Use the Retold Advanced Transformation Tool
By Yeebaagooon · retold
An in-depth illustrated editor reference for positioning, rotating and scaling scenario objects precisely.
By Yeebaagooon
created 21/3/24
The advanced transformation tool
In the old days of the original game, it was possible to apply scale, rotation, and position effects to units. Doing it to any degree of precision was an art form and could not be done in the editor by anyone but the greatest designers. Those au fait with triggers could do so in later years, but this was reserved for the select few.
In Retold – the editor allows you to do this from day 1. You are able to scale, rotate and position units with incredible precision to create masterful eyecandy epics. While this can still be done with triggers – the easiest way in the editor for new designers is the advanced transform tool, and the subject of this guide.
Guide contents:
Opening the advanced transform tool
This one’s pretty simple. Follow the instructions on the image below and you will find the tool is open. Left click one unit, and the tool will now apply any effects to that specific unit. Read on for what it can do.
Changing the position of a unit
This is how you can make units fly or create dramatic buildings!
The first thing to do is tick enable gizmo if not already done. If you want to change the height of a unit, also check allowing free movement on y axis. You will now see three different coloured arrows have emerged from your unit in the three movement planes.
You can also use the green box to enable movement in all axes for your unit. Just click and drag on the green box.
This interface implies that the tool is ready for your current selection – that is the position box by default.
Position in the X plane
Position in the Z plane
Position in the Y plane
Position in the XZ plane using the green box
Snapping enabled, moving in the XZ plane can only be done in increments of 1 metre allowing for much more precise positioning.
For more precise movement you should enable snapping. From the move unit menu you can also make them be aligned to the grid, as well as checking their initial position in the object info panel.
In the position snap value box, you can enter a value. Leave it at 1.0 for now and try to move your unit. You will find it is locked in to only moving in intervals that have been defined in the snap values box. Now let’s change the value to a larger number like 5.00, you will again see any movement will always alter the position by the value you put in. Now if you change it to 0.5 you can move accurately and precisely. Reducing this value further allows you to create repeating patterns or formations of units and buildings with the knowledge that the spacing is regular. You can also use this as a ‘grid’ system for building your map and making sure certain items are varying distances away from each other.
Please note: If you have a unit no longer attached to the ground they can exhibit unusual behavior when moving/attacking/being attacked. Sometimes they will drop back down. You can use triggers to prevent this.
Changing the scale of a unit
This is how you can make units bigger/smaller!
The first thing to do is to enable gizmo if not already done. You will again notice three coloured arrows from your unit as before. Changing these will now change the scale of your unit in the plane of that arrow. You can modify all of them at once to maintain the original unit proportions and just make it bigger. Equally you could use just one to make it taller.
To retain proportions you will need to edit all 3 planes exactly, and this can only be done with snapping.
Scale in the X plane
Scale in the Z plane
Scale in the Y plane
Scale in all planes factor 0.5
This has some very interesting consequences when applied to buildings, especially if they come with visual effects (such as the light in the obelisk above). Experiment and you can come up with some truly strange special visual effects.
Changing the rotation of a unit
Want slanting columns or just to see what happens if you turn a unit upside down? You’re at the right place.
The gizmo should be enabled as always, but now you will see rings instead of arrows. The rings can be selected and dragged round to change the unit rotation. Enabling snapping will mean the number you specify will be the incremental step in number of degrees you can rotate a unit. If you’re looking for 180 degree rotation, any whole integer should do so you can fine tune the rotation to hit the angle you want, but higher numbers will be easier to control here.
Rotation in the X plane
You can do this by using the mousehweel on a selected unit without opening the advanced transformation tool.
Rotation in the Z plane.
Rotation in the Y plane.
Note the 45 degree angle, achieved by changing the snapping value.
A completely flipped hill fort, raised above the ground to become visible again.
Copy/paste options
Retold allows you to copy and paste units while preserving most of their properties. I will give a brief overview here as well as a way to bulk copy/paste your units. This should mean making stunning buildings and intricate scenery will be a whole lot easier.
A fortress with a sized sentry tower overlapping it, used to demonstrate the unit copy and paste tool.
Orientations changed, but the tower has been copied with relative size and position preserved. Note the tool may not perform as you expect it to every time.
Closing remarks
If you’re closing the advanced transformation tool then you should disable free y axis movement and the gizmo otherwise they will pop up again and interfere with your next action.
A mighty Egyptian temple – created using the principles described above.
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Source: Yeebaagooon · HeavenGames