How do you get inspired for a new map?

How do you get inspired for a new map?

  • I create a complete plan full of my thoughts before I start with mapping

    Votes: 17 39.5%
  • I open hammer and see what my hands do (ideas come during mapping)

    Votes: 18 41.9%
  • I look at other maps and steal awesome ideas

    Votes: 5 11.6%
  • I dont have ideas nor inspirations so I dont map at all

    Votes: 3 7.0%

  • Total voters
    43

k00pa

L1: Registered
Oct 22, 2009
7
0
I usually just open hammer and start creating map and I get my ideas while mapping, but I really should design the map before opening the hammer...
 

StickZer0

💙💙💃💙💙
aa
Nov 25, 2008
664
647
I draw a layout of basic ideas of what I want in the map on paper first. I try and draw larger arrows where I want there to be larger flow of players, and small arrows for lighter classes.
I then think about where I want the basic setting to be so I can justify certain parts of the map.
Then I dev it out in hammer.
If you're having trouble getting inspiration, just think of something awesome, or look around other maps, especially official maps.
While randomly sticking stuff together in Hammer may be fun, it usually gives poor results

EDIT:
I also finish the other 3 or 4 maps that i've posted on TF2Maps.net before starting new ones ;)
 

StickZer0

💙💙💃💙💙
aa
Nov 25, 2008
664
647
Yeah I was referring to you directly as an individual.

By something awesome, I mean like a huge rocket or something that you can base a map around.

I gave you feedback on Uplift! I'll look at Opus tonight though, see if I can get some feedback for you there. But you can't expect feedback to just come, you have to ask around for it, and get the map played on the servers. Just join the chat room sometime, give us a shout and we'll see if we can get an impromptu map test going on one of your maps :)
 
Feb 18, 2009
640
629
Each persons methods are unique to them, but the thing that is consistent in all methods is inspiration. You can't make a (good) map without being slapped in the face with a totally awesome idea. The idea can be anything from wanting to use a specific prop (not a good route to start a map imo) or having a new idea that you think could alleviate some of the flaws on a game-mode to just liking a shape of a building you saw once, or wanting to make a twisty cave. From there you can make your map, whether that means drawing it out in great detail or going in all guns blazing blocking it out in hammer.
Personally, I visualise a feature of a room or and entire map, create it, then let the map grow around it. Not a good method, I wouldn't suggest it to anyone...
 

Ravidge

Grand Vizier
aa
May 14, 2008
1,544
2,818
Get a vague idea, then trial and error until it works. I guess that falls under "I open hammer and see what my hands do".

However, I do some research on other maps before starting, to see what works and what doesn't. No need to repeat broken layouts.
 

UKCS-Alias

Mann vs Machine... or... Mapper vs Meta?
aa
Sep 8, 2008
1,264
816
I first get an idea and start to see if its possible entity wise. if so ill come up with a plan and create. by creating ill find out if my research was fine or that i failed.
 

YM

LVL100 YM
aa
Dec 5, 2007
7,135
6,056
None of the above [x]

Through the process of making any particular map, you gather ideas for it, some fit and you use them, others don't fit and get stored in your memory. Then some of them smush together spontaneously or after seeing something someone else has done (real life, other games, films etc) and you get a foundation idea. Then I let it mull for a while. If I still like it in a week or so its a good idea. Then I wait until I have sufficiently few other projects on the go.

Then I open hammer and just work. No other planning.
 

Vincent

&#128296 Grandmaster Lizard Wizard Jedi &#128296
aa
Sep 5, 2009
912
684
I usually bust open hammer and just make something from complete scratch, do a good hour of work and once I get a rough idea of how the BLU spawn will work (I always start with the BLU spawn), I got from there.

So, Open Hammer > Start randomly blocking out BLU base > Write down the rest of the map on paper
 

PL-7764

L6: Sharp Member
Aug 4, 2009
376
84
Sometimes I'll be doing something non-TF2-related and just suddenly get an image in my head of something I'd like to put in a map (sometimes related to what I'm doing, sometimes not), decide I like it, then try to build that and work from there. That's how Coulee was born.
 

PL-7764

L6: Sharp Member
Aug 4, 2009
376
84
So where exactly were you thinking of that made you create coulee? :)

Well, the name and idea to do a Hydro-esque visual theme (which hasn't yet been implemented, but will be) comes from Grand Coulee Dam, but the design of the map itself is not based on it. :p I had a mental image of the vaguely octagonal "pit" with the bridge over it and the CP on top, so I took that and ran with it.

I am considering trying to build something with brushes for the skybox resembling the actual dam though, instead of just re-using the Hydro prop...