New Map Maper With Loads Of Time.

Ulatoh · January 2003

<div class="IPBDescription">I have a loophole that allows some fun</div> I'm a student at my counties Vocational Technical school and i am taking specifically the CAD class. One of the areas of CAD is 3D modeling, and my instructor says halflife maps are par for the course. which means i have 4 hours of school sanctioned undisturbed mapmaking time. I would like to learn ALL i can about it so when i finally do get to start i have my feet moving. Ive allready got some good ideas for maps and a firm grip on Isometric and Orthographic drawing.

The things i need to know are:
<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> Best map making program ( a la WC, QUARK and others) (btw... technical is no problem)

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> FGD's and such

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> Basic info on special commands unique to NS

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> any and all info you think a new mapper should have

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> A mentor mapper i can email with or im with for help ,advice and/or encouragement

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> A <u>FULL</u> explanation of the Particle engine system

thanks alot, any help would be appreciated as i would really like to turn out some quality maps and take advantage of this time. thanks a bunch!

AIM: skitzoidembol

MSN: skitzoidembol@hotmail.com

Ulatoh · January 2003

*BUMP*

Lord_Requiem · January 2003

I'm by no means the master HL mapper but I do have quite a bit of experience, much of it with NS mapping.

If you have any questions feel free to email me, I'm always available to help with any questions or problems and while I may not always know what the answer is I'll usually be able to point you in the direction of the answer. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'>

abrock@angelfire.com (its also my MSN email but Im not MSN much lately, too busy mapping)

Here are some links to get you going:

<a href='http://ns.valve-erc.com/' target='_blank'>http://ns.valve-erc.com/</a>
<a href='http://www.valve-erc.com' target='_blank'>http://www.valve-erc.com</a>
<a href='http://www.planethalflife.com/nsworld/MappingGuide/MappingGuide.ASP' target='_blank'>http://www.planethalflife.com/nsworld/Mapp...appingGuide.ASP</a>
<a href='http://www.karljones.com/halflife/almanac.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.karljones.com/halflife/almanac.asp</a>
<a href='http://www.vlatitude.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.vlatitude.com/</a>
<a href='http://collective.valve-erc.com/' target='_blank'>http://collective.valve-erc.com/</a>
<a href='http://members.telocity.com/pdebaan/errors.htm' target='_blank'>http://members.telocity.com/pdebaan/errors.htm</a>
<a href='http://www.47hassocks.freeserve.co.uk/compileprobs.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.47hassocks.freeserve.co.uk/compileprobs.htm</a>

Ulatoh · January 2003

many thanks, you will be the cause of many a mountain dew binge/pyramid/ late night reading and cursing.

LLJKKodos · January 2003

Most of that information is easily found on Halflife and NS related sites. Do some research.

Kids these days!

Ulatoh · January 2003

*BUMP*

sorry, gotta keep doing that to get new input tho

Lord_Requiem · January 2003

Thread is gonna get locked, no bumping allowed here.

Ulatoh · January 2003

no more bumping then?

SORRY mods, didnt know, didnt bother to find out either :s

i wont bump it anymore

Ulatoh · January 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Kilmster @ Jan 16 2003, 12:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>this is not a bump.

(delete me! ^.^)</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
stop that i really need the info here, im trying to produce high quality maps and will need peoples input and resources to do so.

Sycophant · January 2003

Honestly, I'd consider this very forum to be the most reliable and extensive source of information on NS mapping.

It sort of works similar to the whole "open source programming" idea - having hundreds (or even thousands) more eyes scanning code will find bugs that one person may have overlooked. In this case, having suggestions from numerous angles will help you better learn and understand new methods.

Many people learn from their own mistakes, and even having those people posting on how to avoid <i>their</i> accidentally created roadblocks will help <i>you</i> avoid them when the time comes.

BiTMAP · January 2003

Vlatitude has a forum and is an EXCELLENT place to learn mapping (I was one of the oldies, and still drop in time to time).

