Some Hivework

Cronos

<div class="IPBDescription">Your opinions</div> Just wondering if this hive I've been working on looks Good.

I'm toying with names at the moment, but Coolant Effluent Hive sounds good to me <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

Screens below

Cronos

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Cronos

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WarpZone

It's so big! Every 240 pixels, hlvis splits up a brush surface. That means that every 256x256 texture that you use in your map will get sliced into four parts. So you might as well add some detail to your map by cutting the brushes of a large flat surface into pieces that are 240x240 or smaller, and using different textures on each one.

Reebdoog

try and vary the textures a bit, too much repetition can be a bad thing or a good thing, but its not so good here, try breaking it up with another texture or something.

WolfWings

Incorrect.

Every 256x256 texture gets split every 240 units.
Every 128x128 texture ALSO gets split ever 240 units.

Just try to map in multiples of 240 units for large areas, and you'll be fine.

As a side-note... USE MORE TEXTURES! Gah... that is so... so flat. =-.-= Sorry, just break things up, add some infestation, it's a very simple layout right now, ya' know? :-) Put some ledges, or change textures occasionally for some variance, stuff like that. =^.^=

Cronos

My main problem would be keeping in line with the theme. Thats meant to be a coolant storage tank that flushes sludge through a network of vents. I'm not very good at handling infestation, and vertex manipulation was never my strong point.

Hrmmm, maybe some flushing pipes...

Does anyone know a good tutorial on how to do some decent looking wall-climbing infestation?

MasterG

Cronos, this is way low-detailed stuff, try and add the stuff you just mentioned.
I can write you a tutorial on how to make the wall infestation. But.. It may take a while. I will add it here with pictures and good understandable txt when I'm done with it. Does it sound ok?

MasterG

Here you go:

OK! First, you make or load up the room you want your infestation in.
The you choose the infested texture.
Now. Make a brush along the whole wall where you want the infestation
select the clipping tool. Clip it like this first:

<img src='http://www.csm.sndev.com/kabelen/pictures/infestwallguide/infwall1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

Now clip it like this:

<img src='http://www.csm.sndev.com/kabelen/pictures/infestwallguide/infwall2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

And like this:

<img src='http://www.csm.sndev.com/kabelen/pictures/infestwallguide/infwall3.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

When you know have clipped it done, you select the vertex manipulation
tool and move the corners of the triangels in a way that does that the
triangles aren't all like. Like this:

<img src='http://www.csm.sndev.com/kabelen/pictures/infestwallguide/infwall4.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

Now you see that each triangle has a diffrent size and form.
Here comes the most tricky part, to make it look good. First, you
select all the triangles that is in contact with the floor, and you put
them 96 units out from the wall, like this:

<img src='http://www.csm.sndev.com/kabelen/pictures/infestwallguide/infwall5.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

Know do the same with all the triangles in contact with the ceiling:

<img src='http://www.csm.sndev.com/kabelen/pictures/infestwallguide/infwall6.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

Know, with the vertex tool, make the triangles not go in a straight
line on the floor, something like this:

<img src='http://www.csm.sndev.com/kabelen/pictures/infestwallguide/infwall7.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

Do the same thing in the ceiling.
After you now are done with the ceiling and floor triangles, make all
the triangles become "one part" with moving all the corners againts each
other with the vertex tool, and when you are done it will be something
like this:

<img src='http://www.csm.sndev.com/kabelen/pictures/infestwallguide/infwall8.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>

If you know aren't happy with the result, you can work a little more
on it and see if it gets better, then I'm sure it will be fine!

I hope this is any help to you, 'cause I spent 3 quarters of my time off to write this for you.

The_Real_Quasar

That's a nice tutorial... Fairly simple, but nice all the same!
Get it up on www.snarkpit.com, help some more mappars!

Reese

Well, I guess since good infestation basically requires vertex manipulation you'll have a chance to practice both. I think mapping is more about bulldozing through your weak points with hours and hours of practice than it is avoiding them. In the end being good with vertexing will help you everywhere.

Jezpuh

That hive room is way to big and has a lack of textures.
I'd resize it and add more detail.

Cronos

Thats a very excellent tutorial, the first three screens can be done automatically by a program called gensurf that I've got lying around,

All I need to do is manipulate the brushes correctly...

I also hit upon the idea of a broken catwalk, I'll try implementing them after breakfast, thanks for the help guys...

Cronos

Some New shots, with some gensurf goodness in there.

I did use the vertex manipulation as suggested but what came out would have scared moby **** from captain ahab, so I painfully deleted it and replaced it with the gensurf work.

Cronos

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Cronos

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Cronos

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frostymoose

it's too wide open and empty. plus, it's using no lights right now, so It looks very plain.

Reese

that hive brushwork is looking good though. now you just need to make it less a box and more a room. Starting out mapping is hard...and I don't think it ever gets easier to be honest.

Haze

The bit with the walkways:

I see that they run along the top of the pipes, you should make them still do that. Then, break at the near middle, resulting in a bit of the walkway hanging down, swaying a bit. Maybe with a bit of infestation on the end.

Cronos

Perhaps, but it would look VERY odd with the walk ways going through the hive.

My prime goal at the moment is to make the back area look less bland, while at the same time trying to reduce the r_speeds.

Currently they peak at 1000 D: but usually average 600 - 800.

Reebdoog

remember to funk wall the ends of those pipes (leave a 1unit gap or make a 1unit funk wall) If you haven't already, just to stop too much cutting. Maybe decrease the size just a little, and less square, maybe more a randomish shape. And nah, mapping doesnt get any easier, but you just move on to harder things. Just make sure you enjoy, and do what YOU think looks good, thats the important bit, its all about having fun.

ssjyoda

i suggest not showing any more pictures till u get some lighting done. It really does change the entire appearance of a room. Ive seen rooms with lots of tiled textures, but with the lighting, didn't look too bad.

Angelusz

sorry to say, still looks kinda dull <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

nightdragon

whats with the door to nowhere between the pipes?

ND

Reebdoog

Keep showing screenies, but yer, lighting can make a massive difference to a map. Remember contrast = good. Shadows and bright spots will totally effect the feel and make the size of the room change.