How do i get into mapping?

Titan

lately ive just been wondering how to map , and obviousley the 1st thing u nedd to map is a decent mapping program, ive already heard of worldcraft but i just want to no if there r any other programs out there?, any response would be greatly appreciated with a big  <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->

Spyder_Monkey

Check out the <a href="http://http://www.natural-selection.org/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=4;t=100" target="_blank">Mapping Forum FAQs</a> for handy links to different resources. Also, you might want to give Ken20Banks' <a href="http://tald.readyroom.org/" target="_blank">The Art of Level Design</a> a lookover. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

You found the right community for mappers, NS has some of the most talented mappers I've ever seen anywhere. They're a bright, helpful bunch of people, and I'm sure when they have some free time they can give you some pointers.



<!--EDIT|Spyder Monkey|June 30 2002,01:29-->

blueman

yuo can try WC or Quark for HL mapping (i use WC) and you will need some tutorials and some months of practicing before you can still conside yourself a mapping Newbie.

try -> <a href="http://www.vlatitude.com/" target="_blank">http://www.vlatitude.com/</a>

Cremator

i strongly suggest you use wc.  it has more potentional/future, not to mention, it is easier to learn (i think).  just play around for a while and see if you like it.  not that many people do, so if you dont, dont feel bad.

realityisdead

<a href="http://www.planethalflife.com/wavelength" target="_blank">The old tutorials at Wavelength</a> are a great place to get started on HL engine editing. I too would recommend Worldcraft, AKA Valve Hammer Editor for getting started. You may find a program called "Quark" to better suit your needs later down the road, but WC/VHE is probably the best thing to get started on considering the sheer amount of tutorials and content out there for it.

You can find the latest version of WC/VHE and a bunch of useful info at <a href="http://www.valve-erc.com" target="_blank">VERC</a>.

(w00t, Spyder! <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo--> )



<!--EDIT|ken20banks|June 30 2002,12:17-->

Wolv

Although I'd hate to initiate a "which editor is better" flamewar, I would like to state that <a href="http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~quark/" target="_blank">QuArK</a> should definately be given a chance as well.
Although there are rather few QuArK specific tutorials available to help you getting started, after a short period of learning how to use the editor you'll find that the editor itself is vastly superior over any other Quake editor out there.

If you've got editor specific editing questions don't hesitate to ask them at the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/quark/" target="_blank">official</a> or the <a href="http://forums.gamedesign.net/viewforum.php?f=32" target="_blank">Rust</a> forum.

Plaguebearer

One =particular= strength Quark has is that it's not only a Half-Life editor - you can use it to edit Quake 3 and its progeny, as well.

But, yeah, let's not get into a 'which is better' argument here.

Battousaix

it has no sense to argue that, wc has its advantages and its disadvantages, the advantage of quark was already mentioned by plague, the wc advantage is that it has more future, as cremator sayed, wc has a lot more community support and the prob with quark is that some mods dont have quark fgds...... and u cant map withouth them.... thats the bigger problem with quark.....
its up to u to choose the program....

Killtoy

<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->the prob with quark is that some mods dont have quark fgds...... and u cant map withouth them.... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I don't think that is accurate. No, QuArK does not use .fgd files. This does not mean you can not map.

Now, I'm not a QuArK user, but I don't imagine that lack of .fgd support is all that big of a deal. If it was, I'm sure there would be tools out there to import .fgd files.

Kidzelda

QuArK uses .qrk files, which is basically a fgd for QuArK (and yes, you alternate caps like that.Quake Army Knife).

Biomechanoid

*ahem* back on topic

great to know you want to start mapping. like the others said there's WC/VHE and QuArK.

Just fair warning thou, ask any of the mappers here, NS is probably the LEAST mapper friendly bod to map for, with so many limitations to things like height, and entities, and texture size (4 megs), and other considerations such as timing of routes between hives, resource placement, routes available to aliens only, Tiny friendly routes, making sure bob can't get to where he shouldn't etc. etc.

but don't let this discourage you!!!!!!!

Infinity

this already has gotten into a "which is best" discussion

InZaneFleaArmy

<!--QuoteBegin--Spyder Monkey+June 30 2002,10:28--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Spyder Monkey @ June 30 2002,10:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->You found the right community for mappers, NS has some of the most talented mappers I've ever seen anywhere. They're a bright, helpful bunch of people, and I'm sure when they have some free time they can give you some pointers.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
1.  I'm not all that great:P
2.Free time? whats that?
3. Polite? Have you ever met Flayra?(Jokin man...Flayra Rockorz....er....Cyanide...it's happening again...We should all ban Eminem).

Titan

i appreciate all the help u guys have given me, and monkey was reite u guys r a helpful bunch +BACKGROUND+ *cough* *suck up* *cough   well...err...oooo <!--emo&:(--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('><!--endemo-->  thx for all ure help

Right_Behind_You

If your lucky enough to find DOOManiac, he has some video tutorials on worldcraft.

Right_Behind_You

edit: sorry double post

DOOManiac

actually i don't have those anymore.

some people have em still i think, but i have no idea who...

but thanks for remembering Right_Behind_You :D



<!--EDIT|DOOManiac|July 02 2002,15:04-->

CyonPro

Tutorial vids for WC?

Wish I had had those when I was making SP maps for Quake...

Battousaix

narby has em.....
i saw em on his page.....