Tutorial:Creating Dungeons from Scratch

This article is a manual on how to create a dungeon from scratch, without using other dungeons as a template.

Setting up Zone Steps

You'll notice in the segment editor that there is a tab called Zone Steps. This area is meant for steps that we want to apply to all floors.

For example, the step that is responsible for showing the floor name is found here, as in most cases the name is always shown in the same format. There is a way to put that step solely within the floor itself, but that leads to some problems - i.e. If I want to change the dungeon name, I have to change the name in ALL floors.

Most Zone Steps do similarly have floor step equivalents, but we put them as Zone Steps instead because it's easier to work with.

Format Note: Most Zone Steps have their own priorities that should be set. I will be noting those priorities beside the step's name like [1], to avoid repetition.

Essential Steps

The Show Floor Name [-6] zone step is responsible for doing the title drop of the floor name. You can put the name within the Name field, using the placeholder {0} for the floor number.

If you plan on allowing rescues in your dungeon, the Handle Rescues [2.1] step will be required.

Spawn Tables

We can add Money, Item, NPC, and Effect Tile spawn tables to Zone Steps. This is where all of the information about those things will be kept, which the Floor Steps will later reference.

Generation Type Dependant Steps

Note that in PMDO, there are two primary floor generation methods that see the most use: Grid Floor Gen and Room Floor Gen. The steps required in each method are different - as such, when creating a floor, the first thing you should do is decide what generation method should be utilized by the floor.

Grid Floor Gen creates a more classic dungeon where rooms are kept in different cells, while Room Floor Gen instead generates its rooms and hallways from a starting point, disregarding any cell structure.

If you want a floor to be a specific map, Load Gen will be utilized instead.

Although more uncommon, Chance Floor Gen and Stairs Floor Gen are also present.

Below will be discussed the floor steps that are exclusive to and required for certain generation types.

General Floor Steps

These steps are universal and not exclusive to certain generation types.