# Map Options
Cover image
The Map Options tab is the fourth tab at the top of the Forge Menu and it displays options such as changing map lighting, wind, sound, and inspecting budget usage. ## Interface The Map Options tab consists of categories and subcategories, within which are adjustable map options and settings. The categories can be opened and closed, and their state will persist until the Forge session is closed. A short description of the selected item is shown under the main interface. The common adjustable map options include Sunlight, Light Bounce, Ambient Sound, Budget, and Level Bound Probes.

Map Options tab with default settings on the Arid canvas

Sky Tint color selection

Primary ambient sound selection

Map Options tab with all categories collapsed

## Controls Controls related to navigating the Map Options tab. Options for both Keyboard and Mouse, and Controller are provided: {% tabs %} {% tab title="Keyboard and Mouse" %} * Open the Map Options tab: Key icon + Key icon * Alternative: Key icon → Key icon / Key icon * Alternative: \[Hold] Key icon → Map Options Key icon / Key icon / Key icon / Key icon * Close the Map Options tab: Key icon * Alternative: Key icon * Alternative: Key icon * Navigation: Key icon, Key icon, Key icon, Key icon * Alternative: Key icon, Key icon, Key icon, Key icon * Alternative: Key icon, Key icon, Key icon * Quick Scroll Up: Key icon * Alternative: Key icon * Quick Scroll Down: Key icon * Alternative: Key icon * Select Item / Expand/Collapse Category: Key icon * Alternative: Key icon * Alternative: Key icon * Alternative: Key icon * Expand/Collapse All Categories: Key icon {% endtab %} {% tab title="Contoller" %} * Open the Map Options tab: Key icon → Key icon / Key icon * Alternative: \[Hold] Key icon → Map Options Key icon * Close the Map Options tab: Key icon * Navigation: Key icon * Alternative: Key icon * Quick Scroll Up: Key icon * Quick Scroll Down: Key icon * Select Item / Expand/Collapse Category: Key icon * Expand/Collapse All Categories: Key icon {% endtab %} {% endtabs %} ## Main Categories ↓ The sections below detail the different categories within the Map Options tab. ## Lights & Atmosphere Settings to adjust the lighting, fog and wind. ### Sunlight Settings to adjust the sunlight and it's direction. For more details, see [Sun](/forge/lighting/settings-global-lighting/sun.md). #### Intensity Changes the brightness of the sunlight. Input range: `0.00` - `100.00` #### Color Override Changes the color of the sunlight. Note that this doesn't change the color of the sun itself. For changing the color of the sun, see [Sun Tint](#sun-tint). #### Sun Yaw Changes the position of the sun in relation to the map cardinal directions. In simpler terms: left and right. Input range: `0.00` - `360.00` #### Sun Pitch Changes the position of the sun in relation to the time of day. In simpler terms: up and down. Input range: `0.00` - `360.00` ### Light Bounce Settings to control how bounce light affects the level. For more details, see [Light Bounce](/forge/lighting/settings-global-lighting/light-bounce.md). #### Intensity Changes the brightness of bounce light from the sun and all other light sources. Input range: `0.00` - `100.00` #### Tint Override Changes the color of bounce light. ### Sky Light Sky light settings adjust the sky lighting and it's positional colors. For more details, see [Sky](/forge/lighting/settings-global-lighting/sky.md). #### Intensity Changes the brightness of sky lighting. Input range: `0.00` - `100.00` #### Tint Override Changes the color of sky lighting. #### Top Override Changes the color of sky lighting coming from above the map. #### North Override Changes the color of sky lighting coming from the north side of the map. #### South Override Changes the color of sky lighting coming from the south side of the map. #### East Override Changes the color of sky lighting coming from the east side of the map. #### West Override Changes the color of sky lighting coming from the west side of the map. ### Sky Rendering Sky rendering settings adjust the look of the sky and sun. For more details, see [Sky](/forge/lighting/settings-global-lighting/sky.md) and [Sun](/forge/lighting/settings-global-lighting/sun.md). #### Sky Intensity Sets the brightness of the sky. Uses Rayleigh scattering. Input range: `0.00` - `100.00` {% hint style="info" %} Setting the Sky Intensity to 0.00 hides the sun. {% endhint %} #### Sun Intensity Sets the brightness of the sun. Uses Mie scattering. Input range: `0.00` - `100.00` #### Sky Tint Sets the color of the sky. #### Sky Tint Intensity Sets how intense the sky color is. Input range: `0.00` - `100.00` #### Sun Tint Sets the color of the sun. Note that this doesn't change the color of the sunlight. For changing the color of the sunlight, see [Sunlight Color Override](#color-override). #### Sun Tint Intensity Sets how intense the sun color is. ### Atmospheric Fog Atmospheric fog settings emulate light scattering in the atmosphere. For more details, see [Fog](/forge/lighting/settings-global-lighting/fog.md). #### Fog Offset Sets the distance to offset the fog falloff from where atmospheric fog starts rendering to the horizon. Based on [Fog Near Falloff](#fog-near-falloff). Input range: `0.00` - `5.00` #### Fog Near Falloff Sets the distance from player where atmospheric fog starts rendering. Input range: `0.00` - `10,000.00` #### Fog