Can't place first staircase?

[LongFist]

Okay, first-time player, managed to build my first house's foundation/base, and learned that it's not exactly MineCraft, as it takes a few swings to "knock it up". Fine, it got done, then I have to build a staircase. I have the components, get everything lined up, and --- the red "ghostline" appears, and it *does* look like the small staircase I'm supposed to build, but curst if I can place it!

All of the other components (so far) don't seem to have a problem making/matching their own level(s), but the staircase seems incapable of managing this. Which I guess is cool and all, but in the beginning you don't have a shovel (that *I* know about) so I don't have a way of digging out a landing for this staircase.

Also - unlike Space Engineers, there isn't a lot of information on the 'Net as to how to deal with this problem, or that the problem exists. (Let me assure you: it *IS* a problem and it most certainly exists.) Could anybody help me figure out how to place these stairs so I can finish building this first house, and maybe get more familiar with the controls and habits of this game BEFORE I join a server and make everything suck for them?

Thanks for the boon of your wisdom. (Yeah, I'm just about *certain* that I've missed something!)

[Dan2D3D]

Hi,


- RED = your Character or other block are in the way.

- Holding ''Shift'' will make some block able to clip through ohters. (compound blocks)

- The wooden shovel can by build on starting the game and is used on poor iron ore spots to collect Stones and Iron.

- Infos are on screen and book : top left, lower left, Center of screen when aiming and in the quests book ''J''.
( official Wiki : http://www.medievalengineerswiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page )


- You should play creative and test All blocks = you will gain XP^


Share a Steam screenshot for more.

[LongFist]

Thank you Dan2D3D for your rapid and prompt reply. Seriously!

Went to the Wiki, read through it a little, but it's more like a catalog of "You can build this, or this, or even this" but no information on how to interact with the game in such a way as to MAKE those items. (http://spaceengineerswiki.com/Main_Page for comparison.)

Of course, Space Engineers is *SUPPOSED* to be magnitudes harder to play than Midieval Engineers, but a lot of the ME game mechanic misses me entirely. The ME Wiki, while it is a wonderful component catalog, doesn't describe much in the way of game mechanics, so I'm still at a loss for how to accomplish these feats.

Now, for the game: (my game)

I reloaded my game to get a screen shot of what was going on, and it suddenly *allowed* me to place my staircase. Gave me credit for placing it, but still wants me to do something to BUILD it, which I did. (Hammer, Hammer Hammer!) Then it wouldn't let me place a second staircase, just like the first time. Guess I'm just getting frustrated because I *THINK* I'm following the steps properly for the tutorial, but am beginning to suspect the tutorial may be flawed. Not at all sure how the shift key is involved in placement: rotation is fairly kludgey so it requires a lot more involvement to get surfaces to match up. (Yeah, in real life I just lean the spars against the foundation, and voila! the surfaces match up!) Is there a game mechanic that auto-magically matches the surfaces to one another, viz placing a staircase alongside a floor joist?

Still, there are all of these mods (meaning people have improved on the game) and all of these screenshots (meaning SOMEbody out there has gotten the knack and is building IMMENSE structures) so it shouldn't exactly be out of my reach. Still trying to wrap my head around it.

[Dan2D3D]

You need to do some testing in creative to become a good Engineer,
I have 1700 hours
___________

Rotate keys = Q E R Y (not all blocks can rotate)

For Free rotation = we have to create the Blueprint of the block OR the house and hit the '' O '' key for free rotation.

[LongFist]

Also just found out the "J" key changes it from bound rotation to "free" rotation, meaning it rotates by arbitrary degrees instead of 90-degree incriments/decrements. Confusing, if you're not looking for it.

I'll keep working at it. Maybe someday I'll be able to help others the way you helped me! Maybe. for now I've got a lofty 1,500 hours to try and catch up on - this might take a while...

Also, Thank you!