Module Designer: All-In-One Level Editor Feature Checklist

Comprehensive feature roadmap for transforming the Module Designer into a Unity/UE5/Hammer-class level editor for KotOR modules.

Philosophy: Merge the Indoor Builder, Walkmesh Editor, and current Module Designer into a single unified environment where all level editing tasks happen in one canvas with contextual modes.

Scope rule for this doc: Only keep ideas that translate into concrete changes in the existing Module Designer implementation: Tools/HolocronToolset/src/toolset/gui/windows/module_designer.py and Tools/HolocronToolset/src/ui/windows/module_designer.ui.

Current Module Designer baseline (verified): 3D OpenGL viewport (mainRenderer) + 2D walkmesh renderer (flatRenderer) stacked; left panel has resourceTree and lytTree + room transform spinboxes; right panel is a flat instanceList; per-type visibility toggles; QUndoStack; Blender integration.

What other editors do better (and what we should actually implement here)

Capability to Steal	Why It Matters in Our UI	Implement In Module Designer
Explicit tool/mode state (select / transform / place / walkmesh edit)	Our interaction is currently implicit and hard to reason about	Add a small tool palette/toolbar in the UI; add a state machine in `module_designer.py` that routes mouse events differently by mode
Transform gizmos (translate/rotate/scale + axis lock)	Dragging without gizmos is imprecise; no discoverable affordance	Render gizmos in `mainRenderer`; connect gizmo drag -> `MoveCommand`/`RotateCommand` and update Blender sync
Inspector dock (inline property editing for selection)	Right now properties live in separate dialogs; slow for iteration	Add a dock/panel that populates from selected `GITInstance` (and from selected walkmesh face when in Walkmesh Mode)
Hierarchy + search + grouping (rooms -> instances, folders/layers)	`instanceList` doesn’t scale; no structure; no search	Replace `instanceList` with a tree view grouped by room + type; add search filter; add user-defined groups (visgroups/layers)
Drag-and-drop placement from resources	Resource tree is browse-only; placement is friction	Enable `resourceTree` drag; accept drops in `mainRenderer`; create a ghost preview and place via walkmesh raycast
Surface/grid/angle snapping (editor-side helpers)	We place/drag with no snap; alignment is painful	Add snap settings + indicators; apply snapping inside the 3D controls when moving/placing instances
Walkmesh edit in the 3D viewport (vertex/edge/face selection)	We can render walkmesh but can’t edit it in-place	Add Walkmesh Mode that switches raycast targets to BWM geometry; add selection highlights + edit operations
Walkmesh face properties panel (surfacemat + walk flags)	We don’t expose per-face editing; this is core functionality	Add a `walkmeshTab` (or inspector section) showing surfacemat + walk/walkCheck/lineOfSight and writes back to BWM
VIS editor tab (room-to-room visibility matrix + viz)	VIS is a core KotOR format; current workflow is a hack	Add `visTab` with a matrix editor and in-viewport visualization of links
Camera: orbit + fly + speed + bookmarks	Navigation is a productivity multiplier	Extend the existing controls to support both orbit and fly navigation; expose speed + bookmark slots in UI
Multi-view layout option (orthographic helpers)	Precise alignment is hard with a single view	Provide a toggle that swaps the render area into a 4-pane splitter with perspective + orthographic views
Validation + build/test loop (errors surfaced early)	We save GIT but don’t help the user ship a playable module	Add “Check for Problems” (broken resrefs, missing models, degenerate faces) and a “Build & Launch” action

Source mapping (only for attribution of the idea)

Creation Kit: navmesh edit mode in-viewport, reference browser/filtering, layers, VIS-like occlusion mindset.
Dragon Age Toolset: tight 2D (layout) + 3D (preview/placement) integration, trigger region drawing workflow.
Unity/Unreal: inspector+hierarchy workflow, gizmos, drag/drop placement, snapping, scene organization.
Hammer/Radiant: multi-view precision layouts, error checking pipeline mindset.
Blender: edit-mode mental model for vertex/edge/face manipulation.
Forge: KotOR-specific proof that 3D walkmesh editing + object placement is viable and already implemented elsewhere.
Layer definitions: User-defined layers (e.g., "Enemies", "Loot", "Scripted")
Layer assignment: Assign objects to layers
Layer filtering: Toggle entire layer visibility
Layer locking: Lock all objects in a layer

🔍 Inspector Panel (Unity Inspector analog)

Object Properties Editor

Transform: Position (X/Y/Z), Rotation (Euler/Quaternion), Scale
Blueprint fields: All UTC/UTD/UTP/etc. GFF fields editable inline
Scripts dropdown: Assign OnSpawn/OnDeath/etc. scripts via file picker
Tags/Comments: User metadata for organization
Preview thumbnail: Show 3D model miniature for selected object
Resource link: Click to open blueprint in dedicated editor

Walkmesh Face Properties (when face selected in Walkmesh Mode)

