GC's CFE Tutorials *Moved*

Split Level Stairs: Stacking Method

Introduction




In this tutorial we will be creating something like this.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/Finished.png

I have chosen to create a 1/4 height staircase with a full height staircase above it. It would also work the other way round. In fact, you can create any combination of heights (for example, a 3/4 height staircase combined with a 1/2 height staircase). However, if you want to create a playable room with normal doors and windows, you must make sure the the total height of both staircases adds up to more than the height of one regular-story staircase If this doesn't make sense right now, don't worry - just follow the tutorial. Once you have the basic method under your belt, you can start to experiment for yourself.

This method is quite flexible and relatively easy to master. However, it does add an extra level to your build (a concern if you're building something tall that approaches the five level limit), must be viewed from the upper level with the walls up to look right, and creates rooms that can be difficult to light. For an alternative method, look out for my 'Split Level Stairs: Raise Terrain Method' tutorial, which will be coming soon to this thread.

If you are unfamiliar with the tools and challenges associated with working with cfe turned off, I strongly suggest you first read Learning the Basics and Tips and Common Problems.


The Tutorial

I start by creating the level of my build from which I want my stairs to start. I have put my house on foundations, but you don't have to.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/FirstLevel.png

I'm lowering the level I just created to the height of 1/4 of a regular wall, by using the Stairs and Level Terrain tools.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/LowerLevel.png

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/LoweredLevel.png

Now I create the next level up.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/SecondLevel.png

I have lit the inside of my build with the buydebug lights, just roughly placed for now, so that I can see what I'm doing. I have removed all the floor tiles apart from the four in the top right corner, which will serve as the landing area between my stairs.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/Landing.png

My landing is currently floating, so I'm going to need to go down a level and create some walls underneath it. Don't worry about the height - we'll fix that in a minute.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/UnderLanding.png

To correct the height of my new walls, I go back up a level to where my landing is, and click and drag over them using the Level Terrain tool.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/FlattenLanding.png

Now it's time to place the second set of stairs. You can turn cfe back on to do this.

You'll need to bulldoze some floor tiles in the level above. Stairs the height of a regular wall require 4 open tiles. I'm also choosing to leave my landing area open, though not doing so will not cause any routing problems. Along with the double stairs I'm using, that means I'm clearing an area of 6x2. My stairs will now snap neatly into place.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/SecondStairs.png

I now have both sets of stairs in place, but one of them is floating!

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/FloatingStairs.png

So, I turn cfe back off and create some walls underneath my stairs upon which they can rest. I could have done this when I created the walls beneath my landing, and it's fine for you to do so. I'm just putting it here in the tutorial so that you understand why we're creating these walls.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/UnderStairs.png

As before, I even out the floor using the Level Terrain tool.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/FlattenStairs.png

My stairs are looking the right shape, but that 1/4 height level at the bottom of my room is going to create some big problems for my windows and doors. So, I'm going to remove all the lower, 1/4 height walls except those immediately surrounding the landing and replace them with new ones.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/FinishedStairs.png

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/RemoveWalls.png

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/ReplaceWalls.png

Of course my ceiling's now gone crazy, so I'm going to fix that with the Level Terrain tool.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/FlattenUpper.png

The basic structure of these levels of my house is now in place. However, I personally am not a fan of the way my stairs poking out into the room, so I'm going to create a little room behind them. It could make a nice bathroom. I've put a ceiling over it so I don't have to worry about complicated two-level lighting inside it. I've also swapped my lighting for something that makes a bit more sense for the new floor plan. The dead space between the new room and the stairs is just to conceal the height transition a bit better.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/NewRoom.png

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/NewRoomUp.png

Now it's time for me to turn cfe on, add a fourth level (if you include foundations) to my house, wallpaper the outside, and install some doors and windows. There's no landscaping obviously - this is just a concept model, not a proper home.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/Exterior.png

I've chosen vertical sliding because vertical patterns do a much better job of concealing diagonal joins than horizontal ones do. I've also gone for quite a dark shade of wood, because usually the whiter the colour you use the more difficult it is to light. Here's the join in my build from the outside. Not too bad. You don't have to include windows in your landing area if the different heights bothers you.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/ExteriorJoin.png

You're never going to get the lighting absolutely perfect inside, but the buydebug lights will help. I've gone a bit mad with them, but I think it pays off. Remember that the natural light from your windows will have a different impact on your lighting scheme for day and night, so make sure you are designing something that works well for both.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/LightingDay.png

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/LightingNight.png

The particular shape I've chosen for my build has left me with a little ledge above my front door. As with oddities in real life houses, the accidental features with which your cfe work may leave you can either be made a feature of or concealed. I could have hidden this little area behind a 1/4 height wall, but I think it makes a nice place for storing odds and ends.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/Shelf.png

And here are my stairs again.

http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/Finished.png