Beginners luck

Be patient, I am not exactly sure how best to phrase some questions so if I word it incorrect do not be surprised.

My questions:

1. From a new mappers standpoint, which is easier to learn. Indoor or outdoor maps?

2. Should a mapper make a big map for lots of people to play or a small one?

3. What kind of map is best for a first attempt? Specifically, offices,industrial,vacation? Suggest another.

4.Where can someone get some kind of instructions on making first maps for Half-Life 2?

I cannot think of anything else to ask right now. If I missed something please post that along with your reply.

Thank you in advance.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

I think it's best for you to post these questions in the HL2 mapping forum. The general discussion forum is reserved for none mapping topics.

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"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." -- Toulouse-Lautre, Moulin Rouge

1. I think indoor. Outdoor is sometimes a little confusing because the
way skies are set up. Basically, they're almost the same, outdoor maps
are usually just somewhat bigger but they still consist of rooms, some
brushes just have a toolssky texture applied to them to display the sky.

2. Depends on your preference. I prefer to create middle-sized maps. If
you want to go big, try it. If you rather keep things small, go ahead.
Keep in mind that playtesting is important to see what works well for a
certain amount of players and what doesn't.

3. Go ahead, let your inspiration flow. It might be easier to imitate existing levels, but that's totally your choice.

4. The Valve Wiki contains a basic guide to create HL2DM levels, but
there are many tutorial sites out there including this one. Google for
them or ask around. On the VERC forums there are some sticky posts with
lists of sites, for example.

Oh, and welcome to the Snarkpit. Enjoy your stay. :smile:

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Create-ivity - a game development blog

Try not to be too ambitious for your first map. Its better to have a small, complete map than a huge map that never gets finished.

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"If you talk at all during this lesson, you have detention. Do you understand?"

• My yr11 Economics teacher

My first map was a killbox. I had a lot of fun on it. But don't tell anyone...

1. for new mappers, the most important thing to learn is simply what the editor can do. for instance, holding shift and dragging an object or group of objects will create a clone. a simple use for this would be to make a staircase by repeatedly cloning one of it's steps, a task that is somewhat more tedious when done the long way. learning the basics of hammer will save you time and effort for either indoor or outdoor maps.

2. your probably better aiming for smallish map. you're less likely to get bogged down with a small map, and would be more willing to abandon it if it went arse up for some reason. and as maps get bigger, there are more considerations that need to be taken into account.

3. that's the beauty of mapping :biggrin:

4. the tutorials here, or the forums for anything that you're not clear on.

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i eat paint

I would recommend to choose an ambitious but still moderately sized map for your first. Learning to use the tools is easiest when you're really stretching yourself to solve new problems. If you make said killbox you'll spend alot of time that doesn't actually involve learning.

Best first map, is to try and make one that is worthy of Valve official. If you fail, you do well for your first, if you succeed you obviously accomplish something special, and several game companies have a job for you. I always find shooting high works better than staying safe.

do an indoor to start. other than that...whatever the f**k you want.

I agree with others: learn the basics first before tackling anything
crazy. It'll all come in time - and remember that it's a hobby, so you
should be enjoying yourself at least some of the time. Also, finish
your projects and don't do too many at once, or you'll just end up with
a bunch of half-finished maps that remind you me of how much of a failure I am!

• Ctrl+E centers all grid views on the object. Very useful, I use it constantly.
• Get used to selecting things from the 3D view - hold down left-mouse-button to cycle through objects under your cursor.
• Learn vertex manipulation / clipping and practice with them a
  lot! The Wiki is a
  good
  source for this.</li>

Work on your mapping skill before you try and make something for the public.

I spent 3 years mapping before I made a single map, I went quite slow, but I think its better to learn the program and learn it well before you tackle the whole new world of playablity and online issues like lag and fps (though you should keep these things in mind).