Surface Material: Dropdown from surfacemat.2da
Walkable flags: walk, walkCheck, lineOfSight (checkboxes)
Adjacent faces: List of neighboring face indices
Face normal: Display as read-only vector
Area (m²): Display face surface area

Room Properties (when room selected in Layout Mode)

Model: Resref dropdown with preview
Position/Rotation: Transform in LYT coordinates
Linked rooms: VIS visibility list (editable checkboxes)
Ambient light: Color picker + intensity slider
Fog settings: Color, near/far distances

🧰 Asset Browser (Unity Project Window analog)

Resource Explorer Integration

Searchable asset library: All game + mod resources indexed
Type filters: UTC, UTD, UTP, MDL, TGA, WAV, etc.
Thumbnail previews: Auto-generate for models/textures
Favorites: Star frequently-used blueprints
Recent files: Quick access to last 20 opened resources
Drag-and-drop: Drag blueprint from browser into 3D viewport to place

Kit/Prefab System (Unity Prefab analog)

Kit browser: Visual grid of indoor kits with thumbnails
Prefab groups: Save multi-object arrangements as reusable prefabs
Prefab variants: Override properties on placed instances

🎨 Material & Texture System

Texture Browser (Hammer-style)

Grid view: All TGA/TPC textures with previews
Search/filter: By name, folder, resolution
Apply to selection: Select faces/objects and apply texture
Texture alignment tools: Offset, scale, rotation per face

Material Editor (UE5 Material Editor lite)

Shader preview: Show how texture will look in-game
Tint color overlay
Transparency/Alpha settings
Emissive glow for self-lit textures

⚙️ Build Pipeline & Export

Module Build Settings

Target game: K1/K2 toggle with format conversion warnings
Compression: Toggle ERF compression
Validation: Pre-build checks (missing textures, broken scripts, etc.)
Build log: Detailed step-by-step output window
Quick test: Build + launch game at module entry point

Export Options

Export current area to .mod: Standalone module file
Export individual resources: LYT, VIS, ARE, GIT, WOK files separately
Export screenshot: High-res render of current viewport for documentation

📐 Editing Tools (Hammer/Radiant-inspired)

Geometry Tools

Vertex merge: Weld nearby vertices (for cleaning up walkmeshes)
Face split: Subdivide selected face into triangles
Edge flip: Flip shared edge between two triangles
Extrude: Pull face outward to create new geometry (for walkmesh extensions)
Bevel: Round edges of selected faces

Measurement Tools

Distance ruler: Click-to-measure between two points
Area calculator: Select faces to see total walkable area
Angle display: Show angles between edges/faces

Snapping System (Unity-standard)

Grid snapping: Snap position to grid increments (configurable 0.1/0.5/1.0 units)
Vertex snapping: Hold V to snap to nearest vertex (Hammer-style)
Surface snapping: Drop object onto walkable surface below cursor
Rotation snapping: Snap rotation to 15°/30°/45°/90° increments

🎬 Preview & Testing

In-Editor Playback

Animation preview: Play room/object animations in viewport
Walkmesh collision test: Drop a test sphere to see walkable paths
Camera path preview: Scrub through camera movements
Trigger visualization: Show trigger volumes as colored wireframe boxes

Quick Launch

Build + Launch: One-click build .mod and boot game to test
Warp code generation: Auto-generate cheat codes for testing
Spawn test NPCs: Place dummy creatures for scale reference

🔗 Integration with Existing Toolset Features

Cross-Editor Workflow

Double-click object: Opens blueprint in dedicated editor (UTC/UTD/etc.)
Script editor integration: Right-click script field -> "Edit in NSS Editor"
Dialog editor link: Right-click creature -> "Edit Dialog"
2DA editor link: Right-click dropdown -> "Edit 2DA Entry"

Data Synchronization

Live blueprint updates: When blueprint edited externally, refresh in viewport
Conflict resolution: Warn if external changes conflict with unsaved module edits
Version control hints: Show Git status icons on modified resources

🌐 Multiplayer/Collaboration (Future)

Live co-editing: Multiple users edit same module (à la Google Docs)
Change highlighting: See other users' cursors + selections
Voice chat integration: Optional VOIP for design discussions
Version history: Rollback to previous module states

📊 Performance & Optimization

Scene Optimization Tools

Face count display: Show triangle count per room/object
Texture memory usage: Warn if too many high-res textures loaded
Walkmesh complexity analyzer: Suggest simplification for over-dense meshes
Vis optimization: Auto-suggest VIS relationships based on occlusion

Editor Performance

LOD system: Distant objects render as bounding boxes (Unity-style)
Frustum culling: Don't render objects outside camera view
Lazy loading: Load room models on-demand when visible
Background processing: Compile/build on separate thread

🎨 UI/UX Enhancements

Theme System

Dark mode (default)
Light mode
High contrast mode (accessibility)
Custom color schemes: User-defined workspace colors

Dockable Panels (Unity-style)

Drag-and-drop panel arrangement: Rearrange Inspector/Hierarchy/Browser
Save layouts: Workspace presets (e.g., "Walkmesh Editing", "Object Placement")
Pop-out panels: Undock panels to external windows (multi-monitor)

