? Your approach to building maps ?

[LaserCobra]

I just started getting into BF2 mapping. I have some experience with DC maps but that was just changing vehicles, soldier skins, etc. Nothing from complete scratch.

I've started on my first one and I think I have a great concept. I'm making it for my clan and don't have real intentions to release it to everyone...

The more I work on it (2 days) the more I feel that there is probably a better thought process to making a map then what I'm utilizing today.

When YOU create a map, what are your initial points of work and where do you go from there? :

For instance-
Concept created
Create capture points
Create terrain (hills and valleys) around capture points
Paint terrain around capture point
Add buildings and other static objects
Create environment details like trees, brush, water, etc
Create spawn points
Fill in the terrain gaps between the CP.


My challenge is making things look full yet random. Perhaps I speak too soon since it's only been 2 days worth of work. But you seasoned people may have this down to a fine art by now. Share...?

[Pirelli]

Re: ? Your approach to building maps ?

Heres how I do it

The idea
Create the landmass for the idea
Waterlevel
Paint it in one texture
Create roads
Create a temporary spawn so i can look inside outside of editor (this usually triggers more ideas)
Populate the place with buildings i need for the idea to work out.
Paint more terrain tectures.
Trees and undergrowth.
Control points and spawns
Sky, water look
Lightmaps and ground hemi
Testing
Combat area
Minimaps, loadscreen and map description
More testing
Packing
Distribution to betatesters.
Fixing bugs, finalising

I think that covers about how i work with a map. Hope i didnt forget something here.

[gx.]

Re: ? Your approach to building maps ?

heres what i do
get an idea
creat the level( hills, lakes, rivers, etc.)
base texture
add points
roads if the level calls for them
more textures
add buildings, and veg.
final textures
sky
lighmaps combate area
mini map
test
then hold on to it till the mod team needs it.

[LaserCobra]

Re: ? Your approach to building maps ?

Heres how I do it

The idea
Create the landmass for the idea
Waterlevel
Paint it in one texture
Create roads
Create a temporary spawn so i can look inside outside of editor (this usually triggers more ideas)
Populate the place with buildings i need for the idea to work out.
Paint more terrain tectures.
Trees and undergrowth.
Control points and spawns
Sky, water look
Lightmaps and ground hemi
Testing
Combat area
Minimaps, loadscreen and map description
More testing
Packing
Distribution to betatesters.
Fixing bugs, finalising

I think that covers about how i work with a map. Hope i didnt forget something here.

Perfect!

Thanks!

[Blackbrird]

Re: ? Your approach to building maps ?

heres what i do sound funniy at first but good or getting thoughts together


get the idea
look on googleearth to see what the area looks like aroihdn the spot
make a buble pic of the map on paper
good copey on paper
start working on the treain around the spwon points
textuer the spwnpoints
test ingae for more ideasand how roads will link up
begin treain betreen the spwons
textuer
test ingame make sure roads stil have a good base to run on.
builds the roads
test the roads make sure thery aint bumpy and all that
fix all road related bugs
put in the 2nd and 3 and so on textuers
place buldings and other object
test inagme
fix the texters so they aint crappy or ceckerborded
maked the combat area
test ingame
fix bugs
makes minimap, loadingscreens so on.
pakage map
send to betatester to test
fix bugs that have been reported
2nd beta test.
release map to public


start thinking of map 2 lol

repeat prosess lol.

[CrimsonBlaze]

Re: ? Your approach to building maps ?

Heres how I do it

The idea
Create the landmass for the idea
Waterlevel
Paint it in one texture
Create roads
Create a temporary spawn so i can look inside outside of editor (this usually triggers more ideas)
Populate the place with buildings i need for the idea to work out.
Paint more terrain tectures.
Trees and undergrowth.
Control points and spawns
Sky, water look
Lightmaps and ground hemi
Testing
Combat area
Minimaps, loadscreen and map description
More testing
Packing
Distribution to betatesters.
Fixing bugs, finalising

I think that covers about how i work with a map. Hope i didnt forget something here.

Wouldnt creating the landmass be alot harder to do without a base texture? With no texture the ground is a bright white and it's hard to see what your doing. This is why the first thing I do when I start a level in the editor (after planning) is to put down a single texture on the entire map (one which matches the theme of the map - grass, sand etc.) so it's easier to see what i'm doing when shaping the land.

My methods are very similar to yours, just with alot more testing (once i've done something in the editor I tend to check to see if it looks right in game) and also control points and spawns also include Layers. Also doing final lightmaps and testing before packaging
Oh, and I almost forgot, I do my light settings and water just after i've finished shaping the land - mainly so whem im testing it has the right feeling and feels easier to work from, I have a better feeling of where everything should go.