For those who would like a close up view of the home I used in the Split-Level Entry tutorial, I have set Laiandra to be free to download from January 25th - February 22. Honestly? The BEST way to learn how to do it is to rip apart the home and see what fits where. ;) Color the basement floor something like a bright red, the main floor blue, and the higher floors other colors (a garish orange or brilliant purple come to mind...hehehe). This way you can see where things meet up, and match them with the tutorial.

Also, bear in mind when reading the tutorial these mathematical facts:
1 - A wall height is 16 clicks high.
2 - A stair height is 4 clicks. (So 4 sets of stairs = 1 wall height.)
3 - By raising the ground up 4 clicks we enable sunlight to enter the basement, AND ensure that the ground isn't TOO steep in the backyard when the build is through.
4 - When we use the two sets of stairs to go down, drop the landing another 4 clicks by using CFE to shorten the landing height, and add them to the 4 clicks we raised the ground UP first, we get 16...which is EXACTLY the height we need to attach a foundation to. 4 clicks (raised the land up in Step 1) + 8 clicks (2 sets of stairs down from the raised land) + 4 clicks (shortening the landing using CFE from the temporary basement wall) = 16 clicks ...or a full wall height. See? We are tricking the game so we can create the split-level.
5 - Because the landing is actually 12 clicks high (remember we had to trick the game using CFE), we still need 4 clicks to have an entire wall height. That's where the one set of stairs going up comes in, and it is the key to having a split-level entry. 12 clicks + 4 clicks = 16 clicks. NOW we have a true full wall height, and a playable floor in the basement as well as on the main.

Keep these other tips in mind -
1 - When you have created the wall in the basement to level the landing area, DO NOT level from the floor itself! Level from the TOP of the wall right over the landing area. This will drop the landing to the 12 clicks we need to attach the foundation.
2 - Anything you do on the bottom floors affects the top floors. If you "fix" something on the bottom you are going to have to fix it all the way up floor by floor...so make every move count.
3 - PLEASE read the steps very carefully. Say them out loud as you follow the instructions if you have to, and only do what I have typed in...at least until you have finished and are ready to remove the excess walls to create your own building.
4 - To find the "Room Wall Tool", just go to where you would find the tool to build walls. Underneath THAT you will see another wall tool choice. Click on that. This tool actually creates ROOMS not just walls! This is FAR easier to use when messing with CFE for scaffolding like that needed to create the upper landing in the tutorial. Just choose the room building tool and make a 2 square by 2 square ROOM whose corner attaches to the pillar. The pillar WILL bump up, but it is supposed to.

I wish I could personally help anyone who has trouble with this tutorial, but I really do not have the time to take each person step by step through the process. Practice, tear apart the home I am setting free, play around with the tool a little, try some simpler tutorials to learn how to use CFE first if necessary. You CAN do this! You just need a little faith and a little practice! :D I'm pulling for you!

Love and hugs -
Illiana