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Xbox One: Building Tricks I Recently Discovered

Catallaxis

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1. Easy and precise object rotation on all axes using only Place Anywhere--new method that I've not seen anywhere else!
2. How to use Place Anywere with Kinggath's Workshop+ Layer Handle.

1. Easy and Precise Object Rotation on All Axes Using only Place Anywhere

Place Anywhere does not include an option to change the rotational axis of objects, but some people noticed that when using the the "copy/paste position" function, it was possible to paste the angle of the copied position onto another object. For example, if you knock or roll over a dynamic object, like a Nuka-Cola bottle, and then pick it up in workshop mode, it will remain fixed at whatever angle it came to rest. If you then use Place Anywhere to copy its position and paste it to another object, then that object will appear at the same angle as the Nuka-Cola bottle. The trouble with this method is that it's frustratingly clumsy. If you need to place something at a precise angle, then trying to bump and nudge a dynamic object into just the right position can be near enough impossible.

But don't worry, there is a better way!

There is actually a little known trick that allows you to rotate an object on any axis in the vanilla game. The trouble is that it only works outside of workshop mode! If you pick up a dynamic object in regular gameplay by holding the action button (the A button by default), you can rotate it using the left and right triggers just like in workshop mode. However, if you click in the left thumbstick while holding the object, you can actually cycle through the rotational axes! This allows you to precisely rotate an object on any axis. Once you have the object at the desired angle, you then need to get back into workshop mode and copy its position without dropping it.

While holding the object, enter workshop mode and you will still be "holding" the object at the same angle. (For the next step to work, you'll need to have changed the default settings of Place Anywhere. By default, the "Place Anywhere" button just places the object, but you'll need to have gone into the settings and change that so it instead opens the menu). Now select, in workshop mode, the object you are "holding" and then activate Place Anywhere. This will bring up the menu without dropping the object, and its position and rotation can now be copied and pasted to other objects. (Unfortunately, if you try to use the "Grab and Release" option to open the menu, then the object will be dropped and you'll lose your rotation position.)

In my brief testing (I discovered it earlier today), this is a much superior method for getting precise rotation than just trying to knock over objects gracefully. You can use any dynamic object, but I have so far found the coat rack quite useful because of its long and straight form. If you're using Unlocked Settlement Objects (i.e. USO), then it's one of few buildable yet dynamic objects and can be found in Decorations>Misceallaneous.

EDIT: I just discovered a better object to use for the initial positining: the 50s style mobster target practice cutout. Not sure if it can be built in vanilla, but it is available with USO. It's a dynamic object with a long shape and it has clear front, back, and sides (unlike the coat rack!). The only oddity is that, for example, when building barn walls, the front (or outside) face of the wall corresponded to the back of the mobster target.

2. How to Use Place Anywhere with the Layer Handle

Place Anywhere does not work with group select, and so it is limited to placing individual objects. The Layer Handle in Workshop+ can select groups of objects, but it does not work with Place Anywhere. Because the Layer Handle must be placed on the ground or a floor, and Place Anywhere doesn't work when the Layer Handle is selected, it severely restricts the usefulness of the Layer Handle.

However, there is a trick!

Open the Place Anywhere menu and turn on Grid Snapping. This will align the object you're placing with any nearby object. For example, if you want to line up a row of chairs, you place the first chair and activate Grid Snapping. When you go to place the next chair beside it, rather than rotating smoothly as in vanilla, it will rotate incrementally to match the first chair. The increments can be adjusted in the menu using an option that apears beneath Grid Snapping when it is activated. For our purpose here, we want to Grid Snapping activated but the incremental rotation needs to be set to "disabled".

A side-effect of Grid Snapping is that overrides the vanilla red highlight. That is, while Grid Snapping, the game will ignore regular restrictions on object placement, such as the need to be placed on the ground. In other words, the object will appear with the green highlight so long as you keep it close to the object you're Grid Snapping to. If you get too far away, then Grid Snapping will not work and the red highlight may return. We can explot this side-effect to move the Layer Handle.

Grab an object, such as a table, not on the layer you are attempting to move, and then use Place Anywhere to put it somewhere in the vicinity of where you want the Layer Handle to be. Activate Grid Snapping and disable the incremental rotation. Now, when you bring the Layer Handle close to your table, its highlight will turn green and it can be freely maneuvered up, down, left, right, and all. The only limitation is if you get too far away from the object you're "grid snapping" to, then the Layer Handle will go red again, so you may need to move around your table a few times.
 
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In case anyone is interested, here's a brief video demonstrating object rotation. This was done on a fresh save with only UFO4P, Unlocked Settlement Objects, and Place Anywhere installed.

I used the 50s mobster target from USO because it has a convenient shape for judging position, but any dynamic object works so long as it can be selected in workshop mode. I also discovered that the grab and release setting to open the Place Anywhere menu does work, contrary to my previous claim.

One inconvenience is that dropping the grabbed object once in workshop mode is kind of tricky. You can scrap it, store it, exit workshop mode and drop it, or you can use the Place Anywhere menu to make it static. I did the latter for the purpose of demonstation, but it doesn't really matter.
 
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