Unreal Engine 5 Beginner Tutorial - UE5 Starter Course

Introduction

This tutorial is designed for beginners looking to learn the fundamentals of Unreal Engine 5. By following along, you'll gain hands-on experience in creating a detailed fantasy environment, from downloading assets to sculpting landscapes and programming basic gameplay mechanics. Each chapter builds upon the previous one, so you can develop your skills step-by-step.

Chapter 1: Download and Create a Project

1. Download Unreal Engine 5

   • Open the Epic Games Launcher.
   • Click on the Unreal Engine tab and navigate to the Library.
   • Click the "+" icon next to Engine Versions and select Unreal Engine 5 for installation.
   • Choose the install location and click "Install".

2. Create a New Project

   • Launch Unreal Engine 5 and open the project browser.
   • Select "Games" and choose a "Blank" template with Blueprint as the project type.
   • Enable "Starter Content" for useful assets.
   • Name your project (e.g., "First Project") and select the save location.

3. Open Your Project

   • After creation, double-click on your project file to open it.

Chapter 2: User Interface

1. Overview of the Interface

   • The Viewport is where you view and manipulate your 3D world.
   • The Toolbar contains tools for adding objects and switching modes.
   • The Outliner lists all objects in your scene for easy selection and organization.

2. Basic Navigation

   • Hold the right mouse button to look around.
   • Use WASD keys to navigate your scene.
   • Adjust camera speed using the camera icon in the upper right.

3. Content Drawer

   • Access your project's assets by clicking the Content Drawer or pressing Ctrl + Space.
   • Organize your assets into folders for better management.

Chapter 3: Landscape Tool

1. Creating a Landscape

   • Switch to Landscape mode by pressing Shift + 2.
   • Keep default settings and click "Create" to generate a landscape.

2. Sculpting the Landscape

   • Use the Sculpt Brush to raise or lower terrain.
   • Adjust brush size and strength for finer control.
   • Utilize the Flatten and Smooth brushes to create varied terrain.

3. Painting the Landscape

   • To paint different materials, you need to create landscape layers.
   • Use weight blended layers for grass, dirt, and mud.
   • Apply these layers to give realistic textures to your landscape.

Chapter 4: Adding Water

1. Creating a Lake or River

   • Sculpt an area in your landscape for the water body.
   • Drag a water plane mesh into your scene.
   • Adjust the size and position to create a realistic lake or river.

2. Adjusting Water Properties

   • Open the water material instance to modify color, opacity, and ripples.
   • Ensure the transition between water and land is smooth by painting mud along the shore.

Chapter 5: Using Megascans

1. Importing Assets from Quixel Bridge

   • Open Quixel Bridge and log in with your Epic Games account.
   • Browse for 3D assets like rocks, trees, and foliage.
   • Download and add assets directly to your project.

2. Placing Megascans in Your Scene

   • Drag downloaded assets into your level.
   • Adjust scale and position to integrate them into your environment seamlessly.

Chapter 6: Modular Castle Creation

1. Building the Castle

   • Use modular assets from the downloaded castle pack.
   • Place walls, towers, and other components to create a unique castle structure.
   • Experiment with different configurations to enhance the design.

2. Adding Details

   • Incorporate smaller elements such as flags, stones, and architecture to give life to the castle.
   • Use the same methods for arranging and modifying these assets as previously discussed.

Chapter 7: Programming with Blueprints

1. Setting Up Blueprints

   • Create a new Blueprint actor for obstacles in your level.
   • Use collision components to trigger events when the player interacts with them.

2. Adding Game Logic

   • Implement logic to enable ragdoll physics for your character upon collision.
   • Create widgets to display messages (like "You won!") when certain conditions are met.

Chapter 8: Final Touches and Small Details

1. Adding Small Props and Details

   • Import additional assets such as pebbles, shrubs, and bushes from Quixel.
   • Paint foliage and small objects throughout your environment for realism.

2. Refining the Environment

   • Adjust lighting settings, post-process effects, and exposure to enhance visual quality.
   • Ensure all elements work together cohesively to create a believable world.

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this Unreal Engine 5 tutorial! You’ve learned how to create a detailed environment from scratch, incorporating landscapes, water features, modular architecture, and gameplay mechanics using Blueprints. Continue experimenting with different assets and techniques to further enhance your skills, and don’t hesitate to share your creations!