Building Overhaul: Curved Structures and Hoverframe
The Kepler update introduced major building improvements to Icarus, including curved walls, new materials, furniture items, and the revolutionary Hoverframe vehicle. This comprehensive guide covers everything from basic building mechanics to advanced techniques for creating impressive structures.
Kepler Building Update Highlights
- Release: Week 222 (March 2026) - Free update
- Curved Walls: 45° and 90° curved pieces in all materials
- New Materials: Reinforced Stone, Composite Planks, Radiant Glass
- Hoverframe: Terrain-crossing transportation structure
- New Furniture: Medical stations, storage, planters, lighting
Building Fundamentals
Before diving into new features, understand the core building mechanics:
Basic Controls
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| B | Open building menu |
| R | Rotate piece |
| Hold R | Cycle piece variants (windows, doors) |
| End | Cancel grid snapping |
| T | Toggle third-person building |
| Left Click | Place piece |
| Right Click | Remove piece |
Grid System
Icarus uses a grid-based building system:
- Grid Size: Consistent spacing between pieces
- Snapping: Pieces snap to grid by default
- Free Placement: Press End to disable snapping for precise placement
- Foundation First: Always start with foundations for stability
New Curved Building Pieces
The most requested feature from the community, curved pieces allow for organic and architectural designs:
Available Curved Pieces
| Piece Type | Variants | Materials | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Walls | 45°, 90°, 180° | Wood, Stone, Concrete | Towers, rounded rooms, domes |
| Curved Roofs | Quarter, Half, Full dome | Wood, Stone, Metal | Greenhouses, observatories |
| Round Pillars | Small, Medium, Large | Stone, Concrete, Metal | Columns, supports, decoration |
| Half-Walls | Standard, Angled | All materials | Battlement, railings, windbreaks |
| Spiral Stairs | Clockwise, Counter-clockwise | Wood, Stone | Space-efficient vertical access |
Building Tips for Curved Pieces
- Plan your radius: Decide on circle diameter before building
- Build the frame first: Place curved walls as skeleton
- Fill in with standard pieces: Mix curved and straight for hybrid designs
- Watch for gaps: Some gaps may exist when combining with standard pieces
- Use half-walls for details: Create crenellations, railings, and decorative elements
Example: Creating a Round Tower
- Place round foundation at desired location
- Stack 90° curved walls to desired height
- Add round pillars at corners for support
- Cap with half-dome roof
- Add windows using R to cycle variants
Building Materials Guide
Understanding material properties helps you choose the right building components:
Material Tier Progression
| Material | Tier | Durability | Blast Resistance | Special Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thatch | 1 | Low | None | Cheap, fast, flammable, storm damage |
| Wood | 2 | Medium | Low | Moderate cost, decent durability |
| Stone | 3 | High | Medium | Good all-around, moderate cost |
| Concrete | 4 | Very High | High | Flame resistant, requires Silica Ore |
| Reinforced Stone | 4 | Very High | Very High | Blast resistant, Stone + Iron |
| Composite Planks | 4 | Medium | Low | Lightweight, Wood + Polymer |
| Aluminum | 5 | High | Medium | Various applications, light weight |
| Glass | 4 | Low | None | Transparency, decorative |
| Radiant Glass | 5 | Low | None | Bioluminescent, Elysium exclusive |
| Scoria | Varies | Medium | Medium | Volcanic regions, unique appearance |
Material Recommendations by Scenario
| Scenario | Recommended Material | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary shelter | Thatch or Wood | Fast to build, low cost |
| Long-term base | Stone or Concrete | Good durability, moderate cost |
| PvP server | Reinforced Stone or Concrete | Blast resistance essential |
| Decorative | Glass, Radiant Glass | Aesthetic appeal |
| Volcanic biome | Stone, Concrete, Scoria | Heat resistant appearance |
| Lightweight structure | Composite Planks, Aluminum | Reduced weight, easier placement |
New Furniture Items
The Kepler update added functional and decorative furniture pieces:
Storage Furniture
| Item | Function | Crafting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Storage Crate | 50 slot storage | 30 Wood, 10 Iron Ingot | 2x capacity of standard crate |
| Organized Shelf | Categorized storage | 20 Wood, 5 Iron Ingot | Auto-sorts by item type |
| Secure Locker | Personal storage | 25 Iron Ingot, 5 Steel Screw | Password protected |
Functional Furniture
| Item | Function | Crafting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Station | 2x healing speed when resting | 15 Iron Ingot, 10 Fiber, 5 Herb | Requires bed nearby |
| Research Desk | Passive talent XP gain | 20 Wood, 10 Iron Ingot | +10% XP while in base |
| Armory Rack | Weapon display, +5 weapon durability | 15 Iron Ingot, 10 Steel Screw | Decoration + function |
| Planter Box | Grow specific indoor herbs | 10 Wood, 5 Clay | Requires light source |
| Lighting Fixture | Powered area lighting | 5 Iron Ingot, 3 Electronic Parts | Requires fuel or power |
Decorative Furniture
- Paintings: Wall decorations with various themes
- Rugs: Floor decorations in multiple sizes and patterns
- Statues: Stone sculptures for base aesthetics
- Planters: Decorative plant containers
The Hoverframe Vehicle
The Hoverframe is a revolutionary transportation structure that floats above terrain, essential for Elysium's challenging landscapes.