Keyboard Shortcuts (Unity-standard)

🧪 QA & Debug Tools

Debug Visualization

Wireframe overlay: Show polygon edges on shaded models
Normals display: Show vertex/face normals as directional arrows
UV map display: Show texture coordinates
Collision shapes: Highlight DWK/PWK walkmeshes in different colors
Path visualization: Show PTH connections as bezier curves
Sound radius: Show UTS max distance as wireframe sphere
Trigger polygons: Highlight encounter/trigger zones in translucent color

Error Detection

Missing texture warnings: Red checkerboard on missing materials
Broken script references: Yellow warning icon on invalid ResRef
Overlapping geometry: Detect Z-fighting faces
Degenerate triangles: Warn about zero-area faces in walkmesh
Unreachable areas: Show walkmesh islands not connected to rest

📚 Documentation & Help

In-Editor Help

Tooltips: Hover over every button/field for explanation
Mode tutorials: First-time popups explaining each mode
Video tutorials: Embedded YouTube links for complex workflows
Shortcuts cheat sheet: Press F1 to show modal with all hotkeys

Templates & Examples

Starter templates: Empty module, single-room test, outdoor test
Example modules: Pre-built demos showing best practices
Asset pack browser: Download community kits/prefabs

🚀 Next-Gen Features (Long-Term Vision)

AI-assisted placement: "Place 5 enemies in this room" -> Auto-distributes
Procedural generation: Randomize room layouts from seed
Blender bridge: Live-sync with Blender for advanced modeling
VR editing: Edit levels in VR headset (à la Unreal VR Mode)
Cloud rendering: Offload lightmap baking to remote server
Voice commands: "Add a door here" -> Hands-free editing

🏁 Immediate Priorities (Merge Plan Alignment)

Based on the Forge merge plan, these are the critical path items to implement first:

Implementation Log (Phase 1)

File	Change	Status
`module_designer.ui`	Added mode selector (QLabel + QComboBox "modeSelector" with Object/Layout/Walkmesh + separator)	✅ Done
`module_designer.ui`	Added `layoutTab` ("Indoor") with kit/module selectors, component lists, options, build button	✅ Done
`module_designer.ui`	Added `walkmeshTab` ("Walkmesh") with paint controls, material list, face properties	✅ Done
`module_designer.ui`	Added `visTab` ("VIS") with visMatrix tree widget, set all / clear all buttons	✅ Done
`module_designer.ui`	Added `IndoorMapRenderer` to splitter (starts hidden), registered as custom widget	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `EditorMode` enum (OBJECT=0, LAYOUT=1, WALKMESH=2)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added indoor builder state to `__init__` (IndoorMap, kits, paint state, ModuleKitManager)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_on_mode_changed` + `_apply_mode_visibility` (show/hide renderers + tabs per mode)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_setup_indoor_kits` / `_setup_indoor_modules` / `_setup_indoor_signals`	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_populate_walkmesh_material_list` with colored swatches	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added kit/module selection handlers, paint toggle, build handler	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added indoor renderer event stubs (mouse moved/pressed/released/scrolled)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Port room operations: place, delete, duplicate, merge, rotate, flip	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Port clipboard: cut/copy/paste rooms with walkmesh overrides	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Port right-click context menu (room/hook actions, rotate/flip sub-menus)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Port renderer signals: rooms_moved, rooms_rotated, warp_moved	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_initialize_indoor_options` (sync UI checkboxes to renderer state)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Connected `customContextMenuRequested` signal for indoor context menu	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Port walkmesh paint stroke logic (`_begin/_apply/_finish_indoor_paint_stroke`, `_current_indoor_material`)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Port scroll-wheel handling (zoom, drag rotation, placement rotation)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Port `_cancel_all_indoor_operations` (marquee, drag, paint, placement cancel)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Port Layout mode status bar updates (`_update_indoor_status_bar`)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Port view navigation helpers (`_indoor_reset_view`, `_indoor_center_on_selection`, `_indoor_add_connected_to_selection`)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Port extra keyboard shortcuts (P=paint toggle, Home/Ctrl+0=reset view, F5=refresh, Ctrl+S/N/O=file I/O)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Port indoor file I/O (`_indoor_new`, `_indoor_open`, `_indoor_save`, `_indoor_save_as`)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Moved `PaintWalkmeshCommand` and `ZOOM_WHEEL_SENSITIVITY` from TYPE_CHECKING to runtime imports	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Connected `sig_mouse_double_clicked` in `_setup_indoor_signals` for connected selection	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_on_indoor_mouse_double_clicked` handler (double-click room -> add connected rooms to selection)	✅ Done
`module_designer.ui`	Replaced `QListWidget instanceList` with `QWidget instancePanel` -> `QVBoxLayout` -> `QLineEdit instanceSearchEdit` + `QTreeWidget instanceTree`	✅ Done
`uic/module_designer.py`	Updated UIC Python file to match: `instancePanel`, `instanceSearchEdit` (placeholder + clear), `instanceTree` (headerHidden, ExtendedSelection, CustomContextMenu)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Rewrote `rebuild_instance_list` to build hierarchical QTreeWidget grouped by GIT type (Creatures, Placeables, Doors, etc.) with item counts	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_filter_instance_tree(text)` — live search filter that shows/hides tree items and groups	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Updated `select_instance_items_on_list` to iterate QTreeWidget (group -> child traversal)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Updated `on_instance_list_single_clicked` / `double_clicked` / `get_git_instance_from_highlighted_list_item` / `on_instance_list_right_clicked` for QTreeWidgetItem API	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Updated signal connections: `instanceTree.clicked/doubleClicked/customContextMenuRequested` + `instanceSearchEdit.textChanged`	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Updated `_apply_mode_visibility` to use `instancePanel.setVisible`	✅ Done
`designer_controls.py`	Added 2D->3D camera sync: `snap_camera_to_selected` in 2D controls also snaps 3D `mainRenderer` camera	✅ Done
`designer_controls.py`	Added 3D->2D camera sync: `move_camera_to_selected` in 3D controls also snaps 2D `flatRenderer` camera	✅ Done

