How to make good lookin rockwalls?

AntonJ3000

I am inactive and make horrible maps
Oct 29, 2008
401
90
I've needed to know this a long time, I've checked some tutorials on this site with no success, the only thing that makes somewhat good rockwalls is the subdivide tool, but that makes a lot of holes in the wall.

So, can anyone point me in a direction for a good rockwall displacement tutorial?

This is how bad it looks when I do it normal way (not subdivide):
faildisplacement.jpg
 

GrimGriz

L10: Glamorous Member
Jan 2, 2009
774
133
search for displacement tutorial would be my best recommendation
 

Dustoxx

L6: Sharp Member
Jan 9, 2009
304
43
Do you have tried the tutorial from Youme?
 

AntonJ3000

I am inactive and make horrible maps
Oct 29, 2008
401
90

StoneFrog

L6: Sharp Member
May 28, 2008
395
81
Calm down. Maybe you're trying too hard. Say to yourself, "how would such a cliff look in real life?"

I found Youme's tutorial extremely helpful. Also, if you're just making one cliff wall like in that screenshot of yours, I don't think you need to round out the corners unless it's later going to meet with another displacement cliff that runs perpendicular to it. Just keep at it.

Just to let you know, the cliffs may look a tad uglier in Hammer than they really are. Much of the "depth" these cliffs have are in the bumpmaps of their textures. If you look at the "Highway 17" map included by Valve in the HL2 SDK, you'll find the cliff walls surprisingly low-detail.

Also, perhaps you can help me. Where did you get that Alpine rock-esque cliff texture? I've seen tons of maps using it but I can't find it. Is it custom? A prop texture? Thanks.
 

AntonJ3000

I am inactive and make horrible maps
Oct 29, 2008
401
90
Calm down. Maybe you're trying too hard. Say to yourself, "how would such a cliff look in real life?"

I found Youme's tutorial extremely helpful. Also, if you're just making one cliff wall like in that screenshot of yours, I don't think you need to round out the corners unless it's later going to meet with another displacement cliff that runs perpendicular to it. Just keep at it.

Just to let you know, the cliffs may look a tad uglier in Hammer than they really are. Much of the "depth" these cliffs have are in the bumpmaps of their textures. If you look at the "Highway 17" map included by Valve in the HL2 SDK, you'll find the cliff walls surprisingly low-detail.

Also, perhaps you can help me. Where did you get that Alpine rock-esque cliff texture? I've seen tons of maps using it but I can't find it. Is it custom? A prop texture? Thanks.

The single wall thing was just an example.

And the rock texture is:
nature/blendrockgroundwallforest
Which blends to grass, if you use the displacement paint thing on it.
 

Jive Turkey

L3: Member
Jan 22, 2008
120
32
Don't forget that some of the most attractive rockwalls you see in maps are models. There's only so much you can do with displacements.
 
Sep 12, 2008
1,272
1,141
Try out a different texture and check if it still looks so ugly! Sometimes the texture (and especially the one you're using) can make your displacments look terrible... (imo)