Simple question: Does anyone know where I can find specific details on RPG mapping (entities, sounds and such) ?? All I found was RPG clans and even more clans, but no info . . .

i dont think there are any sites on anything like mapping RPG, your best bet is to get into contact with some active rpg mappers, check out rpg-x they are prety active

Most of the "great" mappers have moved on to other games, but there are some new mappers rising to greatness. The two best places to check out are RPG-X forums and ERP forums. I'm an RP mapper myself so here's the basics:

1. Sound completes the experience. Good RP maps have a few layers of sound: the first layer is the continous hum of the engines heard throughout the ship (unless you're mapping a planet); the second layer is room-specific ambient sound (eg. warp core); the third layer involves interactivity which I'll explain in more detail below.

2. Features, features, features. Func_usable is an RP mappers best friend. Most consoles will have a func_usable attached to a target speaker to make a beeping noise. Some consoles will have a noise specific to how the console is labelled (eg. scanning sound for science station), whereas most consoles have something more generic. Try to vary things a bit so that not every console makes the same noise. Starship maps quite often will have a toggleable viewscreen, which is just a func_usable turning on and off with a skybox behind. The skybox usually also will have a warp shader (I use cones); the uber mappers also put warp shaders outside ALL the windows of the whole ship. All warp shaders are activated simultaneously from the helm console. Red alert shaders are also very popular now, which are simply alternating func_usables (occupy same place, but not at same time).

3. All aboard the func_train! Func_trains are like the secret weapon of the RP mapper. They are more difficult to use and so were not in use as much in the early days, but once mastered they can be reapplied to things such as toggleable doors, lifts, shuttles, etc.

4. Beam me up Scotty. Some starship maps feature working transporters with a planet surface so that away missions can occur without changing maps.

Your imagination will help you think of more things. Ask other RP mappers and check out their maps for ideas. I will try to answer specific questions as best I can but I don't have all the answers.

Quote (Scooter @ Mar. 05 2005, 3:24 am)

Most of the "great" mappers have moved on to other games, but there are some new mappers rising to greatness. The two best places to check out are RPG-X forums and ERP forums.

Do you also know where I can find them, since for RPG-X I can only find this site, which appears only to deal with SG1 and my ERP searches ends up on some Chinese site . . .

Quote (Scooter @ Mar. 05 2005, 4:26 pm)

http://forums.rpg-x.net http://www.eliterp.com/erp/forum/

Thanks

TAlk to a guy named Will Riker.  He maps for ERP and he did alot of the RPG maps.  Nice guy.
This is his MSN
hesketh1000@tiscali.co.uk

Quote (Lord Dave @ Mar. 07 2005, 4:14 pm)

TAlk to a guy named Will Riker.

If that is his real name...


Seriously, though, someone tell me what this EF RPG stuff is all about.  I'm too lazy to click and find out myself...

Basically you Roleplay as a starfleet officer aboard a ship.  The roleplaying is done via forums.  The person in charge, cris, makes plots and we have to interact with them based on the characters we create.

Go visit www.ussposeidon.net and look at the forums.  Tis fun.
(I'm Lt. Doss there)

It sounds like a cool idea, but I can't take myself seriously enough to really roleplay.  I'd be cracking too many jokes.