BlackPanther · January 2003

You have to MAKE HL maps for your course?
Where do you life? I think im gonna move there...<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

<b>Best map making program:</b>
<a href='http://www.valve-erc.com/files/hammer_v34.exe' target='_blank'>Get Hammer (WC 3.4) here</a>
Wanna make textures? Use <a href='http://www.valve-erc.com/files/resources/wally_155b.exe' target='_blank'>Wally</a>
<a href='http://www.planethalflife.com/eddi/' target='_blank'>Go here</a> for all your map compiling needs.

<b>FGD's and such:</b> The ns.fgd comes with the mod. Look in the folder.

<b>Basic info on special commands unique to NS:</b> Look in the files in your /ns/ folder.

<b>Any and all info you think a new
mapper should have:</b> If at first you don't succeed, try again. And if that doesnt work, try some more. And if that doesn't work, try again and again and again until your hands bleed and eyes go out of their sockets.

<b>A mentor mapper:</b> Sorry.. already got tons of "padawan" learners! <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tounge.gif'>

<b>A <u>FULL</u> explanation of the Particle engine system:</b> <a href='http://pstutorial.tripod.com/' target='_blank'>Go Here</a>

Hope i've helped!

Redford · January 2003

To be perectly honest, NS maps are so high a level, very few people other then the people who made the maps for v1 have really made a good attempt at a grand NS map. We need all the mappers, and contributers to the community as possible, especally in this field.

Glad to have you aboard, matie.

BlackPanther · January 2003

So true.
This is not your " I rule yo **** at CS and i can make a killbox that pwnz j00" type of mapping we're talking about.

Anyone can make a killbox.
But not anyone can make a killbox for NS, filled with atmosphere, gloomy lighting, dark'n'suspicious hallways, and a good layout thats easy to learn.

Funghi · January 2003

true true ..
but he is this not the challenge we search in an ns map ??

BiTMAP · January 2003

BP thats not a killbox, thats a decient map <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wink.gif'> member the laws of killbox maps are, looks like ****, has trigger_hurts on all surfaces, no lighting, and no detail!

Goodluck new mapper!

Lucid · January 2003

I'm just starting to learn mapping too and I'm really into CAD. As a CAD guy i seem to like quark better than hammer. If you decide you want to use quark you can find the NS/quark support files in this post:

<a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=10342' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/in...=ST&f=4&t=10342</a>

Ulatoh · January 2003

thanks for the replys guys, i think i will use this thread to contain any questions i have, to conserve space on the boards *shudder* i was a moderator for a forum called "Teentalk" not to long ago...*shudders*

No questions yet, i havent done anything but reading, i wanna learn all i can before i tackle it. Ive allready read some cool stuff.

i allready have a few killer maps, my only problems are stuff like where to put entities and the comm mode map i dont fully understand it... and the particle system, i have a map the would be u83r 1337 with fogs and steam and the like.

and recompiling isnt a problem, i worked my **** off for my comp all summer, 2.4 ghz /w a gig of ram...=compiling machine...lol

anyway, thanks for the input, any tips are welcome

OneSneakYmousE · January 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Ulatoh @ Jan 16 2003, 11:25 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> Best map making program ( a la WC, QUARK and others) (btw... technical is no problem)
</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
Hammer is by far the best map making program for HL engine.

Sephiroth2k · January 2003

one: not necessarily. several of the "official" mappers use quark, not hammer, and their maps still turned out fantastic.

Merkaba · January 2003

I highly recommend you check out <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=8143' target='_blank'>this sticky thread</a> (scroll down to the third post).

Use the <a href='http://www.valve-erc.com' target='_blank'>www.valve-erc.com</a> forums for general mapping questions.

Ulatoh · January 2003

wow a dev responded

*is flattered*

its only a matter of time

im still working on some things though

is there an editor that lets you make individual lines instead of entities, like a CAD program, does anyone know what i mean? if so it would make my life easier...

right now im making prefabs for myself...

New Map Maper With Loads Of Time.

Comments