Can any one tell me if the "original base enhancement" in XP Map Enhancement is really an improvement over the default terrain that comes with XP12? It calls itself an enhancement but is it really a better default scenery. Quite a large download so I thought I would seek advice before I do.

Thoughts/opinions?

I noticed SIM WORLD pro makes the non ortho scenery look pretty decent. I might fly with that a while.

I used it for a while.

Main advantage is that you don't have frequent notifications of the base scenery updates for each area/continent, which aren't incrementally updated but rather have to be downloaded again and again as a whole... The "original base enhancement" was good enough for me and a lot less download size than if you count the frequent updates of the native MEP scenery areas... It's a one time download.

Edited August 17Aug 17 by jcomm

I don't even understand what is it, comparing to the base XPME scenery. What are the differences, except not downloading updates so often?

52 minutes ago, Pe11e said:

I don't even understand what is it, comparing to the base XPME scenery. What are the differences, except not downloading updates so often?

Exactly what I’m trying to find out.

I was trying to answer but thought I might ask Copilot and, it gave me a nice text which I paste bellow :-)

========== transcript of explanation by Copilot ===========

The “original base enhancement” in XP Map Enhancement (XPME) is a one‑time, lightly‑modified version of Laminar’s default XP12 global scenery, created early in XPME’s development to provide a unified fallback terrain before the plugin had its current region‑based system. It is not updated often because it is not tied to the satellite‑adapted workflow used for the newer “native” XPME regions."

What the “original base enhancement” really is

Think of it as:

“XP12 default global scenery + a few corrections + unified packaging for XPME.”

It is not a full terrain rebuild. It is not landclass reclassification. It is not mesh regeneration. It is simply:

• A single global fallback package

• Based on Laminar’s original XP12 scenery

• With minor adjustments so XPME can overlay satellite tiles cleanly

• Created before XPME introduced region‑specific native scenery

It exists mainly to avoid the constant region‑update cycle and to provide a stable, predictable fallback layer.

🗺️ What the “native XPME regions” are

These are actively maintained, region‑specific terrain bases that XPME regenerates using:

• Updated landclass data

• Region‑specific terrain definitions

• Better blending with satellite imagery

• More accurate coastline/island/polar coverage

• Frequent incremental improvements

This is why you see constant updates for Europe, North America, Asia, etc.

They are built using a newer pipeline that adapts the underlying terrain to match the streamed satellite tiles more accurately.

🆚 Why the “original base enhancement” is rarely updated

Because:

1. It’s based on Laminar’s scenery, not XPME’s own data

Laminar’s global scenery doesn’t change often. XPME’s native regions do.

2. It’s a legacy fallback package

It was created when XPME didn’t yet have region‑specific scenery. Now that the native regions exist, the “original base enhancement” is mostly kept for users who want:

• fewer downloads

• fewer update notifications

• a single global fallback layer

• maximum compatibility with XP12 default terrain

3. Updating it would require a full global rebuild

Native regions can be updated individually. The original base enhancement is one giant package → updating it means regenerating the entire world.

4. It doesn’t need frequent updates

Its purpose is stability, not accuracy. It’s meant to be “good enough everywhere” rather than “perfect in each region.”

🧩 Practical differences you’ll notice

Original Base Enhancement

• Looks similar to XP12 default terrain

• Slightly improved blending for satellite overlays

• One-time download

• Almost never updated

• Best for users who want simplicity and stability

Native XPME Regions

• More accurate landclass

• Better coastline/island/polar detail

• Terrain tuned to match satellite tiles

• Updated frequently

• Best for users who want maximum realism

Edited August 18Aug 18 by jcomm