Hoverboard Race

This tutorial is based on an island you can load in Creative, called Hoverboard Racing Island. The island code for this tutorial island is 1544-4420-3963.

This is an advanced tutorial, and it assumes you have basic knowledge of creating islands in Fortnite Creative. It is a more advanced version of the Car Racing Tutorial.

Island Description

The Hoverboard Racing Island is a race for up to eight players that are all riding hoverboards. The players cannot get off the hoverboards, and must complete 20 checkpoints (4 laps) to win the race. The track is enclosed. Players can leave the track, but to prevent players from accidentally driving off the edge of the island, damage volumes placed around the edge of the island will eliminate them.

While racing on the track, the players are able to collect random power-ups that can be used to help the player win the race. There are also Speed Boost tiles that increase the player's speed and Bouncer tiles that propel the player high into the air.

Devices Used

These devices were used for this gameplay example:

• Player Spawner
• Barrier
• Score Manager
• Timed Objective
• Trigger
• Race Manager
• Driftboard Spawner
• Race Checkpoint
• Tracker
• Item Granter
• HUD Message Device
• Visual Effect Powerup
• Speed Boost
• Bouncer
• Damage Volume
• VFX Spawner

Overview of Tutorial Steps

Here is an overview of the steps you'll need to take to recreate the Hoverboard Racing Island:

1. Create a new island using a starter island.
2. Build the racetrack (not demonstrated in this tutorial).
3. Create the island boundaries.
4. Build the starting grid for the race (this includes Player Spawners).
5. Add and set up the race checkpoints.
6. Add and set up the Score Manager device.
7. Add and set up the Race Manager device.
8. Add and set up the power-ups and special tiles.
9. Change My Island settings to set up the game.
10. Build the Pre-Game Lobby for the game.

There is a section with Designer Tips at the end of this tutorial that gives you advice, more ideas for building your game, and even other islands you can make based on this one.

Create Your Island

In this tutorial, you won't learn how to build the layout of the racetrack. Instead, you will learn which specific devices and settings you need to add to recreate the Hoverboard Racing Tutorial Island. If you completed the Car Racing Tutorial, you can build your racetrack using the same materials and methods you used in building that Island.

If you haven't completed the Car Racing Tutorial, you can look for Galleries in the Creative Inventory that have elements you can use, such as ones with the Racetrack or Parkour Category tags. You can also use the Street Galleries, the Pressure Plant Gallery, or some of the Shape Galleries (like the Primitive Shape Gallery, Cube Gallery, and so on). Use these to build your track layout.

Like the Car Racing Island, this island is built with a racetrack. However, regular vehicles (such as the ones used in the Car Racing Island) are not able to use power-ups. The only vehicle that allows a player to use a power-up while driving on land is the Hoverboard (also known as the Driftboard Spawner device), so that's the vehicle used for this race. You can also use powerups with the Surfboard vehicle; see the Designer Tips section for ideas on creating a Surfboard Race that takes place on water.

Create the Island Boundaries

The island you are creating is for a race. You don't want players to drive off the edge of the island by accident. Because the race is outdoors on the island, you need to create a boundary around the race area to prevent players from accidentally falling off the island. You can use Barrier and Damage Volume devices to create this boundary.

Place the Barriers

Follow these steps to place the Barrier devices and customize their options.

When you are positioning the boundary Barrier devices, you may want to keep the style as Translucent, and set a smaller size. If the Barrier is translucent, you can see what objects and props are being cut off by the Barrier and remove them. The smaller size makes moving the Barrier easier. Once you have it placed properly, you can open the Customize panel again to increase the size and change the style.

1. Place Barrier devices around the play area, completely enclosing it on all four sides. Create an invisible ceiling for the play area by placing a Barrier above the play area.
2. Once the Barrier devices are placed, modify the following options on the devices. To save time, you can customize the options on the first device, then copy and paste that customized device for the other Barrier devices you need.

   Click image for full size.

