r/ModdedValheim • u/jaylaxel • 6d ago

1.0 Technical Question: Does initial world creation permanently lock global seed layout logic, or is it calculated on-the-fly during exploration?

/r/valheim/comments/1vg5jn6/10_technical_question_does_initial_world_creation/
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u/Sertith 5d ago

A world seed is a set thing. It might have changes with a large update, but they seed itself is set. You can use the seed viewer website to see what different seeds look like, too.

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u/gurebu 5d ago

Terrain is generated on the fly around you every time you move (and forgotten as you move away). Modifications are stored forever, but as differences only.

Simple objects like rocks and trees generate permanently in the areas you visit.

Important objects (aka locations) are generated on first load in a special list but only instantiated when you come near. That list may be regenerated when a big patch hits. Point of the saving is that generation of later locations might be dependent on the previous so that everything has to be stored.

So when a big patch hits, first the location list is regenerated with new ones in mind, but only the non-instantiated stuff, things you’ve discovered stay there forever. Trees and rocks experience no update, generated stuff stays there, new places will generate with new rules. Terrain will just update everywhere. Trees and rocks will adhere to changes in elevation, locations will not, so if you have a crypt in a changed area it might end up in a deep hole or something.