An Illustrated Guide Version 1.2 by John W. Anderson Doom Builder: An Illustrated Guide Copyright © 2004 by John W. Anderson DOOM™ and DOOM II™ are trademarks of id Software, Inc. Updated July 26, 2004 Table of Contents Introduction: What Doom Builder Does and What You Need ........................iv 1.0 Getting Around in Doom Builder ...............................................................2 1.1 Configuration Settings ......................................................................................2 1.1.1 Files Tab ...................................................................................................................... 2 1.1.2 Defaults Tab................................................................................................................. 3 1.1.3 Interface Tab................................................................................................................ 4 1.1.4 Nodebuilder Tab .......................................................................................................... 5 1.1.5 3D Mode Tab ............................................................................................................... 7 1.1.6 Shortcut Keys Tab ....................................................................................................... 8 1.1.7 Testing Tab ................................................................................................................ 10 1.1.8 Editing Tab................................................................................................................. 12 1.1.9 Colors Tab.................................................................................................................. 13 1.1.10 Prefabs Tab............................................................................................................... 14 1.2 Loading a Map ..................................................................................................15 1.3 The Doom Builder Interface ............................................................................17 1.3.1 Doom Builder's Editing Modes................................................................................... 17 1.3.1.1 DOOM Editing Nomenclature Explained ............................................................. 19 1.3.1.2 More Terminology................................................................................................ 21 1.3.2 The Toolbar................................................................................................................ 22 1.3.2.1 Permanent Toolbar Buttons................................................................................. 22 1.3.2.2 Mode-Sensitive Toolbar Buttons ......................................................................... 25 1.3.3 The Menu Bar .............................................................................................................. 29 1.3.3.1 The File Menu...................................................................................................... 29 1.3.3.2 The Edit Menu ..................................................................................................... 32 1.3.3.3 The Prefab Menu ................................................................................................. 34 1.3.3.4 The Tools Menu................................................................................................... 34 1.3.3.5 The Scripts Menu................................................................................................. 35 1.3.4 The Details Bar .......................................................................................................... 37 1.3.5 The Status Bar ........................................................................................................... 39 2.0 Editing Basics: Making a Level with Doom Builder .............................41 2.1 Creating Sectors ..............................................................................................41 2.1.1 Line-Draw Mode......................................................................................................... 42 2.2 Adding Sectors...............................................................................................44 2.2.1 The Insert Sector Function......................................................................................... 44 2.2.2 Joining Sectors........................................................................................................... 45 2.2.3 Splitting LineDefs and Sectors................................................................................... 47 2.2.4 Parent and Child Sectors ........................................................................................... 49 2.3 Modifying Sector, LineDef, and Thing Properties.........................................53 2.3.1 The Edit Sector Selection Dialog Box........................................................................ 53 2.3.1.1 Sector Effects and Actions................................................................................... 55 2.3.2 The Edit LineDef Selection Dialog Box...................................................................... 57 2.3.2.1 SideDefs and Texture Management.................................................................... 60 2.3.2.2 The Unpegged Attribute....................................................................................... 61 2.3.2.3 The AutoAlign Textures Function ........................................................................ 63 2.3.2.4 The Visual Offset Tool ......................................................................................... 65 2.3.2.5 See-Through Textures......................................................................................... 66 2.3.3 The Edit Thing Selection Dialog Box ......................................................................... 69 2.3.3.1 Thing Sizes .......................................................................................................... 70 Table of Contents ii 2.4 3D Edit Mode ....................................................................................................73 2.4.1 The 3D Edit Mode Environment................................................................................. 74 2.4.2 Shortcut Keys............................................................................................................. 74 2.4.3 Modifying Textures and Flats..................................................................................... 75 2.4.4 Modifying Sector Heights and Lighting ...................................................................... 78 2.5 Making a Door ..................................................................................................81 2.5.1 Manual Doors............................................................................................................. 81 2.5.2 Remote Doors............................................................................................................ 84 2.5.3 LineDef Action Types................................................................................................. 88 2.5.3.1 Local and Remote Actions................................................................................... 89 2.6 Making a Teleporter .........................................................................................90 2.6.1 Making a Teleport Pad in 3D Edit Mode .................................................................... 93 2.6.2 Final Adjustments in 3D Edit Mode............................................................................ 95 2.7 Making a Lift .....................................................................................................96 2.8 Making Rising Stairs........................................................................................99 2.8.1 The Mechanics of Rising Stairs ................................................................................. 99 2.8.2 Creating the Space .................................................................................................. 101 2.8.3 Creating the Stairs ................................................................................................... 103 2.9 Managing Your Map .......................................................................................108 2.9.1 Export Node Build .................................................................................................... 108 2.9.2 Changing a Map's Level Number (Lumpname) ....................................................... 110 3.0 Advanced Functions in Doom Builder ................................................112 3.1 Making and Using Prefabs ............................................................................112 3.2 Creating Custom Profiles ..............................................................................114 3.2.1 Node Builder Profiles ............................................................................................... 114 3.2.2 Map Testing Profiles ................................................................................................ 116 3.3 Using Alternate Texture PWADs...................................................................118 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................120 Revision History.......................................................................................................121 Appendix A:.....................................................................................................123