How to get past mappers block/be creative again?

Lord Ned

L420: High Member
Feb 11, 2008
421
174
I THINK this is a different subject then the other thread about loosing spark.

My question is how do I get past mappers block, and become creative again. If I'm not in the mood for mapping, then all I end up with bad looking brushwork that I don't like and have to re-do.

What do you guys do to get motivated/creative again?
 

teddyruxpin

Sr. Hygiene Technician
Mar 24, 2008
83
26
Go for a walk, coffee, dinner and look around. Think of how where you are or what your looking at could be used for a map or new game play style.
 

Nosher

L4: Comfortable Member
Feb 3, 2008
184
20
Create a map in partnership with another mapper - this has worked REALLY well for my (and Stinkys) first map we are working on.....

....there are times when I have had enough, and lose direction - hand the map over to Stinky who continues the tinkering process, who'e eye for detail is second to none and then I get the 'master' version back again, and feel really refreshed!

Like I said, works for me...

Nosh.
 

Gadget

aa
Mar 10, 2008
531
527
One of the best things to do is just taking a break and doing something else for the next one or two days. Then take some time every day to just think about the map with your pc turned off. Think about textures, spaces, brushes, colors, lighting, just whatever there's in the map.

You can also watch a movie to get some inspiration or browse some theme related images and maps on the net.

The most important is to quickly write down your ideas or to draw a sketch on paper with some additional notes so you can generate more ideas from that and of course you won't forget them. You could extend that to creating some sort of printed concept for your mapping projects. By that I mean a folder with printed images and screenshots, written notes and all of your ideas. Could be some digital folder too but I like to have something to look into without the computer beeing switched on.
 

Lord Ned

L420: High Member
Feb 11, 2008
421
174
Nosher, that's a good idea but doesn't work with me.
I have a very... distinct style. I don't mind putting all the detail in, while the guys I've tried to work with kinda go in and block stuff out (Which is okay) and then i come along and i'm like " I see this, but uh why didn't this get connected to here, why doesn't this blend in to here", etc etc.

:/

Also It's a long lasting block. D;

Edit
The most important is to quickly write down your ideas or to draw a sketch on paper with some additional notes so you can generate more ideas from that and of course you won't forget them. You could extend that to creating some sort of printed concept for your mapping projects. By that I mean a folder with printed images and screenshots, written notes and all of your ideas. Could be some digital folder too but I like to have something to look into without the computer beeing switched on.

I've got a basic idea. However I cannot tear myself away from copying the layout of the Current goldrush. (I'm making a goldrushy type map in a semi-flooded level.)

I've been trying to find the perfect image of what I think the blue spawn should be, but I cannot find anything. Looking for an industrial boathouse. (Or a blu stylized boathouse, that has 3 exits. ;))
 
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Open Blade

L420: High Member
Nov 30, 2007
439
34
I've mapped both ways where I drew out on paper and followed it pretty close and also just pure freelance. Now I sorta use a combo of the two. I will just rough sketch a very basic "flow" to my map with cp locations, then I freelance from there. That allows me to be creative but also withing a certain structure of what I want to do. What I find helps inspire me when I sorta get into a mental block is to just go play the game. Sometime I search for maps I don't play often or have never played and I check them out as I play to get ideas. Don't be afraid to just start making something because you are afraid of losing the work because you will not like it. Start with basics and if you like it, keep going. If you don't, just group it and move it aside, you might come back to it later and have an idea for it. I do that ALL the time. I also will go grab some models and throw them in there around the area I am working on and sometimes that can help you with what you want to do with brushes.

Also, if you have a certain theme you are trying to stick with, go google some images and stuff. For example, if you want a factory look for a certain part of your map, go google some factory images. Same with cliffs, and stuff.
 

AWESOME-O

L10: Glamorous Member
Mar 20, 2008
779
132
Well, just do some sports, chill with your friends, even try some board games (yes i know it sounds boring but some are really awesome) or try to solve a rubik cube. yes youme, we know you can actually solve them
 

YM

LVL100 YM
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Dec 5, 2007
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nicely remembered lolz, Its been a while since I did one, not had any new people to impress with it.
It really does impress people you'd think they would just think you geeky but it practicly won me a girlfriend (I'm pretty sure there were other reasons why we went out, but that was the first thing we really talked about)
 

YM

LVL100 YM
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Dec 5, 2007
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lol pretty much ^^

Edit: try "Killer bunnies and the quest for the magic carrot" - its a card game and its made of pure win. You've got to keep your bunnies alive whilst killing other peoples bunnies with weapons like whisks or the ebola virus and collect carrots. At the end of the game he who has most carrots and at least one living bunny is most likely to win.
All the cards have hugely caricatured images on them and everything is very tongue in cheek for example: "Terrible misfortune! One of your bunnies is exposed to iligally burried plutonium, convulses for a bit, loses all its fur and dies"
 

YM

LVL100 YM
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Dec 5, 2007
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Why would I give thanks for that? I didn't find it helpful or particularly funny, or interesting....
 

Lord Ned

L420: High Member
Feb 11, 2008
421
174
_43037655_afp_train416.jpg
 

YM

LVL100 YM
aa
Dec 5, 2007
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hes trying to say you derailed the thread, this is after all discussion of what to do when you get mappers block;)

(the answer? go around derailing threads.....)