What do you do first when you map?

[LordP]

I was just wondering, but what do yo guys do after you make the structural brushes? Do work on the inside of the map? Or do you do lights or what?

[lassev]

I have a habit of building one room at a time, so after the initial wall, ceiling and floor brushes I start to make the walls, ceiling and floor more varied. So, I build pillars, niches, all kind of support elements, and such things. After I'm somewhat satisfied with them, I just start to make the details inside the room one at a time. I often, depending how complicate they are, texture them right away after that.

 

After some detailing is in place, I texture the walls and ceiling and floor, if I haven't done that already earlier, but often it's after the initial detailing. At this stage I often do the first compile, and for that I of course need some sort of light entities in place.

 

Last I will make the more complicated func_ entities. And even after that I will place the more abstract funcs like target_speakers and target_scriptrunners and such.

 

If I need new textures or shaders, I usually make them just before I need them... So, I don't really plan that beforehand very well...

[GothiX]

I draw, just draw.. Usually make something abstract. I stare at it for a long time, and think up a map in that style. I draw out a basic plan, map that, and add detail where I think it's needed and appropriate.

 

I know, I'm crazy, but it works!

[wedge2211]

What lassev said.

[gotcha8903]

my "technique" is to make a room withy everything caulked, add more rooms to that. then i apply textures, test it out, and repeat that until most of the map is done. then i add the details.

[Kengo]

I tend to draw bits and pieces, ideas and vague layouts on paper. Then I map the basic design (often caulked) before trying to add a bunch of textures, then detailing. If its SP, NPC and item placements etc tends to come nearer the end.