Intro to Unreal Engine

Editor & Viewport Controls

Module 1 — Getting Started

Create a Project

• Launch Epic Games Launcher and sign in.
• Create a new Third Person project using Blueprint with Starter Content.

Recommended Performance Tweaks

If your machine struggles, try:

• Settings → Engine Scalability: reduce from Epic to Medium.
• Project Settings → Rendering: consider disabling Lumen for older GPUs, set Reflection Method to None for speed, choose a lighter Anti‑Aliasing method.

Add Content Packs

1. Save your project; close UE5.
2. In Epic Games Launcher → Marketplace → Free, find an asset pack (e.g., building kits).
3. Click Add to Project and select your game.

Create a Level

1. File → New Level → Basic.
2. Save as CastleLevel and open it.

Set Default Level

1. Edit → Project Settings → Maps & Modes.
2. Set your Editor Startup Map and Game Default Map.

Place & Transform Meshes

• In Content Browser, filter Static Mesh, search Wall, drag SM_Plains_Wall_Straight_01 into the viewport.
• Move W, Rotate E, Scale R. Use snapping options for precision.
• Duplicate with Alt + drag. Group multiple meshes with Ctrl + G.
• Delete selected meshes with Delete.

Materials

• In Content, filter Material and drag onto meshes.
• Use the Details panel for fine‑tuning.

Player Start

• From Place Actors, drag a Player Start into the level and orient it as needed.

Level Planning

• Create a reference image folder.
• Sketch a top‑down layout before building.

Build a Platforming Challenge

• Assemble obstacles from static meshes.
• Adjust Collision on meshes if needed via the Static Mesh Editor (Auto Convex).

Module 2 — Landscapes & Blueprints

Create a Landscape

• Delete the floor beneath your castle.
• Switch to Landscape mode.
• Pick a Section Size (e.g., 15×15 Quads), then Create.

Sculpt Tool

• Drag to raise; hold Shift to carve valleys.
• Shape mountains around your castle; form a valley inside.

Landscape Materials & Layers

1. Create CustomMaterials/MAT_Landscape.
2. Add texture samples and a LandscapeLayerBlend node.
3. Name layers (e.g., Grass, Gravel), set preview weights, wire to Base Color.
4. Feed LandscapeLayerCoords into texture UVs; tweak Mapping Scale (e.g., 7).
5. Set Roughness via a Constant (1.0).

Paint the Landscape

• Assign MAT_Landscape to your Landscape.
• In Paint tab, create Weight‑Blended Layer Info assets for each layer.
• Paint with adjustable brush size/strength to blend textures.

Foliage Tool

• Open Foliage mode and drop in tree static meshes.
• Set Density (start small) and paint test strips before committing.

Blueprints — Strings, Variables, Print

1. Open Level Blueprint.
2. Add N keyboard event → Print String.
3. Create a PlayerName string variable and append to “Hello ”.

Blueprints — Integers & Branch

1. Add G keyboard event → Print String.
2. Create TotalGold (int) and GainGold = 1.
3. Set TotalGold = TotalGold + GainGold, print a message, and use a Branch to check thresholds.
4. Organize with comment boxes, reroute pins, and functions (e.g., AddGold).

Module 3 — Interactables, UI & Sprint

Locked Door & Key Setup

1. Create BP_Key (Actor) with Sphere and a trigger Box Collision.
2. Create BP_Door (Actor) with a Static Mesh and Box Collision (plus an inner collision box set to BlockAll).

Key Blueprint

• On TriggerBox BeginOverlap → Cast to BP_ThirdPersonCharacter.
• Set a boolean variable Key = true; then Destroy Actor (self).

Door Blueprint

• On TriggerBox BeginOverlap → Cast to player.
• Branch on Get Key: if true, Destroy Actor (open door), else Print String “Door is locked.”

Jump Pad

1. Create BP_JumpPad (Actor) with a Cylinder.
2. On Hit, Cast to player and use Launch Character (e.g., Z = 1000).

Double Jump

• Open BP_ThirdPersonCharacter, set Jump Max Count to 2.

Collectible Coins

1. Add CoinCount (int) to the Character.
2. Create BP_Coin with Sphere + Sphere Collision, optional Rotating Movement and Spot Light.
3. On overlap, increment CoinCount then DestroyActor.

UI Widget for Coins

1. Create Widget Blueprint HUD_Coin.
2. Use a Canvas with a Horizontal Box and two Text blocks.
3. Bind the second Text to CoinCount (e.g., via getter or binding function).
4. In Game Mode (or on BeginPlay), Create Widget → Add to Viewport.

Sprinting with Inputs & Functions

1. Create IA_Sprint (Input Action) with Hold and Released triggers.
2. Add to your Input Mapping Context (e.g., Left Shift and Gamepad RT).
3. Create SprintStart/SprintStop functions to set Max Walk Speed higher/lower. Optionally track IsSprinting (bool).

Module 4 — Game Design & Grayboxing

Game Design Document (GDD)

• Clone the template and fill in: title, author, genre, and theme.
• Collect reference images; define scope, schedule, and core mechanics.
• Write a short “Hollywood pitch” that captures your hook.

Level Design

• Define audience, primary objective, duration, theme, and difficulty.
• Graybox with Brushes; ensure flow is readable and fun.

Mechanics: Win / Lose / Checkpoint

1. BP_Win: box overlap prints “You Win!”.
2. BP_Checkpoint: store a Checkpoint vector in Character.
3. BP_Enemy: on overlap, print “Game Over” and respawn at Checkpoint.
4. Transfer working logic from DebugLevel back into the main level.

Further Reading & Official Docs

• Changing Default Level (Maps & Modes) — Unreal Docs
• Player Start Actor — Unreal Docs
• Launch Character (Blueprint API) — Unreal Docs
• Landscape Paint Mode — Unreal Docs
• Landscape Materials & Layer Blend — Unreal Docs
• Enhanced Input — Unreal Docs
• UMG Property Binding & UI Quick Start — Unreal Docs
• Character Movement & Max Walk Speed — Unreal Docs