Trees.

[Maximvs]

I was suggested to stick only to one kind of tree per map, with a maximum of 25, that way it reduces lag. But this game was made 12 years ago, can't I go wild on the trees for a richer look?

Also, I have "shrubs" as placeables, as trees and as painted texture. Which of the them creates less lag?

[Vekin]

You can use more than one type of tree, years ago the rule of thumb was no more than five types to save on the lag though I have often built using more. Remember to use the seed and scale options to add variety. I have not used placeable trees myself but they would probably save on lag if used snd turned into environmental objects.

[Duster47]

Think about a forest and how many different types of trees are there. Looking out my office window I see a bunch of pine trees, a few live oaks, various palmetto and palm types. Nature is not that particularly varied on the hundreds-of-meters scale, so the five-types is actually sensible w.r.t. nature. Civilization is different of course with more cultivated variety.

Beware of grass. It also contributes to lag. Perhaps more so than trees since every instance contributes to increasing frame rate, while trees (and most other PLCs and EOs) only add to FR with each new type.

[Luna]

You can use more than one type of tree, years ago the rule of thumb was no more than five types to save on the lag though I have often built using more. Remember to use the seed and scale options to add variety. I have not used placeable trees myself but they would probably save on lag if used snd turned into environmental objects.

Ye what Vekin said.
At some point in time graphics cards started catching up to this game so it became less of a problem using a lot of trees.

[mrieder79]

I always limited myself to a few types because it always looks more natural that way. I have seen areas that had such a variety of trees it left me wondering what sort of ecosystem I was in. Varying size and seed# produces a fantastic effect with just a few types. Choose 3 types of big trees, maybe one or two dead types to throw in here and there, and some underbrush types. That will look best.

[LISA100595]

I always limited myself to a few types because it always looks more natural that way. I have seen areas that had such a variety of trees it left me wondering what sort of ecosystem I was in. Varying size and seed# produces a fantastic effect with just a few types. Choose 3 types of big trees, maybe one or two dead types to throw in here and there, and some underbrush types. That will look best.

I tend to do the same.