I don't think I have what it takes...

KayEf

L1: Registered
Jan 4, 2016
36
12
Howdy guys, you may know me from a few threads I've posted in, a few profiles I commented on, or maybe you see me map testing on the server! As you can tell by the thread title, I think that I don't have what it takes to make content for TF2.

Now, you may be wonderin "If you don't think you can do it, then why are you here?" This is a good question; my answer, I wanted to show my ideas to people. My concepts, my ideas, my skills. But the sad truth is, I have no skill in content creation to the level of skill most of you have. Hell, I can't even make a simple koth map, and those are probably the easiest to make! I have barely any skill in modeling or texturing and I don't know how to import models into SFM for promo art.

I may sound like I'm whining, but I just wanted to let someone know that I need help. I can't just make a map with Crash's tutorials, or look online on how to import something into SFM "easily". I wanna be like Crash, or Muddy, Freyja, and Void! I'm just afraid if I try and ask someone, they'll just laugh at me and tell me to "get gud" or if I try and ask someone like Idolon or even SmallBiscuit, they'll ... well... I don't know, I'm just afraid to ask!

Sorry for the rant, but this is just how I feel, and I needed to tell someone or something.

Thank you,
Hotdoge Mcgee
 

Hyperion

L16: Grid Member
aa
Jun 8, 2015
840
659
Hey, I have been 1.5 years here and I still haven't made anything good yet but you gotta keep trying if mapping is really what you want to do
 

Sergis

L666: ])oo]v[
aa
Jul 22, 2009
1,874
1,257
people generally arent cunts around here, if you have a question ask away, thats what this place is for anyway

and youll have to get gud eventually but anyone worth listening to will know that getting gud takes years and wont expect you to be gud the instant you launch hammer for the first time

making a couple shitmaps before making something worthwhile is a perfectly normal learning process
 

Three Million

L4: Comfortable Member
Jul 2, 2015
197
75
No one got good by giving up, everyone had to learn and practice. Dont give up becuase you dont know how to do something, learn it!
 

theatreTECHIE

Yet another Techie for the net...
aa
Jun 19, 2015
446
457
My advice would be to take things slowly. Before I started making serious attempts at creating a balanced map, I made a KOTH map which was completely horrible. What it did teach me though was how things worked in hammer, and how that translated to TF2. That was even before I knew about this site.

Just create a very simple map, without worrying about balancing, learn how hammer works and then run around your map in game. Even throw some bots into the map and play against them. It's alright playing with bots if you aren't making any decisions about gameplay based on how they went. You might even find that you make something that will inspire you for your next map.

Just take your time. Others like Crash have been mapping for a long time, and this community is always around to help out, whether you ask in the steam chat or on the forums. Finally, have fun with it, make friends and keep a smile on your face. :D
 

Yrr

An Actual Deer
aa
Sep 20, 2015
1,308
2,743
everyone had to make a load of bad quality work and learn how to do everything to get to the stage they are now

you just gotta work through that part
 

Crash

func_nerd
aa
Mar 1, 2010
3,315
5,499
Fully agree with everyone here. I very distinctly recall looking up to all the top mappers here when I joined, thinking I'd never reach that point. It was frustrating. It was hard seeing how easy they made it look when I was struggling so much.

We'd do tests and they'd point out things that were so obvious in hindsight and I'd feel stupid. But I took all those mistakes, and I learned everything I could from them. I made a map with the most ridiculous displacements, so my next project I focused a ton on displacements.

I tried to focus on my weaknesses with my projects, which eventually led me to be decently rounded at enough skills that I can pump out a fun map. And now I'm being used as the example of a good mapper!

Starting is hard. Continuing is hard. Mapping is hard.

But man is it fun.
 

Idolon

they/them
aa
Feb 7, 2008
2,105
6,106
I dug through some old files and found screenshots of a map I made in March 2008, which I believe was my first map for TF2. Hopefully these can cheer you up.
 

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Yrr

An Actual Deer
aa
Sep 20, 2015
1,308
2,743
2 important things i wanna get out of the way too;

1. you only see other peoples finished works, you don't see the hundreds of failures they delete or redo

2. you aren't gonna make the idea you see in your head, nobody does, instead you're gonna make fanart of it, or use it to inspire you
 

cookiesurvival

L2: Junior Member
Jul 5, 2015
53
35
If I know anything about this community, that would be how much they love to help new members. Everyone, in some way, wants to help you strive to be like the Best of the Best. Cause we definitely need more of those kind of people around here. But even if you don't do great, you can always try again until you got it right. Nobody will judge you if you start over.

The only problem that you would mainly face here is patients, confidence, and your own sense of doubt.
 

KayEf

L1: Registered
Jan 4, 2016
36
12
Thanks so much guys, I really appreciate what you guys are saying. I guess I was just scared for some reason, even though I know the people here are nice. I'll take what you guys have said and try and apply it to my developing skills as a mapper. :D
 

Crash

func_nerd
aa
Mar 1, 2010
3,315
5,499
Developing pretty much any creative talent involves making lots of bad, learning from it, and making it better the next time. Rinse and repeat, and improve forever. At some point in there you'll tick over into not-bad territory.
 
Oct 6, 2008
1,947
445
5 years ago I made a box put a light in it and one spawn - that was my first map :) Now I make maps with two or more boxes joined! Actually I do a lot more than that now but it takes time - no one here knows absolutely everything and eventually you will find your niche - the gameplay style you like the most - mine is payload and experimentation stuff. That being said, if your new try to stick to arena or koth maps - you will learn a lot about detailing, game balance etc - the coding is much easier as well. I would avoid payload and definitely territorial control(TC) maps as the coding / game play balance is super hard to get right. Ever wonder why you don't see more TC maps out there? It's because they are the hardest to make even for veterans. Until then keep mapping and ask away - we were all like you once. Oh, and develop a thick skin, the comments you get here from time to time may sound harsh but hey are well intention-ed they are designed to make you a better mapper. If you say to someone 'like my map?' they might tell you it sucks but hindsight has generally taught me when I look back at that map after the fact - the comment was correct - that map or those maps truly DID suck - I just didn't see it because I was too emotionally involved with it lol