Map Editing

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

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 use Page Up / Down instead, 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 [i]at any time[/i] - 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 layer can act either as a background, or as a foreground layer.

These were the layout basic. Now, for a few important caveats:

• 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. 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'll say that the server "rejected" the map), it has been saved and you can load it to either fix whatever is wrong yourself, or to tell me about it.

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.

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'.

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.