How Do You Go Forth

SYPHER1

<div class="IPBDescription">when you make a map</div> I have a question for the more experience mappers. How do you go forth when you make a map. I know that the first thing is to make a layout I have learned that the hard way <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo--> . But what then, do you just start mapping or do you make sketches before you start. Or do you do something ells? I?d like to know.

Lt_Gravity

like all things in life there is no final trueth in that case. I like to map as Im feeling to. the start is allways a simple idea. Im one of the "damn, my map parts doesnt fit together right!"-"I dont know how to go on."-"Im bored because I messed up a whole section following a bad idea and no my r-speeds are for workstations only!"-mapper <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
but although this trouble I achieved some beautiful locations in some maps. when you know that your map is good then it is. because its your "child" when you know what I mean. the harder your fight the better will be the result and you will be more happy when its finished.

chubbysteve

Only people that have finished maps should put advice here, because it's not about starting it, it's about finishing.
I suppose the only lesson I can take is roughly the same gist as Ken Banks TALD website. If the goal of your making a map is to become well known and praised etc, then it's not worth you starting. It's all about enjoying mapping.

Asraniel

i made a plan. then i made a detailed overview plan, with every room like i wanted it.
then i mapped my map from the marine start to each hive.
At the end many things of the layout had to be reworked and many rooms are not like they were planned, but thats normal, when you map you will see what fits and what not

ChromeAngel

I've already attempted to answer this question in <a href='http://nsworld.ns-central.co.uk/mappingguide/appendix5.php' target='_blank'>Appendix 5</a> of the Quickstart Guide to Mapping for Natural Selection.

LambdaProject

Personally I love the draw out sketches of rooms and stuff. And ALWAYS sketch a layout, it's a life AND time saver.

quazilin

I draw the layout in to my head =) then I draw it to paper look the distance for each hive and plan the rooms hallways res nodes etc. and use my head again. Then I start mapping, if found problems I fix them in the paper and start mapping again. But there is usually lots of changes happening all the time and removing/adding details/hallways/everything.

The_Real_Quasar

I like to get a good idea for one or 2 rooms, or a setting, and map it as best I can. Then I see what else I can make to fit it and gradually make each room one by one and join them up, adding new corridoors and passageways as I see fit.

Gimpy_Doodly_Doo

I did paper layouts, I got bored looking at them, so I make my layouts in Hammer <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> I can just tell when and where to make a room, and then when the distance is right I make another hive or the marine start. I just go along like that because if it is planned it gets boring. I like things to just happen and I can allways move the rooms around and replace the hallways to make the layout more sensable.

Nay

Personally i do a little plan, then build seperate test rooms on different saves, then i will piece it together