Blockout Generator

Module: Design · Category: LevelDesign · Tool ID: BlockoutGenerator

Parametric blockout tool that spawns configurable primitive shapes (Room / Corridor / L-Corridor / Staircase / Ramp / Platform / Pillar / Doorway / Window / Cover Wall) using /Engine/BasicShapes/Cube with an auto-assigned flat-grey blockout material. Auto-organizes everything under an EQLabs/Blockout folder, supports grid snap, full undo, and a per-level audit with double-click navigation.

Tool open with shape buttons visible, viewport showing a multi-shape blockout (room + corridor + staircase) with grey blockout material.

When to use it

• Rapid level prototyping: spawning rooms / corridors / staircases by clicking shape buttons
• Pre-Blockout Lab whiteboxing: quick parametric primitives before committing to a full custom-asset blockout
• Mocking up cover combat layouts: drop in cover walls and platforms quickly
• Documentation / pitch builds: get a blocked-out level ready for review fast

What it isn’t for

• Don’t use this for production geometry. Output is always primitive cubes with auto-material.
• Don’t expect spline / curved shapes. Only the parametric shapes listed below.

Opening the tool

1. Open the EQLabs Hub and search for Blockout (or browse to Design → LevelDesign).
2. Click the Blockout Generator card.

Interface tour

Shape selector

10 shape buttons (with description previews):

Shape	Description
Room	4 walls + floor, optional ceiling (hollow box)
Corridor	2 walls + floor, optional ceiling (open-ended)
L-Corridor	L-shaped corridor with configurable turn direction
Staircase	Ascending steps with configurable count + run/rise
Ramp	Angled surface with optional side rails
Platform	Elevated flat surface with support column
Pillar	Single vertical column
Doorway	Wall segment with rectangular opening
Window	Wall segment with raised rectangular opening
Cover Wall	Waist-height cover for shooter-style levels

Parameters

Field	What it does	Default
Width / Depth / Height	Shape dimensions	400 / 600 / 300
Wall Thickness	Wall depth	20
Step Count	Staircase steps	12
Add Ceiling	Toggle (Room/Corridor)	false
Snap to Grid	Toggle	true
Grid Size	Snap grid in UU	100

Actions

Action	What it does
Generate at Origin	Spawns at world origin (snapped)
Generate at Selection	Spawns at the currently-selected actor’s location
Scan Blockout Actors	Audits the level for blockout-tagged actors
Select All Blockout	Selects every blockout actor
Delete All Blockout	Removes every blockout-tagged actor

Audit list

Per-blockout-actor row: label, shape type, location, dimensions. Single-click pings the actor; double-click flies the camera to it.

Audit list with multiple blockout actors visible, mixed shape types.

Workflow

Build a level

1. Click Room in the shape selector.
2. Configure width / depth / height.
3. Click Generate at Origin — a room appears.
4. Move the viewport, click Corridor, configure, click Generate at Selection — corridor extends from the room.
5. Add staircase, doorways, etc.

Cleanup

1. Click Scan Blockout Actors to audit.
2. Click Select All Blockout to select everything.
3. Click Delete All Blockout to wipe (or use the ground-truth Save All if you want to keep).

Settings reference

Per-tool parameters persist to [Project]/Saved/EQLabs/Settings/BlockoutGenerator.json.

Output

• AStaticMeshActor instances using /Engine/BasicShapes/Cube with auto-blockout material
• Auto-organized. Placed under EQLabs/Blockout folder in the World Outliner.
• Auto-tagged. Every spawned actor has a Blockout tag for audit.
• Undo. Wrapped in ScopedTransaction. Ctrl+Z reverses.
• Material. Flat grey material instance dynamically created.

Tips and gotchas

• The blockout material is intentionally distinct. Flat grey signals “this is placeholder, don’t ship”.
• Generate at Selection respects pivot. If you pick a doorway after a room, the doorway spawns at the room’s pivot, not center.
• Delete All Blockout uses the tag. Non-blockout actors are safe even if they’re in the EQLabs/Blockout folder.
• For full level layout authoring (rooms with terrain, water, paths, gameplay zones, custom asset assignment), use Blockout Lab. The custom asset editor.

Related tools

• Blockout Lab — the full custom-asset-editor blockout workflow
• Reference Image Overlay — overlay reference images while blocking out
• Smart Actor Align & Distribute — align spawned blockout pieces