Mappers block

Muu

<div class="IPBDescription">If there is such a thing.</div>There’s no real purpose to this post other that to ask if anyone else experiences mapper’s block where you just can’t decide where to go next or, as with me you keep building a room and then throwing it away? I’m stuck in a real rut - I must have redone this one room near the first hive at least 20 times - that’s one and a half weeks work, I just can’t make a room which holds all the elements I want and looks good. Normally I'd just give up but I really want to finish an ns map. What do you guys do? Maybe I should look at some architecture books or something. I can’t get myself to make a room which looks grungy either - it seems to be against my nature or something <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

Oh and Flayra could you tell me if the triger_random will cause much network traffic?

Comprox

I get this quite often in mapping and PS (Photoshop). What I usually end up doing is doodling random idea's on paper in social class, or when the teachers are on strike (like they are now), I may start a whole new room and just make it look like whatever comes to mind. I useuslaly get a good idea from this and end up flooding in with a whole more 2 ideas <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo-->

Flayra

The trigger_random won't cause much network traffic (not compared to the rest of NS), though if you chain a lot up together, I guess you could louse things up.  Don't worry about it in general though.

Merks got a big case of mapper's block a few months back, to the point where he couldn't map at all.  I'm not sure what he did to get out of it, but I have a feeling it was due to not having things figured out on a high level.  I don't know how he got past it, but hopefully he'll enlighten us.

I'd definitely suggest reading some architecture books, looking at other sources for inspiration, playing an intrument, drawing, or generally some other creative activity that isn't mapping to help you get through it.  Sometimes you just need to take a complete break and come back to it later.  This seems to happen to many people in many disciplines so don't worry about it, it's par for the course.

realityisdead

This seems to be happening quite a bit lately. I too have been finding myself in this situation for the past couple days. IFA just posted a similar topic also.

As Flayra said, you might want to take a break from mapping for a little bit... it does generally help.

Merkaba

To be honest, I can't remember how I got over it. I think I just took a break from everything mapping-related for a bit, and then jumped back in after a week or so...

I can't even remember what map I was working on at the time, or how far through it I was.

Cremator

ironically, i spend far more time in a block than actually mapping

ChromeAngel

You could try modifying the surrounding area(s) to suit your problamtic room better Mu_

On the general topic of mappers block, I agree doing something else, not map related helps.

Biomechanoid

I seem to spend a ratio of 5/1 hours in mappers block: that is for every hour I spend mapping, I spend 5 hours trying to figure out what the hell I was going to do next. so I stop, pick up me guitar and play for a long while, then sit back down with all sorts of strange ideas of putting music in shapes <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

Note: this is probably why all my maps so far look insanely detailed, have 1200+ r_speeds, and haven't been released.  <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->

Greedo

Mapper's block is a big problem.  Personally, I've only managed to throw together a single hallway in the last month.  I've had these problems before.  One thing I find that helps is distraction.  If you are completely out of ideas, stop thinking about mapping entirely.  Don't go to other mapping sites, watching sci-fi movies, or looking at abandoned buildings with the sole purpose of trying to get ideas.  Don't go looking for inspiration.  I've found that the best ideas will come to you when you least expect it.

Flayra

Merks, one week?  You didn't map for almost a month, IIRC.  You were working on ns_plant, remember?  You had all these cool curvy hallways, ones that made some people sick but looked so killer...

Anyways, Merks was stuck for a month (at least) and he pulled out and seems to be doing just fine.  I think. <poke, poke>