Mapping

Tools

To begin mapping there are several things you need to download:

Mapping Tools

Link Also contains 300x300 blank map.

http://theindiestone.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=7406"

TileZed Map Editor fantastic version of Tiled "Created by EasyPickins"

Map Editor

http://theindiestone.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=7521

Setting Up Maptools & TileZed

Unzip the contents of the downloaded files somewhere, and make sure you put the TileZed maptools files (.xml) into the maptools folder. So you will end up with two folders:

• maptools (as well as the .xml files)
• TileZed

Once you have set up the folders, run TileZed. Once you've opened it up it will look like the picture on the right.

TileZed

Let's open the map suburbs1.tmx to see all the functions of Project Zomboid in TileZed. Go to File --> Open and navigate to your maptools folder where you will find suburbs1.tmx which you should be familiar with from the game itself.

Navigating in TileZed

Navigating in TileZed can be done by using the arrow keys or the scroll wheel. Rolling the scroll wheel moves you up and down, clicking and holding the scroll wheel allows you to move freely in any direction. This is especially useful later when you are copying parts of your architecture.

Zooming can be done by using the button in the bottom right corner, which by default is set at 100%. Setting it at 6% allows you to see the entire map. Alternatively you can use ctrl + (+) and ctrl + (-). Ctrl+0 puts you back at 100%.

Toolbar

The toolbar contains the tools you use in TileZed. From left to right these tools are:

• New
• Open
• Save

• Undo
• Redo

• Execute (?)
• Random Mode (?)

The following set is used for the actual mapping process and work much like the tools in paint.

• Stamp
• Fill
• Erase
• Select

The following are used for zoning:

• Select Objects
• Edit Polygons
• Add Object (seems to be the only one used in the official map)
• Add Tile
• Add Polygon
• Add Polyline

Using the polygon tool it is possible to define more detailed zones, but whether the game supports this or not is unclear.

TileZed Windows

On the right hand side you have two windows; the bottom one with the tiles you use to construct your map called Tilesets, and the top one that says Maps. You can change this window to navigate all the content in the curretly loaded .tmx file. On the bottom of the Maps window you see several tabs:

• Maps
• Objects
• History
• Layers
• Levels

Objects

The tab Objects shows the zoning of your map, where zombies will spawn and where objects might appear. In suburbs1.tmx this contains info for two levels:

• 0_ItemZoning
• 0_objects
• 0_zoning
• 1_objects

History

The tab History shows recent edits to the map you've made. You can undo a set of changes by moving above the selected action and then perform another action. Pressing ctrl-Z will move you up one action at a time. It is not necessary to use this window too much, but it can be useful when you want to see if you've inadvertently made any adjustments, allowing you to scroll through your last actions.

Layers

The tab Layers shows the layers on the map. This is the tab where you'll be spending most of your time, since this tab contains the layers on which you "draw" the map. The number in front indicates the level the layer is on. So for example 0_Walls is the layer for walls on ground level. On suburbs1.tmx these range from 0_xxx to 7_xxx. You can add a layer by clicking New Layer and then naming it according to your needs. For example, if you're building a skyscraper and want to add walls on floor 8 you should name the layer 8_Walls.

Levels

The tab Levels shows the levels on the map. These are linked to the layers in the previous tab, so you can only toggle visibility but not make any adjustments. If you have created 8_Walls, it will now show up as level 8 with one box to tick for visibility, namely Walls.

Tilesets

In the window with Tilesets you can find all the building stones for your maps:

• TileFloorExt (grass, pavement, street, dirt)
• TileFloorInt (carpet, tiles, wood)
• TileWalls (white tutorial house, brick, wood, solids)
• TileWalls2 (bathroom, store walls, wooden fence, white fence, grey walls)
• TileWallsBurnt (burnt walls)
• TileFrames (door frames, window frames, in white and wood color)
• TileObjects (ovens, vending machines, counters, fridge, shelves, furniture)
• TileTrees (trees, long grass, park bench, flowers)
• TileStairs (stairs in three colors from dark brown to light brown)
• TileDoors (various doors)
• TileBarricade (door and window barricades)
• BloodWalls
• BloodFloor
• TileFloorBurnt (burnt floor)
• TileWalls3 (walls in solid colors)
• TileWalls4 (walls with different top and bottom half)
• TileBar (pool table, bar chairs, table, shelves, tap)
• TileBank (walls, doors, sign, floor plant)
• TileObjectsExt (outdoor objects: stop sign, fire hydrant, chainlink fence, green trash container, tent)
• TileObjects2 (crates, trash can, packages, jukebox, sanitary objects, beds, mirrors, table-top lamps, wardrobes)
• TileObjects3 (curtains)
• TileRoadMarkings
• TileFloorGrime
• TilesStreetLights
• TileWallDecoration
• TileWallsGarage
• Spiffo (café tiles, signs for toilets, huge blue trash bins)
• TileCoffee (sinks, fence, shelves, round wooden table)
• TileOffice (full glass walls, dividers, stairs, desks, desk chairs, microwave)
• TileGasStation
• TileWallsOverlay
• TileRoof

Zones

Several zones can be discovered from the official map:

• foodItems
• shopShelvesFood
• HardwareStoreShelves
• HarwareStoreFloor
• BarShelves
• StoreShelves
• StoreFloor
• ZombieSpawn

To set up a zone select the Objects tab, click the layer you want the zone to be on. Then click Add Object in the toolbar or press O (the letter, not the number). Then just drag over an area, for example a kitchen floor. Click Select Object or press S, and then right-click on the rectangle you have drawn. Click Object Properties and name it zone. Under type fill in foodItems.

Tips and Tricks

• When in Stamp-mode (S) click and hold your right mouse button while dragging over an area of the map to copy it. Left click to paste it somewhere else. You can keep pasting after you've pasted it once. This way you can quickly draw roads, copy intersections, or even entire blocks of housing.
• Using the Fill-tool (F) and the previous trick you can easily create entire neighborhoods that do not have identical houses. For example, if the walls are all red, go to the tileset with walls, select a different color, press F and click the wall section that has to be changed. (The corner pieces still have to be done manually, since technically they're a different tile.) For the interior of an empty room you'd have to use the trick three times. Once for the walls facing SE and once for the walls facing SW, and one more time to replace the section where the two walls intersect.

Importing New Tilesets

In order to import / create your own tilesets for use within PZ, please refer to this tutorial.

Working with Lots

Under Construction.