Getting Started

Dungeon Alchemist was created to be as intuitive and easy as possible.

#### Installing Dungeon Alchemist on your computer

Dungeon Alchemist is distributed over Steam. Once you've purchased the application, Steam will install the latest version of Dungeon Alchemist, which you can then start through the "Play" button.

#### Loading Screen

Dungeon Alchemist will start and present you with the loading screen. This screen will be visible until the application is fully loaded.

#### News Screen

Every update, Dungeon Alchemist will list bug fixes, patches, new content and features. These are purely informational, and can be ignored or accessed afterwards through the top menu.

#### Tutorial

New users are greeted with a brief, ingame tutorial. This tutorial **needs** to be completed in order to start using Dungeon Alchemist.

1. *"Let's Draw a Room!"* Draw a room: This tutorial shows you how to create your first room. Click and drag the left mouse button to define the room shape, then hit the big confirm checkmark. Once this is finished, you'll start the next tutorial step.
2. *"Let's show you around!"* Mouse and camera movement: This tutorial will show you how to move the camera in Dungeon Alchemist, and rotate and pan the map
3. "Placing Objects" Placing Objects: In this tutorial you are taught how to put an object on the map
4. "Manipulating Objects" The final part of the tutorial will show you how to manipulate (resize, rotate, copy,..) your objects

> Important: the tutorial NEEDS to be finished entirely before you can start using Dungeon Alchemist. Until you do, features and toggles on the left will remain inaccessible.
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#### Creating a New Map

When you load Dungeon Alchemist again after completing the tutorial. You will be presented with a "Create New Map" pop up. There are few choices available:

* ***Print Map**:* this format is intended to fit neatly into a printable paper size. Sizes include Letter, Poster, Legal, Tabloid, Arch A, Arch B, Arch C, Arch D, A1, A2, A3, A4, and Custom Option. **Important: You will NOT be able to extend the grid past its original size in this format.**
* ***Digital Map**:* this format features an unlimited grid you can freely expand or shrink as you wish, but will not adhere to a predefined paper size. Use this if you want to create an online map, or if you're comfortable with printing it at whatever size it's got in the end.
* ***Width and Height***: Choose the physical dimensions (print) or tile size of your map (digital). **NOTE:** **Start off with a small map. You will always be able to expand your map size afterwards.**
* ***Terrain***: This will allow you to set the terrain for your map, such as a forest or a desert. Pick any from a variety of settings. This can always be changed afterwards.
* ***Elevation***: This option defines the differences in height on your map. It will allow you to create mountains or ravines, for example.
* ***Vegetation***: Each terrain comes with its own vegetation options, where you choose natural features of your map
* ***Water***: This is where you choose how much, if any, water you want to see on your map.
* ***Room placement**:* This option lets you choose how high on your map you will create your buildings. Water level is the default option.

When you're satisfied with the settings you've selected, hit "Create" and Dungeon Alchemist will generate a new and unique map for you.

You can now start creating your maps in Dungeon Alchemist!