Creating Housing Shells

Housing Shell Creation Process

This guide walks you through the complete process of creating housing shells for our server. All shells must be tracked and documented properly throughout the creation process.

Resources

Video Guide: Housing Shell Creation Tutorial

Tracking Spreadsheet: Housing Shell Database

Important: All houses must be tracked on the spreadsheet throughout the creation process.

Spreadsheet Fields

Field	Description
Location	Generic location of the house (e.g., "Grove Street")
Postal	Closest postal visible when standing at the front door
Shell Name	Your assigned shell name (e.g., "Grove Street 9105 Green House" or "Grove Street Option 1")
Shell Coords	Location coordinates from the Shell Creator main menu
Shell Created	"Yes" when completed, "No" if still in progress
Housing Script Info	Exported text from the housing system
Suggested Price	Your recommended selling price for the property

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Connect to Development Server

connect 45.141.24.170:30121

Step 2: Location Setup and Documentation

1. Locate your assigned house and stand at the front door

2. Check if it's an MLO - if so, enter "MLO" in the house coords column and move to the next house

3. Fill out basic information in the spreadsheet (Location, Postal, Created By, etc.)

Step 3: Capture House Coordinates

1. Press T and type /vec3, then press Enter

2. Copy the generated coordinates

3. Paste into the "House Coords" column in the spreadsheet

Step 4: Create the Shell

1. Press T and type /shellcreator, then press Enter

2. Click "Create New Shell"

3. Use the Sims-like tools to create a shell matching the house exterior

Shell Creation Guidelines

• Match the exterior style - Don't create interiors that conflict with the exterior appearance

• Example: Ranch-style houses should remain single-story (basements are acceptable)

• Create variations - You don't need unique shells for every house, but provide variety per street/area

• Focus on shells only - Decoration is left to players; only place essential props

Technical Notes

• Delete tool: Items must be selected in the menu before deletion

• Vaulted ceilings: Use "none" floor type to remove flooring

• Lighting: Choose appropriate lighting for the space

• Piece limit: Maximum 1500 pieces per shell

• Size appropriateness: Match shell size to what the exterior would realistically contain

• Preview frequently: Use the preview tool (walking icon) to test the feel

Step 5: Save Your Shell

1. Select the Save Menu (bottom left)

2. Name your shell (add this name to the spreadsheet)

3. Select Time Cycle (lighting settings)

4. Leave "show void" enabled

5. Click Save and Exit

Step 6: Document Shell Coordinates

1. Reopen Shell Creator

2. Locate your saved shell

3. Copy the shell coordinates

4. Add coordinates to the spreadsheet

Step 7: Export to Housing System

1. Click "Add to Housing"

2. Select "nolag_properties (shell)" from the dropdown

3. Copy the generated text (should look like the example below)

4. Paste into the "Housing Script Info" column in the spreadsheet

Example Export Format

["GrapeseedMLOHideout"] = {
    label = "GrapeseedMLOHideout",
    hash = `kq_sbx_shell_4`,
    doorOffset = { x = 12.0, y = -14.0, z = 7.0, h = 90.0, width = 2.0 },
    stash = {
        maxweight = 80000000,
        slots = 120,
    },
    imgs = {}
},

Completion

Once you've completed these steps, your shell is ready and documented. You can now proceed to create additional shells following the same process.

Remember: Quality over quantity - focus on creating well-designed shells that enhance the player experience while maintaining consistency with the server's aesthetic standards.