Need Ideas For A Map

Luzige

<div class="IPBDescription">My fifth map, first for release</div> Does anyone have any ideas for a map? I've done four so far, and plan on releasing my fifth. In case you're worried about whether it will be done "right," you can correspond with me and send follow-up ideas to me on AIM (imLuzige) or ICQ (85794215). You can also send initial ideas to me there. I need them ASAP, because I have no project to work on and I need something to spend time on <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->

So send/post them, already!

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

RPG_Jssmfulhud

Well, building a map is a fun proccess... And bringing up ideas is another... There are infinite possibilities for ideas... Just look around, close your eyes and imagine. Let your thoughts flow freely. Think of some movies, think of the dark corridors, of flickering lights, of spaceships and stations, think of space marines fighting, huge cargo doors opening... And you're basically there. When you let the thoguhts flow, you don't need any help. Believe me. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

Good luck.

DarkATi

<!--QuoteBegin--RPG_Jssmfulhud+Jul 12 2003, 03:58 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RPG_Jssmfulhud @ Jul 12 2003, 03:58 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well, building a map is a fun proccess... And bringing up ideas is another... There are infinite possibilities for ideas... Just look around, close your eyes and imagine. Let your thoughts flow freely. Think of some movies, think of the dark corridors, of flickering lights, of spaceships and stations, think of space marines fighting, huge cargo doors opening... And you're basically there. When you let the thoguhts flow, you don't need any help. Believe me. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

Good luck. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I agree. Our ideas won't be nearly as vivid as your own. It's good that your asking for our support and input so that the map is good but that can be accomplished through screenshots and such. Imagine your favorite movie - well your favoite marines vs. aliens movie anyway <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> and then build off of that. Also get in the habit of studying other peoples maps. I draw much of my inspiration from ns_eclipse (my favorite map).

If all else fails I sometimes use music. CKY and Motley Cr?e work for me. Put on some Girls, Girls, Girls and I can make you a kickass map in a matter of er, months. But it helps me. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

Hope some of that helped.

~DarkATi

RPG_Jssmfulhud

The music, aaah yes. I put on some "dark, creepy" music and it does wonders. Try it! <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

Luzige

I did that for my first four...I want to try something different.

Confused

i advocate hammer as teh be all and end all of inspiration build 3 or 4 really kickin rooms in hammer compile them and the rest falls in place really fast but that may just be me talking.

teh best thing ever for inspiraton for architechture is looking at art that poeple hae done for games scifi movies and such. also playing games like unreal2 can amke you stop and be like WHOA!!! that should be in my level. thats where i look. i suggest looking at thea guy who did aliens art direction fro some freaky alien stuff too

RPG_Jssmfulhud

<!--QuoteBegin--Luzige+Jul 12 2003, 11:17 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Luzige @ Jul 12 2003, 11:17 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I did that for my first four...I want to try something different. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Different? Other peopel's opinions? My friend, it would just mean that somebody would close his/her eyes and imagine, then write the idea to you... Same thing, only that it's not yours... <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

Sorry, would like to help but... As I said, I always do it like I described...

Balance

<!--QuoteBegin--Luzige+Jul 13 2003, 12:17 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Luzige @ Jul 13 2003, 12:17 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I did that for my first four...I want to try something different.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think that trying different is great idea. Anyway all good artists (creators of some kind) want to change from time to time. Picasso is a good example.

What I suggest is to try something completely different in terms of map generation.

Usually maps are
1) Crude (beginner maps)
2) Some kind of alien or marine favoring maps
3) Lack details

And in the end most maps do try to catch feeling of 'old' NS maps. Picasso wanted something new, he travelled to africa and saw their pictures. He was amazed by colours and way they used pictures etc.

To try something new?

Lame example is to try to create map that resembles reality. Go into some building you like. Then imagine where there could be good resource nozzles and perhaps you see where skulks would like to hide... if ceiling would have some ventilation pipes.

To try out some extreme you should jump into the mind of alien. They have travelled trough space and now some aliens have arrived to marine structures. What kind of places aliens had to travel trough to get here?

What kind of place is alien 'home'. Did aliens evolve beyond their homeworld? What would it look like if marines would try to invade into one isolated hive complex at alien homeworld?

Well just few ideas. I can make up plenty new ideas but I am bit lazy to create something.

Shadowics

Those are some nice ideas.

<!--QuoteBegin--Balance+Jul 20 2003, 04:08 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Balance @ Jul 20 2003, 04:08 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Lame example is to try to create map that resembles reality.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Teeny little problem, your average Onos is 9 feet talls, and 5 foot 4 inches wide.

Imagining how you would make a real place in NS helps though, especially if you're talking with a friend. "...Hey, we could put a hive in the gym" "Yeah, over the swimming pool..."

Balance

<!--QuoteBegin--Shadowics+Jul 20 2003, 11:17 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Shadowics @ Jul 20 2003, 11:17 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Those are some nice ideas.

<!--QuoteBegin--Balance+Jul 20 2003, 04:08 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Balance @ Jul 20 2003, 04:08 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Lame example is to try to create map that resembles reality.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Teeny little problem, your average Onos is 9 feet talls, and 5 foot 4 inches wide.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well size of onos is a minor detail. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->

If you think about the bright side: Marines can't dodge out of way in small corridors. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

But realistically: Those are ideas. Nobody said that map creator should copy exsisting buildings. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> It is much more fun to add few antigravity ramps and such in maps rather than sticking to strict reality.

The_Real_Quasar

Well, if it's any help, I usually start by thinking "I'm going to make a hive".
It usually ends up being a marine start, or a corridoor, but from there all I need to do is think about what it looks like and what would fit with it.
If you want some inspiration try <a href='http://www.artbyfeng.com' target='_blank'>this website.</a>
Happy mapping!

ThinG

Ok, the basic principle is Aliens invading Rine vessels, let's turn it around!

Take an alien planet with a tiny bunker complex in it (so it will be an eclipse sized map, not Rampage or Lost size)
Make several structures and connect them through "glass" tunnels.

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

Thaldarin

Right now people get stuck on this...they usually have an idea which they forget about, do poorly or is just too damn hard to map to how they imagine. What I am doing is creating my map, then creating the idea. That way the features and areas in my map can help me gather up a storyline.