Hi all.

Kinda confused, I have started making a map with a fair few "mountains" and hills, and wanted to do a quick test to see if all was ok: however when compiling my BSP I get this:

ASSERTION FAILURE
Expression g_ImapBlocks
Module: C:\Program Files.................
File: .\lightmaps.ccp


I have a lightgrid, sky and all the usual things needed to run a multiplayer map, but with the above I can't even get past the compile process....

Oh, and to make sure it wasnt the lightgrid I re-made it, making sure I had deleted all remnants of the previous one..!

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance..

it's indeed not one of the usual errors, but maybe caused by one of the known problems...

there's a limitation in size for map geometry (brushes and patches), as they need to fit into 1024x1024 pixel lightmaps. So if you got large geometry elements, try to turn them into smaller pieces, in case of patches by splitting them into multiple meshes.

If surface materials tile alot (repeat), it can be problematic as well. Scale the texture up to possibly fix this (may also apply to lightmap scale).

make sure nothing is penetrating the skybox, nor touching it. This should actually generate a different error message if it all, but you never know (we would need to know more about the engine internals to understand what causes error exactly...)

in the compile tools, try this: tick the "samplescale" checkbox and set a value larger than 1, e.g. 2 or 4. Shadows will become less acurate, but it will make large surfaces with often-repeating textures work.

Ahh ok, thank you.

Ok, so lets say that I wanted to do a "Valley" hills/mountains either side with the "play area" in the middle. Would I make/build the "hills/mountains" first (the player can't get to these) and then the middle play area? Or would it be easier (make more sense) to build from the middle out?

The reason I ask this, is because i want to use "hills/mountains" for the backdrop, with a normal size (about Overgrown size) play area in the middle..!

Hope that makes sense!?

Thanks again...

Such decisions depend on you, the mapper. I would start with the core play area, proceed to the play area borders and add scenery at last.

Thanx.

Yeah I had been working: Boarder in. But think I might switch that ;-)

Thanx again..