Building Worlds

Start with a playable shape

A strong world starts with a simple layout. Block out the main path first: spawn area, objective, side paths, points of interest, and the return path.

Do not polish too early. Build the shape, run through it as a player, then improve scale, spacing, and readability.

Use parts with purpose

• Floors define where players can move.
• Walls guide players and frame spaces.
• Landmarks help players understand where they are.
• Hazards and rewards create decisions.
• Lighting and color point players toward important areas.

Build from the ground up

Start with the floor. A readable world needs a real baseplate, paths, platforms, or terrain that clearly shows where players can walk.

• Make sure the spawn area is on solid ground.
• Keep paths sitting on the ground.
• Line up stairs like real steps.
• Connect doors, arches, and platforms cleanly.
• Do not let props float unless they are intentionally floating.

Use Models for structures

Use Ctrl+G to group parts into a Model. Models help you move, rotate, duplicate, and organize structures like trees, lamps, kiosks, buildings, bridges, and signs.

In the viewport, clicking a grouped part selects the parent Model by default. Use the Explorer when you want to edit one child part inside the Model.

• Ctrl+G: Group selected objects into a Model.
• Ctrl+Alt+U: Ungroup a Model.
• Ctrl+Shift+G: Align selected objects to the grid.

Use precision details

Small details make builds feel intentional. Voxly Studio supports sub-unit part sizes, fractional positions, and fractional rotations, so trims, rails, plaques, signs, lamp parts, and tree trunks do not need to be chunky one-stud blocks.

Normal move, rotate, scale, duplicate, save, and publish actions preserve fractional values. Use Align to Grid only when you intentionally want to snap objects back to whole grid values.

Use transparency for sensors and glass

Transparency ranges from 0.0 to 1.0.

• 0.0 means fully visible.
• 1.0 means fully transparent.
• Transparent parts still keep collision and can still fire touch events, which makes them useful for hidden triggers, checkpoints, doors, and sensors.
• Do not use transparency to hide broken placement; fix the placement instead.

Build for avatars

Every player enters worlds as their avatar, so spaces should feel good at avatar scale. Doorways, platforms, stairs, and obstacles should leave room for movement and camera rotation.

Test tight areas from different camera angles. If a player cannot see where to go, the build needs more space or stronger visual direction.

First playable pass

1. 1 Create a spawn area.
2. 2 Place the main path or arena.
3. 3 Add one objective or activity.
4. 4 Add signs, color, or landmarks to guide players.
5. 5 Playtest from start to finish.
6. 6 Fix confusing spots before adding decoration.