Hoverframe Overview
The Hoverframe is a buildable vehicle that provides fast, terrain-independent transportation:
- Terrain Capability: Crosses water, mud, rocks, and small obstacles
- Speed: Faster than running, slightly slower than sprinting
- Cargo: Integrated storage for transporting resources
- Fuel: Requires Fuel Canisters to operate
Hoverframe Stats
| Stat | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Max Speed | 15 m/s | Approximately sprint speed |
| Fuel Capacity | 100 units | Standard fuel canister |
| Fuel Consumption | 1 unit/second | Continuous while moving |
| Cargo Slots | 12 | Moderate storage capacity |
| Durability | 500 HP | Takes damage from collisions |
| Weight Limit | 100 kg cargo | Combined cargo weight |
| Passengers | 1 (driver only) | No passenger seats |
Crafting the Hoverframe
Requires Tier 3 Machining Table:
Chassis: 40 Iron Ingots, 20 Polymer, 10 Electronic Parts
Thrusters: 10 Iron Ingots, 5 Electronic Parts, 2 Titanium Ingot
Control Module: 5 Electronic Parts, 3 Copper Ingot
Fuel Canister: 5 Coal, 1 Iron Ingot → 10 fuel units
Assembly: All components at Machining Table
Hoverframe Usage Tips
- Essential for Elysium: Required for Skybreak Archipelago and vertical terrain
- Fuel management: Bring multiple canisters for long expeditions
- Avoid collisions: Damage from crashes can be significant
- Storage vs. mounts: Less cargo than mounts but better terrain crossing
- Defenseless: Cannot attack while driving
Construction Techniques
Foundation Building
- Choose location: Flat ground provides easiest building
- Place corner foundations: Mark the corners of your base
- Connect with floor pieces: Fill in between corners
- Check stability: Pieces should show green when valid
- Add walls: Build walls on established floor pieces
Stability and Support
Understanding structural integrity prevents collapses:
- Pillars: Support floors and roofs at regular intervals
- Beams: Span longer distances than floors
- Diagonal bracing: Add triangular supports for extra stability
- Material strength: Higher tier = more structural integrity
Advanced Techniques
- Floating structures: Build unsupported with enough material strength
- Hidden storage: Walls can hide storage containers
- Defensive design: Create chokepoints and kill zones
- Blend with terrain: Use natural features as part of base walls
Server Configuration
Admins can configure building settings:
; Curved Walls
bEnableCurvedWalls=True
iMaxCurvedWallPieces=100
; Hoverframe
bEnableHoverframe=True
fHoverframeSpeedMultiplier=1.0
fHoverframeFuelConsumption=1.0
fHoverframeDurabilityMultiplier=1.0
; Building
fStructuralIntegrityMultiplier=1.0
bEnableFreePlacement=False
fPiecePlacementCostMultiplier=1.0
Building Tips Summary
- Curved walls snap to existing structures - build the frame first for best results
- Radiant Glass requires Elysium resources - trade or prospect for access
- Hoverframe is essential for Elysium's Skybreak Archipelago zone
- Reinforced Stone is recommended for PvP servers due to blast resistance
- Medical Stations double healing speed - essential for dangerous expeditions
- Plan material costs before building - concrete requires significant Silica Ore
- Use the End key to disable grid snapping for precise placement