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The Guide -> Concepts -> Basic Map
 
How to build a basic map.

This tutorial is the first in a short series on how to use some of the new features in the UnrealEd 2 Editor.

Most of the things you can do with the editor are exactly the same as the ones you can do with the old editor and most of the old tutorials will work just as well, once you know your way around. I do not intend to cover advanced topics in here so if you are at that stage then I hope you are also at the stage where you can use the other tutorials. If you still find anything to hard to understand then you can always email me.

\-Blacksway-\

 
Make your first room

We will start by making a 512x512x512 room.

Cube Builder IconRight click on the cube builder icon to the left. Enter 512 in each of the first three boxes for height, width and breadth.

The number 512 is chosen because Unreal works best with powers of 2. 1 foot is about 16 units and therefore 512 makes a large 32x32x32 foot room. You can also enter simple equations in for the values here, for example '=512*4' and then press enter and it will change to '2048'. Cool hey!

Click on the Build and the building brush will now take on the shape of this cube. The building brush is the red wireframe brush and should appear in each of the 4 view windows. Then you can click on close to get rid of the cube builder options. To recreate the same shape at any time you can left click on the cube builder icon again.

Subtract IconNow you need to subtract the building brush from the world (as in Unreal the whole world is like a lump of clay and you start by carving bits out of it) by pressing on the Subtract icon to the left.

The lower-left 3d view should now have a cube appear in it. Holding down the right mouse button and moving the mouse will allow you to swivel the view around. Do this until you can see the floor of you room.

 
Add a Starting Point

Actor Browser IconBring up the actor browser window by clicking on the Chess piece on the toolbar at the top. Navigate down from Actor to NavigationPoint and then click on the little plus symbol next to NavigationPoint. Now move down to PlayerStart and select it by left-clicking on it once.

Now right click with the mouse on the floor of your room in the 3D view and a popup menu appears. Choose Add PlayerStart from near the top and a little joystick should appear in all the views.

 
Moving Around and adding Light

Next you will need to move your view so you can see the ceiling of the room. If you hold down the left and right mouse buttons together your view will move up and down the z-axis (height). If you move your view downwards and the holding down the right mouse button as above swivel your view so you can see the ceiling of your room.

Now right click on the roof of your room and choose Add Light from the popup menu. Add Light is always on the popup menu and doesn't have to be found in the Actor browser.

 
Play Your Level

Build All IconThe first step to playing your level is always to BUILD. Click on the Build All icon (a cube and a light bulb together) on the toolbar at the top and you will see the room textures change. This icon builds geometry (and BSP), does the lights and defines your paths. These 3 stages can be done seperately using the 3 icons to the left of the build all icon.

If you ever move or change any brushes (not actors though) you must always do at least the first step before playing your level else you will always die whenever you enter the level.

Play Level IconYou have now created your first room. If you clicked on the Joystick icon at the top to play the level then you would have finished. Warning! I should tell you that if you did do that and you are using UnrealTournament then you would probably die lots as the game usually starts with lots of bots. These bots would all try to appear on your one PlayerStart end kill each other and you. It may therefore be best to backtrack and add another 6 or 7 PlayerStarts around your floor just to make things safe. Alternatively follow the steps outlined inthe notes below.

You have now created your first map. If you need anymore help then check out my links page for tutorial sites and if you're still stuck then email me. Also check out part 2 HERE.

\-Blacksway-\

 
Notes

1. Always remember to Rebuild!

2. To avoid the situation above where lots of bots are spawning ontop of you go into UT normally, start a practise match with 0 bots and then exit. Next time you test your level you will be the only person playing. Type AddBots at the console to manually add them.

 

Last Updated 15 June, 2002