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Quick Start

Build and ride your first slide in under five minutes. No code, no setup beyond dragging an actor into your level.

1. Add BP_SimpleSlideSystem to a level

   In the Content Browser, open SimpleSlideSystem/Core and drag BP_SimpleSlideSystem into your level.

   You'll see three things in the viewport:

   • A spline — the path the rider follows.
   • A box at the start of the spline — the Entry Trigger. Walking into it starts the ride.
   • An arrow at the end — the Exit Arrow, showing which way the rider will be launched.
   
   Tip

   Place the actor so the start of the spline is somewhere your character can walk to easily, such as the top of a platform or set of stairs.

2. Shape the spline

   Select the slide, then click a spline point in the viewport to select it. Move it with the normal transform gizmo.

   • The first point is the top of the slide (where the ride starts).
   • The last point is the exit (where the rider is launched).
   • To add a point, hold Alt and drag an existing point, or right-click the spline and choose Add Spline Point Here.

   For a first test, simply drag the last point downhill and out to the side so the slide has a clear slope.

   Note

   The Entry Trigger always snaps to the first spline point. To move the entrance, move the first spline point, not the trigger box.

   Red text above the slide?

   If you see "SETUP ERROR: the slide spline needs at least 2 points and must be longer than 1 unit.", add a second point or pull the points further apart. A separate warning may appear if the exit looks blocked — see Troubleshooting.

3. Place a Character

   The slide carries any Character, so you need to play as one.

   • Using your own project's character? Make sure your Game Mode spawns it, and drop a Player Start near the Entry Trigger.
   • Testing in an empty level? Open Window › World Settings and set GameMode Override to BP_SlideDemoGameMode (the game mode the example map uses). Then add a Player Start near the slide.
   Warning

   Unreal's built-in default pawn (the floating "spectator" ball you get in a blank level) is not a Character, so it can't ride the slide. If nothing happens when you walk into the trigger, this is the most likely reason.

4. Press Play

   Click Play (or press Alt+P) to start Play In Editor.

5. Ride the slide

   Walk into the Entry Trigger. Your character will:

   1. Glide smoothly onto the top of the slide.
   2. Turn to face down the slide and pick up speed on the slope.
   3. Launch off the end in the direction of the Exit Arrow.
   4. Land with full control restored.

   After a short cooldown (1 second by default), the slide is ready for the next ride.

Next steps

Your slide works. Now make it feel right:

• Add a mesh. The slide actor is invisible in game — place one of the example meshes from Demo/DemoContent/Meshes (or your own) and shape the spline to follow its surface. See Using your own slide mesh.
• Rider sinking into the mesh? Raise Rider Height Above Path to about half your capsule height (around 88 for the Unreal mannequin).
• Tune the speed. Adjust Max Speed, Min Speed and Slope Influence.
• Tune the launch. Adjust Launch Boost and Launch Pitch, and watch the Exit Arrow update.
• See what's possible. Open the Example Map and select any slide to see its settings.