How do you prioritize your mapping?

[Marzgog]

I was just wonderin what would be the fastest, most efficient way to do mappin. The details, the rooms, the architecture? Is it best to first make the rooms, then add the architecture to em?

[Kengo]

That's an interesting question.

 

I don't know if there's any 'best way' really, I think it's probabaly down to personal preference. My style has varies a bit depending on the map, but generally what I tend to do is...actually, it varies a lot. In my earlier maps I did it a room at a time and then after I'd done a lot, compiled and tested it, went back over that, tested it again, then went onto another section. My later maps have been a lot less linear and so I've just built the main architecture, then gone onto details when I think of them.

I have to admit, I'm not really very methodical about it, I just add things when it seems a good idea at the time. I think if the map is gonna be very complex, then it's worth planning ahead a bit, but otherwise doing things as you think of them isn't neccisarily a bad idea.

[Kengo]

Oh, and out of the three the one that most closely fits my mapping style is:

 

Put in the details when they come to your mind so you don't forget any good ideas.

 

[DISorder]

I put in the details as they come to my mind so I dont forget them . Always build things in caulk then texture only the faces you can see this way you cant forget to caulk (some) things, just in case you didnt already do that . Usually I make as much as I can in only caulk, then I'll go out and find/make textures for whatever it needs, but after looking at the caulk for a while it all starts to blend in and hurt the eyes, and thats when it's time to texture, at least for me.

[Takeoffyouhoser]

i just load radiant and start building stuff. I have no set way of doing rooms, nor i do follow any plans.... Whatever i think of I do... it seems to work well.

[The Truthful Liar]

Draw it out first.

[Takeoffyouhoser]

Draw it out first.

 

Now, drawing is something that i just can't do. I have graph paper and tried to do the layout thing, which went horribly wrong.

the only drawing I do is with Radiant itself, and just making floor brushes to get an idea for a layout, then i go about it from there..

[Wudan]

Originally posted by AB_Legion

Draw it out first.

 

Now, now - wouldn't want the maps looking professional or anything, would we?

 

Most of the great Q3 mappers draw things out.

 

Most of the great Q3 maps floor most anything we have available today.

[Eagle_e7]

Before i even touch the editor i draw everything on paper.

[wedge2211]

OH yes, must have the all-powerful floor plan... especially handy for multi-level maps.

 

I build rooms as I go...but I tend to put in details as I think of them, so yeah, that one.

[Kengo]

Originally posted by wudan

Now, now - wouldn't want the maps looking professional or anything, would we?

 

Most of the great Q3 mappers draw things out.

 

Most of the great Q3 maps floor most anything we have available today.

 

I really know I *should* map things out....but I just don't. I know I'd make better maps if I did, I know the top mappers do, but I just hate doing it...it makes it seem all technical instead of fun, and I really enjoy putting a map together. I do map bits out when I feel I need an overal view of where its all going...but I don't plan from the start, and if I did it would just be unrecognisable from what I finished with anyway, after all the ad-libed changes.

 

There is one good thing...although an Imperial base is surely planeed before being built...an old looking town is bound to have been a big mess put together bit by bit, so if I stick to things that should be a badly planned mess, I'm well away

[lassev]

Yeah, I drew everything first, then built the maps. The maps ended up being about 15% faithful to the plans... But then, I was megalomaniac, and did certainly not know how much the making of details eats one's time. Still, most of the time I build the basic architecture for a room, then start detailing until I get bored, move to the next room, and come back detailing some other time.

 

It's another matter when you are doing cinematics. Then you often pay a little more attention to the details right from the beginning.

[Shadriss]

I kind of mix all those styles. FOr the more complex maps, I draw them out first, at least a general outline. But as for actual details, ,I just put in what seems to fit the rooms intended look and style. When actually BUILDING it, I do a room at a time, though I dont texture until the majority of the area is laid out, for the most part.

[Eldritch]

I map everything out on paper first, before I even think about opening Radiant. When I'm satisfied with the layout of my drawings, I'll start mapping and go one room at a time, because I'd rather have a finished room and build off of that then to make many rooms at one time and spread my focus all over the place.

 

However, if i'm mapping and I have a good idea I just don't want to forget, I'll drop what I'm doing and map it out (at least the basics of it) so I don't forget it. I texture as I go, but I have a tendency to re-texture rooms (or parts of rooms) to fit in with the overall theme if something isn't working.

[000nate]

What I usually do is take my time developing my map in my head than start it on the comp, I don't like to map it out first because I don't really think its that essential. Plus you could say I get a little excited to see the final product as soon as I can.

 

:C U around

[Darth berserker]

Last night I couldn´t sleep, so I tied to make a sketch of a map. Now I know why I never do it, I just can´t. I form an idea in the head, then I open radi, make a room, texture it, and move to the next one. If I feel that something is not riht I change it.