Intensity Sets atmospheric fog density. Input range: `0.00` - `1.00` #### Fog Depth Scale Sets the atmospheric fog density at a distance. Works with the [Fog Near Falloff](#fog-near-falloff) value. Input range: `0.00` - `1,500.00` #### Fog Falloff Up Sets the amount of atmoshperic fog falloff that occurs upwards from the horizon. Input range: `0.00` - `5.00` #### Fog Falloff Down Sets the amount of atmoshperic fog falloff that occurs downwards from the horizon. Input range: `0.00` - `5.00` #### Sky Fog Intensity Determines how much atmospheric fog is in the atmosphere. Color is based on [Sky Tint Override](#tint-override-1). Input range: `0.00` - `5,000.00` #### Inscattering Sets the amount of light that scatters throughout the atmosphere. Lower values result in stronger scattering. Input range: `0.00` - `1.00` #### Fake Inscattering Tint Sets a false color scatter throughout the atmosphere. {% hint style="info" %} The [Atmospheric Fog Inscattering](#inscattering) value must be under 1.00 for the color to show. {% endhint %} ### Volumetric Fog Volumetric fog settings simulate 3D fog as cost from a light source. For more details, see [Fog](/forge/lighting/settings-global-lighting/fog.md). {% hint style="warning" %} Volumetric Fog can be turned off client-side from the video settings, so it shouldn't be relied on for major fog effects. {% endhint %} #### Enabled Toggles the display of volumetric fog. #### Density Sets the volumetric fog density. Input range: `0.00` - `1.00` #### Color Sets the volumetric fog color. #### Near Range Sets the distance from player where the volumetric fog starts rendering. Input range: `0.00` - `600.00` #### Far Range Sets the distance from player where the volumetric fog stops rendering. Input range: `0.00` - `1,000.00` ### Wind Wind settings affect the movement of some dynamic objects such MP Trees, as well as Screen Effects. {% hint style="info" %} To easily preview the wind settings, change the [Screen Effect](#fx) to *Retro Heavy*, and turn the [Wind Speed](#wind-speed) to *12.00*. {% endhint %} #### Yaw Changes the direction of the wind in relation to the map cardinal directions. In simpler terms: left and right. Input range: `-180.00` - `180.00` #### Pitch Changes the angle of the wind in relation to the ground plane. In simpler terms: up and down. Input range: `-180.00` - `180.00` #### Wind Speed Changes the speed of the wind. Input range: `1.00` - `12.00` ## Screen Effects Screen Effects are global moving particles that display on every player's screen. #### FX Changes the screen effect such as rain, dust, bubbles, etc.
Input options: \ Dust Heavy Dust Light Dust Medium Embers Heavy Embers Light Embers Medium Motes Heavy Motes Light Motes Medium Papers Heavy Papers Light Papers Medium Rain Heavy Rain Light Rain Medium Retro Heavy Retro Light Retro Medium Snow Heavy Snow Light Snow Medium
{% hint style="warning" %} Having global Screen Effects *on* may cause issues on maps with multiple [FX-emitting objects](/forge/lighting/fx/fx-emitting-objects.md) such as [Weapon Spawners](/forge/gameplay/sandbox/weapons/weapon-spawning.md). Turning the Screen Effects off in these cases helps prevent issues with FX overload. {% endhint %} ## Decorators #### Enabled Toggles the visibility of decorators in the map. Decorators are small foliage details on the built-in canvas floor of Forge canvases. {% hint style="info" %} Decorators are usually disabled, as many maps aren't built directly on the canvas floor to visually benefit from them, and the performance impact of having them enabled is unknown. {% endhint %} ## Ambient Sound Ambient Sounds are audio loops heard throughout the map at a quiet volume. #### Primary Sound The primary ambient sound that plays in the map.
Input options: \ AA Gun Control Room Banished Room Cathedral Distant City Busy Distant City Quiet Generator Room Grasslands Active Wind Grasslands Calm Wind Prison Base Prison Security Room Scorched Earth Ship Wreckage Silence Spire Room Under Water
#### Secondary Sound The secondary ambient sound that plays in the map.
Input options: \ Distant Battle A Distant Battle B Distant Thunder Lake Water Laps Ocean Surf Rain Heavy Rain Light Rain Medium Thunder Storm with Rain Wind Storm
#### Reverb The type of reverb applied to the map. Reverb can be commonly heard in the form of object impacts, gunshots and explosions.
Input options: Exterior Open Exterior Reflective Interior Large Interior Medium Interior Narrow
{% hint style="info" %} Reverb is a commonly overlooked option, but can help in making the map feel more realistic. Set the Reverb type based on the majority of place spaces in the map. {% endhint %} #### Audio Effect The secondary ambient sound that plays in the map.
Input options: \ Helium Space
{% hint style="info" %} Setting an Audio Effect on a map is uncommon, as not many maps suit the theme, but they also affect all of the announcer voice lines, which sound weird. {% endhint %} #### Enable Preview Toggles the playing of primary and secondary ambient sounds during Forge edit mode. ## Budget Object placement limits and the current costs of various elements in the map. The budgets show a progress bar of how much of a specific budget has been used up. If a budget reaches 80%, a yellow warning icon shows up in the Map Options tab. If a budget reaches 100%, its progress bar turns red and a red warning icon shows up in the Map Options tab.