   Option	Value	Explanation
   Barrier Style	Nebula	This sets the visual style of the Barrier devices to look like a nebula in space that surrounds the island.
   Enabled During Phase	All	The Barriers need to be active throughout the game, because the purpose of the Barriers is to keep players from accidentally driving off the edge of the island.
   Block Weapon Fire	No	Blocking weapon fire is not part of the purpose for the Barriers, so set it to No.
   Zone Shape	Box	This creates a cube-shaped Barrier that is completely solid.
   Barrier Width	80	Each device you place uses memory, so by making each Barrier device as wide as possible, you can surround the island with the smallest number of devices.
   Barrier Height	50	Each device you place uses memory, so by making each Barrier device as tall as possible, you can surround the island with the smallest number of devices.

   You can change the Barrier Style option to have a wide variety of visual effects. In this tutorial, it has been set to Nebula, which makes it look like the island is floating in space. You can experiment with this option and see which visual effect appeals to you the most.

3. Once you have customized the device options and placed the Barriers, the result should look something like the image below.

   

Place the Damage Volumes

If a player crashes into the nebula Barrier or bounces off, the players will know the island isn't actually floating in space. That would ruin the fun! To prevent this, you can place Damage Volumes which will eliminate the players before they crash into the Barrier. Follow these steps to place and set up the Damage Volumes.

1. Place the Damage Volumes a distance of one square in front of the Barrier. You will set this to damage players enough to eliminate them as soon as they hit the Barrier.
2. The options you need to change on the Damage Volume plates are shown below.

   Click image for full size.

   Option	Value	Explanation
   Damage Type	Elimination	This setting will eliminate the player as soon as they touch the Damage Volume. We want to make sure the player respawns after being eliminated, and those settings are explained later.
   Zone Visible During Game	No	This makes the Damage Volumes invisible so players don't know they are there.
   Base Visible During Game	No	This makes the device base invisible also.

Build the Starting Grid for Player Spawning

Build the Starting Grid Boxes

You will need to create a starting place where the players and hoverboards will spawn. The race is for 8 players, so use wall and floor pieces to build a line of 4 boxes, with another 4 boxes stacked on top to create a grid of 8 boxes. Each individual box should be large enough to hold a Player Spawn device and a Driftboard Spawner device.

Add Barrier Devices to Front and Back of Starting Grid

Now you can add Barriers for the front and back. The front Barrier will be transparent, the back Barrier will be black so the players can't see through it.

Place the Front Barrier

For the front Barrier, modify the following options. Instead of the plain Transparent style, you can choose a red or blue forcefield to make it look interesting (the example uses the Blue Forcefield style). When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

Click image for full size.

You may want to temporarily move the front Barrier out of the way while placing the Player Spawn Pads and Driftboard Spawners. Once you have those placed, you can reposition the front Barrier.

Place the Rear Barrier

For the rear Barrier, modify the following options. Instead of the style used on the front Barrier, select the Gloss Black style. This will make the back solid and keep the players from seeing what is behind the Starting Grid. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

Click image for full size.

Add Player Spawners to Starting Grid Boxes

Next, add a Player Spawn Pad to each box in the Starting Grid (8 total). Customize the Player Spawn devices by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

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Add the Triggers

Place 8 Trigger devices behind the Starting Grid. These will be invisible to the players and can be placed anywhere, but placing them behind the Starting Grid is convenient. Customize the Triggers by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

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Add Driftboard Spawners to Starting Grid Boxes

Add a Driftboard Spawner device to each box in the Starting Grid (8 total). Customize the Driftboard Spawner devices by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

Click image for full size.

Add the Tracker Devices

The Tracker device tracks whether the player is eliminated, so if the player is eliminated by a damage volume, the Tracker completes and sends a signal to the Driftboard Spawner to destroy the player's driftboard. Then the player will respawn with a new driftboard at the starting area.

Place 8 Tracker devices behind the Starting Grid. These will be invisible to the players and can be placed anywhere, but for convenience you can place them right behind the Starting Grid. Customize the Tracker Devices by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

Click image for full size.

