Saying hello with question about the level editor

grazr

Hey guys, i'm new around here, pretty excited about this game. Excited enough that it's the first game i've pre-ordered in a long long time. Largely i've been watching NS2 development through NS2HD's comp commentary on youtube. Very few games are fun to watch and if the amount of fun i've had watching competitive NS2 is anything to go by, then NS2 should be a blast to play.

Although i did have another incentive to joining these forums. The level editor. I'm a huge level design hobbiest, I've been using Source and GLDSource for a while (HLDM, TF2, DoDS, CSS), i've even touched the UDK (although only the Killing Floor mod version). In fact i'm one of the site staff over at TF2maps.net (shameless plug, hopefully i wont get told off for that). I noticed some of you guys have access to the pre-alpha editor and i'm really impressed with what's on show. I don't expect to get my hands on it (although i have pre-ordered) and with 3 weeks to go until the game publicly launches i'm not overly fussed and happy to wait, but what i am curious about is if and when the official editor will be released. My hands are itching to get a hold of it.

Here are some examples of my TF2 work if anyone's curious:
<a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1429764/axle/cp_axle_b60026.jpg" target="_blank">http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1429764/axle/cp_axle_b60026.jpg</a>
<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1429764/batt/pl_batt_grazr_a80003.jpg" target="_blank">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1429764/batt/pl_ba...razr_a80003.jpg</a>
<a href="http://forums.tf2maps.net/geek/gars/images/7/1/5/koth_chapel_a90002.jpg" target="_blank">http://forums.tf2maps.net/geek/gars/images...apel_a90002.jpg</a>
<a href="http://forums.tf2maps.net/geek/gars/images/7/1/5/koth_chapel_a90017.jpg" target="_blank">http://forums.tf2maps.net/geek/gars/images...apel_a90017.jpg</a>

Although it should be noted these are still in development! My advice to anyone persueing a time consuming hobby (anything creative really, not just level design), is don't get a girlfriend. I havn't properly touched a develop kit in close to 5 months now and that makes me a sad panda :(

Wilson

You will be able to use the level editor as soon as NS2 downloads. It comes with all the tools needed to create your own maps and mods. All the current beta users have access to it already and many community made maps are on the steam workshop available for download.

Soul_Rider

The level editor is not perfect it has it's flaws...

NS2_Summit and NS2_Veil are both community made maps that have found their way into the official game, so there is certainly plenty of scope to create with the tools, although all the tools for NS2 need quite a lot of work to be up to the standard of Source editor etc. That being said, when you understand the nuances, some amazing work can be created.

I hope you get your fill and become proficient with the tools, experienced mappers are always welcome. We also have a number of mods in development that need mappers, if you feel like taking on smaller projects to start, as NS2 maps are daunting and very complex.

GISP

You will hopefully yet again become a happy panda, when you get your hands on the tools. NS2 itself is actualy "a mod" build on the Spark engine. And you will have access to all the tools and, the entire game sourcecode. Whit your mapping experience it should be realy straight forward for you.
And if it has interest, you can even check out the other mappers streams. <a href="http://da.twitch.tv/mendasp" target="_blank">http://da.twitch.tv/mendasp</a> & <a href="http://da.twitch.tv/sgtbarlow" target="_blank">http://da.twitch.tv/sgtbarlow</a> - And many more has youtube channels.

ScardyBob

Its a pretty powerful editor though it is a bit different from Source/UDK. The biggest differences from what I can recall
- Instead of brushes, you build the map with faces
- No compiling! For the most part, its basically a WYSIWYG map editor (and Mendasp has scripted a one-button load current changes into NS2 from the Spark level editor)
- No leaks!
- Much more prop/model-based then Source/UDK.