Implementation Log (Phase 2+ UX — Session 6)

File	Change	Status
`module_designer.ui`	Added `resourceSearchEdit` QLineEdit above `resourceTree` in `resourceTabLayout` (DA Toolset-style filter)	✅ Done
`uic/module_designer.py`	Added matching `resourceSearchEdit` with placeholder text and clear button	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Connected `resourceSearchEdit.textChanged` -> `_filter_resource_tree`; added `_filter_resource_tree(text)` for live resource tree filtering	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `EditorTool` enum (SELECT=0, MOVE=1, ROTATE=2) after `EditorMode`	✅ Done
`module_designer.ui`	Added checkable tool QPushButtons (`toolSelectBtn`/`toolMoveBtn`/`toolRotateBtn`) + `toolSeparator` in toolbar	✅ Done
`uic/module_designer.py`	Added matching 3 tool QPushButtons (checkable, Select checked by default) + VLine separator	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_setup_tool_buttons()` — creates QButtonGroup for mutual exclusivity, connects clicked signals	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_set_active_tool(tool)` — switches active tool, updates button checked state, shows status message	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_active_tool` state in `__init__`, tool visibility toggle in `_apply_mode_visibility` (hidden in Layout mode)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_handle_object_mode_key_press(e)` — handles keyboard shortcuts for Object/Walkmesh modes	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Q/W/E hotkeys -> switch to Select/Move/Rotate tool, F -> focus selected, Z -> cycle viewport shading	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Delete/Backspace -> delete selected instances in Object mode	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Camera bookmarks: Ctrl+1..9 saves, 1..9 recalls (stores x,y,z,pitch,yaw,distance) with 2D sync	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_cycle_viewport_shading()` — toggles lightmapCheck between Lightmapped/Solid + status message	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_save_camera_bookmark(slot)` / `_recall_camera_bookmark(slot)` with 2D flatRenderer sync	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added persistent status bar (`_setup_status_bar`) — permanent Mode / Tool / Selection labels, updated on mode/tool/selection changes	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `duplicate_selected_instances()` — deep-copies selected GIT instances with (0.5, 0.5, 0) offset, adds to GIT, syncs Blender	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added Ctrl+D (duplicate) and Space (cycle editor mode) hotkeys in `_handle_object_mode_key_press`	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added camera HUD overlay (`_setup_camera_hud`) — translucent QLabel on mainRenderer showing real-time X/Y/Z/Pitch/Yaw/Distance, updated every 200ms	✅ Done
`module_designer.ui`	Added snap controls: `snapCheck` (QCheckBox), `snapSizeSpin` (QDoubleSpinBox 0.05-10m), `rotSnapCheck`, `rotSnapDegreeSpin` (1-90°), `snapSeparator`	✅ Done
`uic/module_designer.py`	Added matching snap controls + separator in toolbar	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_snap_to_grid(value)` / `_snap_rotation(degrees)` helpers; wired grid snap into `move_selected`, rotation snap into `rotate_selected`	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added G key toggles grid snap, snap controls hidden in Layout mode via `_apply_mode_visibility`	✅ Done

Implementation Log (Phase 2+ UX — Session 7)

