NODRAW.NET: Advanced tutorials by your favorite mappers!

MangyCarface

Mapper
aa
Feb 26, 2008
1,626
1,325
Nodraw.net is a collaborative blog run by a group of the most knowledgeable mappers within the source engine.
The site was developed by Nineaxis and is contributed to by many well-known names around the forums.

Be sure to bookmark it and check back for regular updates going into explanation of the engine, gameplay theory and development tracking that will surely help you in your own endeavors!
 

Psy

The Imp Queen
aa
Apr 9, 2008
1,706
1,491
Wish I could contribute as I'm liking the posts so far. :D
 

Ida

deer
aa
Jan 6, 2008
2,289
1,372
I'm not sure why you need your own blog instead of using this forum, but hey, as long as it's good, I'll be happy to keep it bookemarked.
 

MangyCarface

Mapper
aa
Feb 26, 2008
1,626
1,325
There are a few reasons why this is preferred:

1. Simple immediate link to a sequential blog (we have links to separate blogs here)
2. Restricted privileges to those capable of writing quality material
3. Not necessarily going to be a TF2 only blog. We have some material on HL2E2 already, even though it's only been a short while since we opened, and I personally plan on committing a lot of L4D2 material after the holidays. The emphasis is on source in general.

If you feel you have something to contribute, msg me or another LDND group member on steam and we'll chat: If I don't know you by name (unlikely) portfolio work or previous writings would help~
 

Titanium

L1: Registered
Nov 23, 2009
28
11
I have only read the first article and I have understood optimization better than before thank's a lot for sharing your knowledge.
 

Nutomic

L11: Posh Member
Feb 7, 2009
888
177
Really nice tutorials already, but you need a fav-icon :D

And the design is a bit too white-ish imo.
 

MrAlBobo

L13: Stunning Member
Feb 20, 2008
1,059
219
There should already be a favicon, and the white, thats just a matter of taste/distaste

Even as a matter of taste it still needs some definition added, like...the body of the page is fixed and has a barely visible border around it, the background behind that should be a different color just to make the body stand out. Id suggest something off-white, like...#cccccc, but that is likely the same shade as the current border.

Aside from that...i quite liked the optimization tutorial, and I almost posted a comment to see if the seamless texture thing existed in tf2.
 

Fraz

Blu Hatte, Greyscale Backdrop.
aa
Dec 28, 2008
944
1,152
I'd love a post talking about height variation, the best ways to achieve good height variation without it being overpowered and the likes. I feel it's one of the things that is hardest in the layout process.
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
aa
Mar 4, 2008
5,441
3,814
Watch/listen too the commentary on Gravelpit. That should explain a few things to you about it.

A lot of these blog posts are simply re-itterations of a lot of the Valve commentary, but with additional technical explination.
 

Fraz

Blu Hatte, Greyscale Backdrop.
aa
Dec 28, 2008
944
1,152
Watch/listen too the commentary on Gravelpit. That should explain a few things to you about it.

A lot of these blog posts are simply re-itterations of a lot of the Valve commentary, but with additional technical explination.

Having it in writing would be good to refer back to ;-)
 

Radaka

L420: High Member
May 24, 2009
491
244
I'd like to see something about how to keep everything properly scaled during the initial blocking phase of building a level from scratch.