Add the VFX Spawners

Place 2 VFX Spawner devices in front of the Starting Grid, one on each side. These devices will shoot fireworks when the race starts. The second Timed Objective will transmit a signal to turn off the fireworks after 10 seconds. Customize the VFX Spawners by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

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Add the Timed Objectives

Place 2 Timed Objective devices behind the Starting Grid. Like the Tracker devices, these will be invisible to the players. Placing these behind the Starting Grid allows you to modify all of these devices at one time without going all over the island.

Timed Objective 1 (Start the Race)

Timed Objective 1 is used to start the race. Customize Timed Objective 1 by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

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Timed Objective 2 (End Fireworks)

Timed Objective 2 is used to turn off the fireworks that go off at the start of the race. Customize Timed Objective 2 by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

Click image for full size.

Add and Set Up Race Checkpoints

Add 5 Race Checkpoint devices to your racetrack, as shown in the image. Customize the checkpoints by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

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Add and Set Up the Score Manager

Add a Score Manager device. It defaults to being invisible, so you can place it anywhere. But it is more convenient to place it with the other devices behind the Starting Grid. Customize the Score Manager by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

Click image for full size.

Add and Set Up the Race Manager

Add a Race Manager device. Again, you can place this with the other devices behind the Starting Grid. Customize the Race Manager by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

Click image for full size.

Add and Set Up the Powerups and Special Tiles

There are multiple devices that you need to place on the racetrack. There are special powerup tiles on certain parts of the track, and there are also visual effects (VFX) powerups that grant items to players when driven over.

Speed Boost Tiles

If you look at the tutorial Island, you'll notice that there are Speed Boost tiles on several parts of the racetrack. You don't have to place them exactly like the track in the example Island. You could place them before a powerup or Bouncer tile, to make it either easier or harder to get that powerup or special tile effect. Or you could place them right before a checkpoint, to help improve the player's overall time.

The Speed Boost tile has one option you can modify. Customize the option as shown below, then click OK to save your changes. Remember, you can customize one and then copy-paste as many tiles as you need.

Bouncer Tiles

The Bouncer tile causes the player to be launched into the air. It can be placed to either benefit the player, or make the race more challenging. Bouncer tiles are traps, which means you cant customize any options for them.

Visual Effects Powerup

The VFX powerup works together with the Item Granter, to give players certain items when they drive over the VFX powerup. Customize the VFX powerups by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes. Then place the VFX powerups all over the racetrack, so the players have many opportunities to drive over them.

You can see a video example for how to connect the VFX powerup to the Item Granter below.

You can modify the first powerup, and then copy-paste that one to make a lot more. That way you won't have to customize the options for each one.

Click image for full size.

Item Granter

The players will get items when they drive over the VFX powerup. These items are actually stored and granted by the Item Granter device. Register the items you want the players to receive by dropping them on the Item Granter. Customize the Item Granter by modifying the options shown below. When you have finished customizing the options, click OK to save your changes.

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Change Island Settings

There are some island-level settings that need to be customized to make this race game work. Press M to get to the Island Settings screen. Any setting that is not listed in the sections below should be left at the default value.

Mode Settings

Structure Subcategory

Game Start Subcategory

Spawning Subcategory

Eliminations Subcategory

Scoring Subcategory

Victory Condition

Round Category > Victory Subcategory

Player Category

Locomotion Subcategory

Health Subcategory

Shields Subcategory

Pickups Subcategory

Build Mode Subcategory

Inventory Subcategory

Equipment Subcategory

World Category > Ambiance Subcategory

User Interface Category

HUD Subcategory

Scoreboard Subcategory

Build the Pre-Game Lobby

All games should have a pre-game lobby, where the players wait until the start of the game. Follow these steps to create a pre-game lobby for your race game.

