AutoMap rules

AutoMap is a rule engine. You sketch what you want as a pattern (the input), draw what should appear when that pattern is found (the output), and run AutoMap across the map. The engine scans every position, matches inputs, and writes the corresponding outputs.

A rule

A rule lives in a regular GridCraft map file. It has three layer types: input layers (tiles that must match), inputnot layers (tiles that must not match), and output layers (tiles to place when a match is found). In the input pattern, a zero tile acts as a wildcard (matches any tile), while non-zero tiles must match exactly.

What you can do with it

• Scatter detail. Find any 1x1 grass tile, sometimes drop a flower on it.
• Fix borders. Find a grass tile next to a dirt tile, write the transition tile.
• Decorate buildings. Find a wall, write window or door variants.
• Build entire scenes from a sketch. Paint blocks of color on a “hint” layer, run AutoMap, get a rendered map on the output layers.

Running rules

Open the AutoMap panel, choose a ruleset map, and click Run. You can run on the whole map or on the current selection. Rules don't modify the input layers, so you can rerun safely.

Compatibility

GridCraft's AutoMap accepts the same rule-map format as Tiled. Existing Tiled rulesets work. New rules made in GridCraft open in Tiled.