Ns Mapping

Haze

This is my question, from the FAQ webed at the top of the mapping fourm.

<!--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-->Q: Dude! I wanna make a map! Can I?
A: Sure! Go right ahead. You might want to head on over to the Downloads page and pick up the NSTR, the FGD or QRK files, and the WAD. Then, read the Mapping Guidelines.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

And the answer is wrong. I went to the downloads page (using the link) and the "NSTR, FGD or QRK and WAD" files (Whatever they are <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo--> ) where apparently not there. Where can I pick these things up?

Also, the valve ECK or something is down I do believe (I could not pull it up) so does anyone here know a good tutorial thats not technical at all (Because I know <i><u><b>nothing</i></u></b> about computers, what files they are on, etc) and helps me through the whole mapping process in an understanding way. I dont want it to explain go into a long explination into what an "NSTR, FGS or QRK and WAD" is, I just wanna know where to put it, and what it does in an extreamly short-to-the-point summary.

Can anyone help please? I'll read the mapping guidelines for NS for now, but I doubt I'll understand half the shizz they are talking in there, but whatever.

Please help!!

Insane

The WAD and the FGD come with NS. I assume you have Hammer? If not, go get it from <a href='http://collective.valve-erc.com' target='_blank'>The Valve-ERC Collective</a>. They also have some good mapping resources.

Another good site would be <a href='http://www.snarkpit.com' target='_blank'>The Snarkpit</a>, plenty of good mapping resources there.

Between those two sites you should be able to discover what an FGD and a WAD does, and so on.

For NS an specific mapping resource, check out <a href='http://nsworld.ns-central.co.uk/mappingguide/MappingGuide.php' target='_blank'>ChromeAngel's NS Mapping Guide</a>.

Kage

First, you need an editor. You can get one at <a href='http://collective.valve-erc.com' target='_blank'>http://collective.valve-erc.com</a> (last time I checked, which was this morning, it was up). There's a link on the navigation bar on the left labeled "Half-Life Utilities." This contains links to 4 different mapping programs, along with a lot of information about what you'll need to get started.

You'll also need the game definition file (.fgd) for Natural Selection; this file is included in the 2.0 client download. If you decide to use QuArK, there's a new version of the .qrk file you need floating around in this forum somewhere. Also packaged with the 2.0 download are the .wads you'll need, which contain textures.

If you decide to use VHE to create maps, then I will be able to help you further (I know close to nothing about how to set up QuArK, but there are other members that do.)

Haze

Yes I believe I have VHE (Valve Hammer Editor?) and I did a tutorial on setting it up with snark pit, but it failed terribly. The picture that had all the info on it would not load up for some reason, so I couldnt see how to set my thing up. I'll try it again, and I'll take you up on your offer. Any help would be appreciated, and where are these .wads that I need to find and other files? Where would they be in my 2.0 directory?

I've got some good ideas for my map, if I can make it, like having a completly dark area, seriously <i>dark</i> to the point where you cant see <i>anything</i>. Then, I'll make a short circit wire thats been pulled from the ceiling, by an alien or something, sparking in the middle of that pitch black corridor, flashing light on and off. That would be perfect for a skulk with silence to ambush the marines when comming down that hallway. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

RPG_Jssmfulhud

Mmm, I remember my first mapping days. Now THAT was fun! <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> Good luck!

Haze

Thanks buddy, I'll need it. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Still got good ideas floating around in my head from reading the guidelines (Which I just accidently closed).

Haze

Kage your still reading this? Or are you typing...hmm...

Kage

Ok, the .fgd and .wad files can all be found in the ns folder (Sierra->Half-Life->ns).

To configure VHE, open it and go to the Tools->Options menu. Then open up the Game Configurations tab. There should be a button on the top right that says "Edit"; click on it and press "Add". Put in Natural Selection as the game name (it doesn't really matter, but it lets you keep track of it a bit easier). Then close that window. Back in the Game Configurations tab, click the "Add" button to the right of the text window marked "Game Data files:". Then find the .fgd file in the ns folder, and double-click on it. Texture format and Map Type should already be set for you (wad3 and Half-Life/TFC), and you don't need to set any more settings until the last one, .rmf directory. You can change this to be either the maps folder under the Hammer folder, or the maps folder under the ns folder.

Next, click on the Textures tab. This part's pretty easy; just click add WAD, find the following wads in the ns folder: ns.wad, ns_bast.wad, ns_eclipse.wad, ns_hera.wad, ns_nothing.wad, ns_tanith.wad, and hallwall_1.wad, then select them and click "Open".

This should be all you need to do (unless I forgot something) to set up VHE.

Haze

I set this VHE up wrongly before, and now I cant revert it back to defaults...err I mean I dont know how. I uninstalled it and reinstalled it but its still the same, how do I do this?

Kage

Did you run an uninstall program, or did you just delete the folder?

It would be easier to just create a new game profile (the first thing I told you to do), as each profile contains settings that are kept to itself.

Spooge

I found this set of tutorials very useful. It walks through Hammer setup, descriptions of the Hammer features, types of brushes, and different textures.

Check out <a href='http://www.planethalflife.com/schrade/theproject/tutorials/1/setup.htm' target='_blank'>The Project</a>

Haze

I got everything taken care of Kage, as you have probably seen as I sent you a PM. I'm going to enter all the stuff that you told me to do, then I should be good to go hopefully. I'll see what I can do with it. Thanks spooge for your help too.

