Underwater Viewing Space?

[ACWN]

So when I first started playing, I followed a couple tutorials on how to make an underwater viewing area - you could either trick it by digging under the water and coming up into the space or build out a glass wall, make sure its buried in the ground for no gaps and drop in water.

Now, it wont let me do either. First one I can understand, its a glitch. But the second? Its a solid wall.

I guess they want us to use barriers only for this now, as its the only option that works, and thats fine... but....

A. We cant put a stand-alone barrier in a habitat enclosure and make a blueprint out of it, it just disappears.

B. When you go to make the path for it, it says its blocked by a water volume or something like that. So you cant snap the path to the barrier for a closer view.


So... screw us then, I guess? Any one have any tricks I can try?

[Razamanaz]

I haven't tried but did you set the barriers so that they aren't habitat barriers and then make a blueprint?

[ACWN]

Originally posted by Razamanaz:

I haven't tried but did you set the barriers so that they aren't habitat barriers and then make a blueprint?

[points at her original post] thats what I mean by "stand-alone", as in not a habitat barrier.

You can add it, but it wont transfer into the blueprint creation.


Or do you mean make the whole thing a non-habitat barrier? Cause I dont think you can make a blueprint out of it without a gate.

And apparently you cant make a blueprint out of it at all when its marked "not a habitat barrier" because it kicks out an error and only blueprints the section where the gate is, lol

[XrystalBelle]

Originally posted by Razamanaz:

I haven't tried but did you set the barriers so that they aren't habitat barriers and then make a blueprint?

Nope unfortunately no barriers ( marked as non barriers ) are saved when saving habitats as blueprints. I stopped creating and saving the multi section habitat blueprints because of that.


As to the original query .. unfortunately I have never done any underwater areas .. I did under ground areas using the habitat barrier further underground and a pathway down allowing guests to view from the other side. But that habitat I never saved and no longer have that zoo to show you.

[ACWN]

Originally posted by XrystalBelle:

As to the original query .. unfortunately I have never done any underwater areas .. I did under ground areas using the habitat barrier further underground and a pathway down allowing guests to view from the other side. But that habitat I never saved and no longer have that zoo to show you.

I've done that plenty of times, thats easy enough. Its not the same thing. Thanks though.

[Varick]

ACWN - On your B. put the path down first and then add the water. It will snap to barrier.

[Razamanaz]

@ACWN So I checked that out myself and I see what you mean about the barrier thing. You can however still use the Paulsley method.
This is a crappy screenshot with a couple Gariels swimming and a glass building.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2077809417

The trick is to make sure you put in a flat bottomed lake at an exact depth that is divisible by 2m.
The path tunneling cuts the top of the tunnel 2m above the path. This lake is 8m deep so I had to tunnel a path to 10m making the top of the tunnel exactly match the bottom of the lake.

The building is completely submerged and will blueprint with the habitat. Hope that helps!

[Razamanaz]

Here's a couple shots showing the building completely submerged. Yes it's still the "glitch" method.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2077832541

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2077832512

[totalwarzone]

Originally posted by ACWN:

So when I first started playing, I followed a couple tutorials on how to make an underwater viewing area - you could either trick it by digging under the water and coming up into the space or build out a glass wall, make sure its buried in the ground for no gaps and drop in water.

Now, it wont let me do either. First one I can understand, its a glitch. But the second? Its a solid wall.

I guess they want us to use barriers only for this now, as its the only option that works, and thats fine... but....

A. We cant put a stand-alone barrier in a habitat enclosure and make a blueprint out of it, it just disappears.

B. When you go to make the path for it, it says its blocked by a water volume or something like that. So you cant snap the path to the barrier for a closer view.


So... screw us then, I guess? Any one have any tricks I can try?

Add me on steam i show you step by step

[ACWN]

Originally posted by Varick:

ACWN - On your B. put the path down first and then add the water. It will snap to barrier.

That's great for if I'm building into a zoo but I still have the issue of you cant drop a random barrier piece into a habitat and have it make it into the blueprint. It wont do it.


@razamanaz - Ah, well, I'm glad that still works. The only problem is I dont want it from underneath, I want it from the side. Its for hippos, so I'd like the guests to look at them "face to face" as it were and you cant tunnel in through the side when theres water. I even tried going flush against a lake, it leaves a thin layer of earth and clips the path into it.


@totalwarzone - I assume you mean the glitch method? Appreciate it, but I do know that one. If you know of any other method that works and still lets me make a blueprint, please let me know!

[Razamanaz]

Originally posted by ACWN:

Originally posted by Varick:

ACWN - On your B. put the path down first and then add the water. It will snap to barrier.

That's great for if I'm building into a zoo but I still have the issue of you cant drop a random barrier piece into a habitat and have it make it into the blueprint. It wont do it.


@razamanaz - the only problem is I dont want it from underneath, I want it from the side. Its for hippos, so I'd like the guests to look at them "face to face" as it were and you cant tunnel in through the side when theres water. I even tried going flush against a lake, it leaves a thin layer of earth and clips the path into it.

So you want an underwater view from the side where basically your head would just be sticking out of the water as if you were in the water. But you want it to be IN the habitat rather than along an edge? Is that correct? I'm still trying to picture it.

[ACWN]

[shakes her head] No, sorry. Like the guests come down a set of stairs into a "secret cave" kinda deal with a huge window to view the hippos. Like the path is level or just a wee bit above the bottom of the lake.

If that doesnt help, let me know and I'll make a quick screen shot of what I mean.

[Razamanaz]

My local zoo has a Polar Bear exhibit with an outside viewing area and an underwater viewing area. You enter a building and go down stairs to a giant window where he will dive in and swim down to the glass, looking at people face to face, before turning around and pushing off the glass to go back up. Is it something like that?
Maybe a screenshot WOULD be helpful. Some of us are slow and we need someone to draw us a picture.
Maybe it's because I haven't had hippos. I've heard they walk on the bottom of the lake rather than swimming. Is that true?

[marcnesiumHH]

I don't know what's to do with your initial plan. But yeah: there's no way to save any standalone barrier within the borders of a barrier. Has never been worked.

[ACWN]

@razamanaz - Thats basically it! Just... for hippos instead, lol

And they're SUPPOSE to which is why I wanted the viewing cave, but mine are apparently hydrophobic >_> ~_~


@marcnesiumHH - I kinda figured, and its silly to me but what can you do? [shrugs, palms up]

[marcnesiumHH]

why? only the developers know...
but what you describe is definitely possible in the game, just built such a viewing 'cave' for my pygmy hippos