sow-module-tilesets/twu01/KICKOFF.md

You are assisting inside Blender to rapidly prototype a Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition urban foundation tileset for the project “Shadows Over Westgate.”

The goal is NOT to build a full city tileset with buildings. The goal is to generate a reusable tile library of streets, sidewalks, plazas, alleys, ramps, bridges, canals/voids, drains, raised terraces, and foundation pads. Buildings, facades, lamps, signs, roofs, walls, doors, clutter, and district decoration will be modular placeables later.

Westgate’s intended atmosphere is noir dark fantasy: rain-slick streets, mercantile decay, old stone, smoke, fog, gothic silhouettes, and grimy desperation. The city also has an early industrial-magical layer: steam, alchemy, bound elementals, lightning engines, magical lamps, printing presses, and machinery beneath the gutters. For this pass, represent that only through ground grammar: drains, grates, canal cuts, raised streets, bridge foundations, dark cobbles, and industrial service channels. Do not make buildings.

PROJECT GOAL

Create a Blender scene containing a prototype tile library named:

Westgate_Urban_Foundation_MVP

Each tile must be a 10m x 10m square module suitable for later NWN tileset conversion.

Use metric scale.

Coordinate convention:

• Each individual tile is centered at origin when built as a source asset.
• Tile bounds are X = -5 to +5, Y = -5 to +5.
• Ground level is Z = 0.
• Raised tier level is Z = 1.5.
• Canal/void water surface, if present, is Z = -0.3.
• Do not create true multi-level playable over/under spaces. Bridges may cross non-walkable canal/void areas only.
• Keep walkable slopes gentle and readable.
• Keep edges clean and snap-compatible.

Create each tile as its own Collection. Name collections exactly with their code and readable name, for example:

CP1_cobble_plain
ST_S_straight_street
RA_S_straight_ramp

Inside each tile collection, create these sub-objects where appropriate:

VIS_<tilecode>       visual geometry
WOK_<tilecode>       simple walkmesh proxy geometry
BLOCK_<tilecode>     non-walkable blocker proxy geometry, if needed
MARK_<tilecode>_*    edge/debug markers, if useful

The WOK proxy should be simple and functional: mostly flat planes or simple ramp planes. Avoid complex triangulation unless necessary.

Use simple prototype materials:

• MAT_wet_cobble_dark
• MAT_cobble_patch
• MAT_plaza_slab
• MAT_sidewalk_stone
• MAT_curb_dark_stone
• MAT_canal_black_water
• MAT_void_black
• MAT_ramp_stone
• MAT_drain_iron
• MAT_foundation_pad
• MAT_debug_walkmesh
• MAT_debug_blocker

Do not spend time on final textures. Use flat colors or simple procedural noise only. This is a geometry and tile-grammar prototype.

REQUIRED TILE LIBRARY

Generate these tiles first.

FLAT WALKABLE GROUND

1. CP1_cobble_plain

• Full 10x10 walkable dark cobble.
• Subtle bevel or edge trim allowed.
• WOK full square at Z=0.

2. CP2_cobble_plain_wet_variant

• Same as CP1 but with darker wet material patches.
• Geometry can be the same with different material regions.

3. CP3_cobble_plain_broken_variant

• Same as CP1 but with a few shallow cracked/patch shapes.
• Keep WOK flat.

4. AL1_narrow_alley_paving

• Full tile walkable, but visual paving suggests a narrower central alley.
• Add darker side strips/foundation margins where modular building placeables might sit.
• Do not place buildings.

5. PL1_plaza_slab

• Full tile walkable large stone slab plaza.
• Less busy than cobble.

6. DR1_drain_detail

• Full tile walkable cobble with a central or offset iron drain/manhole/grate.
• Drain is visual only unless it is a tiny non-walkable inset.

7. MU1_muddy_repair_patch

• Full tile walkable cobble with broken/muddy repair patch.
• Keep WOK flat.

8. LOT_foundation_pad

• A quiet, flat urban foundation pad for placing modular buildings or large placeables.
• Mostly plain stone, minimal decoration.
• Full WOK square.

