How to make a decent map?

Cookie^

L2: Junior Member
Jan 26, 2014
75
2
I have been using Hammer for about 1,5 years and I can make basic maps. But when I try to make cp maps I always fail and I cannot make them look nearly as pretty and overall good like most cp maps in this site. Most of the time, my maps seem to bring up one problem after other. Could you guys give me some tips or some hints on how to practice?
 

fubarFX

The "raw" in "nodraw"
aa
Jun 1, 2009
1,720
1,978
why settle for decent?! your question upsets me.

make every map like it was your last map. having problems poping up in your maps only means that you're not sticking to what everyone knows already works(boring). chances are you're doing something new, take pride in that. As it turns out, you might be on the path to greatness and you don't even know.
 

Waffe

L5: Dapper Member
Dec 2, 2012
230
203
1) Make more maps.

2) Think critically and listen carefully to other's feedback. I have a problem with overthinking when I design, so sometimes I just have to accept how things are and move on.

3) Remember that no map is perfect

4) Be creative and don't be afraid of recycling existing ideas or gimmicks for something new (of course, don't fully copy paste an existing map, unless you're making gullywash). Feel free to experiment and create some crazy maps if you like, though

5) Get your scale right and the map is automatically much more fun. If the map is too wide it tends to be a bore, and too small and people complain about it being cramped and getting stuck everywhere. This is kinda hard to accomplish... (at least to me.) TIP: Use stickies and the range of sentries to determine if your map is too wide or small. Compare with existing maps that are proven to be fun

6) If you REALLY wanna do some hardcore mapping, give yourself a deadline and stick to it. I find myself work 500% faster on 72h contests than regularly


having problems poping up in your maps only means that you're not sticking to what everyone knows already works(boring).

But stuff that already works work because they're fun?
 

fubarFX

The "raw" in "nodraw"
aa
Jun 1, 2009
1,720
1,978
But stuff that already works work because they're fun?

well then that settles it, pl_badwater_rainy is a great custom map. it's fresh, new AND exciting! and super interesting of course. We need more of those maps to make our artform progress
 

SSX

aa
Feb 2, 2014
392
411
well then that settles it, pl_badwater_rainy is a great custom map. it's fresh, new AND exciting! and super interesting of course

More interesting to look at than the original badwater at least.