Description

The Constructor Tool is the primary tool used for building in Archean. It enables you to create new builds, add or remove frames, and place blocks of various shapes.

Build Modes

Press C to open the radial menu and select a build mode:

Materials

When placing blocks (not frames), use the scroll wheel while holding C to select the material.

Material Masses

Note: Steel Beams (frames) weigh 10 kg each.

How Block Mass is Calculated

The base unit is a 25×25×25 cm cube. A block's total mass depends on:

1. Size: Larger blocks contain more units (e.g., a 50×50×50 cm block = 8 units)
2. Shape: Non-cubic shapes (slopes, corners, pyramids, inverted corners) weigh 50% of their cubic equivalent since they occupy less volume
3. Material: Each material has a different mass per unit (see table above)

Formula: Mass = units × shape_factor × material_mass

• units = (size_x) × (size_y) × (size_z) in 25cm increments
• shape_factor = 1.0 for cubes and walls, 0.5 for slopes, corners, pyramids, and inverted corners. Triangles have a variable cost based on their area.

Why Masses Don't Match Reality

The masses are intentionally simplified:

• Values are rounded for readability
• Blocks are not 100% solid — they represent structural panels with internal framework, not solid chunks of material

Removing Elements

To remove any element (block, triangle, strut, or wall), aim at it while holding right-click, then quick press left-click. This works from any build mode.

Frame removal has its own controls (see Frame Mode below).

Usage

Frame Mode

Creating a New Build

Hold left-click for one second then release. A new build will be created with a single 3x3x3 metallic frame.

Tip: Hold Shift while creating to align the new frame with the ground and set it as static (anchored).

Creating a Build in Space

When in space near an existing build, you can create a new build that will spawn 5 meters in front of you. The new build is created as a child of the nearest root build. This also works with the Blueprint Tool.

Adding Frames

Aim at an existing frame face and quick press left-click.

Removing Frames

Aim at an existing frame face while holding right-click, then quick press left-click.

Adding Individual Beams

Aim at an existing frame where the beam would be while holding Shift, then quick press left-click.

Removing Individual Beams

Aim at an existing frame beam while holding Shift and right-click, then quick press left-click.

Block Modes (Cube, Slope, Corner, Pyramid, InvCorner)

Adding Blocks

1. Aim at a block or beam
2. Press left-click to place the block
3. Use the scroll wheel to rotate it (except for cubes)
4. Hold left-click and drag to resize
5. Use the scroll wheel while holding left-click to resize in the other dimension

Pro Tip: The drag/resize plane is determined by the block face normal you're aiming at. The scroll wheel scales towards that normal, while dragging scales across the other two axes.

Tip: Hold Shift before pressing left-click to copy the block you're aiming at or logically add the next block.

Triangle Mode

Triangle mode allows you to place triangular mesh panels that snap to the build grid. These panels are useful for creating curved shapes, aerodynamic surfaces, or any non-rectangular geometry.

Placing Triangles

1. Click on 3 grid points (vertices of existing blocks, triangles, or struts) to create a triangle
2. Alternatively, click on an existing edge to start with 2 pre-selected vertices, then only one more click is needed
3. Use the scroll wheel while placing to flip the normal direction (controls which side of the triangle faces outward)
4. Hold Shift on an axis-aligned block face for sub-grid precision snapping to the full 25 cm grid
5. Press right-click to undo the last placed vertex

Triangles snap to vertices of blocks, other triangles, and strut endpoints. Maximum span is 4 m per axis.

Materials

Hold C and use the scroll wheel to select the material. Triangles support all the same materials as blocks.

Smooth Shading

Press X while aiming at a triangle to toggle smooth shading on all connected triangles in the same group. Smooth shading is applied using a flood-fill algorithm: it propagates through shared edges to all adjacent triangles that form a continuous surface.

For smooth shading to work correctly:

• Triangle vertices must align exactly on the grid — neighboring triangles need to share the same vertex positions
• Separate groups of triangles (not connected by shared edges) are treated as independent smooth groups — toggling smooth on one group does not affect another

Smooth shading also respects symmetry mode.

Strut Mode

Struts are thin structural steel beams that connect two grid points. They are useful for creating trusses, antennas, scaffolding, or lightweight structural elements.

Placing Struts

1. Click on 2 grid points to create a strut between them
2. Struts snap to vertices of blocks, triangles, and other struts
3. Press right-click to undo the first placed vertex

Maximum span is 4 m per axis. In adventure mode, struts require Steel Rod items.

Subdivision Snapping

Hold Shift while aiming at an existing strut to snap to subdivision points along it. Use the scroll wheel while holding Shift to change the subdivision step:

This allows placing new struts or triangles at precise intervals along an existing strut.

Wall / Platform Mode

Adding Walls

Aim at a frame face and quick press left-click.

Tip: Hold Shift to use the other logical frame face you're aiming at.

Tip: Hold Shift while placing to snap to the ground and create a static platform directly in front of you.

Symmetry Mode

The Constructor Tool supports symmetry building, allowing you to build mirrored structures automatically.

Symmetry can be enabled via the build's GetInfo menu (press V on any frame). When enabled:

• All frame and block operations are mirrored across the symmetry axis
• The symmetry axis position can be adjusted with 0.125m precision, allowing mirror placement at the center of blocks

Adventure Mode

In adventure mode, you need the required materials in your inventory:

• Steel Beams for frames
• Block items (Composite, Concrete, Steel, etc.) for blocks

The tool will show how many materials are required for each operation.

Tip: Enable tooltips through the F1 menu for context-sensitive help while using the Constructor Tool.