My Map In The Making

Jean_Luc_Picard

<div class="IPBDescription">This is where Progress is tracked</div> Hey all! A BIIIIIG shout out to all those that helped me: MoConnor100, The Cheat, Harmondo, Spooge, Xyth, and Esuna! Also to XP-Cagey and the rest of the pro-mappers that helped to put together the awsome tuitorials that helped me along!

Ok, so I've made a few basic maps, had some troubles on the more advanced (aka, NOT just box maps) things, so now I want to post screenies and such of my map in progress (a freefall based map... but with a few twists you'll see along the way)

I'm hoping I can get helpful info on making the map better. *chuckles* only today I realized how to make the RR spawn work... you have to put the PLAYER spawn in the RR, and the TEAM spawn in the map *laughs* I can't believe I didn't figure that out... oh well!

I'll post my first screeny asap!

The_Cheat

Yes, my name in lights!

............

Ok, maybe not in lights, but whatever. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Let's see those screenies!

Jean_Luc_Picard

*crys* I can't post em right now... I did a map test, and it worked Great! However... I forgot to replace the null texture for the box I enclosed it in (I didn't have enough time to remake the entire room) with a normal one... so there was 0 light DOH!

I'm at my grandparents right now... I'll test and re-post it later saturday or sunday. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Jean_Luc_Picard

Ok, I'm home! I am going to set it up and try it now... I did some more work on it yesterday... but that's all saved to my laptop... which my grandparents brought with them to god knows where (I'll hopefully have it back by ~7 PM)

Jean_Luc_Picard

Ok, here's the first 3 screenshots. THey are all of the "secret" resource room. Not sure where in map it will be... it's the ONLY part of the map I have done since I had to re-start making it 0o"

Jean_Luc_Picard

2/3

This is the inside looking sorta out view of the res room

Notice: YES, both sides can get in this! No, there is NOT door... I need to adjust the lighting properties so it doesn't show outside, but other than that, it's camo! (once I finish re-texturing it anyway <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)

Jean_Luc_Picard

3/3 Here is a spot JUST above the res room itself: It's PITCH black in there, good hiding spot for marines and aliens alike!

Xyth

AGhhh MY retinas!!

Seriously though, tone down the red, and add some detail from where they light is originating. Right now it just looks like it is coming from nowhere. Also add some areas that are darker, so the whole room is so full bright. Try making the light a light_spot and setting it to project down onto the node.

Jean_Luc_Picard

<!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> The light pulsates slowly, so it's not normally that bright... supposed ot be blood red, I'll have to play with that <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Hmm... yeah, I'll have to add a light in there somewhere... perhaps 2 in the corners with alien infestation on em?

NzNexus

yes do it but if it is a secret room. make it cool on someway. hheh good luck!

The_Cheat

Try and find a light texture that would be good for giving off that kind of light. Right now, the red light looks as though it is coming from nowhere. You need to be a bit more realistic and at least put a light texture somewhere to make it look like it's giving off light.

Hint: Texlights! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Jezpuh

Noes!! Don't ever fill a room completly with one light, only vents or other purpose.
TEXLIGHT!! <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

But eh, get better shots, we can't judge by looking at these pics really.

The_Cheat

Yeah, that's another thing. Take better screenshots, as in show more of the room you are trying to show us.

And now that I look at that red room, I see why you want it to be blood red. Although, it should be the <b>room</b> that is blood red, not my <b><i>eyes</b></i>. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Jean_Luc_Picard

<!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> I try, but I didn't have too much time to do it (my one friend had a B-day today, and I was invited <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->)

I'll work on the lights and such and add more stuff asap <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

BTW- can you take screen shots in HAMMER?

The_Cheat

Yeah, you can take screenshots. Print Screen and paste into Paint or Photoshop or PSP or whatever you use. Save. Voila! Hammer screens! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Now, in-game screens are more preferable unless you don't have lighting of the area done yet.

LePrau

Of course you can, just press [print] key and then insert the copied screen into an image-program of your choice (for example irfanview, www.irfanview.com) and save it as jpeg <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->

The Screens are red, red, red and one with ... mh ... some rectangular brushes ... show us a little more ... you might have put all these screenshots into one and noone would have noticed <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Xyth

Was bored so, here's a few ideas of possible ways to spice up your secret room. If you don't understand what im saying in the shot (I won't blame you if you dont <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo--> )
just ask.

The_Cheat

All I have to say to that is: What the <b>heck</b> is that?! Even I can't understand that! <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Jean_Luc_Picard

I'm still working on it: I added some lights and such... but it's hard not having a preview to know what you'll get with so many variables to try 0o"

The_Cheat

How small is your map? If it's pretty big right now, then yeah, radiosity will be taking a long time and it's a pain to test lighting.

The best thing to do is to create a seperate map file and copy the room you're working on over to it. Block off any places that would leak, and then compile just with that. It speeds up radiosity a lot when you're only checking one simple room.

EDIT: 100th post <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Jean_Luc_Picard

NEW SCREENSHOTS! Wewt!
1/6

Jean_Luc_Picard

2/6

Jean_Luc_Picard

3/6

Jean_Luc_Picard

4/6

Jean_Luc_Picard

5/6

Jean_Luc_Picard

6/6

What do you think?

Yes, this couold be a VERY large map... depends on how long I can go without any serious screw ups <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> This is just the secret room <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Xyth

I like the lights, well I kinda made my diagram easier to understand, it uses your old screenshot but the changes shouldnt effect the overall idea that much though.

Note: Green lines= current corners/edges of room.
Yellow lines= Edges/corners of proposed changes.

The_Cheat

Glad you ditched the red lighting. Now, ditch that point light and set that texture you used as a texture light in lights.rad, probably with a yellow/orange light. Show us some screens of that. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Jean_Luc_Picard

0o" erm... I dunno how to do that... could you tell me how?

*yawn* it's 11:30, more to come some time tomorrow!

Nite all!

LePrau

Ok, now a little hint: use Texlights, means: create (or edit an existing) lights.rad and add lines like the following:

mytexture <r> <g> <b> <value>

where mytexture stands for the name of a texture that should be a light (like these panel-light you used), <r> <g> <b> are the red/green/blue shares of the light (each a value between 0 and 255, where 0 means 0 and 255 full color, 255 255 255 would be white, 255 192 64 would be something orange/yellow), and value is the brightness, but you have to use an approximately 10-times higher value than for a light-entity. And after that, get RID of those damn point-entites <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

At least I can see something now in your screens, what tells me: Your skills are improving <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Xyth

Here's a really good snarkpit tutorial on making more interesting halls/rooms. The method they used is quite easy and works very nicely.
<a href='http://www.snarkpit.com/editing.php?page=tutorials&game=HL&id=10' target='_blank'>Here, spicing up your architecture</a>