doom builder 3d floor tutorial: A Comprehensive Guide to Creating 3D Floors in Doom Builder

Creating 3D floors in Doom Builder has become a sought-after skill for mappers looking to add depth, realism, and creative architecture to their maps. Although classic Doom is a 2.5D engine, advanced source ports like GZDoom enable the use of true 3D floors, offering the ability to design bridges, floating platforms, balconies, realistic staircases, and more. This tutorial will guide you step-by-step through setting up your first 3D floor using Doom Builder, focusing on the essentials for beginners and providing design-centric insights for enhanced visual appeal.

Step-by-Step Guide: Building a 3D Floor in Doom Builder

1. Choose the Correct Configuration:
2. Before you begin, make sure you’ve set up Doom Builder with GZDoom (UDMF) map format, as 3D floors are primarily supported there.
3. Draw Your Sector (Base Floor):
4. Use the Sector tool to draw the area where your 3D floor will hover. This will act as the 'ground' beneath your floating sector.
5. Draw the 3D Floor Sector:
6. Within or above your base sector, draw a new sector that matches the size and shape of your intended 3D floor platform.
7. Create a Control Sector:
8. Somewhere on the map, outside your playable area, create a 'control sector.' This sector will define the height, thickness, and textures of your 3D floor. Set its floor and ceiling heights to match your desired floating platform’s thickness and position.
9. Add FOF (Floor Over Floor) Special:
10. In Sectors mode, select the sector you want to make into a 3D floor, right-click, and apply a 3D Floor special (like “Sector_Set3DFloor” for GZDoom). In the arguments, specify the tag of your control sector and the surface/opacities you want.
11. Tag Linking:
12. Assign matching tags between your target sector (where the 3D floor appears) and the control sector (for properties). This links the 3D floor properties to your map geometry.
13. Visualize and Tweak:
14. Switch to Visual Mode in Doom Builder to preview, adjust heights, textures, and visual details. The instant preview makes it easier to align surfaces and create multi-level environments.

As a designer, I recommend considering the lighting and material contrast of your 3D floor platforms. Adding accent trims, dynamic spotlights, or under-floor light sources can help emphasize floating elements and separate them visually from underlying surfaces. Also, consider how movement flows around and under these structures for the best player experience.

Looking to streamline the entire process and conceptually experiment with different elevations, layers, and mezzanines? Try using a 3D Floor Planner—it can help you visualize complex layouts before translating them into your Doom Builder map, saving time and ensuring your design intentions are clear.

Tips 1:

When creating intricate 3D structures, keep your control sectors organized and well-labeled. It’s easy to lose track of which sectors control which floors, especially in larger projects. Use a consistent sector-tagging convention and group your control sectors in an out-of-bounds area named “Controls Only” for clarity.

FAQ

Q: Can classic Doom ports like Chocolate Doom handle 3D floors?

A: No, only advanced source ports like GZDoom and Eternity support true 3D floors. Classic ports do not.

Q: What’s the difference between a control sector and a target sector?

A: The control sector determines the 3D floor’s properties (height, textures, etc.), while the target sector is where the 3D floor visually appears in the map.

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

A: Yes, GZDoom allows stacking several 3D floors. Each layer needs its own control sector and tags.

Q: Are there limits to the number of 3D floors I can create?

A: Practically, the limit is determined by engine performance and map complexity rather than an actual cap. However, excessive stacking may impact performance.

Q: Can you add dynamic effects like water or glass to 3D floors?

A: Yes. Through control sector settings, you can make 3D floors translucent, liquid, or even have damaging properties for effects like lava or acid pools.