Budget progress bar

Progress bar turns red at 100%

Yellow warning symbol indicating a budget is at 80%

Red warning symbol indicating a budget is at 100%

#### Game Simulation The cost of simulating entities in a networked environment, including dynamic objects, projectiles, units, actions, etc. This is separate from the additional cost of networking entities in Forge. Budget range: `0.0%` - `100.00%` The Game Simulation budget is the hard limit on what a map can simulate in gameplay. Dynamic objects and large scripts take up the majority of Game Simulation budget. {% hint style="info" %} The Game Simulation budget is also shown on the [Budget Meter](/forge/forge-basics-and-ui/forge-interface.md#budget-meter) in the standard Forge interface. {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} The Game Simulation budget used by Forge Modes via Mode Brains are separate from the on-level budgets. Even maps at 95% Game Simulation can be loaded with a Forge Mode that by itself takes up over 5% Game Simulation budget. {% endhint %} #### Forge Simulation The cost of simulating entities in Forge, including dynamic and static objects, prefabs, user strings, Node Graph elements, etc. This is separate from the base cost of simulating entities in a networked environment. Budget range: `0.0%` - `100.00%` Forge Simulation often reaches 100.00% before Game Simulation, as the interfaces for modifying objects and elements in Forge require additional resources. One way to alleviate Forge Simulation budget is to convert on-level scripts from Script Brains into a Forge Mode script within Mode Brains. {% hint style="info" %} The Forge Simulation budget used by Forge Modes via Mode Brains are separate from the on-level budgets. It's best practice to load as much scripting from a Forge Mode, instead of from on-level scripting in order to relieve Game- and Forge Simulation budget to use on the map. {% endhint %} ### Forge Simulation Detail A breakdown of the categories of the Forge Simulation budget. #### Objects The total percent of the Forge Simulation budget used by Object entities, including static objects and dynamic objects. Budget range: `0.0%` - `100.00%` #### Node Graph The total percent of the Forge Simulation budget used by Node Graph entities, including nodes, connections, and node properties. Budget range: `0.0%` - `100.00%` {% hint style="warning" %} While the budget range is up to 100.00%, players have reported not being able to load map versions with Node Graph budget in the range of 14-20%. This real limit is affected by the amount of other objects on the map, but 14-20% should be considered the 100% of the Node Graph budget on full maps. {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} The Node Graph budget used by Forge Modes via Mode Brains are separate from the on-level budgets. It's best practice to load as much scripting from a Forge Mode, instead of on-level scripting to not run into limitations with the Node Graph budget. {% endhint %} #### Misc The total percent of the Forge Simulation budget used by miscellaneous entities, including prefabs, user strings, some properties, etc. Budget range: `0.0%` - `100.00%` {% hint style="info" %} [Prefabs](/ugc/metadata-and-file-management/prefabs.md) and [Folder](/forge/forge-basics-and-ui/forge-interface/folders.md) names take up Forge Simulation budget, but the impact is negligible to take into consideration. If the Forge Simulation budget is at 100.00%, you may not be able to create prefabs or rename folders. {% endhint %} ### Object Limits Object count limits for various types of objects. #### Static Geo The percentage usage of the static render meshes in the map. Static objects can be composed of multiple render meshes. This is a hard limit and cannot be exceeded. Budget range: `0.0%` - `100.00%` #### Vehicles The number of vehicles in the map. Does not account for vehicles created during gameplay. Includes all types of [Vehicle Spawners](/forge/gameplay/sandbox/vehicles/vehicle-spawning.md). Budget range: `0` - `40` / 40 While the limit is only 40, it's a very safe limit, as the real hard limit for vehicles is 128. Some vehicles like the Scorpion and Warthog are made out of two vehicles: the mover and the turret. Creating vehicles during gameplay such as spawning players in vehicles or cloning vehicles via scripting only has the hard limit of 128 total vehicles