File	Change	Status
`designer_controls.py`	Modified `ModuleDesignerControls3d.on_mouse_moved` to gate instance-drag on `_active_tool`: SELECT tool blocks all instance manipulation; ROTATE tool redirects left-drag to rotation instead of XY move	✅ Done
`module_designer.ui`	Added `propertiesGroup` QGroupBox (with QFormLayout) to `instancePanel`: ResRef/Type read-only labels, X/Y/Z QDoubleSpinBoxes, Bearing QDoubleSpinBox, "Open Blueprint" QPushButton	✅ Done
`uic/module_designer.py`	Added matching `propertiesGroup`, `propResRefValue`, `propTypeValue`, `propXSpin`, `propYSpin`, `propZSpin`, `propBearingSpin`, `propOpenBlueprintBtn` widgets wired into `instancePanelLayout`	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_setup_properties_panel()` — wires spinbox `valueChanged` + button `clicked` signals, initialises `_inspector_updating` guard	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_update_properties_panel()` — refreshes inspector fields from `selected_instances[0]`: resref, type‑name, XYZ position, bearing in degrees; disables bearing spinbox for non-bearing instance types	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_on_inspector_position_changed()` — pushes `MoveCommand` to undo stack when XYZ spinboxes edited, invalidates scene cache	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_on_inspector_bearing_changed()` — updates `instance.bearing` (radians) from bearing spinbox, invalidates scene cache	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_on_inspector_open_blueprint()` — calls `edit_instance()` for selected instance from inspector "Open Blueprint" button	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Called `_update_properties_panel()` at end of `set_selection()` so inspector auto-syncs on every selection change	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Fixed `on_instance_list_double_clicked` to also call `edit_instance(instance)`, opening the blueprint editor on double-click (previously only focused/selected)	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_RESTYPE_TO_GIT_CLASS` module-level dict mapping `ResourceType.UTC/UTP/UTD/UTW/UTS/UTE/UTT/UTM` -> GIT instance classes	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_setup_resource_dnd()` — enables `resourceTree.setDragEnabled(True)` + `DragOnly`, sets `mainRenderer.setAcceptDrops(True)`, installs self as event filter	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `eventFilter(obj, event)` — handles `DragEnter`/`DragMove`/`Drop`/`DragLeave` events on `mainRenderer`; accepts drop when `_dragged_resource` is set	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `_handle_resource_drop(resource, screen_pos)` — maps resource type to GIT class, resolves world position via `screen_to_world_from_depth_buffer` (with cursor fallback), pre-sets resref, calls `add_instance()`	✅ Done
`module_designer.py`	Added `QAbstractItemView` + `QEvent` to runtime imports	✅ Done

Implementation Log (Module Designer Full Fix — mode, layout, snap, viz, drag-drop, camera, render)

Area	Behavior
Mode combobox	`modeSelector` is synced with `_editor_mode`; `_apply_mode_visibility(mode)` runs on startup and after module load so tabs and renderers match the current mode. Layout -> lytTab + layoutTab, indoorRenderer + _lyt_renderer visible; Walkmesh -> walkmeshTab.
Layout tab population	Modules: `_module_kit_manager` is created when an installation is set; `_setup_indoor_modules()` populates `moduleKitSelect`; when no installation, shows "(Select an installation for module kits)". Kits: `get_kits_path()` points to `Tools/HolocronToolset/kits` (repo root); `_setup_indoor_kits()` loads from that path. Create a `kits` folder with README if missing.
Snap scope	Toolbar (Object/Walkmesh only): `snapCheck` / `snapSizeSpin` = grid snap for move/place; `rotSnapCheck` / `rotSnapDegreeSpin` = rotation snap. Applied in gizmo drag, move_selected, rotate_selected, inspector position/bearing, resource drop, add-at-cursor, duplicate. Layout tab: indoor renderer uses its own snap (snapToGridCheck, gridSizeSpin, rotSnapSpin) for room placement only.
Drag-drop	Resources: drag from resource tree -> drop on 3D (mainRenderer) or 2D (flatRenderer); world position from depth/cursor (3D) or flatRenderer.to_world_coords (2D); walkmesh snap for creatures/waypoints. Room pieces: select component in Layout tab -> click on indoor 2D or 3D view to place; placement updates LYT and invalidates rooms; LYT/walkmesh generation on build.
Visibility vs pickability	Type toggles (Creatures, Doors, etc.) control visibility only. Pick hidden checkbox (Object mode): when on, 3D picker and 2D `_instances_under_mouse` include hidden types so they can be selected. When off, only visible types are pickable.
Camera / render loop	Single update path: renderer `loop()` calls `_loop_callback(delta_time)` (CameraController.update with accumulated mouse deltas) then `update()`. Delta time from elapsed time; vsync via `QSurfaceFormat.setSwapInterval(1)` (module designer process). `SceneCache.build_cache()` runs every frame in the render path; dead-object removal is conditional to reduce allocations when nothing was removed.

