I've had most experience (about three years, and a dozen maps) using Worldcraft.  I've also worked with Quark and Qoole.

I nearly fell over when I first ran the Radiant program.  Is this for real?

Where is the FPS-style movement scheme (like Worldcraft)?

Where are the multiple 2d views? (like Worldcraft, Qoole, Quark)

Where is the option to work with handles instead of a semi-dynamic dragging system to move and resize?  Where is the ability to move the camera (drag and hold) instead of dragging and moving the selected object?

How do I select an object? All I can get it to do is draw a new brush.

How do I edit vertexes... especially when I only have one 2d view?


If one program could cause me to commit murder, it might be this.  I am amazed at how horribly unrefined and confusing the interface and controls are, and even more amazed that this tool can actually be used to produce something that looks as good as the levels in Quake 3.

I really just want to use Worldcraft. I know it in and out, and can speed up development many times over.  I want to produce a level, but this program is so utterly confusing and poorly designed that I cannot express how annoyed I am when using it.  If there is no way to get around using this program, for at least the majority of the development then I won't be making levels for Soldier of Fortune 2.

Any information, on any of this would be of great help.  I'm not looking for a tutorial, just some explanations.  I know how to design levels... probably more than some of the people at Raven.

I just can't figure out this program.

Sorry radiant is newbie proof, after figuring it out youll like it more.

That's the thing.  

Whenever software is "newbie proof", there's serious problems.

I'm reading all the tutorials, and my god.  This program takes the cake for the least intuitive controls.

Shift click to select, and default selecting all objects you select afterwards? Delete changes grid size?  That horrid mouse control in the 3d window? Heh, man... I think they put effort into making it confusing!

I'm slowly getting it, but once I'm done with my one map I will never use the program again.  A horrible, horrible program.

Where is the option to add a light entity? The entity list doesn't seem to have it, and the "manual" only refers it by saying: "Just add a light".  Yeah, thanks there big guy... I'll just add a light... God.

Worldcraft isn't even in the same category as this program.  Saying it is insults whomever made Worldcraft...

i have made a little package that will convert radiant into something that is much more friendly to worldcrafters. way easier to use it now, really radiant is better than worldcraft in alot of ways -- trust me, you will see what i mean, i was using WC from way back in the quake1 days.

go to the forums here at GDConnect and ask foyleman to post the NarcRadiant pack. he didnt put it online because he thought there was no demand for it

FPS like movement: Download GTK Radiant

Multiple 2d Views: RTFM and look at the preferecences->Layout section

Scaling / resizing system: Best I have saw in any brush based editor. Keeps you from creating errorenous brushes. Also comes in very nifty when you start resizing strange shaped brushes ( much better than WC's)

Camera Movement: GTK Radiant (not Q3 Radiant, the one that ships with the SDK) in MUCH better, just right click in 3d view and look around, use scroll wheel to zoom in and out or use arrow keys. Pan by holding control and moving the mouse.

Selecting Objects: Shift left click; help->shortcut lists is there for a reason.

Vertex Editing: Shortcut V, you can do it in the 3d view or (once you change the layout) in any of the 2d views. E is for edge editing.. I use it more than vertex editing. All edit commands work in the 3d view as well as the 2d views.

Texturing is also much better in GTK Radiant, but it takes a while to figure them out, because the shortcuts aren't documented ( the help files still relate to Q3 Radiant ). First of all you HAVE to have a 3 button mouse for them to work. Also these only work in the 3d view. Here are the shortcuts I have found so far:
(MB = middle button)

When nothing is selected:
MB = Grab texture
MB + Shift = Apply texture to one face
MB + Ctrl = Apply texture to entire brush
MB + Ctrl + Shift = Apply texture and copy texture coords
When something is selected:
MB = Grab texture and apply to selected
MB + Alt = Grab texture and coordinates and apply to selected

The other commands work as normal

Oh, and the best mappers are able to adapt to the most hostile of tools.

I understand CaptFallout points...
Everyone can dig a hole using their hands, but a better tools is more efficient. The industry set some standards...like if you hit a delete key, you are assuming that it will delete. Unfortunatly, there is not a lot of tools around and this is a free software. Yes it could be more intuitive but thanks to the developers that provide us with a tools at no fee....

This is another case when what you know gets in the way of what you don't.
I had never used another mapping program before, so I found Radiant very easy to use. And I'm a newby, so we can't really say it's "newby proof".

Blackfly - You can reconfigure key binding by using the configuration file, Radiant/shortcuts.ini. There are tutorials for what you have to put into the file ( They didn't include it in the current version of GTK Radiant ), check the Radiant website.

Ive used WC, UED, Tribes Editor, Morrowind Editor, sofrad, wolfrad, mohrad (probably all the same ) GTKradiant etc etc...

Going from one youve used for months, or even years to another is always a pain in the ass, cept with all the rads cause there all the same basically


/me can not wait for the new UED to come out, check out the 45 min long CPL footage of ut2k3 OMG! i didnt want that game, just the engine till i saw that... gave me wood...