1. Pick an area on the island that is not being used for playing the game, and build a room where you can set up the pre-game lobby.
2. In the room, place 8 Player Spawn Pads (to match the 8-player Starting Grid you built).

3. Customize each Player Spawn Pad by modifying the following options. You can also customize one, then copy-paste it to create the other devices you need.

   Click image for full size.

   Option	Value	Explanation
   Enabled During Phase	All	The pre-game lobby is enabled in all game phases.
   Priority Group	Secondary	This determines the priority order in which spawn pads are used. If all Primary spawn pads are not available, players will be spawned on Secondary spawn pads.
   Use As Island Start	Yes	This determines if this spawn pad can be used when players are spawning into the Island during the Pre-Game Phase.
   Visible During Game	No	Spawn pads should not be visible during the game.

4. Press M and click Island Settings at the top of the screen. Modify the following options in the Game category.

   If you have completed all the previous sections, some of these settings have already been modified. However you can use these steps and this list of My Island setting modifications to create a pre-game lobby in any game you build in Fortnite Creative.

   
   

   Option	Value	Explanation
   Join In Progress	Spectate	You don't want players joining in the middle of a race, so this makes them a spectator until the next race starts.
   Spawn Location	Spawners	This is where the players will spawn when the game starts.
   Respawn Type	Individual	Eliminated players respawn one at a time, not as a group.
   Post-Game Spawn	Island Start	This is where the players will respawn when the game ends.
   Only Allow Respawn if Spawn Pads Found	No	Players are always allowed to respawn.
   Autostart	60 seconds	This determines whether the game will automatically start after a set amount of time. This only applies to published Islands.
   Game Start Countdown	Off	There is no countdown before the start of the game.
   Keep Player Built Structures Between Rounds	Off	Player-built structures are not kept between rounds.

Designer Tips

Here are some tips for changing or adding things to your island in order to change how the island plays out, or how to create new games based on this island by changing various devices or settings.

Create a Surfboard Race

The same steps used to create this Hoverboard island can be used to create a surfboard racing island. The things you need to change are listed below.

1. You may need to change how you build the Starting Grid. Try using column supports or building a platform to put the Starting Grid on.
2. Change the Driftboard Spawners to Surfboard Spawners.
3. Create the racing route on water instead of using a racetrack on land. You'll also place the Race Checkpoints in the water.
4. You may need to change the items registered in the Item Granter, because some powerups or other items work differently for vehicles than they do for individual players. Some items may work differently on water than they do on land.

Here's a video example of a Surfboard Race.

Variations for the Hoverboard Race

• Using the lessons learned in this tutorial, you can create other game modes. For example, giving everyone weapons changes the game play, because players will want to go slowly and shoot each other instead of just racing.
• Using additional or different types of traps can change the driving experience for players. Putting traps in strategic locations, such as a speed boost in a tight area, can make the driving experience more challenging.
• You can create Barriers to keep players on a track instead of just on a map. The Barriers can be made invisible or be visible depending on the look the creator is going for.
• You can change the powerups or items granted to players:
  • You can change the Visual Effect powerup to have a longer or shorter delay before it respawns.
  • You can create a combat game mode, and use the Item Granter to grant weapons and ammunition.
  • You can change the Item Granter to grant a set amount of items, grant items in sequence instead of randomly, and even force players to equip an item granted by the Item Granter.
  • You can use the Item Granter to replace the player’s items instead of adding to the player's items.
  • You can set the Item Granter grant items to a team, a class, or to all players. These choices give you the ability to create different types of powerups, which can benefit the players or challenge them.

Create a Copy of Your Race Island

When you have an Island you like, but want to experiment by adding or changing things, you can make a duplicate of your Island. That way you can experiment and make changes without messing up your current Island.

When you open the console and click Create New, the Game Creation screen displays. To duplicate your Island, select it in the list and click the Duplicate button below the list. A copy of your original Island will appear in the list, and you can set the portal to take you there.

Once you have experimented and changed things, if you like the new island you can change the name of the island by going to My Island and clicking the Description tab.