[25-1] THRED

Learn about THRED, a powerful Quake level editor. Discover its features like real-time preview, brush manipulation, texture mapping, and dynamic lighting to build your own maps.

Alright, let's talk about THRED. This isn't a level *in* Quake itself, but a super cool tool that lets you *build* those levels. Think of it as the workshop where the magic happens for creating Quake maps. Jon Mavor put this together, and it's got some neat tricks up its sleeve for map makers.

What is THRED?

THRED is a level editor for Quake. What makes it stand out are its advanced preview modes. You can see your map not just as a wireframe, but also with textures and lighting applied in real-time, right there in the editor. Plus, it keeps you updated on your exact position within the map as you work, which is super handy.

Key Features to Check Out:

• Real-time Previews: This is the big one. You get wireframe, texture-mapped, and light-sourced previews that update instantly as you make changes. No more guessing what your map will look like!
• Walkthrough & Live Positioning: While you're editing, THRED shows you exactly where your viewpoint is in the map, almost like a mini-walkthrough within the editor itself.
• Concave Brush Support: This is a bit technical, but basically, it means THRED can handle more complex shapes directly. When you export your map to Quake's .MAP format, it intelligently breaks these down into simpler shapes that Quake can understand. This is awesome for creating more intricate designs.
• Brush Management: You can load and save brushes (the basic building blocks of your map). The initial shapes are pretty standard – cubes, spheres, cylinders – but more are planned.
• Advanced Brush Manipulation: You're not just placing static shapes. You can rotate, scale, translate (move), and even shear brushes along any axis. This gives you a ton of control over your map's geometry.
• Map Element Dialogs: THRED includes specific tools to help you create common map elements like stairs and rings. Once created, you can still tweak them with rotation, scaling, and placement.
• Real-time CSG: Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) is how Quake builds its maps. THRED lets you see the results of these operations in real-time, so you know exactly how your brushes are interacting.
• Dynamic Lighting: You can place lights directly within the editor to get a feel for the atmosphere and dramatic effects you want. You don't have to guess where to put them and then test in-game.
• Full Perspective Texture Mapper: This is huge for making your maps look good. You can select specific polygons or groups of polygons, even while you're