Elysium

Killtoy · May 2002

<div class="IPBDescription">The dreaded post</div>Okay, I really don't know how to say this in a way that isn't going to make every person here hate my guts. (Great way to start, eh?) So, I'd like to remind people that Elysium is only the 3rd HL map project I've ever attempted. It has been my best and most rewarding without a doubt.

Why am I rambling on about this?

Object names Objects/Maxobjs Memory / Maxmem Fullness
------------ --------------- --------------- --------
models 168/400 10752/25600 (42.0)
planes 17340/32767 346800/655340 (52.9)
vertexes 15309/65535 183708/786420 (23.4)
nodes 6334/32767 152016/786408 (19.3)
texinfos 6362/32767 254480/1310680 (19.4)
faces 11336/65535 226720/1310700 (17.3)
clipnodes 17042/32767 136336/262136 (52.0)
leaves 3669/8192 102732/229376 (44.8)
marksurfaces 15181/65535 30362/131070 (23.2)
surfedges 52374/512000 209496/2048000 (10.2)
edges 27033/256000 108132/1024000 (10.6)
texdata [variable] 7848/4194304 ( 0.2)
lightdata [variable] 1403349/4194304 (33.5)
visdata [variable] 93467/2097152 ( 4.5)
entdata [variable] 31475/524288 ( 6.0)
153 textures referenced
=== Total BSP file data space used: 3297673 bytes ===

A wireframe overhead of Elysium can be seen at: <a href="http://www.geocities.com/kraist/elysmap5.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.geocities.com/kraist/elysmap5.jpg</a>

Why only bring this up now? Honestly, I've been forgetting to add "-chart" to my compile process for a very long time. Ken was kind enough to remind me to add it last night.

What is the big deal? I have built Marine spawn to almost reaching one of the hives. I consider the map 33% complete in brushwork.

What am I saying? Either I need to cut areas out of the map and abbreviate the whole thing, or I need to ... do that thing where you open a new map. Uh, I think you know what it is called.

Yeah, I know a lot of you are upset at this news. Trust me, I don't feel any better. Just a word of warning, it is a bad time to be angry with me if I'm already mad at myself. What I don't want is a dozen, "No don't do it!" posts because I will never finish without making drastic changes.

I'm posting all this here to keep you all informed. I also would greatly appreciate <i>experienced</i> advice, and I am willing to provide the rmf file to those capable of making good suggestions out of it. I'll be listening to your comments. Thanks!

pielemuis · May 2002

well kill maybe you can start a new map, but use parts of elyisium for it? Or just try to work on what you have now, to lwoer things so that you can complete it, maybe make a smaller version of elysium :/

coil · May 2002

Good luck, man... trying to reuse your favorite parts of the current build might work, but do what you have to. Hey, lesson learned, right? Now all you can do is pick up and carry on. (:

manah · May 2002

I don’t think a restart is strictly needed in this case, although it depends on how you work. Do you find it easier to scrap and rebuild or go back and refine/reduce areas?

With some careful observation and selective rebuilding I think you could bring Elysium back in line.

But if you feel its necessary ...

Killtoy · May 2002

I'm leaning more toward Coil's suggestion. I could spend a lot of time going to through the map trying to find ways to reduce plane usage. Starting new and grabbing out and reworking only my favorite areas may be more expedient.

I know that a major part of the problem is that I have not been forcing rooms to specific planes. If I set the floors of rooms to one of a couple specific heights I'd be much more efficient. Currently, Elysium has been built with a more chaotic "anything goes" approach, which had a cool feel, but will never permit the size of map I am looking to make. All that is to say, reworking Elysium will involve major layout changes that would effect every part of the map.

And if I try to reduce the map size I'm looking at ditching half the work I've done as well. Kind of a catch 22.

realityisdead · May 2002

Ouch. :/ Really sorry to hear that.

Ok, don't be too quick on your decision though... if nothing else, just think about how you could take what you have now and make it work. Becuase I'm sure it can. MS + Hive + All the stuff in between does not equal 1/3. It's more. You can reuse some of this first route, it doesn't all have to branch from the very beginning.

You're probably just going to have to settle for something smaller than you originally had in mind... and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Take what you have, do some plane work using techniques like the "outside-of-a-room-box" flattening, etc. Then do some major thinking about how you could use what you have... and add two more hives in there. That, like you said, would probably mean taking out a couple areas... but that's how it works. All in all, it'll be for the better.

If anything, just don't be so quick to restart. I think you can make this work. It's not as bad as it may look to you. Just don't get discouraged. Keep in mind that you are taking on what is probably the most difficult game you could find to map for in this day and age. Things like this are going to happen, you just have to work around them.

coil · May 2002

But there's a difference between making what you have work, and creating the vision you had for your map in the first place. It's Killtoy's decision, but if the current incarnation isn't going to be what he wants Elysium to be, I definitely approve of starting over.

realityisdead · May 2002

Yes, yes, yes, yes. Totally agreed, coil. Leaving the orignial vision nearly killed my own level. It's irrelevant now, but I was just suggesting that he just wait a bit, and not be so quick to decide.

I trust he made the right decision when he decided to start fresh, though... no one knows a level better than the creator.

Killtoy · May 2002

The concept of Elysium as a patchwork space station just wasn't working for me. The choas of trying to make you feel the different areas fused together just played havoc on the design and flow of artwork.

Tzarcon · May 2002

If you think it's possible to refine some areas, then by all means, try that first. But, if you really think you'll have to restart, then go ahead. You especially should restart if you arn't happy with any of your work. Being happy with your map always comes first.

Other then that, <b>you can view a chart telling you all the stats?</b>

Plaguebearer · May 2002

Um, yeah. It's the '-chart' switch. Add it to your compile lines.

Elysium

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