Difference between revisions of "A beginner's guide, lesson 2 - Creating a room"

 

 

Look for the cell on the '''LHS''' of the [[Cell View Window]] that refers to the cellar. It is called ''ChorrolTheOakandCrosierCellar'', and is right above the tavern in the list. Right-click on it, select '''Edit''', and a dialog box pops up. This has three tabs. '''Common Data''', '''Lighting''', and '''Interior Data'''. Select '''Interior Data'''. In the '''Ownership''' drag down box, select '''NONE'''.  

Now save your mod. Call it something useful like ''Test02''. Now before we go look in the game, just have a quick look at the [[:Category:Objects|objects]] inside the cellar. You'll notice that some of the objects listed under '''Containers''' are still owned by an NPC. These are locked chests. If you feel you deserve a treat for all your efforts so far, you could go ahead and change these to ''no ownership'' and ''unlocked''. It's a cheat. You’re getting something for nothing. If this bothers you, don't do it. If you ''do'' choose to modify these containers, remember to save your mod again.

A new cell appears called ''ChorroltheOakandcrosierCellarCopy001''. You can change the name by left-clicking on it in the list and waiting a few seconds. Change it if you like. The game has no rules about the name you give a cell as long as it is unique. Call it ''ChorroltheOakandcrosierCellarAlternative'' if you want. This will make it easier to find later.

When we '''Fast Traveled''' to ''Chorrol'', we were facing ''north'' with the door behind us. The entrance to the tavern was roughly to the ''northwest''. When we enter the tavern and teleported in with our back to the door, we are still facing ''northwest''.  

Once again the CS has an odd default setting for the lighting of objects. It sets the light at zero. We can use the '''A''' key to set an artificially bright light while we edit. To change the in-game lighting in the cell, we need to right-click on the cell in the [[Cell View Window]], and choose '''Edit'''.  

Now I have had a real problem adding ''Northmarkers'' to the [[Render Window]], but I have found a workaround. Try dragging and dropping from the [[Object Window]] first. Sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn't. If it doesn't here’s what to do. From the '''Static''' list, drag a ''Night Mother Statue Base'' in to the [[Render Window]]. It’s the object just above the ''Northmarker''. Now use search and replace to replace it with the ''Northmarker''. Position the ''Northmarker'' just outside the door and adjust its Z angle to 270 so it faces left in the [[Render Window]] view. Now go to top view and shift it about 5 degrees. This ties in with the marker in the original cellar cell. You can move between the two to confirm the set up.  

Close the dialog box. We have now linked our cellar to the tavern. But we still have a really important job to do - which is to set our teleport markers. The CS has a curious but practical default setting. It establishes the marker inside the door itself. If we used it as is we would materialise in the middle of the cellar door and that is never fun. We should be able to see the marker inside the tavern. It behaves just like every other object. We can drag it, rotate it, and use the '''F''' key to make it fall. Reposition it so that the pink pyramid faces away from the door and you have a good clearance, avoiding collision with objects in the tavern.

Now let’s make the room belong to the player. First right-click and choose '''Edit''' on the ''ChorroltheOakandcrosierCellarAlternative''. In the '''Interior Data''' section, select the NPC owner and scroll down till you find player. You now own the cellar.

 

Be careful when placing chairs and beds as each comes in two flavors.  The first can be found under '''World Object''' >> '''Static''' >> '''Furniture'''. These chairs and beds are set decoration, and you cannot lie on them to sleep or sit on them. The second type is listed under '''World Objects''' >> '''Furniture'''. These are interactive. You can tell the difference because the usable items come with two blue wire frame models attached which show the starting and finishing position of a character as the in-game animation runs. (Beds use these animation positions for [[NPC|NPC's]] only, as you never actually see the player lay down when you activate a bed.) Again position these to avoid collision problems.