Creating landscape with 3d program tools?

RickA

I'm investigating alternative ways of creating terrain (other than a heightmap) and I was wondering if any tools exist in current 3d programs that would let an artist create a varied terrain. Not just rolling hills, but also sharp cutoffs and overhangs. Would something like this be possible with for example the NURBS tools?

pyromania

Maya has the sculpt polygon/surface tool. Basically it lets you "paint" how the surface will deform. You are painting the heightmap and getting real-time feedback.

I'm sure Zbrush would work very well for this too.

RickA

pyromania: thanks for the response. Zbrush would work, but I'm actually looking for something that can (re)generate a terrain by some kind of algorithm. Zbrush would probably export a poly-soup right?

I'm not familiar with Maya, but the phrase 'sculpt' make me think this will also result in a polysoup? Although heightmap makes me think you're basically just editing the heightmap? That wouldn't be what I'm looking for either then, because it doesn't allow for overhangs and sharp discontinueties.