I think you should all be proud of yourselves!

Oct 6, 2008
1,947
445
Hey,

I was just looking at my signature and saw some of the stuff that I've done here.

Even though most people outside of these forums will never see it - I think I've accomplished a lot since getting here since I knew nothing when I started here and now I'm a contributor just like the rest of you!

There are a lot of people who have done way more than me here.

Think about what you knew when you came here and how far you've come - you'll probably realize that it's a long way too!

You guys should be proud of all you have done and accomplished!
 

FiLi

L4: Comfortable Member
Nov 14, 2009
195
102
I wholeheartedly agree with this.

On my college applications, I sent in an essay about making maps for this game and it made me realize the things I've actually learned over the years. I'm only on my first successful map now, but in the past three years I've learned more about design, creation, and teamwork than any other hobby could ever afford me. The fact that this community still thrives will never cease to amaze me, and I'm really thankful of it.
 

Mystic Monkey

L5: Dapper Member
Jan 24, 2011
224
12
I think all I have been so far is whiney with minor problems everyone else can do or the fact everyone else don't get the problems I have. :(

I still yet to finish my first map.
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
aa
Mar 4, 2008
5,441
3,814
I still yet to finish my first map.

I used to have this problem, always being distracted by other ideas and the rush of creating a new layout and seeing how it performs. Eventually i made it a task to actually run a map through to completion and there was a different, more fulfilling type of satisfaction to be had, not to mention lots of new things to learn.

But then for beginners it is often a case of abandoning old work to start fresh because of the mistakes that stack up become cumbersome to undo and so it's often faster to just rush through a number of projects and learn what you can rather than just run stubbornly with a map.
 

Deodorant

L6: Sharp Member
Oct 31, 2011
263
214
I think all I have been so far is whiney with minor problems everyone else can do or the fact everyone else don't get the problems I have. :(

I still yet to finish my first map.

Don't feel bad about it. I'm fairly sure I've been around way longer than you, and I haven't managed to either finish a map or create a remotely balanced/enjoyable alpha yet.

Or maybe we should both feel bad about it, iunno.
 

Mystic Monkey

L5: Dapper Member
Jan 24, 2011
224
12
I used to have this problem, always being distracted by other ideas and the rush of creating a new layout and seeing how it performs. Eventually i made it a task to actually run a map through to completion and there was a different, more fulfilling type of satisfaction to be had, not to mention lots of new things to learn.

But then for beginners it is often a case of abandoning old work to start fresh because of the mistakes that stack up become cumbersome to undo and so it's often faster to just rush through a number of projects and learn what you can rather than just run stubbornly with a map.

I got into map making because I believe there is a lack of Sonic theme maps on TF2. There are a few Mario ones and plenty of MLP:FiM ones, but no Sonic ones and wonder why not or that it isn't fair. It's why I don't wanna give up on my first map even if it's not perfect because I want to give something to TF2 players who are Sonic fans than just a sense of accomplishment.
For example, I knew of one server who had the "Sonic" tag, but they recently removed it since hardly anyone is on there server which is usually default TF2 maps. They were the only and last Sonic server I have ever known.

But yes, of late I have been distracted with a side SFM project and if I become more experienced with map making, they will not all be gimmick maps, such as my Valvalla idea.

Don't feel bad about it. I'm fairly sure I've been around way longer than you, and I haven't managed to either finish a map or create a remotely balanced/enjoyable alpha yet.

Or maybe we should both feel bad about it, iunno.

I don't want others to feel bad about it. If anything ever since I started posting here properly I've been worried of coming off the silly n00b, when really everyone's been helpful to me, even Beetle. All the more reason I don't want to be difficult when they're trying to help me, such as me not fully understanding the use of $decal, making circular based displacements or why it takes ages or crashes when I run my map.
 
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grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
aa
Mar 4, 2008
5,441
3,814
I said give up on a particular map, not drop a brief entirely.

For example, you're making a map, but accidently build it off the grid. It's moderately through development. You can either try to fix it or start from scratch with your knew knowledge and experience. It's often faster and always cleaner just to start from scratch than spend hours meticulously modifying brushes; some of which you will miss.

There's nothing stopping you from dropping your first map and starting another that is sonic themed as well.
 
Oct 6, 2008
1,947
445
Yes, sometimes it's better to do a restart of your map from scratch - you'll do it a lot faster, probably make it a lot better and not make the same mistakes you did in the first one.

Oh, and by the way if you've made a box and compiled it > you've made a map :p

Now you just have to work on your 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.

If you count each compile - making a bsp - you'll be into the hundreds in no time :)