new to mapping...

[mabufo]

Hi, my name is mabufo...

I am new to the world of half life 2, mods, and mapping in general. About a week ago I was hoping to make some killer maps for various multiplayer modes of half life... but I seem to hae lost my edge... The edge was that I didnt know how hard, and how involved the process was... I made my one room deathmatch bit... then I streched it into two, with a tiny little hallway... but I'm still haunted by the utter well, toughness of creating a map... a tiny one at that. It seems that map making has become too complicated for me to handle... I have not been able to find any tutorials that can help me past the 'your first room' benchmark. That, added to my frustration at looking at proffesionally created map files... and I have to say I am getting really discouraged! I know map making isn't something you master right off... but I was hoping I would be able to create a simple map by then...

maybe map making isn't what I'm cut out for after all... maybe I'm just someone who should stick to playing games others create, playing their maps... I tried to reassure myself that the folks at valve were professional mappers... but I still cant get my mind off of how tough the stuf they do looks... It's like making NPCs do things in a map is an entirely different section of mapping... is it? I could probably handle that... if making levels isn't for me... are there different like... idk - divisions of mapping? like npc events and stuff like that? Or is it all in the same stew?

Also, could someone point me to a fabulous newbie tutorial resource for mapping? I'm sick of google.

Any of your help/ and or reassurance would be apprechiated... I just wanted to break into the business.. and I think that modeling, and coding are out of the question right now...Modeling .. well, I dont have time to learn how... and coding.. I feel that I don't know enough C++ to get going on that!

I need links to tutorials... anything. Most of all I need support... was it hard to learn mapping for you? How long did it take you to get the hang of it? Am I a retard?

 

[Phisionary]

Learning to map takes patience, persistence, drive, practice, and skill. I'm sure of all those thing, and I hope that I have enough of each!

I've only been mapping for a couple weeks, and I think I could make a mediocre map. Once you get to understand the basics, I think it's really just practice and experimentation.

Of course, as a CS:S mapper, the average level of detail and quality seems to be a few steps lower than HL2:DM map.

remember gameplay is the key. If you come up with a good idea, make sure it's not gimmicky and devoid of value. But, gimmicky is not a problem while your learning. Just try to get into the swing of things and have fun. Play with entities and lighting and displacements and nice quality brushes, and read all you can about all of the above, and more.

Personally, I reccommend watching IchI's Tutorial videos stickied at the top of this section (Custom Mapping). They are a great way to start to understand the basic interface of Hammer, and a few of the fundamental concepts. Play with the interface, check out some of the settings, learn about grouping, visgroups, entities and inputs/outputs, texturing, arch tool, vertex manip, displacement mapping,etc.

Another great resource (once you learn the very basics of hammer) is to check out some of the verc pages. Here is the Hotkey Reference sheet for hammer. Here is the root Source SDK Documentation page. Some good info there.

Read threads here at HL2.net and other mapping sites. Try out things that people are talking about.

Play maps, but pay attention to the way the layout is set up. Distances, shapes, levels, brushes and models, lighting, combat, weapons placement, etc.

Hmm. As a newb, these are the things I aspire to do... I am far from accomplished though. I'm sure it'll take time, dedication, all those other things I mentioned. If you have all those traits, you can make good maps too.

Good luck, mate.

 

[Dead-Inside]

If you're looking for actual downright tutorials (Best to start understanding how hammer and CSS works first though), you can check out www.interlopers.net (Their main site is down right now but it'll probably be back up soon) and www.snarkpit.com.

When you're "done" with hammer you can pick up modelling in XSI. There are loads of tutorials on that, so I doubt you'll have much problem with modelling either.

 

[JFry]

Learning to map in hammer, it can be a bit overwhelming to take in everything at once. But once you get the basics down, it turns into one of those things you just have to keep working at. The saying about 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration seems to hold true to mapping. Don't worry too much if you don't finish a map or 10. You certainly aren't alone.

About the question of scripting the npc's, that could be considered a different area of mapping, definately. These kinds of distinctions are becoming more and more prevalent all the time. So much content goes into video games these days that it is just insane to think that one person could do it all. The mapper just seems to be the person that glues together everybody's work into the final product. Of course if scripting is the thing that interests you most, feel free to specialize in it.. there is plenty to learn just in that area.

 

[DjBourgeoisie]

Well I have been mapping for roughly 5 years, on and off and only when source came out did I make it a permanent thing. Everyone starts out making box maps that look horrible. My advice, learn the basics, how to control rspeeds and keep the fps up as much as possible. Learn how to use hint brushes, and other map optimization techniques. If you are determined to be successful you will, but it wont happen overnight. What EVER you do, dont decompile maps and piece them together and call it your own work, that is not only stealing, but its really frowned on by mappers and yes I have seen people do this... Bookmark these websites as they are a valuable resource for getting feedback/tutorials/help.

http://www.akilling.org/akg/
http://www.*************/wiki/index.php/Category:MappingTutorials
http://www.chatbear.com/board.plm?a=boardlisting&b=4989&v=flatold
http://www.snarkpit.com/forums.php?forum=6

Once you learn how to use entities and create brushes with proper techniques you can focus on making "prettier" maps. Theres a learning curve, nobody learns or gets better as fast or as slowly as anyone else. Ask questions, but search before posting, because 99% of them have already been asked. Good luck.

 

[mabufo]

I apprechiate the replies folks... I'll be sure to take you up on your advice-and check out those links!