newbie, How do I start from Scratch?

I desperately want to start making my own maps, but I've nvr done it before and I can't even figure out some of the terminology. I'm a good artist (painter in oils) and am really comfortable with gaming and design work, but I need some major help. I'll be willing to make textures or anything others need in return for help getting started. I don't even know how to open the editor in HL2/CS2. Goto www.oliverwarden.com to see my work.

http://www.snarkpit.com/forums.php?forum=6&topic=3576&0

http://www.snarkpit.com/editing.php?page=tutorials&game=HL2&id=157
http://www.snarkpit.com/editing.php?page=tutorials&game=HL&type=architecture

Slush through those first.

Look up a tutorial on the internet about your first room through google for HL1, its the same basic concepts and all.

Holy crap dude I love your work XD

I think we need our own "first map" tutorial to adress questions like this. Practicaly every beginning tutorial I've ever seen has people hollowing and carving like crazy. It's stuff like this that produces the bad habits we have so much trouble breaking people of later.

It might also be a good idea to make Lep's "Before Posting" more prominant on the page. Sort of a big START HERE article...

I'll work on a newbie tutorial.

This beginner's tutorial from TWHL was made for the original Half-Life,
but it's pretty applicable for HL2/Source. The basics are really
the same.

http://twhl.co.za/tutorial.php?id=23

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Tracer Bullet</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>I think we need our own "first map" tutorial to adress questions like this. Practicaly every beginning tutorial I've ever seen has people hollowing and carving like crazy. It's stuff like this that produces the bad habits we have so much trouble breaking people of later.

It might also be a good idea to make Lep's "Before Posting" more prominant on the page. Sort of a big START HERE article...

</DIV></DIV>
Sorry, hollowing and carving are not bad habits if used right. It's usually those putting down carving that don't realize where carving can save you double the time of clipping. Such as making skyboxes, making fake buildings etc. Carving has a use not as a primary tool, but very good for touchups.

Tracer Bullet said:
I think we need our own "first map" tutorial to
adress questions like this. Practicaly every beginning tutorial I've
ever seen has people hollowing and carving like crazy. It's stuff like
this that produces the bad habits we have so much trouble breaking
people of later.

It might also be a good idea to make Lep's "Before Posting" more prominant on the page. Sort of a big START HERE article...

Sorry, hollowing and carving are not bad habits if used right. It's
usually those putting down carving that don't realize where carving can
save you double the time of clipping. Such as making skyboxes, making
fake buildings etc. Carving has a use not as a primary tool, but very
good for touchups.

True, but it is only good because better mappers understand very well
how it will work and know on a case by case basis when it hasn't worked
and it is time for clipping.

Its just a good habbit to use the method that you have 100% controle over.

if you dont undurstand terminology -

First Room Video Tutorial by guy who talks funny
http://halflife2.filefront.com/file/Hammer_Basic_Room_Mapping_Video_Tutorial;32907

Basic Door Tutorial by same guy http://halflife2.filefront.com/file/Hammer_Basic_Doors_Video_Tutorial;33990

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Fluke</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Tracer Bullet</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>I think we need our own "first map" tutorial to adress questions like this. Practicaly every beginning tutorial I've ever seen has people hollowing and carving like crazy. It's stuff like this that produces the bad habits we have so much trouble breaking people of later.

It might also be a good idea to make Lep's "Before Posting" more prominant on the page. Sort of a big START HERE article...

</DIV></DIV>
Sorry, hollowing and carving are not bad habits if used right. It's usually those putting down carving that don't realize where carving can save you double the time of clipping. Such as making skyboxes, making fake buildings etc. Carving has a use not as a primary tool, but very good for touchups.

</DIV></DIV>
It IS a bad habit when it comes to people who don't even know how to clip objects because the first tutorial they ever encountered used carving for everything. It is another thing entirely for an experienced mapper to use the tool with full knowledge of it's deficiencies. Honestly though, I've never found a situation where I thought it was useful. Perhaps you might do a tutorial on when and where carving has significant benefits?

Your paintings are realy good man! I think your maps will look great
too, cuz map making requires both sides of the bain (the locgical and
the artistic). So once you get stared i'll think you'll make some great
maps!

yeh, just stick with it and in about a month, you will have your basics done and the fun truly begins, tho I guess playin your very first map is also really cool, either way, welcome and good luck!

I'm done with the 1st page of a massive 4 part tutorial for newbies. If I get it passed review I'll post a link.

There's the one from Valve that I used to get started: http://www.valve-erc.com/srcsdk/Levels/hl2dm_basics.html. Of course, I have done some mapping in other games (JK, UT, etc), but it's still pretty beginner-friendly.