GET YOUR BEARINGS
Plan your next Terra Firma session
Our independent guide helps you deepen your understanding of Terra Firma’s simulation layers. By focusing on observation and comparison, you can uncover subtle interactions between geology, hydrology, and biology without relying on hidden shortcuts or undocumented mechanics.
01 / THE GUIDE
Compare River Formation
Create two valleys with different slopes. Record how quickly each river carves its channel and note the sediment patterns. This highlights the impact of gradient on erosion speed.
- Observe how steep slopes produce faster streams that cut deeper valleys.
- Compare flat areas to see slower water spread, forming broader deltas.
02 / THE GUIDE
Plant Zone Mapping
Mark areas where distinct plant types dominate. Adjust water levels slightly and track which zones expand or contract, revealing each species’ water tolerance.
- Notice which plant types dominate low‑lying, water‑rich zones.
- Track how mountain erosion opens new niches for alpine flora.
03 / THE GUIDE
Mountain Erosion Timeline
Raise a mountain range, then let the simulation run. Capture screenshots at intervals to see how erosion reshapes peaks over simulated millennia.
- Create a high ridge to force water into a single canyon.
- Flatten an area to see how a lake expands when surrounded by low land.
04 / THE GUIDE
Scale Transition Study
Start at a continent view, locate a river delta, then zoom in to the delta’s mouth. Compare the macro flow direction with micro‑level sediment deposits.
- Start at a macro view to locate major river systems, then zoom in to see erosion details.
- Use close‑up zoom to compare plant density across different soil types.
05 / THE GUIDE
Early‑Access Feature Exploration
Isolate each core system—water, plants, tectonics—by disabling changes to the others. Observe how each behaves alone, then combine them to see emergent complexity.
- Explore each core system separately to understand its baseline behavior.
- Share the experience with family members to compare different landscape experiments.