in play. {% hint style="info" %} Attempting to create more than 128 vehicles won't work. If a vehicle made from two vehicles is created as the 128th vehicle, only the mover part of the vehicle will be created. {% endhint %} #### Reflection Volumes The number of [Reflection Volumes](/forge/lighting/lighting-modifiers/reflections/reflection-volumes.md) in the map. This is a hard limit and cannot be exceeded. Budget range: `0` - `15` / 15 #### Movers The number of movers in the map. This is a hard limit and cannot be exceeded. Budget range: `0` - `48` / 48 {% hint style="info" %} Only one object is known to fall into this category, being the *Vehicle Lift* [hidden object](/forge/forge-basics-and-ui/forge-interface/object-browser/hidden-forge-objects.md). {% endhint %} #### Animations The percentage usage of animation states used by objects in the map. This is a hard limit and cannot be exceeded. Budget range: `0.0%` - `100.00%` {% hint style="success" %} Never reported as being the cause of issues. {% endhint %} #### Physics The percentage usage of the total Physics budget. This is a soft limit and can be exceeded, but doing so may have a negative impact on performance, and some objects may stop working correctly. Budget range: `0.0%` - `100.00%` {% hint style="success" %} Never reported as being the cause of issues. {% endhint %} #### Collision The percentage usage of the total Collision budget. This is a soft limit and can be exceeded, but doing so may have a negative impact on performance, and some objects may stop working correctly. Budget range: `0.0%` - `100.00%` {% hint style="success" %} Never reported as being the cause of issues. {% endhint %} ## Level Bound Probes Settings to adjust the light probes generated by default in a map. For details on what light probes are, see [Light Probes](/forge/lighting/lighting-modifiers/light-probes.md). #### Bounding Type The bounding type determines the area where to generate light probes by default. For details about custom light probes, see [Light Probe Marker](#user-content-fn-1)[^1].
Input options: Level Objects
* **Level**: Light Probes are generated within the entire Forge canvas gameplay space. Only useful in maps with large skyboxes in the canvas gameplay space that need light bounce data. * **Objects**: Light Probes are generated only within a bounding box that covers all objects placed in the map. Useful in maps built in interiors, or maps where the skybox doesn't need to have accurate light bounce data. {% hint style="info" %} While *Level* is the default option, *Objects* is usually recommended, as it often results in using less Light Probes, with the drawback of not having any light probes outside the invisible bounding box surrounding all placed objects. {% endhint %} #### Probe Spacing Sets the distance between default light probes. For details about custom light probes, see [Light Probe Marker](#user-content-fn-1)[^1]. Lower spacing values result in more accurate lighting at the expense of increased light probe counts and [lighting build](/forge/lighting/building-lighting.md) times. Input range: `1.00` - `100.00` {% hint style="info" %} A general good spacing to start with is 20, which can be decreased later to suit the desired lighting accuracy. {% endhint %} #### Probe Count Estimated number of light probes based on the current settings across the Level Bound Probes and the [Light Probe Marker](#user-content-fn-2)[^2]. Larger probe count values result in more accurate lighting at the expense of increased [lighting build](/forge/lighting/building-lighting.md) times. Value range: `0` - `14000` / 14000 ## Reset #### Reset Map Properties Reset all map properties, such as fog, and reference colors to the default values as dictated by the Forge canvas base map. {% hint style="danger" %} This action cannot be undone. {% endhint %} #### Delete All Unlocked Delete all unlocked objects in the map. For more details about locked and unlocked objects, see [Lock & Unlock](/forge/forge-basics-and-ui/forge-interface/folders.md#lock-and-unlock). {% hint style="danger" %} This action cannot be undone. {% endhint %} *** #### Contributors Okom [^1]: Link when complete [^2]: Fix when done --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://wiki.thescriptersguild.com/forge/forge-basics-and-ui/forge-interface/map-options.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.