# Exercise: Verticality vertical massing, height, "z-levels", floors Of course, it is difficult to plan in the vertical dimension with a top-down layout drawing. That's why architects draw elevations and sections to depict the vertical profile of a building. But for level design planning purposes, that is too much detail. Think more abstract. (layout with verticality) * Group your areas into major ground planes / elevations, and shade it like a heightmap: darker areas are lower, while lighter areas are higher. * Omit any minor height changes or shallow terrain sloping. * Reserve enough space for ramps, stairs, and any approaches or landings. If your map consists of overlapping floors over floors, draw the floors separately and label the transitions between floors. But for structures with trivial ground floors, like a watchtower, then you can simply omit it. Draw what will best communicate the core ideas of the level. --- # 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://book.leveldesignbook.com/learning/projects/unfinished-wip-pages/verticality.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.