72 Hour mapping tips and tricks

Shogun

L6: Sharp Member
Jan 31, 2014
260
220
With the next 72 Hour contest coming up in just a few short days, I thought it would be nice to compile a thread of tips and strategies people have had for the past 72 contests.

The idea is to help anyone from first time entrants to experience speed mappers, so share away!


I guess I should start:
- Download the ABS Mapping Resource pack if you haven't already. (if you haven't already, why haven't you?)
- Sometimes I find it useful to create a grid of 128x128 unit brushes, each with a different texture I plan on using a lot. It sort of works like a painting pallete.
- SAVE OFTEN so you don't lose any of your hard work to crashes!
 

Freyja

aa
Jul 31, 2009
2,994
5,813
The biggest tip I can give is don't treat it like you need to get every minute you can. Take it casually, you'll make a better map, you'll be healthier and you'll work better and produce a better map. Take 8 or 10 hours of sleep, you've got 3 days, that's a lot of time.
 

Bakscratch

Finisher of Maps
aa
Oct 29, 2010
714
1,492
What I seem to do is, plan a level out before that making it at the start of the 72 realise it sucks then make one of the top of my head at it turns out much better. Free form level design is a lot better as it comes out more naturally I find from past experience.
 

HQDefault

...what
aa
Aug 6, 2014
1,056
535
I may not be an amazing mapper, but I have one, BIG advantage: I work really fast. I made cp_underworks_a1 in between noon and 8:00pm on the same day, and that was with a lot of stalling. I can probably put together something decent in 72hr.
 

chemelia

yndersn't
aa
May 11, 2014
406
619
It probably isn't a good idea to listen to me, but from personal experience, the tips I can give are:

1: Mess around for a bit in hammer before you start working. It helps me be more productive when it comes down to it.

2: DON'T PROCRASTINATE. Last time, I made a few small edits within the last hour or so, and it caused a leak, so I was disqualified.(my map was terrible anyways)

3: Have a (loose) plan, e.g. Blu spawn, then connector, then etc. It really helps to know what order you're doing things in, and usually you are more productive.

Take this with a grain of salt though, because I'm obviously not a very good mapper anyways.
 

Fantaboi

Gone and one day forgotten
aa
Mar 11, 2013
892
1,050
Always Always Always have a backup

Yours truly, compile finished 5 minutes post deadline
 

BigBros

L3: Member
Aug 20, 2014
147
31
Here are some tips I have got from people who have done the challenge before, or that I think would be useful.

- Bind useful shortcuts to your keyboard and mouse, to save time.
- Stick these up by your desk: Inspirational posters, Hammer Shortcuts (make into a word document, page of current doesnt work), an alarm clock with alarms every hour near the end of the competition, making sure you don't miss the deadline.
- Make sure you have the last 3 versions of the map at least saved, encase one doesn't compile in enough time, or becomes corrupt.
- Put on music in the background that you find interesting and inspiring, as music is often a key to the thought process.
- Help eachother through the competition with questions and queries, you never know when you may need help as well!
- Make sure your desk is clear and tidy throughout the competition, so that there is more room for the inevitable wrappers, cups and bottles of piss that will stack up there.
- Find/make a gallery of pictures of 20th century industrial architecture, to help you when detailing if you are stuck. It is better to find this stuff early than have to search during the competition.
- Make sure you laugh at all those sorry souls who have to start during the night, coming towards midnight. Us on the Eastern Coast of the AU get to sleep in until 8am :D
- Lock up all your family, pets and friends into a closet as to make sure that they dont disturb you.
- Make sure you have proper lighting (in your map) - who needs light to see anyway...
- Have fun! Don't stress about the competition too much, and don't feel too sour if you dont get an award. We are all winners here at TF2maps.net!
- When you are feeling glum, just go to gabenboard.com. Gaben will show you the way to enlightenment, and give you enough energy to last a lifetime.
- Always have THIS THREAD open. It has pretty much everything you need to be able to make your terrible map into a mediocre one.
 
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3Dnj

Ducks
aa
Dec 21, 2008
288
638
ITERATE!

That's how things works in game dev company. no layout are good on the first try and don't think too much, put stuff in your map. This cube is dumb ? Don't worry, at least it's here and it will probably give you some idea latter but ITERATE.
 

HQDefault

...what
aa
Aug 6, 2014
1,056
535
Holy crap where did that come from? I'm gonna make it a poster and put it in every map ever.

It was on Steam. Someone made it as an artwork. I could go and find it again and give you the creator's name so you can ask permission to use.