Shape grammars for level generation in an action RPG game

Tomáš Kalva

Soulslike action RPG

• 3rd person
• Combat-focused
• Exploration

Source: https://neverendingrealm.com/reviews/dark-souls-remastered-edition-ns-review/

Source: https://www.pcgamesn.com/dark-souls-remastered/undead-burg-level-design-verticality

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/darksouls3/comments/btmg26/lothric_castle_model/

Shape grammar

• System of rewriting rules for generating shapes
• Left hand side - context
• Right hand side - new shapes
• Derivation - multiple applications of rules
• Used in architecture

​

Source: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-44989-0_13

Modular kits

Source: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/skyrim-s-modular-approach-to-level-design

Source: https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Arkngthamz

Implementation

Discretized space - grid

Grid components

Vertical faces

Vertical edges

Horizontal faces

Shape manipulation tools

• Shape creation, extruding, splitting…
• Hierarchical definition of shape
• Shape placement constraints
• Pathfinding

Paths

Styles

Shape grammar - production rule

Production rule definition

Derivation

Derivation

Derivation

Derivation

Derivation

Derivation

Derivation

Derivation

Random application

Linear application

Multiple grammars

Random => linear => goal based

Game

Enemies

• Simple behavior
• Move to the player
• Attack based on the player’s position (blue boxes)
• Mostly melee attacks and shooting
• Can use various weapons

Gameplay

• Combat
• Simple inventory - view/use item
• Interacting with objects

To do

• Put all the components together into a game
• Create language for creating:
• Objects in areas
• Levels
• Runs
• Fix bugs and polish

Thank you for your attention