Haze

Bah, this is no fair. On the tutorial, part 2 on the newbie thing, on snark pit, I cant get it to apply a texture. I only have a wireframe box that is hollowed out...can somone help? This is where I always get stuck if I try to make a map.

Kage

There are three different display modes for the 3d view- wireframe, flat colored polygons, and textured polygons. In order to see textures, you need to use the last one. To change it, right click on the text (Camera) on the top left of the 3d view window and choose 3D textured from the list.

Haze

lol thankyou! here send me a PM of your AIM if you have it, or mirc we can make a channel. i need to keep in close contact with you

Soylent_green

You will want to use zoners half-life tools for compiling instead of the normal tools... especially merls build

My only advice would be to take your time and learn to use vertex editing, texture lighting, the clipping tool and find the texture lock(tl) button, it allows you to move/rotate/scale brushes without the textures getting messed up. Don't let complex world brushes(non-entity brushes) thouch each other at odd angles or overlap. learn the shortcuts ctrl+I, ctrl+L and ctrl+M instead of using menus for flipping brushes and for transforming brushes

ingame tools that are useful: noclip, gl_wireframe 1, gl_wireframe 2 and r_speeds 1(preferably with r_speeds 1)

Haze

*Files above advice into "Year to check: 2005" file cabnet* <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

amckern

<a href='http://www.geocities.com/adam_tebbutt_mckern/ns.html' target='_blank'>http://www.geocities.com/adam_tebbutt_mckern/ns.html</a>

amckern

Haze

Can anyone help me? I used clipping tool in my map, and was trying to make a pipe. But after I said "screw this" and hit the delete key after messing up the pipe, wireframe of the model stayed there. It only appears when I select clipping. Also, the entity cursor wont go away when I move it over the camera box. Lots of things have gone wrong, hold on let me make a list..

1.) Wireframe of model after clipping job remained after I removed the model itself. Only appears when in "clipping mode."

2.) Entity cursor (that one that looks like a tiny explosion when your mouse cursor is inside the camera box) will not go away. How do I make it go away?

3.) How do I rotate textures? Made my ceiling all wrong, and my walls all wrong too.

4.) When I make a block in 'block mode' or something like that, and want to cancel making it, I always have to create that object, then delete it to make another one. How do I start a new 'block' without doing that?

5.) How do I make a pipe? The textures align all wrong, and I cant get it that round lookin shape.

My little corridor besides those five faults is fine. I'm so proud of it!! *Tear*

Haze

So far I can create a hallway with four different walls -- the walls, ceiling, and floor. All with missaligned textuers. But its a start, eh? I'll take akmern's (whatever) tutorial thingy tommarow, but now I gotta go watch some television!!! TV T V TVTVTtvt!! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

Haze

*Bump* Can anyone answer these questions? Also how do you take screenshots of your map?

Spooge

<!--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-->This forum is -not- for questions about how to map. This forum is for questions about how to use the NS specific entities, NS specific design specifications, and NS concepts within a map.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Direct quote from <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=100' target='_blank'>The Mapping Forum FAQ</a>

Please go through the previously posted tutorials before asking questions. Then look through the FAQ for links to sites which handle questions regarding mapping fundamentals.

But feel free to ask questions regarding specific NS mapping techniques <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

Tequila

F5 takes screenshots of what you're currently looking at, depositing them as .bmps in the Half-Life directory. You'll want to convert them to .jpegs before you post them <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->

Haze

Thanks Tequila^. And spooge, I read that. And you know what? The FAQ didnt give me a tutorial. I couldnt find it. I couldnt pull up the page. So I came here. I know what it said, I just needed some help that it couldnt offer.

Haze

Sorry for bringing this post up again, but, I mean take screenshots in hammer. Is it still F5?

RPG_Jssmfulhud

To take screenshots in Hammer, you just set, what you want in the windows, and press PrtSc (Print screen), then run Paint and paste it in. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

Haze

Where can I update hammer?

Erias

Time for an infusion of <i>linkage</i>.

The Hammer 3.5 Beta is <a href='http://collective.valve-erc.com/index.php?go=hammer_beta' target='_blank'>here</a>. You need to have <a href='http://collective.valve-erc.com/data/docs/1039631978-44855700/files/hammer_v34.exe' target='_blank'>Hammer 3.4 installed</a> first, the beta is just a replacement for hammer.exe.

The main place to look up all your silly little mapping questions would probably be <a href='http://collective.valve-erc.com/' target='_blank'>here</a>. Note the articles, tutorials and forums where I'm sure mapping n00bies are welcomed with open arms.

For more mapping links, try <a href='http://www.slackiller.com/tommy14/cs_maplinks.htm' target='_blank'>this</a> page.

Haze

But can anyone answer a simple question? How do I 'de-create' a block that I havent created yet. Like I've used the block tool to draw its "blueprint" out, but then I <i>have</i> to create it in order to start another one. How do I erase this "blueprint"?

Erias

Dude, you just press ESC and the marquee disappears. Or heck, you can just change tools or go back to selection mode.

But really, this is not the place to go if you don't know how to use VHE. It's just the rules.

PS: I posted those links above to answer all your questions. Click them! Go on! Don't be afraid! <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> Oh yeah, and here are the VERC <a href='http://www.chatbear.com/board.plm?b=390' target='_blank'>forums</a>. I believe you can ask all the VHE-related questions you want there.

Haze

Ok thx, time to ..try to make a map..