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Blackboard

The Blackboard is a centralised storage system for global variables and parameters within a Dynamic Dungeon graph. It allows you to expose specific values to the Unity Inspector and share parameters between different nodes or even between parent graphs and sub-graphs.

Key Concepts

  • Properties: Variables defined in the Blackboard. Currently supported types are Float and Int.
  • Global Scope: Blackboard properties are accessible throughout the entire graph.
  • Exposed Properties: By adding a property to the Blackboard, it becomes visible in the DungeonGenerator component in the Unity Inspector, allowing for quick iteration without opening the graph editor.

Using the Blackboard

  1. Open the Blackboard: In the Dungeon Designer window, click the Blackboard button in the toolbar to open the panel.
  2. Add a Property: Click the + button and select a type (e.g., Float).
  3. Name the Property: Give your property a unique, descriptive name (e.g., CaveDensity).
  4. Reference in Graph: Drag the property from the Blackboard panel directly into the Graph area. This will create an Exposed Property node.

Exposed Property Node

This node acts as a bridge between the Blackboard and your graph logic.

PortTypeDirectionDescription
OutputFloat / IntOutputThe current value of the Blackboard property.

Benefits

  • Consistency: Use a single Seed or GlobalScale value across dozens of noise nodes.
  • Iteration: Change world parameters (like humidity, room size, or spawn rates) directly from the Unity Inspector while in Play Mode.
  • Sub-Graph Communication: Sub-graphs can read from the parent's blackboard, allowing for modular but configurable behaviours.