~~Integrate indoor builder room-layout logic into module_designer.py as "Layout Mode"~~ ✅ DONE — EditorMode enum, mode selector combo, _on_mode_changed, _apply_mode_visibility, indoor state in __init__, kit/module selectors, indoor renderer wired up
Retire standalone indoor_builder.ui — deferred until all builder.py logic fully ported
~~Add mode selector toolbar (Layout/Object/Walkmesh/Lighting/Terrain/NavMesh)~~ ✅ DONE — Mode selector combo in toolbar with Object/Layout/Walkmesh modes; tab visibility toggles per mode
Port 3D room placement with doorhook snapping to Module Designer — partially done: IndoorMapRenderer embedded + signals connected; snap checkboxes wired; full placement flow needs more builder.py migration
3D room preview: Render full textured rooms in viewport during placement

Phase 2: Walkmesh Editing (Forge Port + Creation Kit Navmesh analog)

Implement face/vertex/edge raycast picking in ModuleRenderer
Add vertex drag gizmo (OpenGL translation handles with snap-to-grid)
Create walkmeshTab in left panel with material/flag inspector
Port normal arrow visualization (per-face directional indicators)
Add perimeter edge highlighting (boundary detection)
Walkmesh toolbar: Face/Vertex/Edge mode switcher (Creation Kit-style)

Phase 3: VIS Editor (Creation Kit Cell Visibility analog)

Add visTab with room-to-room visibility checkbox matrix
Replace set_all_visible() with granular per-room control
Visualize VIS relationships as colored connection lines in 3D viewport
Auto-VIS generation: Analyze room adjacency and doorhook connections to suggest optimal VIS
Occlusion testing: Preview in-game visibility from selected room's perspective

Phase 4: Scene Graph & Object Placement (Unity Hierarchy + Creation Kit Render Window)

~~Build hierarchical scene tree (Unity-style Hierarchy panel)~~ ✅ DONE — Replaced flat QListWidget instanceList with QTreeWidget instanceTree grouped by GIT type (Creatures, Placeables, Doors, etc.) with item counts + search filter QLineEdit
Implement blueprint browser drag-and-drop into 3D viewport
Add transform gizmos (translate/rotate/scale) with axis locking
Support all 11 GIT object types with property inspector
Alignment tools: Snap to other objects, align to center/edges, distribute evenly
Group selection: Create temporary groups for batch transforms

Phase 5: Multi-View & Camera (Hammer 4-panel layout)

Add 4-panel layout (Top/Front/Side/Perspective orthographic views)
Implement Unity/Creation Kit camera controls (WASD flythrough, Alt+LMB orbit, MMB pan)
~~Add camera bookmarks (Ctrl+1-9 to save, 1-9 to recall — Creation Kit-style)~~ ✅ DONE — Ctrl+1..9 saves, 1..9 recalls camera position/orientation with 2D sync
Walk mode: Constrained camera movement on walkmesh surface for player-perspective testing
Split-screen preview: Side-by-side comparison views

Phase 6: Polish & UX (Unity/Creation Kit standards)

Implement full undo/redo stack across all modes
~~Add keyboard shortcut system (Q/W/E/R for tools, F to focus, Delete to remove)~~ ✅ DONE — Q/W/E for Select/Move/Rotate tools, F to focus, Delete/Backspace to remove, Z for shading, camera bookmarks
Create dockable panel system (drag-and-drop rearrangement)
Add dark mode theme (Unity-inspired)
Workspace layouts: Save/load panel arrangements (e.g., "Walkmesh Editing", "Object Placement", "Lighting")

✅ Success Criteria

The Module Designer will be considered "complete" when:

✅ A user can create a new module from scratch (rooms, objects, walkmeshes, VIS) without leaving the editor
✅ All Indoor Builder room-assembly features work seamlessly in 3D Layout Mode
✅ All Forge walkmesh editing features work in Walkmesh Mode with Creation Kit-level precision
✅ The scene hierarchy mirrors Unity's clarity (expand/collapse, search/filter, visibility toggles)
✅ 4-panel orthographic view matches Hammer/Radiant workflows for precise 3D alignment
✅ Walkmesh vertex editing is as intuitive as Blender's (click vertex -> drag gizmo -> update mesh)
✅ Build + Launch compiles a playable .mod and boots the game in < 30 seconds
✅ Undo/redo works flawlessly for every operation (room placement, object transforms, walkmesh edits, VIS changes)
✅ The UI is intuitive enough that a Unity/UE5/Creation Kit user can start editing with zero training
✅ No external tools are needed for basic level design (100% self-contained workflow)

📖 Reference Inspirations — Gap Analysis

Current Module Designer state: 3D OpenGL viewport + 2D walkmesh renderer (stacked), left panel with Resources tab and Layout tab (room position spinboxes + lytTree), right panel with a flat QListWidget of instances, visibility checkboxes per GIT type, QUndoStack, Blender export integration, status bar. No transform gizmos, no walkmesh vertex editing, no inspector panel, no hierarchy, no multi-select, no VIS editor, no search/filter, no snap helpers, no right-click context menu in viewport, no face property editor.

Bethesda Creation Kit (Skyrim/Fallout 4)

Gold standard for 3D RPG cell editing. KotOR room = CK cell, GIT object = CK reference, walkmesh = navmesh.

