How to start

Hi,
I am a noob. I have never made a map but have great interest in making one. Besides the tutorials here is there any other useful info that is good for a beginner?
Thanks

Lots of patience

No. Seriously. Learning curve is very steep at first, you gotta stick with it.

Wait until you feel that your map can rank up with the general standard of what a good map is before you release. This is invaluable.

I agree with Cass. Sweating through the tutorials on your own for a while teaches you far more than posting a question in the editing forum every time you hit a snag. We are here to help, but we aren't going to hold your hand. I assume you are going for HL2 right off the bat? I don't know how many n00b tuts there are out there for it, but rest assured that much of what is already available for HL1 is still valid for HL2.

Never be afraid to toss out everything you've done on a map and start over. Obviously you need to also know when to say enough is enough and finish it, but especially as you're learning, you'll be able to do things much better the second, third, fourth time around.

Also, note things you like about other maps for any game. Think about ways you can incorporate similar ideas into your own work. This will really expand your horizons.

Cassius said:
Wait until you feel that your map can rank up with the general standard of what a good map is before you release. This is invaluable.

In line with this, I usually recommend you keep your first map fairly small and simple, something you can accomplish with only the most basic mapping skills. That way you get the satisfaction of finishing something a little earlier on. Regardless, your first map(s) will probably suck, assuming you actually finish them, since you will make a ton of mistakes while learning. And don't expect to have anything remotely playable for at least a couple months.

Luckily when you start off just making a box with a light in it is quite a thrill :biggrin:

Learn to take criticism. 90% of the time, when you're new, the most common feedback you'll recieve on various forums is "this map sucks". 90% of the time, when you're new, it's true. Luckily over here, you also get some suggestions and tips on how to improve your levels. Listen well and learn well:)

Just 1 point, make sure that if you feel that an area in the map is not great then take your time to see what could make a difference, like they said, go through the tuts and use them to the full extent which they could in your map.

Oh and welcome, have a beer.

Has anyone noticed there are a rash breakout of noobs to mapping since CSS was released?

/my 2 cents

Well, seeing as map making is now much harder than it used to be, it's going to be fun :smile: (and good for this site's traffic! Huzzah!)

sweet, i can't wait for the site to go down more often!

Hush young Yak, I have triple the bandwidth now than I did a few months ago. And as I keep saying, it's those damn competitions you make me have that kills it :razz:

Leperous said:
Hush young Yak, I have triple the bandwidth now than I did a few months ago. And as I keep saying, it's those damn competitions you make me have that kills it :razz:

Triple the noobs :razz:

Don't start too many projects, or you won't get anything done. Once you
feel you're ready and have some nice looking maps, consider joining a
mod that has mappers at a skill level equal to or higher than yourself

• you'll improve a lot faster, have a lot of fun, and probably make

some friends in the process as well. Most of all, remember that this is
just a hobby. :smile:

Campaignjunkie said:
remember that this is just a hobby. :smile:

Unless your KFS.

Do lots of mapping, even if 90% of them stink or look bad -- mine did. Practice makes perfect. :smile:

No, perfect practice makes perfect. Normal practice makes you mediocre. This goes for just about anything.

You'd argue absolutely anything

That isn't true :razz:

@#$%