Exploring Endless 3D Dungeons

Exploring Endless 3D Dungeons

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Generating 2D Dungeons 3.1 Step 1: Placing Rooms 3.2 Step 2: Creating Delani Triangulation 3.3 Step 3: Creating Minimum Spanning Tree 3.4 Step 4: Choosing Random Edges 3.5 Step 5: Pathfinding Hallways
4. Extending to 3D Dungeons 4.1 Step 1: Generating Rooms in 3D 4.2 Step 2: Finding 3D Delani Triangulation 4.3 Step 3: Creating Minimum Spanning Tree 4.4 Step 4: Choosing Random Edges 4.5 Step 5: Pathfinding Hallways in 3D
5. Conclusion

Generating Procedural 3D Dungeons: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you ever wondered how procedural generation works in 3D dungeons? In this article, we'll walk you through an algorithm for procedurally generating 3D dungeons using Unity 3D. Whether you're a game developer or simply curious about the process, this guide will provide you with insights on how to generate unique and interesting dungeons for your games. We'll start by explaining the algorithm for generating 2D dungeons, and then extend it to 3D. So let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of dungeon generation!

Introduction

Procedural generation is a technique used in game development to generate content algorithmically, providing an infinite variety of experiences for players. In the realm of dungeon generation, the goal is to create dungeons that are not only unique but also interesting to explore. A dungeon typically consists of interconnected rooms and hallways, with multiple floors adding complexity to the layout.

Background

Before we delve into the algorithm itself, let's first understand the basics of dungeon generation. The algorithm we will be discussing is based on a concept presented in a Reddit post about a game called TinyKeep. While the original algorithm was designed for 2D dungeons, we will be extending it to work in 3D.

To follow along with the code examples, you can access the GitHub repository linked in the description of this article.

Generating 2D Dungeons

The first step in generating a 2D dungeon is to place rooms randomly within the dungeon space. The arrangement of these rooms does not matter at this stage since they will be connected later.

Once the rooms are placed, we create a Delaunay triangulation graph from each room. A Delaunay triangulation is a triangle mesh created from a collection of points, in this case, the rooms. The triangulation ensures that the triangles formed do not have long narrow shapes and establishes connections between nearby rooms.

From the triangulation graph, we then create a minimum spanning tree (MST) using Prim's algorithm. The MST guarantees that every room will be reachable from any other room, creating a connected dungeon. The edges in the MST will serve as the hallways in the final dungeon.

To add more complexity and variety to the dungeon, we randomly choose from the remaining edges of the triangulation to create additional hallways. This introduces loops in the dungeon layout, providing branching paths for players to explore. The probability of choosing an edge as a hallway can be adjusted to control the density of the dungeon.

Finally, for each hallway, we use the A algorithm to find the lowest cost path between the two rooms it connects. The A algorithm considers the cost of going through existing hallways as opposed to carving out new ones, resulting in efficient and believable connections between rooms.

By following these steps, we can generate a 2D dungeon with rooms, hallways, and pathfinding logic. We now move on to extending this algorithm to work in 3D.

Extending to 3D Dungeons

To generate 3D dungeons, we need to modify the algorithm to account for multiple floors and vertical connections between rooms. While some steps remain the same, others require adjustments.

First, we generate rooms in 3D by placing them on different floors within the dungeon space. This change is relatively straightforward since it only involves altering the placement of rooms.

The next step is finding the 3D Delaunay triangulation of the rooms. In 3D, this triangulation becomes a Delaunay tetrahedralization. Finding an existing source code for the Delaunay tetrahedralization algorithm proved challenging, so we had to adapt the Boyer-Watson algorithm to work in 3D.

Instead of producing triangles, the modified algorithm creates tetrahedra with four vertices, one of which is on a different floor to allow for connections between floors. This prevents degenerate tetrahedra and ensures a valid 3D triangulation.

Creating the minimum spanning tree from the tetrahedron edges remains relatively straightforward, as does choosing random hallway connections. The complexity arises when pathfinding hallways in 3D.

The A* algorithm needs to be extended to handle vertical movement between floors. We introduce a staircase structure that requires the pathfinder to move up or down to connect rooms on different floors. This presents challenges as we strive to control the shape of the staircases while maintaining viable pathfinding.

To achieve this, we mark each tile in the staircase as used and update the pathfinder to avoid these tiles during pathfinding. This prevents the creation of intersecting hallways and ensures the staircases are utilized correctly.

The new pathfinding algorithm takes into account the constraints introduced by staircases and generates hallways and staircases accordingly. By connecting rooms through this modified pathfinding system, we can create complex and realistic 3D dungeons.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored the algorithm for procedurally generating 3D dungeons. We began by explaining the steps involved in generating 2D dungeons and then extended the algorithm to work in 3D.

By following the step-by-step guide, you can create unique and interesting dungeons for your games. While the algorithm presented here serves as a great basis for dungeon generation, there is always room for further enhancements and customization to suit specific game requirements. Enjoy the process of experimenting with different parameters and options to create a dungeon generator that fits your vision.

We hope this article has provided you with valuable insights into the world of procedural dungeon generation. Happy coding and have fun exploring the infinite possibilities of generating immersive game environments!

Highlights

• Procedurally generate 3D dungeons in Unity 3D
• Create unique and interesting dungeons for game development
• Extend 2D dungeon generation algorithm to work in 3D
• Explore the steps involved in generating dungeons with rooms and hallways
• Utilize pathfinding algorithms to create efficient connections between rooms
• Overcome challenges of vertical movement and staircases in 3D dungeons
• Experiment with parameters and customization for personalized game environments
• Enjoy the infinite potential of procedural generation in game development

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can this algorithm be used with any game engine? A: Yes, the algorithm for procedural dungeon generation can be used with any game engine. The code provided in the GitHub repo utilizes Unity 3D, but the concepts can be adapted to other engines.

Q: Is the dungeon generator code available in the GitHub repo? A: Yes, the code for the dungeon generation algorithm is available in the GitHub repository mentioned in the description of this article.

Q: How can I adjust the complexity of the generated dungeons? A: The complexity of the generated dungeons can be adjusted by modifying the parameters in the algorithm. For example, you can control the size and number of rooms, the probability of adding additional hallways, and the density of staircases.

Q: Can I customize the dungeon layout with specific room types or features? A: Yes, you can customize the dungeon layout by adding specific room types, such as treasure rooms, monster rooms, or boss rooms. You can also incorporate various features, such as traps or puzzles, to enhance gameplay.

Q: Does the algorithm guarantee a solvable path between all rooms? A: Yes, the algorithm ensures that every room will be reachable from any other room. The minimum spanning tree created in the algorithm guarantees connectivity between all rooms in the dungeon.

Q: What are the limitations of this dungeon generation algorithm? A: While the algorithm provides a solid foundation for dungeon generation, it does have some limitations. For example, it does not consider room interconnectivity or the placement of objects within rooms. These aspects can be further developed to enhance the generated dungeons.

Q: Can I use real art assets with this dungeon generator? A: Yes, the dungeon generator algorithm is compatible with real art assets. You can replace the placeholders in the code with your own art assets to create visually appealing dungeons.

Q: How long does it take to generate a dungeon using this algorithm? A: The time taken to generate a dungeon using this algorithm depends on the size and complexity of the dungeon. However, the algorithm is designed to run efficiently and the performance impact is generally acceptable, especially considering it only needs to be run once at the start of the level.