderate‑elevation region and apply extreme temperature and precipitation changes. Document the shift from desert to rainforest, focusing on plant density and animal variety that emerge.
- Notice how a single moisture change can cascade through multiple trophic levels.
- Compare similar elevations with different rainfall to see biome diversity.
05 / THE GUIDE
Export Validation
After finalizing a world, export it as a heightmap and import the file into a compatible voxel editor. Verify that terrain contours match the original view, confirming that export retains essential topography.
- Export as a heightmap if you plan to import into a terrain‑only engine.
- Back up a save before major tectonic experiments.
