To start your first creation at the main screen select
Mission Editor. You are then presented with two options;
Run Mission is an area where you can load up and play custom missions,
Edit Mission is for new creations and editing existing missions.
Selecting
Edit Mission brings you to this screen where you can either choose to a create a new mission or alternatively edit existing missions from your memory cards.
On the next screen you get to set the parameters for your mission. So questions you need to ask yourself are: What tileset do I wish to use? What objective do I want? Do I want stealth or a time requirement?
Enter the following parameters:
Title (this is the name of your mission and can be up to 32 characters)
Creator (your name goes here, up to 16 characters)
Password (if you don't want anyone else to edit your mission then enter a password)
Location (choose the tileset you wish to use)
Your next choice is to choose which objective you would like for your mission. Each mission has a specific objective that the player must achieve in order to complete the level. The objectives are:
Seek Out
Find Azuma Shiunsai.
Eliminate
Eliminate every character on the board.
Protect
Locate Lord Gohda, then escort him safetly to where Sekiya, his senior councillor, is waiting.
Assassinate
Assassinate the target character. No other characters matter. The target character is determined by the location setting.
Retrieve
Find the three missing scrolls. The scrolls may be hidden or in the possession of enemy characters.
Steal
Locate a secret document hidden somewhere on the level, and bring it back to Lord Gohda.
The further options you have are to choose which characters can be used for the mission. A mission can be limited to one, or open to all the three main characters. You can also add a stealth requirement, with the mission resulting in failure if you are seen, or a time limit for the level.
Making your first mission - Inside The Editor 1
The terrain editor is used to lay out the shape of your mission. Each mission consists of a grid 32 by 32 squares. This is the area in which you can place your terrain. The red square (1) indicates the active square, this would be where any terrain selected would be placed.
http://www.tenchu.de/images/tenchu2/mission/mised5.jpg http://www.tenchu.de/images/tenchu2/mission/mised4.jpg
The white square outline in the top left corner (2) is an overview of the terrain. It allows you to quickly check you character distribution. The smaller red rectangle within indicates the part of the terrain which is displayed on the screen. The key to the coloured dots is as follows:
Blue: Player
Pink: High-ranking characters
Yellow: Boss characters
Red: Low level characters and/or scrolls and secret documents
Green: Noncombatants
By pressing L1 and L2 you can scroll through all the terrain elements. These elements comprise of two types; terrain blocks, which make the actual terrain of your level, and terrain objects which are for decorational purposes. You do not have an endless supply of terrain objects, 64 is the maximum, so use your quota wisely.
As you scroll through the objects they are visually displayed on the left. Above that display is further information (3) telling you what height this terrain block can vary between. When you place the terrain the height meter bar (4) to the right will tell you at what height the block is you are placing. To alter the height just keep re-assigning that terrain with the "x" button. One you have placed the terrain for that square move the red cursor square to your next space and choose which tile and at what height you want next.
In the terrain editor you can change your view, zoom in and out, and change to the wireframe view (by holding L1 in combination with other buttons). You should now of created your terrain... on to adding some characters.
Making your first mission - Inside The Editor 2
The maximum number of enemies you can place in your terrain is 20. To place an enemy press START. This toggles you between the Terrain and Character Editor. In the same way as the terrain editor select which enemy you wish to postion and press "x" to place.
http://www.tenchu.de/images/tenchu2/mission/mised6.jpg http://www.tenchu.de/images/tenchu2/mission/mised7.jpg
Once you have placed an enemy you need to specify a route. If no route is specified then the enemy will randomly rotate between the 4 directions on the spot. To open up the route menu press R1, note you need to have the red active square cursor on your enemy.
To define a path use the direction arrow to move the blue arrow. The blue arrow dispays which way the character is facing. You can add different length pauses to your characters routes. Each character path can contain up to 160 squares of movement, though I would suggest keeping patrol areas relatively small and simple.
Note that you cannot place guards on slopes and they can only be traversed if the character goes up and down a slope, not across it.
Now all that remains is for you to test your mission. If you press SELECT a menu will pop up where you can save and test your mission. Does the mission play and look alright? Is there areas for improvement? When you are happy with your mission complete a final save and set a password.