Hey guys, I've got a quick question, and I'm hoping this is the appropriate place for this. I'm thinking about investing one year into learning mapping. In addition, from what I've heard, I should consider taking up a little bit of modeling on the side as well.
Would investing one year in mapping and perhaps a little bit of modeling on the side make me a decent mapper if I worked on it nearly daily? Would it take me multiple years?
Thanks in advance.
[editline]15th December 2010[/editline]
Also, any tips for someone who's going to dive into this?
If you learn properly yes. You can just start mapping, and if you know how to map properly it will be at least a not bad piece.
How should I go about learning properly? Are there certain places where I can check out reliable mapping tutorials?
I wouldn't say you should go 'Okay im going to spend a whole year LEARNING to map'
Anyone can learn to map in 5 minutes from a tutorial, but getting better is an on-going process, and you learn as you make maps and seek information on how to create your ideas in hammer. Modelling is the same, it isnt overly difficult to learn the basics, then after that its about how much time you invest into it.
I would suggest reading a good tutorial on how to start off, so you dont get into bad habits.
The Mappers' Encyclopedia is a good place to start, especially the links to tutorial sites, as well as if you scroll down to the Mapping FAQ and Mapping Jargon sections.
[url]http://www.facepunch.com/threads/519418-The-Mappers-Encyclopedia[/url]
Sorry, I should have been more clear about my process, it's a working learning one, as you stated above. Thanks for the heads up.
Still though, when you get the basics and start to get some experience, its a case of learning how to do stuff as you want to do it.
Depending on how fast you learn/how much common sense you have, you can pick up the basics pretty fast and dive straight into creating some maps for release.
A good way to start off learning after you go through the 'creating your first room' process, would be to start experimenting with the different entities and thinking of what else you could add into the room, then finding other tutorials on how to achieve that.
Come on Andrew you have known me for over 3 years you could of just asked me.
You could map for five years and never get past making fullbright boxes...look at 3kliks as a perfect example of someone who won't learn.
[QUOTE=Lilolia;26715282]Still though, when you get the basics and start to get some experience, its a case of learning how to do stuff as you want to do it.
Depending on how fast you learn/how much common sense you have, you can pick up the basics pretty fast and dive straight into creating some maps for release.
A good way to start off learning after you go through the 'creating your first room' process, would be to start experimenting with the different entities and thinking of what else you could add into the room, then finding other tutorials on how to achieve that.[/QUOTE]
I have a good handful of years experience with Source, so I figure mapping would expand my knowledge of the engine.
How do you have experience with the engine if you haven't actually explored its capabilities?
[QUOTE=IronPhoenix;26716157]How do you have experience with the engine if you haven't actually explored its capabilities?[/QUOTE]
He is a programmer.
After learning all the basic tools and how they function, I would start making things you like, or that you find cool. I personally have a weakness for complex geometry and spaceships. Take some time and think through you design. Look at reference images or take a walk in you nearest town, or watch a movie and look for cool buildings or scenes. Just get inspired to make what ever you like.
I find that when I am mapping something I like, it is easier to stay focused and hence improving both you map and your skills with Hammer.
Your best bet for learning properly is to start by learning all of Source's little quirks, problems and annoyances, then make your map(s) within these boundaries. Find out all the bad shit that can go wrong and how to avoid it before it can even exist.
Once you have that down to a fine art (which would only take a couple of weeks making several practice maps), you'll have a good understanding of what you can/cannot do within your map. Then you can start work on logic systems (pretty easy stuff if you're a bit of a nerd).
From there, it's just practicing getting your ideas into Hammer in the way most accurate to your intentions. Reference pictures and research help out an enormous amount in making a map look believable (even if you are going for a stylized approach).
For the best Hammer tutorial websites check out interlopers ([url]www.interlopers.net[/url]) and halfwit2 ([url]http://www.halfwit-2.com[/url]), which are both dedicated Hammer tutorial websites with useful forums and well over 200 hundred tutorials each. When i first started mapping I used halfwit 2 as it's tutorials are arranged (genrally) from easiest to hardest. There is also a website called World of Level Design ([url]http://www.worldofleveldesign.com[/url]) which caters for UDK as well as Hammer.
All these website should make you a resonably good mapper in a year or so. Good luck!
You've got way too much free time, but for tutorials I just search on youtube or google, usually I find what I need
most tutorials on Youtube are not that good (with some exceptions). Use the links provided in Bookwrm4life's post.
It just takes practice, the more things you make and fuck up, you'll learn what you did which was wrong and probably from the pure frustration of trying to find the problem you'll remember never to make that mistake again.
Read tutorials, talk to other mappers, make maps with other people and learn from eachother, examine Valve's maps to see how they do things, always try new environments and ideas, but most importantly have fun. You'll find that the more you map, your abillity to imagine areas and then recreate them will get more accurate.
Once you know what you're doing, you are only really limited by your imagination and the game engine. :smile:
[QUOTE=IronPhoenix;26715993]You could map for five years and never get past making fullbright boxes...look at 3kliks as a perfect example of someone who won't learn.[/QUOTE]
Shh, don't mention his name, it's taboo and will bring misfortune.
I've been mapping for nearly 14 years and I'm still pretty mediocre. My problem is that I'll start on something and grow bored with it after a few days/weeks. Though in all of that time mapping, you gain an insight on to what works and what doesn't before the idea even hits paper.
He must sit there googling his name constantly, to see if he's been mentioned anywhere. I swear that's how come he's always in here shitting up the place.
How do you think I find your posts HiddenMyst?
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