Base planning: 3rd party tools or tips?

[Windwalker82]

I enjoy a good build as much as the next person, but sometimes "winging it" is not a good option, especially in resource-heavy builds.

For now I have resorted to old-school square graph paper and pencil/pen, but seeing as my desk is cluttered enough I was hoping there'd be a digital tool someone could point me to.

Doesn't have to be 3D even, I'd even settle for a simple digital version of graph paper, but snap points and being able to draw 100% straight lines would be very very nice.

Does anyone else (like to) plan their builds offline? Do you use any tools? I would love to hear your experiences, tips and suggestions. :)

[Rii]

I was wondering if anyone else did this, but yes! I also plan my builds offline - although the only thing I generally use is a sheet of graph paper. I'm not sure about any additional resources for it though. I've never really looked into it any more than that. But I'm interested in seeing what others may be using!

[GobboKirk]

I did draw up the shell of my barn in Excel while at work :p
Just to get see if I could predict the look/size I wanted.

[heroicidiot]

Use thatch for layout

[sal ¯\_(ツ)_/¯]

Originally posted by heroicxidiot:

Use thatch for layout

exactly this!

[garth033]

Originally posted by heroicxidiot:

Use thatch for layout

+++

[Housatonic]

Main issue with this is how unforgiving the terrain is when building. It's pretty much impossible to account for this without actually working on top of it.

[Windwalker82]

Originally posted by heroicxidiot:

Use thatch for layout

A thatch pre-build is an option, and were it not for S+ where you can pick up almost anything, I would definitely use it for small to medium builds. Small bumps are not an issue with S+ either.

However, I now have a flat surface of roughly 20x40, which to me is quite large. On it I want greenhouse, workshop, dino storage etc. and I'd prefer it to be mostly free standing structures. Even using thatch, or S+, imagine having to basically move a whole 16x10 dino pen because you'd rather have it just a foundation to the left. ;)

Originally posted by Housatonic:

Main issue with this is how unforgiving the terrain is when building. It's pretty much impossible to account for this without actually working on top of it.

I did outline the area with foundations first. Once you have a rectangular or other area completely surrounded by connecting foundations you can be reasonably sure the area is buildable. Unless you laid them to encircle a giant rock of course...

Originally posted by GobboKirk:

I did draw up the shell of my barn in Excel while at work :p
Just to get see if I could predict the look/size I wanted.

I had thought of Excel, but decided that manually resizing all the cells so it would look alright is quite the hassle. ;) I do have an ancient DOS version of DrawPerfect, where you could use a grid of dots (snap points) and just draw squares and lines between them. Would be awesome if it would still run.

[GobboKirk]

Originally posted by Windwalker82:

Originally posted by GobboKirk:

I did draw up the shell of my barn in Excel while at work :p
Just to get see if I could predict the look/size I wanted.

I had thought of Excel, but decided that manually resizing all the cells so it would look alright is quite the hassle. ;) I do have an ancient DOS version of DrawPerfect, where you could use a grid of dots (snap points) and just draw squares and lines between them. Would be awesome if it would still run.

It was a hassle, hehe. But at least I got paid :P

[SteelFire]

Google virtual graph paper. There's also Minecraft Design Tool, which is just a virtual graph paper but with textures available. Any sort of Minecraft design tool will work just as well for Ark building as we're still dealing with uniform sized blocks.

[xerrio]

• Single player with cheats
  
• Tatch layouts
  
• Paper and pen
  
• Yolo sometimes

[Windwalker82]

Originally posted by ronin:

You realize you can practice build in single player?

I *am* in single player. ;) And yes I also spawn in things that I could grind for. At this point I am trying out different builds, but as I said moving a complete building even just one foundation to the side would be just as time consuming as grinding for the materials.

Originally posted by SteelFire:

Google virtual graph paper. There's also Minecraft Design Tool, which is just a virtual graph paper but with textures available. Any sort of Minecraft design tool will work just as well for Ark building as we're still dealing with uniform sized blocks.

Awesome! That is very helpful!

[xerrio]

create another custom map and do whatever you want on this one.

[heroicidiot]

Originally posted by Windwalker82:

Originally posted by heroicxidiot:

Use thatch for layout

A thatch pre-build is an option, and were it not for S+ where you can pick up almost anything, I would definitely use it for small to medium builds. Small bumps are not an issue with S+ either.

However, I now have a flat surface of roughly 20x40, which to me is quite large. On it I want greenhouse, workshop, dino storage etc. and I'd prefer it to be mostly free standing structures. Even using thatch, or S+, imagine having to basically move a whole 16x10 dino pen because you'd rather have it just a foundation to the left. ;)

Originally posted by Housatonic:

Main issue with this is how unforgiving the terrain is when building. It's pretty much impossible to account for this without actually working on top of it.

I did outline the area with foundations first. Once you have a rectangular or other area completely surrounded by connecting foundations you can be reasonably sure the area is buildable. Unless you laid them to encircle a giant rock of course...

Originally posted by GobboKirk:

I did draw up the shell of my barn in Excel while at work :p
Just to get see if I could predict the look/size I wanted.

I had thought of Excel, but decided that manually resizing all the cells so it would look alright is quite the hassle. ;) I do have an ancient DOS version of DrawPerfect, where you could use a grid of dots (snap points) and just draw squares and lines between them. Would be awesome if it would still run.

If you have s+, then make lie a bunch and use that as your template. Use it as you build