Starting A Map

Varsity

<div class="IPBDescription">The very first steps</div> How do you singular start a map? I don't mean how to set up Steam, or create a new file, but how to actually start making something meaningful. Do you make a few sketches? Draw a layout? Or just start placing brushes and seeing what you get?

DarkATi

<!--QuoteBegin-Varsity+Mar 8 2004, 04:57 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Varsity @ Mar 8 2004, 04:57 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> How do you singular start a map? I don't mean how to set up Steam, or create a new file, but how to actually start making something meaningful. Do you make a few sketches? Draw a layout? Or just start placing brushes and seeing what you get? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I map. No layout, no real prior thought or plan. I just map. It's fun but not necessarily the best way to go about it, it causes some issues later on... <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif' /><!--endemo-->

~ DarkATi

Kouji_San

Well I probably do the opposite of <b>DarkATi</b> so it would be fun to see it here <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--><ol type='1'><li>I create a story line from which I can get the main idea of what I want to create. </li><li>Next I'll create a layout in flash, photoshop or just plain old pencil and paper.</li><li>From the 2 above I can figure out what rooms I need to build.</li><li>As an extra option you can sketch some parts the map or rooms from which you can build the room</li></ol>Now the prob I have is that I'm a perfectionist, meaning if I don't like something I keep tweaking it or maybe even rebuild it <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> . <b>DarkATi</b> may sometimes run out of ideas, but I am have simple progress issues on the map due to this constant tweaking <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> . But due to the 2 basic elements I use I won't as easy run out of ideas.

<span style='color:gray'>Final note:
- <b>DarkATi's</b> way: Can run out of ideas to continue on the map, but this way is more free to changes to the map on layout or location of the map.
- <b>Kouji San's</b> way: Planning takes time, but it has an advantage because you know where to go next with building. But even with planning one can sometimes run out of ideas...

Building test areas (test map) on architechture just for the heck of it can sometimes be incorparated into the map you're working on to.

See what works for you since both has it's advantages and disdvantages... </span>

Insane

It's a bit of both for me, largely depending on my mood. Sometimes I sit down and plan the level out in great detail, sometimes I just start whacking brushes into the editor and seeing how it goes. Usually, I get no further with the former method than a detailed design but no actual map, whereas I tend to be more successful if I just dive straight into Teh Hammre. Both have advantages and disadvantages, it's just a case of seeing which one works best for you.