Map Editing

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The map editor lets players create their own maps to hang out and play in. It is fully functional, and the same tool that has been used to create all the official maps. All effects that you see in-game can be reproduced with the map editor you get.

Requirements

Any account can be used for map editing if it's in good standing (not suspended, closed or flagged for review). Simply file a support ticket (/support) and state that you would like to make maps.

First Steps in the Map Editor

Once your account has been enabled for map editing, you can access the map editor from your dashboard. After it loaded it'll show you two main sections: the left part is where all your tools are, the right one is the map itself. You can drag the map around, or use the arrows to move around. You can also click the preview in the bottom left to move around.

Note: It is recommended to become accustomed with the map editor first, before starting an actual map. Go through the list below, and try doing what it explains - just to get a feeling about how things work.

Adding Graphics

To add graphics to your map, click "Browse" on the top left. This will open the graphic library. The graphic library is grouped into "Themes" - use the dropdown boxes in the bottom of that window to look at any other theme you may have access to. To select a graphic, click it, and then click "OK". Notice that:

  • the item you just selected is added to your "Quick List" on the top left. You can use the quick list to select recently used graphics again.[/li]
  • if you move your mouse into the map now, you'll see the graphic you selected, and where it'd be if you clicked. Clicking with your mouse will place the graphic into the map at its current position.

Before you place an item into the map, you can use these keyboard shortcuts. They will only work [b]before[/b] you place the item on the map.

Press "M" to mirror the item horizontally. Press the "+" key on your number pad to make it bigger (I do not recommended making it bigger than its original size, because it will look horrible). Press the "-" key on your number pad to make it smaller. Press the "*" key on your number pad to reset the size. Sizing information is remembered between placements (so you can place a lot of items into the map at the same size), mirroring isn't (so you have to mirror each item again if you want to mirror them all).

Selecting Graphics

After you placed a graphic into the map, you can select it to reposition or delete it. To do that, click on the white arrow on the left first. Then, click on the graphic in the map that you want to select.

If more the position you clicked has more than one graphic, you will see a popup menu, asking you to pick the graphic you want to select - similar to how it works in game. Single click each individual list item to highlight the corresponding graphic in the map. Once you find the correct graphic, double click that list item.

The selected graphic item will be highlighted and start glowing. At this point you can reposition or delete it, using keyboard shortcuts:

Repositioning Graphics and Monsters

To reposition an item you selected, use the arrow keys (up down left right) for pixel-precise placement. Press "Page Up" to bring the graphic forward (so that it overlaps other graphics) or "Page Down" to push the graphic backwards (so that other graphics overlap it). To test this, place two or more items over each other. Press "Home" to bring it all the way to the front (it'll overlap any other graphic) and "End" to push it all the way to the back.

Deleting Graphics and Monsters

Press your "Delete" key to delete the selected item.

Layering

You may have noticed the "Layers" in the bottom right. These are NOT for basic layering (such as "this flower needs to overlap that other flower" kind of things) - for that you should select the graphic, and use Page Up / Down, as explained above. The layers at the bottom right have a special meaning to them, so if the bottom right does not read "Background Layer" for basic map editing, you're very likely doing something wrong.

The three special layers you will see are:

  • Background Layer: This is the layer you should be working on most of the time. It is where the basic map is, that the player walks around in.
  • Foreground Layer: Anything you put in this layer will overlap players at any time - so if you put a tree on this layer, players will walk behind it. It also overlaps items and whatnot.
  • Platform Layer: This layer is between background and foreground. Usually players walk on top of it, but you can (later on) mark parts of the level so that players walk behind it. Essentially, this is a layer that can act either as a background, or as a foreground layer.

Notes

  • You do not need to add a sky - the map editor will do that for you if you click on "New". If you want to change the sky, click on the "BG" button (which works like a switch, so to leave background editing mode, you have to click it again).
  • To save your level, enter a name for your map in the white box on the left and click "Save". You need to remember this name to load the map, and it's case sensitive.
  • To resize your level (if you need more room), enter the new sizes into the boxes on the left, then save and reload it.
  • Because the game client has its chatbox at the bottom, you should account for about 200 extra pixels at the bottom of the map.
  • Make sure to save your map. If something's wrong, the server will tell you. In that case, the map editor will suggest that the map may not have been saved - don't worry. As long as the server received it, but refused to put it online (it specifically says that the server "rejected" the map, so it's a very different message than what you would get if the server cannot be reached), it has been saved and you can load it to either fix whatever is wrong yourself, or to tell staff about it (using /support).

Graphics

With the map editor, you also get access to the Saliko graphic library. In addition, you can upload your own graphics in the dashboard and use them in your map. Graphics that you uploaded can only be used by you.

