I've got a nice map, portalled and well, thanks to you guys, but there is a problem.. I tried to compile it completely tonight (now WITH all the lightning and VIS [didn't do that before cuz it saves time and is not needed when testing]). but the compiler just doesn't wanna do the VIS thing, It hangs @ about the 4th thing on the second row.. It stayed on all night so it is no time shortage.. Now here's my question, is it absolutely necessairy to do the VIS thing.. because the portals function very well when there's no VIS done, so what does it do and do i really really need it ?

VIS breaks the map up into leafs and calculates which leafs can see which others so that the game only has to render what is really necessary. This makes the map run faster. You might be able to skip the VIS part of the compile (I know you can in HL2) but I wouldn't recommend it.

If your VIS is taking to long, try sorting out all the detial and structual brushes in the map, this should speed things up, also if the compiler "freezes" it might not crash, its done it to me before and still created a working .bsp so check your maps or mp folder for the .bsp, it may have done it.

I've got a very large map and I already sorted out the structural/detailed brushes before the compile, I think i'll leave it out for the beta testers.. thanks!

run it with the command -fast

ah nice, gonna try that Rasta, [ *cough nice stuka tutorial] Does it matter that I run the VIS after the Flare?

first normal
then -vis -fast
then flare

NO idea what happens if you turn it around.. but that;s the way everyone and everything does it.. so why change it?

because vis didnt work so I did the flare (3 hours!) right after the first q3map.

Strange! I have a fairly large map, when compiling, bsp, vis (-fast) flare (model shadow) takes around 30mins

You should run the vis or i dont think your get a complete .bsp (found from trial and error)

the maps runs very well, only you cant throw nades, and somethings wrong with the A & B bombs, could that have anything to do with not running VIS ?