User Guide

TUTORIAL: HOW TO
World Builder tools are easy to learn and versatile in application. While many of these tools take a few
seconds to master, some of the core design tasks require attention to detail to produce professional-quality
maps. This section covers the step-by-step processes for completing core tasks necessary to build a map,
and you may find a tip or two to simplify development and improve results.
OTo learn the names of tools in the toolbar that are referenced in this section, move the mouse and hold
it over a tool.
HOW TO BUILD A HILL
In the World Builder, a hill is created using the Mound terrain tool. By painting over and over an area with
the Mound tool, you heap terrain on top of terrain, creating mounding effects that are smoothed by the
application into the surrounding terrain. With practice, you can learn to create sharp cliffs, craggy
mountains, gentle knolls, and tiny undulations in the terrain.
1. To build a hill, click the Mound button in the toolbar. It looks like a paint brush with a plus sign (+) next
to it.
2. The cursor changes, and the Terrain Brush Options window opens. In the Terrain Brush Options
window, you can configure the Brush Width, Brush Feather Width, and Brush Height before you begin
painting terrain. For more information,
➤ Mound on p. 23.
3. In the map, click and hold the mouse button when the mouse is at the location where you want to add
terrain. As you hold down the mouse button, terrain is added around the cursor according to the
parameters set in the Terrain Brush Options window. Continue clicking, holding, and moving the mouse
back and forth until you’ve created the approximate shape that you want for your mound.
4. To soften the effects of the Mound tool, use the Smooth Height tool in the toolbar, which smoothes
curves along the edge of your terrain shapes. For more information,
➤ Smooth Height on p. 23.
HOW TO BUILD A VALLEY
Building a valley is very similar to the process used to build a hill.
1. To build a valley, click the Dig button in the toolbar. It looks like a paint brush with a minus sign (-) next
to it.
2. Repeat steps 2 – 4 for How to Build a Hill until you are satisfied with the results.
HOW TO BUILD A RAMP
No matter how carefully you add and remove terrain, you’re going to have a very hard time creating smooth
inclines and declines. For these terrain effects, use the Ramp tool.
1. In the toolbar, click the Ramp tool.
2. In the map, click the start location for the ramp and drag to its end location.
3. In the Ramp Options window, select the width for the ramp.
4. To create the ramp of terrain, click PLACE RAMP.
6. The ramp is placed.
OTo undo the placement of the ramp, press
v
+
Z
.
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