This is completely cool! The problem I'm having with building is that I think all of the pieces should be both grid and non grid. A small minority of them are non-grid with the true freedom to place as desired. I may just download your iMac to see how it's put together.
How many grids seperate grids does this represent?
Short answer - the iMac is just one object (AKA blueprint) consisting of both gridded and non-grid pieces. It is just one grid.
Long answer - when placing a gridded object, like a wall or roof, it starts a grid that is both horizontal and vertical. The benefit to this is the ability to quickly place pieces next to each other, like making a building, and every grid object you place always snaps in place and at 90 degree angles. The problem though is that these pieces cannot rotate at any angle smaller than 90 degrees. You just are building in a box. Wall pieces are only vertical and cannot rotate to lay flat and roof pieces are only horizontal and cannot rotate to be up and down.
Non-gridded pieces are much more flexible in that they can rotate at any angle, in 15 degree incraments or even free rotate, and then move either according to the new plane or original by toggling world and relative axis button. The problem with them is they take more time to place just right if you are lining them up to other pieces.
The main thing to understand in planet coaster building is you always want to build with a grid even if your final object has no grid objects in it. If you just start laying down non-grid pieces next to each other planet coaster views each piece as a seperate object and you will run into the following problems...
1. Selecting all those pieces to move or rotate them will be a chore. You have to click the multi-selection tool in order drag and select all the pieces, and when you do you will also be selecting any object behind it. Very annoying.
2. When you have multiple objects selected you cant duplicate them.
3. When you have multiple objects of the same type selected you cant change an attribute like their color at once, it must be done piece by piece.
These problems go away when you select an object (building) and click the edit building button.
So if you want to build something out of the art shapes for example, first start with a wall or roof piece. You will then have an easier time editing and moving that object and once you are finished you can delete that piece. Just remember that when you do the pieces go back to being seperate objects.
Some tips i have learned...
1. When using grid pieces select the settings button and change the grid size and height for more accuracy.
2. If you want to have a grid for non-grid items in order to space things out and measure, place four roof pieces, one at each corner of your working area, so that you have a working grid. Then simply add your pieces to it then delete your roof pieces when you are done.
3. If you have a creation that is a bunch of non building pieces and you want to treat it like a building, simply place a wall or roof piece next to it, then use the multi selection tool to select all the pieces and the roof or wall piece, then click "add standalone scenery to selected building" and presto, its now a building.
4. If you have a collection of pieces or building that you use often, save it as a blueprint to duplicate it and to move it to other parks. Just remember the piece limit is 4000.
Hope this helped
