Time to start mapping for BF2 now! - newb questions

[Pyrex238]

Hey guys. Glad to see theres already an editor available for BF2. I'm a pretty experience mapper from way back to duke3d, so I had a few questions to ask, I browsed the forums for quite some time, but I'm still coming up short on a few questions.

The editor is included with the game it appears, is there any updates or patches? Also, is this editor similar to any other editors, like gtk radient, unrealED, etc.? Is there any limitations currently? Also, how big of a learning curve would you say the editor has? And one last thing, for custom textures/map object models.. are these inclosed in a single map file, or must they be seperate in different directory structures?

Thanks for your time!

C.J.

[CrimsonBlaze]

Re: Time to start mapping for BF2 now! - newb questions

well the editor is not supplied with the game, it's a seperate download and is currently in beta stage so there will be updates for it at somepoint.
I can't really say about other editors as i've only used Final Alert 2 (which I made some nice maps on) and RenX (which confused the hell outta me and I gave up after half an hour). Not sure on the limitations myself tbh as I have just tried making basic maps - nothing too advanced. The learning curve is quite easy, it may seem abit intimidating when you load it but if you follow the first 2 tutorials by EA you wouldve made a nice simple map in 10mins (if your gonna make a full proper map it would take much much longer obviously :p) and realise it's not that hard, it would only get hard when you try to add complex things like layers (the way to have 16/32/64 player modes).
I havent dealt with custom models so I wouldnt know, custom textures can be used though, i know that for a fact.

[Pyrex238]

Re: Time to start mapping for BF2 now! - newb questions

How is it on your system? steep system requirements? How do you go about adding buildings, etc... are they custom fabricated, or are building like a single object you just drop down?

[CrimsonBlaze]

Re: Time to start mapping for BF2 now! - newb questions

It runs fine on my system, can get laggy when I have a finished level loaded and its set to draw everything... basically its a RAM hog, but thats the only thing really. If you havent got too much RAM then try and produce smaller sized maps if you find it too laggy.
To add existing buildings you just go into the level editor, find the certain building you want from the navigation on the left and then just drag and drop. Position to your liking and voila.

[Pyrex238]

Re: Time to start mapping for BF2 now! - newb questions

Sounds simple enough. Can you build your own buildings, or should I do that in 3dmax and import them as a map object? I think I'll play around tonight and put a small level together or something, and I'll move my way around finding all the different triggers.. etc.

[CrimsonBlaze]

Re: Time to start mapping for BF2 now! - newb questions

I think you can import objects from 3dsmax into a map... although not being a 3d modeller I wouldnt know.

[Pyrex238]

Re: Time to start mapping for BF2 now! - newb questions

Sounds good. I suppose just need to get teh UVW maps right and import it in. I'll play around with it tonight. Thanks for the input.

[-R|F-Glitch]

Re: Time to start mapping for BF2 now! - newb questions

The editor is pretty easy once you get the basics down, I would say that it is much easier than unreal ed.

[CrimsonBlaze]

Re: Time to start mapping for BF2 now! - newb questions

I've heard some people say they prefer Unreal Ed due to its features, not having it myself I wouldnt know...

[-R|F-Glitch]

Re: Time to start mapping for BF2 now! - newb questions

Well with unreal ed you had to make your own buildings and the buildings would pretty much be your level. Building a building or buildings for your level could be very annoying to do. Such things as try to make your pieces the right size if it would be (256x256) to make it fit what you want.

I would also say that the bf2 editor is kinda like the nile editor in the way that you pretty much place vehicles and buildings, except in nile you couldn't make your own terrain, in bf2 you can.

Picture of the BF2 Editor.

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/sowake3.JPG

Pictures of the Unreal Ed (raven shield). I never messed with terrain.

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/gasstat.jpg

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/reartc12.jpg

[ELI]

Re: Time to start mapping for BF2 now! - newb questions

The BF editor in my opinion is pretty user friendly for the novice. The grdient tool used in CoD is similar to the Unreal ED, very confusing and everthing pretty much had to be made.