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Oceanology Legacy — Setup

Last updated: 2025-10-16

Prerequisites​

  • Unreal Engine 5.6 or newer.
  • Windows with DirectX 12 capable GPU.
  • Shader Model 6 support recommended for advanced features.
  • Optional: Mesh Distance Fields for shoreline effects.

Notes​

  • Legacy focuses on classic ocean rendering with streamlined settings.

Step-by-step​

1. Install the plugin
  • Install from Marketplace into your Engine, or copy the plugin folder into <Project>/Plugins/.
  • Restart the editor if you manually copied files.

Install the plugin

2. Enable the plugin
  • Open Edit → Plugins, search for Oceanology Legacy, enable it, and accept the restart prompt.
  • After restart, confirm there are no missing dependencies in the Output Log.

Enable the plugin

3. Project Settings essentials
  • Platforms → Windows: set Default RHI to DirectX 12 and enable D3D12 Shader Model 6.
  • Engine → Rendering: toggle Generate Mesh Distance Fields for shoreline foam and interactions.
  • Optional: Global Illumination = Lumen, Reflections = Lumen, Shadow Map Method = Virtual Shadow Maps.

Project Settings essentials

4. Open a demo map
  • In Content Drawer → Plugins → Oceanology Legacy → Maps, open Legacy Example Map to let shaders compile and verify assets.

Open a demo map

5. Place the Legacy Ocean
  • In Place Actors, drag Legacy Ocean into the level.
  • Scale/position to cover your playable area. For large worlds, prefer World Partition.

Place the Legacy Ocean

6. Assign a starter Material Instance
  • Use the provided material instance from the plugin content.
  • Tweak wave height/length, foam thresholds, normals, and water color.

Assign a starter Material Instance

7. Interaction and effects
  • Enable collision if gameplay requires it.
  • Optionally add Niagara splash/foam systems and audio cues.

Interaction and effects

8. Save and test
  • Save your level and Play In Editor.
  • If performance is low: disable debug views, reduce wave layers, update GPU drivers.

Save and test

Troubleshooting​

Common issues

Pink/preview materials: shaders are compiling; wait.

No shoreline foam: enable Generate Mesh Distance Fields and ensure distance fields are built for landscape/meshes.

DX12/SM6 errors: verify Project Settings and restart the editor.

Low performance: disable expensive debug views, reduce wave/spectrum layers, and profile GPU.