Map editing: Beginners

Prior to reading this, please learn the controls and interface here.

To begin map editing, while in AssaultCube, press the letter E which toggles editmode. AssaultCubes map editor is built into the client, so its easy to learn and you don't need to download any special tools to get started.
Note: Because of how the cube engine works there are some limitations to what you can create, but there are also some clever work-arounds you can use to get what you want.

In editmode (press E) you can fly around in any direction you like and you can even go through walls.
This is to make map-editing easier...

Tip: When editing a map, make sure you have your settings set back to the defaults, so you can see what your map looks like to the average player (example: set gamma back to 100, so you can judge lighting correctly).

Starting, saving and loading a map

If you would like to start creating a new map, type: /newmap and then the size you would like (7 is the sensible default) and then press ENTER. If you made your mapsize too small, you can easily make it double in size, simply by typing /mapenlarge.

You can save your map at any time by typing: /savemap and then the name you would like it saved as. The map gets saved in the packages/maps directory. Save your map often, to avoid the frustration of losing all of your work if something goes wrong.

Note: Make sure when you start a map, to use the /newmap command, rather than editing an existing map, otherwise your map may get saved a bit strangely. Also note: you cannot put spaces or any illegal characters in the name you wish to save it as.

To load your map, type /map and the file name you chose for your map. If you have not placed lighting in your map yet, your map will turn up dark. To temporarily fix this problem, type: /fullbright 1 - this will fill your whole map with light. The fullbright command only works in edit mode and is not a permanent fix. To remove fullbright mode, reload the map, or type: /recalc. Note: Fullbright can be turned on/off in the lighting menu (press L).

Manipulating geometry

The ceiling and floor of AssaultCube are made up of individual cubes, which can be made into various objects that you choose, such as walls, by simply manipulating the geometry.

There are five different ways to manipulate geometry:

• Make cubes "solid".
• Make cubes "space".
• Move cubes in the floor.
• Move cubes in the ceiling.
• Manipulate cubes by using heightfields (a bit more complex, so this is covered later).

Solids and spaces

The reason we are covering solids and spaces, before moving cubes, is because solids block visibility and do not need to be rendered, so they are more efficient to use in maps. The use of solids in a map is essential to creating a good map. Without solids AssaultCube maps would lag too much for the average user and would be unplayable, so make sure you use enough. Solids are also easy to create and can be used to make wall with a single keystroke!

• To make a cube into a solid wall, press F.
• To make a solid wall turn back into space, select it and press G.

Moving cubes

Moving cubes is simple and can be done, either with your mouse or keyboard...

• Using your mouse

  Using your scroll wheel, move it backward/forward to lower/raise cubes. Be sure to look in the direction of the cubes you want to move to raise/lower those cubes.

• Using your keyboard

  To move cubes in the floor, press [ to raise them and ] to lower them.
  To move cubes in the ceiling, press P to raise them and O to lower them.

Textures

There are four different parts of the cube world that you can change textures on (see below)...

There is 1 key allocated to move forwards through the textures for each of these and one key to move backwards. When selecting textures, the AssaultCube engine automatically puts the last chosen texture at the start of the list, so commonly used textures become easier to find.
Note: The "upper-wall" the the sides of the wall that protrudes from the ceiling.

Co-operative map editing

Co-operative map editing lets you build and modify maps with others easily. This mode allows you to edit maps online with other players who could help speed up repetitive or boring tasks, bring in fresh ideas or spot errors you may have missed.

To start co-operative map editing, when in a server, type: /mode 1 and then type: /map and then your mapnames name and press ENTER. You will have to of made a "newmap" previous to entering the server to be able to co-op edit it.

You will then need to send the map. You can do this by typing: /sendmap and then your mapnames name and press ENTER. Note: Custom materials can't be sent, they will have to be downloaded another way if you are using them. If you are using a custom "cfg" file, it will automatically be sent with the map, if there is a cfg file present.

Note: Some useful editing commands can't be used in co-op editing, such as: copy, paste, slope, arch, undo, etc.