Platforms

Now, you made your own map, saved it, but no matter how much you try entering it in-game, you only get a message saying that your map cannot be loaded. The sole most common reason for that is that you haven't added any platforms.

Adding Platforms

All the graphics that you place on your map are just that - graphics. You can place them in whatever way you want, and achieve a lot of different effects that way. You can put houses in the background, trees, make bridges, or place lone pieces of wood in the grass - however, the server needs to know where you can actually walk.

This is what platforms are for: Whenever there is a platform, the server knows you can walk on it. Platforms are completely separate from the graphics of the level, and even though they show up in the map editor, you won't see them on the minimap or in the game.

To make a new platform,

  • Click the icon with the blue circle on the left.
  • Click on the map where you want your platform to start. You will see a blue circle where you clicked.
  • Click on the map where you want your platform to end. You will see another blue circle, as well as a line that connects both circles. That is the platform you walk on.

You can repeat step 3 as many times as you want, and all the lines will belong to the same platform. To start a new platform, hit the "Escape" key, or click on the "Arrow" tool on the left.

Important: A platform can only ever go to the right. Meaning, if you clicked to start your platform, you must click again somewhere right of where you started. You cannot click left of where you started, the server will reject your file if you do!

Changing Platforms

To change a platform, click on the arrow tool on the left, and then on the platform that you want to change. If several items or platforms are located on the very place you clicked, you will see the same menu pop up that lets you choose from one of the graphics that you already placed on the map. Platforms are named "Path 0", "Path 1", ... in that menu.

After you selected a platform, the following keys work: - Your delete key deletes the entire platform. - Your backspace key deletes the last circle you added (this also works while you are "drawing" your platform). - Your arrow keys let you reposition the circle you are currently at. By default, you are at the last circle after selecting a platform. - Your "Page Up" and "Page Down" keys let you select a different circle to change.

Adding Holes and Pits

If someone walks over the end of your platform, they automatically fall down. You don't need to do anything special for that. This has one limitation, though: The server will not let you fall out of the map.

If you run over a platform, or you jump in a way so that you wouldn't land on a platform, the server simply doesn't let you jump. If you want to make a "bottomless" pit, like on bridge in the High Plains of Saliko, you need to put a platform outside the map, where you would land. You should also change the flags of that platform to instantly KO anyone who falls on it.

Changing Platform Properties

Select the platform you want to change, and then click on "Adv." on the left. There, under "Segment Flags" change the number to whatever effect you want to achieve (you can combine numbers by adding them up). Only use them if you know exactly what you are doing.

Connecting Platforms

Pets and monsters won't work properly, until you tell the server from which platform monsters can go to which other platform. You do this by adding "Jump Hints".

To add jump hints, click the green arrow with the two circles: Once you clicked this icon, click on the platform monsters can jump from. The icon will change to pink. Next, click on the platform monsters can jump to. You will see an arrow connecting both platforms. Do this for all platforms and around all positions you want monsters to switch platforms at.

If you want to make jump hints that monsters can use, but players can't, simply select the jump hint, and check "No AJ". By default, players cannot jump down through a platform. If you want it to be possible (so they can go on a "lower path"), add a jump hint pointing to the platform below, at the point players should be able to switch. At the position you want players to jump down through a platform, add a jump hint pointing to the platform below.

Limitations

  • There is a limit of platforms you can have. Usually you won't hit it, but if you add several dozens of platforms, don't be surprised if the server rejects your file.
  • There are also limits on the number of jump hints, platform segments and similar. You also won't hit them, unless you go completely overboard.
  • If you move a platform with your arrow keys after adding jump hints, you have to delete all jump hints from and to that platform and add them again, or they will be dangling and no longer be saved.
  • Platforms cannot go straight up, nor can they go straight down.
  • You cannot spawn on platforms that KO you, or that you cannot leave. If all your platforms are like that, your map still won't load, because you don't have any valid platforms to enter the map at.

Notes

If you enter the map and your platforms are glitchy, or you are zooming through the map, either you or the server are using an old version of your map.

Once you load your map, the server keeps it in memory so it doesn't have to check the file all the time. Because of that, the file the server uses and the file that you have no longer match up if you change the platforms while your map is loaded. To fix that, make sure everyone leaves your map for at least five minutes. This will make the server unload your map. After that, you can enter it again and it will use the newest version. In addition, uncheck "Use Cache" in your game client's options while you are testing your map. This makes sure that your game client always uses the most recent version, but it makes maps load a lot slower - so don't forget to check it again when you are done.


Public Access

Any map that is made is private by default, unless whoever made the map makes it public in their dashboard. Maps that are particularly well done have been added (with the permission of their authors) as officials map before. For example, the Cultist Prison has been made by 'Birk'.