When you talk about option number three, do you talk about make a only one 3ds model for whole terrain (bad for tile style)?
I can do with JPCT a unique object to make terrain adding one to one all vertexs with "addVertex" method? It sound crazy?
I have a map created with a semi-random function. Every cell or tile in map refers a unique model (small mountain, flat terrain, water, ect...). The "idea" was copy every one of this models and merge all them in map in a determinated position (cpoy of model "m" on position x,y world).
If i don´t merge all them objects as only one, lights do a bad effect on every edge model for every tile. I need make a unique object with all them models, and then lights go fine.
That´s my problem :S otherwise, options three sound good.
Thanks very much!!