doom 3d floors tutorial zdfoom: A Comprehensive Guide to Creating 3D Floors in Doom with ZDoom

If you're interested in creating 3D floors in Doom using ZDoom (often via Doom Builder and GZDoom Builder), you've picked one of the most visually striking features available to map authors. 3D floors allow you to make transparent walkways, floating platforms, deep water, and even multi-level gameplay—something classic Doom didn’t support out-of-the-box. This tutorial will walk you through the basics of setting up 3D floors in ZDoom format (UDMF) step-by-step.

1. Setting up your tools:

- Download and install GZDoom Builder or Ultimate Doom Builder, since these editors best support the ZDoom (UDMF) format and 3D floors.

- Make sure you have a working ZDoom-derivative port, like GZDoom, to test your maps.

- Start a new map using the "GZDoom: Doom2 (UDMF)" configuration for full feature support.

2. Understand how 3D floors work:

3D floors are sector-based constructs that appear within another sector (the “control” sector). You assign 3D floor effects through special linedef actions and sector tags.

3. Basic Example—Creating a Simple Floating Platform:

- In your map, create two sectors: one is your “control” sector (can be outside the playing area), and the other is the target sector where your 3D floor will appear.

- Give both sectors the same unused tag (e.g., tag 10).

- On a linedef in your control sector, assign the action special “160: Sector_Set3DFloor.”

- In the arguments, set:

• Tag: 10 (your target sector)

• Floor type (e.g., solid, water, translucent)

• Height of bottom and top (relative to control sector floor and ceiling)

- You will see your 3D floor platform in the editor’s 3D mode.

- Use different floor types for effects like water, swimmable floors, translucent glass, etc.

4. Testing and Adjustments:

- Save your map and test it in GZDoom.

- Adjust the control sector’s heights to move your 3D floor up or down.

- Apply textures to the control sector’s floor/ceiling to control the appearance of the 3D floor.

With experience, you’ll be able to create complex multi-story areas and visually compelling spaces. As a designer, I find that working in three dimensions opens up so many creative options. For those who want even more control, exploring the 3D Floor Planner not only expands your skillset for Doom modding but also enhances your understanding of spatial composition, which is crucial for both games and real-world interiors.

Tips 1:

When working with 3D floors, always keep a clean separation of control and display sectors to make later adjustments easier. Be sure to assign clear tags and document your workflow, especially if your maps become more complex with multiple levels.

FAQ

Q: Can I stack multiple 3D floors in one sector?

A: Yes, you can stack several 3D floors by adding multiple linedefs with Sector_Set3DFloor referring to the same target sector tag but using different control sector heights.

Q: What formats does this work in?

A: This tutorial focuses on the ZDoom (UDMF) mapping format, which is required for 3D floors in GZDoom.

Q: Are 3D floors performance-intensive?

A: Simple setups run fine on modern hardware, but too many stacked 3D floors, especially with transparency, can affect older systems.

Q: Can 3D floors have special effects, like damaging floors or scrolling textures?

A: Yes, you can combine 3D floors with other sector specials and lines to create damaging surfaces, conveyor belts, and more.

Q: Is it possible to simulate sloped 3D floors?

A: True sloped 3D floors aren’t natively supported, but creative combinations of slopes and 3D floors can produce convincing results.