HPL3/SOMA/Getting Started/Edit Your First Map

You will use the working sample as your first map and make one visible editor change. Starting from the sample avoids mixing basic editor learning with player-start and launch-configuration problems.

Open the map

1. In LevelEditor.exe, choose File → Open.
2. Open MyFirstMod/maps/sample_map/sample_map.hpm.
3. Move around the perspective viewport and inspect the existing room. See Level Editor View if the viewport controls are unfamiliar.

Make one visible change

Select an existing object and move it a small, obvious distance with the translation tool. Save the map, close it, and reopen sample_map.hpm.

Tip: For the first checkpoint, change only one existing object. Add new objects, lighting, and gameplay entities after the edit-save-launch loop is proven.

HPL3 stores different object categories in files beside the main map, such as sample_map.hpm_Entity, sample_map.hpm_Light, and sample_map.hpm_StaticObject. Keep these files together with sample_map.hpm.

Test in-game

Launch your mod again and confirm that the object moved. If the old version appears, close the game and relaunch the mod to rule out cached state.

Checkpoint

Continue when the changed object:

• remains moved after reopening the map in the editor; and
• appears in its new position in-game.

If it does not work

• Confirm the editor title bar says (Working on mod).
• Confirm you opened the map inside your copied mod, not the bundled example.
• Confirm the complete set of .hpm and .hpm_* files is writable and remains in the same folder.
• If the editor view is the problem, use Level Editor View. For individual object types, use the relevant section of SOMA Level Design.