STREET SHAPES

9. ST_S_straight_street

• Straight street path running north-south through the tile.
• Sidewalk/curb margins on east and west sides.
• Entire tile can remain walkable for flexibility, but VIS should clearly read as street + curb + sidewalk.
• WOK full square unless blockers are necessary.

10. ST_C_street_corner

• L-shaped street corner.
• Sidewalk/curb margins.
• Use visual contrast, not blockers, unless necessary.

11. ST_T_street_t_junction

• T-junction street.

12. ST_X_street_crossroads

• Four-way street crossing.

13. ST_E_street_end

• Dead-end street with a visual blocked/terminated paving edge.
• Do not add a wall or building; just create the ground condition.

14. ST_W_wide_boulevard

• Wider street segment, usable for civic or merchant districts.
• Include broad sidewalks.

15. ST_G_gate_mouth

• Street tile that visually suggests a gate approach or major threshold.
• No gate model. Just heavier paving, curb geometry, and alignment pads.

16. ST_D_street_with_central_drain

• Straight street with central gutter/drain channel.
• Channel should be shallow and walkable or visually recessed without pathing problems.

SIDEWALK / CURB / GUTTER

17. SW_S_sidewalk_straight

• Raised sidewalk/promromenade strip along one or both sides.
• Use low curb height, around Z=0.12 to 0.18.
• Keep WOK simple.

18. SW_C_sidewalk_corner

• Corner curb/sidewalk condition.

19. SW_T_sidewalk_t_split

• Sidewalk T connector.

20. SW_X_sidewalk_crossing

• Sidewalk/plaza connector or crossing tile.

21. SW_E_sidewalk_end

• Sidewalk ending/transition tile.

22. GD_S_gutter_straight

• Straight shallow gutter/drain channel.

23. GD_C_gutter_corner

• Gutter corner.

24. GD_X_gutter_crossing_grate

• Drain crossing with visible grate.

RAISED TIERS / RAMPS / STAIRS

25. UP1_raised_terrace

• Full tile raised walkable surface at Z=1.5.
• WOK full square at Z=1.5.

26. UP2_raised_plaza_variant

• Raised plaza/slab variant at Z=1.5.

27. TE_S_retaining_edge_straight

• Half or edge tile where one side is raised terrace at Z=1.5 and the lower side is at Z=0.
• Include vertical retaining wall face.
• The top and bottom walkable areas should be clear.
• Do not create inaccessible slivers.

28. TE_C_retaining_edge_outer_corner

• Raised/lower retaining corner.

29. TE_I_retaining_edge_inner_corner

• Raised/lower retaining inside corner.

30. RA_S_straight_ramp

• Straight ramp from Z=0 to Z=1.5 across the tile.
• Ramp direction north-south.
• Add simple side retaining edges.
• WOK should be a clean ramp plane.

31. RA_C_corner_or_dogleg_ramp

• A corner/dogleg ramp from lower to upper.
• Keep it simple and pathable.

32. STA_broad_stair

• Broad stair from Z=0 to Z=1.5.
• Since NWN pathing can be sensitive, create a simplified ramp-like WOK proxy over the visible stairs.
• Visual stairs may be stepped; WOK should be smooth or very simple.

CANAL / VOID / BRIDGES

33. CN1_canal_black_water

• Non-walkable canal/black water/void tile.
• Visual water at Z=-0.3.
• WOK absent or marked non-walkable.
• Add stone canal edge only if it does not imply mismatched adjacency.

34. CN2_narrow_drainage_cut

• Narrow non-walkable drainage cut through the tile.
• Include stone/cobble edges.

35. CE_S_canal_edge_straight

• Straight canal embankment edge.
• One side walkable at Z=0, one side canal/void non-walkable.
• Add clean retaining wall face.

36. CE_C_canal_edge_corner

• Canal edge corner.

37. CE_I_canal_edge_inside_corner

• Canal inside corner.

38. BR_1_narrow_bridge

• Narrow bridge crossing canal/void.
• Walkable bridge deck at Z=0 or slightly above Z=0.
• Non-walkable canal beneath.
• No playable underpass.
• Add simple side parapet placeholders if useful, but keep them low/blocker-safe.

39. BR_2_broad_bridge

• Broad bridge suitable for a main street.
• Same constraints as BR_1.

