As a prime example is oblivion using speed tree technology, anyone think it would be possible maybe to have a seperate tool from world builder to randomly generate forests for our MMO? so prefabs would be for example: 3x pine tree 2x woodland 4x boulders 20x grass/flowers Im sure its possible just not sure on how to go about it?

Planta, check out the demos. Here's the gamedev page. "Free for non commercial use"

Planta was announced late May/early June, and at the time the word was that the Planta SDK would be released in a couple weeks. The site has since been erased (except for the video links) and the SDK is nowhere to be found. It's effectively vaporware, and not something I would rely on or wait for.

Your only real option at the moment is to make your own algorithm. It could be anything from simple random placement to a full ecology simulation, if you're so inclined. You should be able to integrate it directly with your world editor. Mark off an area, set your parameters, and let it add the objects. If you're trying to build a large, detailed virtual world, you've got to build your own tools first.

Alot depends on how fine of control you want over the resulting landscape.

If you just want a world, and you don't care where the deserts, mountains, etc. are (oftentimes the landscape will inspire the story instead of the other way around), then you can do some simple ecological modelling.

Here's a few basic rules to get you started:

1. Clouds tend to lose moisture (rain) as they climb mountain ranges.
2. Grasslands eventually give way to small forests which give way to old growth forests if there is sufficient water and light (and soil depth, but that's negligable on the large scale usually). In areas with little rainfall or harsh winters, grasslands are going to dominate. This whole process is called succession.
3. Rivers follow the gradient (the slope of the landscape).

Using these three rules as a basis, you should be able to take a few days and create a simple Cellular Autonoma to create your landscape. You could then use as is or customize. You might also add some more rules depending on what you want to have in your game.

You could also use something like Simearth (there's a free download at Home of the Underdogs) or Civ 4 to come up with a map and extrapolate from that.

Fractals !!!

Yes baby, fractals are the way to go. they can be used to simulate any natural phenomena more realistically. go on find a paper and use them as u may like.

rk-theone.