What It Does	We Don't Have This	Implement As
Navmesh Mode toggle — same viewport, different interaction layer	No walkmesh vertex editing at all in 3D view	Walkmesh Mode button in toolbar; switch raycast target from GIT objects to BWM vertices
Generate Navmesh — auto-triangulates walkable area from room geometry	`on_generate_walkmesh` exists but no face editing after	Right-click walkmesh -> auto-fill gaps, merge islands
Finalize Navmesh — computes edge adjacency/portals in one click	Adjacency must be hand-authored or left broken	One-click "Finalize" rebuilds all edge/transition links from current geometry
Reference Browser — filterable table of all placed objects (type, position, tag, resref)	`instanceList` is a flat unsorted list with no search	Replace with `QTreeView` grouped by type; add search bar above it
Layer system — Architecture/Props/Lighting layers; toggle at layer level	Visibility is global per-type only	Named layers: group instances -> toggle whole layer in/out
Camera bookmarks — Ctrl+1–9 saves camera view, 1–9 recalls	None	`QAction` array; save/restore camera matrix per slot
Double-click opens editor — double-click object -> properties dialog	Works (opens resource editor dialog)	✅ Already have this — extend to show inline inspector instead
Audio emitter preview — wireframe sphere showing UTS max distance	Sound objects show as icons, no radius visualization	Draw sphere overlay when UTS selected using `maxDistance` field
Edge portal marking — mark walkmesh edges as doorway transitions	Door transitions are implicit; no visual indication	Highlight transition edges in walkmesh view; allow marking them

BioWare Dragon Age Toolset

Closest analog to KotOR — same third-person RPG genre, GFF-based data, area = module.

What It Does	We Don't Have This	Implement As
Synchronized 2D+3D views — select in 2D map -> 3D view jumps to it	2D and 3D are independent; selecting in one doesn't update other	Emit selection signal from `flatRenderer` -> camera/selection sync in `mainRenderer`
Drag blueprint from library into viewport — drag UTC/UTP directly into 3D view	Resource tree is browse-only; no drag-and-drop into viewport	Make `resourceTree` source of `QDrag`; `mainRenderer` accepts drops -> raycast spawn position
Waypoint network visualization — lines connecting waypoint objects	Waypoints show as dots, no connections shown	Draw lines between waypoints that share the same tag/patrol route
Trigger polygon drawing — draw freeform 2D polygon -> creates trigger/encounter	Triggers placed as single point; polygon shape must be edited in separate dialog	In 2D view: polygon drawing tool for triggers and encounter geometry
Resource browser search — type partial name -> instant filter	`resourceTree` has no search bar	Add `QLineEdit` filter above `resourceTree`; hide non-matching items
Area properties panel — music, ambient sound, minimap, fog in one place	ARE properties only accessible through the ARE editor (separate window)	Add an "Area" tab to the left panel showing ARE key fields inline
Lighting presets — one-click mood (Interior/Dawn/Dusk)	Lightmap toggle (on/off) only	Preset buttons that set ambient light color + fog to common moods for quick preview

Unity Editor (2020+)

Baseline for modern 3D editor UX. Every gap here is a standard that users will expect.

What It Does	We Don't Have This	Implement As
Transform gizmo (W/E/R) — color-coded XYZ handles for move/rotate/scale	Objects drag freely; no axis-locked handles	Render OpenGL gizmo handles on selected instance; W/E/R keys switch mode
Inspector panel — all properties of selection in scrollable side panel (no modal)	Properties only shown in separate dialog windows	Add right-side dock `QWidget` that populates with GIT struct fields on selection change
Hierarchy with search — tree of all scene objects, type icons, search filter	Flat `QListWidget`, no tree, no search	Replace `instanceList` with `QTreeWidget` grouped by GIT type; add search `QLineEdit`
Multi-select — Ctrl+Click or drag-box -> batch transform, batch property edit	Single selection only	Track `selected_instances: list` -> already exists; expose to viewport for drag-box selection
Vertex snapping (V key) — snap object origin to nearest vertex on any mesh	No snapping at all when dragging	While dragging, if V held: find nearest walkmesh vertex; snap placement to it
Surface snapping — drop object onto walkmesh surface below cursor	Objects placed at flat Z; no auto-ground	Raycast downward from cursor on drop/move; set object Z to hit point
Focus Selected (F key) — camera frames selection tightly	No focus shortcut	`F` key -> compute bounding box of selected instances -> set camera position/target
Frame All (A key) — camera frames entire scene	No frame-all	`A` key -> bounding box of all loaded instances -> set camera
Gizmo visibility toggles — show/hide sound spheres, trigger boxes, camera frustums	No per-gizmo overlay toggles	Add overlay checkboxes: Show Sound Radii / Show Trigger Shapes / Show Camera FOV
Coordinate space (World/Local) — toggle whether gizmo axes align to world or object	Always world-space	Button in toolbar; affects how rotate/scale gizmo axes are oriented

Unreal Engine 5

Best-in-class viewport navigation and scene organization.