40. SEW_sewer_mouth_culvert

• Canal/drain edge with sewer mouth or culvert visual.
• Mostly decorative, but useful for noir city composition.

BUILDER GROUP / PREVIEW ASSEMBLIES

After generating source tile collections, create a separate Collection:

PREVIEW_tile_library_grid

In this collection, instantiate or duplicate each tile in a neat grid with labels so I can inspect the full library.

Also create another Collection:

PREVIEW_12x12_test_district

Build this exact 12x12 prototype map using the generated tiles. Place each tile on a 10m grid. Each tile should be positioned by row/column, 10m apart.

Map:

Row 01: CN1 CN1 CE_S CE_S BR_2 CE_S CE_S CN1 CN1 CN1 CN1 CN1

Row 02: CN1 CE_C SW_S ST_S ST_S ST_S SW_S CE_C CN1 CN1 CN1 CN1

Row 03: CE_S SW_S ST_C ST_S ST_T ST_S ST_C SW_S CE_S CE_S BR_1 CE_S

Row 04: SW_S AL1 AL1 CP1 PL1 PL1 CP1 AL1 AL1 SW_S ST_S SW_S

Row 05: SW_S AL1 LOT CP2 PL1 PL1 CP2 LOT AL1 SW_S ST_S SW_S

Row 06: ST_S ST_S ST_T ST_S ST_X ST_S ST_T ST_S ST_S ST_C ST_S SW_S

Row 07: SW_S AL1 LOT CP1 ST_S ST_S CP1 LOT AL1 SW_S CP2 SW_S

Row 08: SW_S AL1 AL1 CP1 PL1 PL1 CP1 AL1 AL1 SW_S CP2 SW_S

Row 09: CE_S SW_S ST_C ST_S ST_T ST_S ST_C SW_S CE_S TE_S TE_C SW_S

Row 10: CN1 CE_C SW_S CP1 RA_S UP1 UP1 TE_S TE_S UP1 RA_S SW_S

Row 11: CN1 CN1 CE_S CE_S BR_2 CE_S CE_S CN1 CE_S SW_S ST_S SW_S

Row 12: CN1 CN1 CN1 CN1 CN1 CN1 CN1 CN1 CN1 SW_S ST_E SW_S

Use tile names matching the generated collection names. If exact variants are not available yet, use the closest equivalent and note the substitution.

DESIGN CONSTRAINTS

• Do not model buildings.
• Do not model full walls except retaining/canal/bridge support walls needed by terrain.
• Do not model roofs.
• Do not model decorative clutter except minimal drains/grates required to communicate tile purpose.
• Avoid tiny details.
• Prioritize edge alignment, walkability, and builder usefulness.
• Keep polygon counts low.
• Keep all tile edges snap-clean.
• Avoid overhangs at tile boundaries.
• Avoid geometry extending beyond -5/+5 bounds unless it is an explicitly marked harmless visual trim.
• Use bevels sparingly.
• Prefer clean simple geometry over visual polish.
• Use material slots consistently so final textures can replace prototype materials later.

EDGE COMPATIBILITY

Think of each tile edge as one of these edge types:

FLAT    walkable ground at Z=0
RAISED  walkable ground at Z=1.5
CANAL   non-walkable canal/void
RAMP    ramp transition edge
MIXED   special edge, document it

For each tile, create a custom property or add a Text object note listing its north/east/south/west edge types.

Example:

ST_S_straight_street
N: FLAT
E: FLAT
S: FLAT
W: FLAT

RA_S_straight_ramp
N: RAISED
E: FLAT
S: FLAT
W: FLAT

CE_S_canal_edge_straight
N: FLAT
E: CANAL
S: FLAT
W: FLAT

Add these notes in a scene text block called:

TILE_EDGE_METADATA

OUTPUT EXPECTATIONS

At the end:

1. Save the Blender file as: westgate_urban_foundation_mvp.blend

2. Report:

   • number of tile collections created;
   • any tiles skipped;
   • any substitutions made;
   • any geometry/pathing concerns;
   • next recommended pass.

3. Do not spend time making final art.

4. Do not get stuck on perfect NWN export.

5. The deliverable is a rapid, inspectable Blender prototype of the tile library and a test district.