I have a tree model with a tga file which has an alpha channel so that the leaves on the tree can be displayed properly. In my level I have a large terrain with this tree model all over it, but, it seems, that when I get close to the center of the terrain, the trees get clipped away as if the were behind the terrain and you can only see the parts of the trees that stand out above the terrain. How can this be fixed? I've tried using the d3d_entsort=2 setting, but theres no difference.

I've noticed that in Oblivion when editing the textures for the models you have to have a normal map file for each texture which helps to get the models to display correctly. Without it the same thing happens as I am experiencing above. Is it possible to do the same thing in 3dgs? If so, can someone help me get a shader or whatever is needed for it?

You don't need to normal-map your tree. Though it would be a really nice effect, it would slow down ALOT.

Look on the wiki for an improved overlay shader. You simply need a shader that enables alphaTesting

Thank you. I had no idea what it was called and I looked over it in the Wiki.

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You don't need to normal-map your tree. Though it would be a really nice effect, it would slow down ALOT.

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No you dont need to normal map anything. But what is your basis for saying it would slow down "ALOT"? Have you done tests? Because in my own tests such things can be done provided you are careful about LOD and such.

To answer the above question , the problem is that the engine automatically turns on transparency if there is a 32-bit tga skin. I consider this an engine flaw.

For a masking effect you can use a material that sets these render states:

zenable=true;
zwriteenable=true;
alphablendenable=false;
alphatestenable=true;
AlphaRef=<128>;
AlphaFunc=Greater;

Well, since he said he had an entire forest full of trees (which even with a good lod can slow down a bit). Normal mapping all those tree's would [most likely] create a big slowdown...

It of course depends on your system, but thats just a general statement...

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Normal mapping all those tree's would [most likely] create a big slowdown...

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Maybe.. but do you really know? Dont make assumptions about performance unless you have done tests. Games like Farcry and Oblivion for instance use normal mapping on all the tree trunks (not the leaves)...and performance is fine.

There is a such a thing as shader LOD as well, and one can turn off the normal mapping shader at a certain range..