Zone Builder: tricks and tips

[yfyfyfyfyfy]

hello! i want to create this thread especially for mappers. no, this isn't any guide like Zone builder tutorial, here i (and you too!) can just share a trick or tip for Zone Builder, linedefs action and etc. feel free to share technical WAD-files for examples. this will be useful for both beginners and experienced mappers.

I'll begin!

Spoiler: easy way to create a sloped platform at different angles

using a copy-paste combination and Shift+Drag you can easily create sloped platforms at different angles. (don't forget to change your tags!)

how it's look in game:

what i used:

• Linedef type 7 (alignment the texture of the floor and ceiling)
• Linedef type 100 (platform)
• Linedef type 702 (slope floor and celling)

File: simple_slope_platform_at_different angles.wad

Spoiler: moving edges platform

you can do something like this:

how it's look in game:

File: moving_edges_platform.wad

this can be an interesting trick on level (although it is probably very difficult, lol)

what i used (I have excluded what I have already listed):

• Linedef 53 (move floor and celling)
• Linedef 258 (laser)

File: lazer_made_brbrbrbr.wad

Spoiler: parent/child polyobjects

you can create two or more polyobjects and make all polyobjects repeat the actions of one. let's take an example.

I made 4 polyobjects and made polyobject with tag 1 rotate using linedef 485 and made it work when the level starts using linedef 399. if I start a level, only one polyobject will be rotating. so that the other three fields of the object repeat the actions, you need to set sector special 1 on the sector with linedef 22. so we said "hey you three polyobjects. you must to repeat the polyobjects tagged 1".

Special, not Tag

let's see how it looks in the game.

if you want to know more about Parent/Child Polyobjects, click here

what i used:

• Linedef 20 (first line for polyobjects)
• Linedef 22 (polyobjects parameters)
• Linedef 399
• Linedef 485 (rotate right)

File: parent_and_chill_polyobjects.wad

 

[GomaTheMascar]

This is a good oportunity to show this video, it's just my way on making new half-light blocks for new tagged sectors, makes this tedious task quite simple (You can hold ctrl + left click to unselect linedefs/sectors, and set a bind to split linedefs, which is really useful!)

 

[yfyfyfyfyfy]

Spoiler: Linedef 7 + Flag [13] Use texture offsets

You can align textures in 3D mode using arrow keys or shift+arrow keys. This also works for FoF.

 

[yfyfyfyfyfy]

New features in 2.2.10 prerelease!

Spoiler: Linedefs 730-735!

You can easily copy slopes without tags!

Example

In game:

but I don't recommend this method, because you need all linedefs to be in order, otherwise copying will not work like here.

Spoiler: New flag - Copy to other side

It is now easier to create that slopes

Example

 

[yfyfyfyfyfy]

An interesting way to do a slope like this

Based on a tutorial made by @GomaTheMascar in Discord (link).

Spoiler

Well, initially, you need to make a circle (using "Draw Ellipse") like this:

Next, you need to divide it into sectors where you want to make such a slope. You can take half, one quarter, or any other part. For this example, I'll take half. (you can delete the superfluous part of the circle).

(Make sure all sectors are separated, not like in the screenshot).

Now you should divide the sectors on the triangle and give the lines a linedef 700 like this:
(blue lines is Linedef 700).

Now the next step is different depending on which version you are using. Select the required.

Spoiler: 2.2.9

For 2.2.9, you've to select all slopes (except the first) and split them with this instrument.

Select the linedefs and use the F key to flip it, set Linedef 720.
(cyan lines is Linedef 720).

Now you need to tagged each sector like this.

Spoiler: 2.2.10

For 2.2.10, you need to add this flag on all slopes (except the first).

Now you've to choose a step height. I'll choose 64.
You must raise every 2 sectors by an additional 64 steps, as shown in the gif.
(the height of the floor is shown in the lower left corner).
((I didn't show the penultimate sector, its height is 512)).

Almost done! It remains to solve the problem with the last sector. I used simple copy (Linedef 720), but you can do something else if the player needs to go up somewhere.

Enjoy!

Example for 2.2.9

Example for 2.2.10

 

[yfyfyfyfyfy]

Did you now?

You can trigger linedef executors that are located... on the title screen!

You need to specify in the SOC file which tags will be triggered when entering/exiting the menu. Here's an example. When entering the single player menu, tag 1 is triggered and the platforms rise. When exiting, 2 tags are triggered and the platform is released.

MainCfg
# you maincfg settings

MENU MN_SP_MAIN
EnterTag = 1
ExitTag = 2

An example is attached to the post. To find all menu keywords, follow this link.

Post automatically merged: Feb 10, 2024

Ultimate Zone Builder: Hotkeys

There are interesting hotkeys that allow:

• Teleport to the point where you are looking (Make camera to cursor)
• Orbital camera (Orbit)
• Movement in editing mode with arrows (Move selection by grid size)

Initially they don't have hotkeys and you need to configure them yourself (Tools -> Prefenerces -> Controls)