Where to start?Want to create something, but aren't sure if you are ready for an animal just yet? Based on the level of ease, this is the order that you should follow to becoming a great designer. Included under each are links to guides you may find helpful as you progress.
1. VariantThe best route is always, no matter what you want to create, to try your hand at an Animal Variant (also sometimes spelled "varient" around here). We have a great guide here, written by Penguinman and Csleesburg, called the
Variant Creation Tutorial. These are the only type of file that ZA does not require a .dl for
2. Scenery ObjectPark benches and trash cans might not sound so appealing, especially if you want to make an animal, but it really helps to start with something relatively simple before trying to tackle something as complex as an animal.
Penguinman's Object Creation Tutorial (OCT) is an awesome resource for making objects.
Note that clicking the link will take you to ZT2DC. RedNotDead's Guide to Making Fences for ZT2 may prove useful to use, as well as
Doooot's ZT 2 Path Tutorial, depending on what you want to do.
3. FoliageNique has made an excellent guide to making Foliage, called the
Foliage Design Tutorial. It truly is the first guide, and will remain one of my favorite guides for some time.
4. AnimalHere is the part where most people want to be! Of course, the best resource right now to making ZT2 animals is
Sideshow Bob's APE II. It is
not a program - it is a tutorial. Making animals for ZT2 is more complex and wholey different than making animals for ZT1, and no program will ever be released to the public to make our lives easier. There are known flaws with the guide, but until someone makes a better one or is given permission to edit this one, it is all we have. You will know the flaws when you come to them; refer to
Common Problems to get them sorted out.
With help on Lang files, consult Animalover44's
Lang File Tutorial.
Every file submitted to ZA must have an accompanying .dl file. For help on creating this, refer to
Gibbon-Fanatic's .dl Making Tutorial If you want to change the area from where your animal comes from (it's location) check out
Penguinman's Map Location Tutorial (Note that these three links will take open up ZT2DC in a new window)5. BuildingYes, a building is harder than an animal, surprisingly. As such, there is not even a tutorial out for it yet. Much like you did for the Foliage, try using
OCT and an already finished project from another designer as a guide to figure it out. When a tutorial becomes available, this post will be amended.