What It Does	We Don't Have This	Implement As
WASD fly camera with mouse look	Alt+drag orbit only; no WASD flythrough	Right-click + drag in 3D view activates mouse look; WASD moves camera while held
Camera speed slider — scroll wheel adjusts fly speed in real-time	Fixed camera speed	Scroll wheel while in fly mode -> adjust `camera_move_speed`; show current speed in status bar
Outliner folders — drag objects into named folders; toggle folder visibility	No grouping at all in instance list	Folders in `QTreeWidget`: right-click -> "New Group"; drag instances between groups
Details panel search filter — type property name -> scroll to matching field	No inspector panel at all	When inspector is added, put a `QLineEdit` at top that filters/highlights matching fields
Right-click context menu in viewport — place object, frame selection, hide, etc.	No context menu on 3D viewport right-click	Connect `customContextMenuRequested` on `mainRenderer` -> build context-sensitive `QMenu`
Viewport toolbar mode buttons — visual icon buttons for Select/Move/Rotate/Scale	No mode buttons; interaction mode is implicit	Add toolbar row above 3D viewport: Select / Move / Rotate / Scale icon buttons

Valve Hammer (Source SDK)

Precision multi-view layout; best for spatial alignment work.

What It Does	We Don't Have This	Implement As
4-panel layout — Top/Front/Side/Perspective simultaneously	One 3D + one 2D stacked vertically; can't see all axes at once	`QSplitter` with 4 panes: 3D perspective + 3 orthographic (XY top-down, XZ front, YZ side)
Maximize active view — double-click panel to fill the window	Fixed split only	Double-click on any sub-renderer -> reparent to fill main area; double-click again to restore
Grid size hotkeys ([ and ]) — increase/decrease snap grid in 2 keystrokes	No grid snapping at all	`[` / `]` keys cycle snap grid size (0.1 / 0.5 / 1.0 / 2.0 units); show current in status bar
Visgroups — named groups with per-group visibility toggle	Type-level visibility checkboxes only	Named Visgroups in left panel; drag objects in; one toggle per group
Error checker — "Check for Problems" scans for missing textures, broken refs	No validation tools	Menu item -> scan module for broken resrefs, missing models, degenerate walkmesh faces
Compile pipeline — one-click Build -> launches game	Save GIT only; no build+launch	Add "Build & Launch" action that calls `build_mod_from_indoor_file()` -> game spawn warp

Blender

Best walkmesh vertex editing workflow reference — we need Blender's Edit Mode concept.

What It Does	We Don't Have This	Implement As
Edit Mode vs Object Mode — Tab key toggles; completely different interaction in same viewport	No walkmesh editing in 3D view at all	Tab or toolbar button: Object Mode (GIT instances) ↔ Walkmesh Mode (BWM vertices/faces)
Vertex / Edge / Face select modes (1/2/3) — granular selection within mesh	N/A — no mesh editing	In Walkmesh Mode: 1=vertex select, 2=edge select, 3=face select; highlight accordingly
Merge Vertices (M) — weld nearby/overlapping vertices	No geometry cleanup tools	In Walkmesh Mode: M key -> merge dialog (at cursor / at center / by distance)
Snap modes (Shift+Tab) — cycle vertex/edge/face/grid snapping	No snap at all	Snap pie menu cycling through modes; sticky state shown in status bar
Properties panel — context-sensitive; shows face material when face selected	No per-element property view	When walkmesh face selected -> show surfacemat dropdown + walk/walkCheck/lineOfSight booleans in inspector
Viewport shading (Z key) — Wireframe/Solid/Material toggle	Lightmap checkbox (on/off) only	Z key cycles 3D viewport shading: Wireframe / Solid / Lightmapped
Box select (B key) — drag rectangle to select multiple vertices/objects	No box select	B key -> drag selection rectangle in 3D viewport; add all intersecting objects/vertices to selection

GTKRadiant / id Tech

Per-face editing workflow that directly maps to surfacemat on walkmesh triangles.

What It Does	We Don't Have This	Implement As
Surface Inspector — per-selected-face numeric fields (no dialog close required)	No per-face editing; surfacemat not editable	`walkmeshTab` dock: when face selected -> show surfacemat dropdown + flags inline
Entity key-value editor — raw struct fields visible as editable key-value table	GIT struct editing only via full resource editor window	In inspector panel: show GIT instance fields as editable `QTableWidget` rows (key / value)
Free camera WASD	Orbit-only; WASD not usable for flythrough	Right-click-held activates free look; WASD moves; right-click-release returns to orbit
Group system — Ctrl+G groups brushes; move as unit	No grouping	Multi-select -> right-click -> "Group" -> assigned Visgroup

🎯 Universal Patterns (Implement in All Modes)

Pattern	We Have	Gap
One window, no modal dialogs for properties	Properties open separate dialog	Inline inspector dock panel
Undo everything including view changes	QUndoStack on GIT ops	Viewpoint/walkmesh edits not undoable yet
Visual feedback on selection	3D selection highlight	No gizmo, no bounding box outline
Immediate property feedback	Dialog requires Apply / OK	Inspector should write-through to model on field change
Keyboard shortcuts for all tools	Ctrl+Z/S only	W/E/R/F/A/B/Tab/Z/[/] all unassigned
Status bar showing active mode + snap state	Mouse coords + selected instance	Need: current mode, current snap size, coordinate space

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