There is an option included called Edge FallOff that forces the edges of terrain to gradually end at ground level, so that should help with creating finite islands.
I currently have a question unrelated to building objects concerning procedural island generating. Since it is possible to make the ground gradually go down onto ground level is it possible to make it gradually come back up in the distance? Such as having Edge FallOff not work for a set distance but work at a random one allowing this to be used as a sort of island generator mod?
If it is possible I request a feature: island support
Support for having this would require that islands generated off the ground up (pun) would have six items.
- The coastline being of primary concern when it comes to this mod working with islands. A check box in the GUI for "enable island support" would make it so that the Edge FallOff height is above the water level height as set in the environmental control panel.
- Second it would make it so whatever was selected as the coast color/texture would appear on the bricks within that height range.
- The third thing it would do is make it so any caves generated would be above the water level height.
- The fourth item involved would be settings that allow the player to control the minimal/maximum ranges islands appear at along with the rate at which islands appear. These settings would of course only work with island support enabled.
- The fifth requirement to make island support work would be another setting to allow the player to control how far the coast goes above the Edge FallOff height. This could work without island support as a simple setting for how high normal coasts go on up.
- The last problem is what happens if the player changes the water height after generating an island. The height of an islands coast should not change without reloading. If a player saves an island and reloads it the island should correct its height to match the water level. If a player changes the water height and goes off into the distance the new islands that spawn should have a coast that matches the water level at that current time. If a player saves and reloads the islands that are at different heights and reloads at a new water level the difference should stay the same. However the water level should be below of what ever is the lowest island on the server.
That is everything island support would need to work properly, The one big reason island support touching the ground rather than an ocean setting in the current procedural would be useful is how it would save on brick count tremendously. Islands being non-continual would avoid the use of water/ground bricks in between them.
Now I do recognize this is not just a large, but ginormous request so I am asking if you could put this in a future update, such as v4 or 5, or 6. As long as it is made sometime within the next three years I shall be content.
(p.s. sorry for bad grammar)