VP_ZStairs

Build 100+ floor maps that actually pathfind.

RPG Maker MV's click pathfinding wasn't built for stacked floors and diagonal stairs. VP_ZStairs replaces it with a Z-aware router that treats floors, endpoints, and lanes as real geometry—so even dense stair networks just work.

“Ever wanted to ship a giant stair-maze dungeon but let down by the built in pathfinding?”

• 100+ Z-levels on one map — Region→Z mapping; no teleports or map swaps.
• True diagonal stairs — NE↔SW & NW↔SE lanes with endpoint-only entry (no side slip).
• Stable parties — followers replay the player’s exact tiles; no stair desyncs.
• Honest destination ring — shows on first click, persists across Z, clears on arrival.
• Works for switchbacks & tiny connectors — from 2-tile micro stairs to long runs.
• Click/tap and key navigation supported — navigate using mouse, tapping with finger or use the keys to navigate your stair maze.

How it works

• Region→Z mapping: Floors and endpoints define height. Defaults ship as:
  • Floors: Regions 10–19 → Z 0–9 (remap for >100 levels)
  • Endpoints: Regions 30–39 → Z 0–9 (remap for >100 levels)
  • Lanes: NESW = 60, NWSE = 61
• True diagonal lanes: NE↔SW and NW↔SE stairs with endpoint-only entry/exit. Optional micro (two-endpoint) stairs for tiny transitions.
• Priority-smart pathfinder: prefers fewer Z changes → shortest floor distance → least lane tiles (prevents weird detours).
• Follower tape replay: followers reproduce the player’s exact tile path, including diagonals.
• Destination ring you can trust: appears on first click, persists across stairs, clears on actual arrival. Optional click-cooldown.
• Input niceties: mid-stair clicks (walk partway), sideways steps while on lanes, click-to-interact (Action Button) at the correct Z.
• NPC Z policy (toggle): make events obey the same Z rules or ignore them—project-wide switch.
• Debug overlay: live visualization of floors, endpoints, lanes, and player Z for painless setup on large maps.
• Pixel movement: Snaps to endpoints and walks diagonally up and down. (Never tested)

Quick start (MV)

1. Drop VP_ZStairs.js into js/plugins and enable it in the Plugin Manager.
2. Paint floors with Regions 10-19 and endpoints with 30-39. Paint lane tiles with 60 (NE↔SW) and 61 (NW↔SE).
3. Test: click across stacked floors; the destination ring persists and clears only when you arrive.

Need more than 10 Z levels? Remap the Region→Z lists in the plugin parameters. MV supports up to 255 Region IDs; 100+ Z levels per map is practical.

Compatibility & support

• Target: RPG Maker MV
• License: Free for commercial & non-commercial use with credit.
• Plugin order: Place after plugins that modify movement/pathfinding.

Need help or found an edge case? Post in the comments with a short clip or map snippet and I'll take a look.

Changelog

• v1.0.0 — Initial release (Z-aware routing, diagonal lanes, follower tape, persistent ring, debug overlay).