Lo.

I started this topic, because i have noticed that in my
opinion some people start the wrong way to map.

This site has the best tutorials on the internet to start mapping and also for more experienced mappers.
So the basics are there.
But know comes the more important part and that is patience.
Get in mind what you actually want to be the end result.
What i have seen is that people start to small.
It means that an multiplayer map is for use by multiple players.
So starting out an multiplayer map only the size of your house and put an skybox around it makes no sence.
Until you live in a nice big castel or whatever.
When you start to experiment with your first map
start mapping in the size of a couple of football fields.
Start with large terrain patches and an descent skybox.
Then you can experiment further through your mapping
proces.
Well if you want to create your own house or your street
why not.
Afterall this is the beauty of designing and creating things.

Well i am sure that there are lots of mappers here on the forum who can add some advice for rookie mappers.

I have to disagree with the part about starting with a large terrain and a decent skybox. Dont restrict yourself with space. Always do you skybox last, so you have space during development to work!

Supersword

Lo.

What i did try to explain whas that you restrict yourself
with space if you only make a couple of terrain patches 512x512 and put a skybox around it as an basic map.
Lets say the size of an livingroom.

Ofcourse you can do your skybox last.

Making your terrain patches and laying out your terrain patches first lets say the size of rhinevalley map does not
restrict someone but gives space.

It is easy to delete terrain in the end then that you come up with oh i need some more terrain.

Wups.

That was supposed to read dont restrict yourself with no enough space.

I agree though, deleting them last is easier and more efficient than cramming a little bit of terrain with things when it could look better on a bigger scale.

Supersword

I tend to disagree...in my mapping style, I start with a small building, add terrain around it, compile with flare to see if I like the look of it, then I brainstorm some ideas of what would go nicely around it, I build those, add more terrain, repeat, etc. I think it works well.

Oh! and a bad habit to get into is to 'make it up' as you go along, something i have got into the habit of doing. Which in the long run is really a waste of time, because you end up deleting half you work..

I agree with rasta, whatever you do don't start making things up !!
Browse the internet, read books or do what I do and thats sit and watch many many war films.

Bridge too Far
Kellys Heroes
Saving Private Ryan
Longest Day
Enemy at the Gates (My next map !)

Then run upstairs and spend 6 hours mapping like I do ! LOL

I also do the same as ={W}=DEVIL. I build a section of the map, put as much detail into that area as I feel is needed then move onto the next.
You may find that some of the detail work you've just done can be used on your next section so you can just copy/paste !

Now, back to mapping !

Bye !

edited on Aug. 28, 2005 06:40 am by paulo88

Any mapping technique is good aslong as you get the desired results and end up with a finished map, it's just certian ways might be faster, although faster might not always be the best lol

edited on Aug. 28, 2005 07:00 am by techno2sl

liek I've said before,


easy good fast. Pick two.