Builder basics
Controls, snapping, stages, saving, sharing and every tool in the 3D base builder.
The builder is a 3D planner for WARDOGS bases. Nothing you do here touches the game: it is a sketchpad for working out a layout, its supply cost and its build order before you spend supplies in a match.
Camera and selection
| Right mouse | Orbit the camera |
| ShiftRight mouse | Pan (middle mouse also pans) |
| Wheel | Zoom |
| WASD | Pan the camera |
| Left click | Select an object |
| Drag | Box select several objects |
| F | Focus the selection |
| Home | Frame the whole base |
Tools
| 1 | Select tool |
| 2 | Move tool |
| 3 | Rotate tool |
| 4 | Place the last structure again |
| M | Measure tool |
| V | Walk mode (first-person) |
| T | Markers (switches to the tactical view) |
| Tab | Tactical (top-down) view |
| G | Toggle grid |
| X | Toggle snapping |
| L | Lock / unlock the selection |
Placing structures
Pick a structure from the catalogue and a ghost follows your cursor. A green ghost can be placed, a red ghost breaks a placement rule (for example it is outside a FOB build area or overlaps another object).
| Q | Rotate the ghost one step back |
| E | Rotate the ghost one step forward |
| R | Rotate the ghost (with a selection and no ghost: rotate the selection) |
| Esc | Cancel placing |
| Alt | Hold to disable snapping while placing |
| ShiftClick | Place even if the ghost is invalid (flagged in validation) |
Place the FOB first
Most structures must stand inside the build area of a Forward Operating Base. Place the FOB first; its build area is drawn on the ground and everything that requires a FOB is checked against it.
Snapping
- Hesco pieces (small and large blocks, walls) snap side-to-side and stack on top of each other.
- Gates and doors snap into Hesco lines.
- Bunker modules, floors and roofs snap to each other to build multi-storey bunkers.
- Hold Alt to place freely, or press X to switch snapping off entirely.
Editing
| CtrlZ | Undo |
| CtrlY | Redo (also Ctrl + Shift + Z) |
| CtrlC | Copy |
| CtrlV | Paste |
| CtrlD | Duplicate |
| CtrlA | Select all |
| CtrlS | Save |
| CtrlK | Command palette |
| Del | Delete the selection (also Backspace) |
| ? | Show all shortcuts |
Locked objects cannot be moved or deleted by accident; unlock them first.
Stages, manifest and validation
- Stages split a base into build steps (for example: FOB and radio first, then the outer wall, then defences). Each stage shows its own supply total so you know what to bring for each step.
- Manifest lists every structure with count and supply cost, based on the data release the base uses.
- Validation lists rule problems: structures outside a FOB area, overlaps, missing supports or objects above the height budget. Objects placed with ShiftClick show up here.
Saving and versions
- Guests keep a draft in their browser. It survives reloads on the same device, but not a cleared browser or another device.
- Logged-in users autosave to their account. Your working draft is saved continuously.
- Saving a version creates a snapshot with a name and changelog. The published page always shows a saved version, never the live draft.
Publishing and visibility
- Private: only you can see it.
- Unlisted: anyone with the link or share code can open it; it does not appear in community listings.
- Public: listed in the community browser, map pages and structure pages.
Sharing, export and import
- Every base has a share code in the form
WD-XXXX-XX. Paste it via File → Import to open that base. - Export saves the base as a
.wardogsbuildfile; Import loads such a file back into the builder.
Prefabs
Save a selection as a prefab (for example a gate with flanking Hesco walls, or a bunker stack) and drop it into other bases in one step.
Walk mode, tactical view and markers
- V walk mode lets you check sight lines and gaps at eye height.
- Tab tactical view shows the base top-down, like a map briefing.
- T markers add text notes, spawn points, routes and arrows to explain a plan to your squad.
Measure tool
Press M and click two points to read the distance. Useful for checking vehicle lanes, spacing between structures and distances to the edge of the FOB area.
Ready? Open the builder.