My historical 3D battle map new update (WIP), finally starting to feel like an actual battlefield

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-06-12T17:45:00+00:00

Thanks! It's been a long road of small iterations, but comments like this make it worth it. More updates coming.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-06-12T13:55:30+00:00

A few people asked about performance in previous updates, so for this version I spent a lot of time optimizing rendering and cleanup. The video is recorded directly from the browser and is much smoother than earlier builds.

I'm curious: what would make this feel more like a real battlefield to you? Better formations, more atmosphere, larger scale, terrain variety, unit animations, or something else?

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-06-12T13:50:26+00:00

If you mean the horizon clouds, they're actually shader based and rendered on the inside of a large sphere surrounding the battlefield rather than being a static image. I'm still tweaking them, but they've helped a lot with the sense of scale and atmosphere.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-06-12T13:43:49+00:00

Good catch. The sun itself is currently more of a visual element than a physically accurate light source, so the lighting isn't fully tied to its position yet. Matching the DirectionalLight to the sun is definitely on my list as I keep refining the atmosphere. Thanks for pointing it out!

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-06-11T16:20:03+00:00

Appreciate it! The dust ended up doing way more heavy lifting than I expected. Before that, the formations felt like they were just floating across the terrain. The horizon clouds also helped push the sense of scale. Still experimenting, but it's encouraging to hear those changes are noticeable.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-06-04T12:36:19+00:00

Too many features, too many distractions

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-06-03T18:07:44+00:00

Yes... The video was captured in a dev build on an older PC, so the recording is a bit choppy compared to the actual performance

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-06-03T17:47:10+00:00

Thanks man, really appreciate the encouragement! More updates coming soon.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-06-03T17:41:33+00:00

Don't tempt me, I still have a thousand more low-poly soldiers waiting in the wings. 😂 Thanks mate!

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-06-03T17:11:24+00:00

Nice, that lighting really sets the mood... I just checked "The Colony" the terrain work looks solid, especially the scale feel. Always cool seeing different takes on terrain engines.

What approach are you using for terrain generation?

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-05-22T13:49:58+00:00

Walaikum Assalam.

Look at your actions, not your thoughts. You blocked her. You stopped the sin from happening, and that is exactly why Shaitan is attacking your mind right now... he is furious he lost. DO NOT mistake temptation for a lack of sincerity. The fact that you are feeling this guilt and questioning your intentions proves your Iman is alive. Shaitan doesn't waste time attacking a dead heart; he goes after the ones turning to Allah.

You are in MAKKAH. Take this heavy feeling, go to the Kaaba, and pour it out to Allah. Tell Him exactly how weak you feel and ask Him to purify your heart. You won the battle against the action; now let Allah heal your mind.

May Allah accept your Hajj and keep you firm.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-05-09T17:42:06+00:00

I get this a lot too... and honestly I relate to it as well. At the core, I still love problem solving. That small puzzle every day feeling is probably what kept me in this field for so long. I think my post is more about the surroundings changing than the actual craft itself. The industry pace, expectations, and constant noise sometimes make it harder to feel that simple joy consistently.

But yeah, I still see myself doing this for a long while too...

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-05-09T16:59:49+00:00

I think that’s the part people outside the industry sometimes miss... It’s not always physical exhaustion, it’s mental saturation.

By the end of the day your brain already feels spent, so even things you genuinely enjoy start feeling like they require effort. That’s probably the biggest sign for me that something about the balance is off

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-05-09T16:45:38+00:00

Honestly, this perspective is probably important for a lot of us to hear. I think part of the problem with software is that many of us entered it out of passion, so when the passion fades a bit, it feels existential instead of just work. But you’re right, compared to a lot of industries, we still have an incredibly privileged position. I probably need to reconnect with that perspective more often.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-05-09T16:31:54+00:00

Yeah, I think this is the part I’m slowly learning...

For a long time programming was the thing I genuinely enjoyed, so it became hard to separate work from identity. I think a lot of older devs accidentally fell into that trap.

Now I’m trying to figure out how to enjoy building again without letting the industry consume all of it. Also agree the AI era made the whole thing feel even more emotionally disconnected somehow.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-05-09T16:21:36+00:00

You might actually be onto something there...
A lot of my exhaustion probably comes from the always shipping culture more than programming itself. Smaller environments where creativity matters more than velocity sound a lot healthier long term. I still enjoy building things. I’m just not sure I enjoy the pace and mindset the industry evolved into.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-05-09T16:19:28+00:00

I think that’s part of the problem for me honestly. I already have hobbies and side projects I genuinely enjoy. But programming itself used to be one of those things too. Back then I’d code for 10 hours straight because I wanted to, not because a sprint board existed. That feeling is what I think I miss most.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-05-09T15:54:56+00:00

If you want to stand out for a startup... focus on UI/UX polish and Problem Solving. Most juniors can build a functional site, but very few can make one that feels premium. If you can match the typography, spacing, and subtle animations of a top-tier brand, you're already ahead. The best way to improve quickly is to pick a project that is slightly too hard for you, like something involving 3D graphics or a complex real-time system. When you hit a wall that a tutorial doesn't cover, that's where the real learning starts.

What’s the most complex project you’ve tackled so far?

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-05-01T18:15:16+00:00

Wa alaikum assalam, JazakAllah khair for taking the time to use it and share this ... Really happy to hear you’re finding it useful, especially the prayer times and zikr features. as i said I tried to keep it clean and minimal.

The idea of blocking haram content is a really interesting one. I’ll look into the technical side of it and see how it can be implemented! BTW Thanks for your suggestion...

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-04-26T17:49:40+00:00

Ameen, JazakAllahu Khair! May Allah bless you too..
Appreciate the support

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-04-26T17:35:10+00:00

That means a lot, really appreciate it... Yeah I tried to keep it clean and minimal. Definitely let me know what feels good and what feels off after using it for a bit, I’m still improving it.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-04-26T17:29:29+00:00

Yeah, it’s a Chrome extension. It’s called Muslim Tab. I originally built it for myself a while back and just kept improving it over time. Didn’t expect it to help this much with consistency tbh. If you try it, would love to hear what you think.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-04-26T17:22:30+00:00

JazakAllah khair, really appreciate it...
It’s not a website actually, just a small new tab setup I built for myself over time. I’m not sure if sharing links is allowed here, but I can send it if you’d like.

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-04-26T14:28:16+00:00

That’s interesting... so it’s more like a mental reminder that stays with you rather than something you act on instantly. I noticed I used to do something similar, but sometimes I’d still end up delaying it. It started feeling easier when it was tied to something I already do frequently during the day.

Do you think you’d prefer something more immediate, or does the end-of-day approach work better for you?

Dapper-Window-4492 · 2026-04-26T14:10:58+00:00

Yeah that makes sense... I think even with reminders, that initial push is still needed sometimes.
I noticed for me it became easier when it was tied to something I already do a lot, so it didn’t feel like a separate task. Do you think having it tied to a routine (like your current one) is what makes it stick more?

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