The Process of starting a map build, and how to create murder holes?

[live4u120]

Well when I'm making a map, I like to start off by creating attractive land that gives you a nice starting point, and then create some sort of flat surface to build my structure(s) on, and then after I'm done with the structure, I texture everything that's dev textured into real attractive textures, and then lighting.

How do you guys make your maps? Or what do you think is the most efficient and appealing way of creating a map?

Also, I'm looking at this:

[IMG]http://www.carnegieclub.co.uk/assets/images/slideshow/Castle.jpg[/IMG]

And I would like to try and experiment with something like those murder holes. (Or at least they remind me of them) The cylindrical outcrops on the corners of the building. How would I create something like that? I'm guessing it would be pretty easy to just make a hollow cylinder. Am I right with that, or no?

[Lord Ned]

You could use arches, but you'd have a real tough time putting windows and all of those details in.

[live4u120]

[QUOTE=Lord Ned;17140407]You could use arches, but you'd have a real tough time putting windows and all of those details in.[/QUOTE]

Unless I used CARVE. Haha, just kidding. I suppose actually I could make two hollow cylinders, remove the bottoms and tops, and I could make a space in between them for a clearing for windows. And for the around the windows, I could use something like arches, yes.

[laptopman]

Hollowing is basically carve. Use arches.

[nater]

What? Hollowing is not anything like carve...It's actually efficient and doesn't make 5,000 micro-brushes. And it hollows an objects, rather than cutting something out of it.

[g-foxisus]

Good luck with that.