First shape
Begin with a simple playable surface and understand its important dimensions.
Shape the world
Parametric CAD
Parametric CAD is a way of designing 3D objects using exact measurements, rules, and relationships. Instead of just shaping an object until it looks right, you define things like its width, height, hole sizes, angles, and how parts line up. If you change one measurement later, the rest of the model can automatically adjust.
Programs like Onshape, SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Inventor, and FreeCAD work this way. They are especially useful for engineering and manufacturing because the model is built from precise, editable instructions. These are the tools used to create worlds for our game.
The idea
Change the rules, not every object.
A parameter can represent a measurement or relationship that matters to a design. When that value changes, connected geometry can change with it. This makes it possible to explore course proportions and maintain related pieces without treating every surface as an isolated model.
The detailed guides will use the actual Orbliterate! creation workflow and version they apply to. Until those tools are ready for public documentation, this page establishes the concepts without inventing commands or file formats.
Learning path
From a platform to a world.
Relationships
Connect dimensions so adjoining pieces continue to fit as the design changes.
Reusable parts
Turn proven structures into useful building blocks for larger worlds.
The next layer
Geometry becomes interactive.
CAD supplies the structure. TypeScript supplies behavior: operating switches, moving platforms, animating objects, and coordinating sound or music.
Continue to TypeScript