Read all the tutorials you can and look at as many source maps as you can find. Also play HL2 and as many MODs as you can, I map my best when I am inspired. You should also watch a good deal of movies and go outside to places you would map (I was just in an abandoned asylum tonight).

I would build an indoor map for a first try with some closed off
outdoor areas, try small at first so that you can focus more on detail,
but make sure the lay out has good game play. Offices, industrial areas
etc is up to you, industrial outside areas can be quite complicated.

"I think it's best for you to post these questions in the HL2 mapping forum. The general discussion forum is reserved for none mapping topics. "

My apologies. I read everything I could find and was confused actually. My take was:

"General Banter" General comments about anything.
"Maps" You can only post about a map you are already constructing, I have none.
"Art" Yeah right, my skill at map making can be called a lot of things but art doesn't head the list.
"Half-Life 2 editing" You can only ask one question per thread. I had multiple questions that weren't really specific to an editor. My questions centered more on the man, not the program.
"Half-Life" This thread seemed a bit old to me. However the same reasons applied as with the Half-Life 2 forum.
"Radiant editor" I have no clue what that is.

I decided to post here because it seemed the least wrong to do so. If its really bad, delete it and I will begin again in the forum of choice.

To the other less offended members, my gratitude mounts.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

Its OK, I think you posted this in the right place.

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"If you talk at all during this lesson, you have detention. Do you understand?"

• My yr11 Economics teacher

Yeah this is fine where it is mate :smile: Questions with specific "correct"
answers should be posted in the relevant editing forum, but general
questions about level design or discussions about people's different
approaches are best suited to the general banter forum.

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[img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Default/reno84.png[/img]
Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

i just have one question why do most people map for multiplayer, or so assume from what ive heard around here. i personnally think that mapping for sp is much funner i feel that i have a lot more freedom.

plus im not too good for making reasonable maps for multiplayer and ive never finished a thing!

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Bullet Control: $5000 for a bullet.
"I would blow your f**king head off! ...if I could afford it. I'm gonna get another job, start saving some money... then you a dead man!"

Finishing a project, teaches you far more than half finishing a 100. Also, learn the basics before you start mapping. If you want to practice gameplay FINISH an all orange map with fantastic gameplay. If you want to learn to make a good looking map. Load up Photoshop/Paint/Paintshop Pro/Painter/Pens and Markers/Paints and brushes and start drawings. 1 point perspective can be learned in a day. Just create great art. If you can make something look good with a pencil, you can make it look great on the computer. Best of all, you already know how to use a pencil, it'll take you a month or more to learn how to use hammer.

In all of my classes for Digital Art, we always started with a piece of paper and a pen. Reminds me of Dodge ball "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball." No need to get all fancy with computer applications, use what you have lieing around that you are familiar with. No reason to complicate art by involving a computer while learning.

Is it considered OK to borrow other peoples ideas around here? I mean, since I do not have access to their machines I am not actually going to steal anything, but can someone look at a picture posted and use it as a base?

I am asking, because I kinda like the "Hex" map Mr. Reno is making. I do not particularly like the colour choices, but I think it would make a nice small map for conquering the mountain, or whatever its called when the goal is to get atop the darn thing.

I also saw a Dam map, looked a bit big though. :sad:

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

I don't think anyone here would mind if someone in the learning stages
of mapping would borrow a few ideas from other people's maps, as long
as the result isn't a clone.

I think most people would be fine about it if you ask, and since you
have, you have my permission :wink: Any fairly normal idea you see that
sparks the creative juices probably doesn't need any such formalities,
nor anything subtle or insignificant, but anything particularly novel
or unique probably won't go down to well if you blatantly rip it off
without asking :smile:

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[img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Default/reno84.png[/img]
Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

I also saw a Dam map, looked a bit big though. :sad:

That would be mine. I'd definately recommend that you don't attempt
anything of that scale since your new at mapping. I've been doing it
for a while and that map was still a challenge :smile: .

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Ham and Jam Contributor
http://www.hamandjam.org

'Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!'