Inspiration?

BrokenTripod

L5: Dapper Member
May 11, 2009
248
65
Hey there, new to these forums. Yay.

So, recently, I've been having a bunch of ideas for TF2, only to find out that there's lots of complications with the engine/new updates...

Anyway, I was wondering where you guys find inspiration for your maps. Every time I'm about to map, I can get a general layout, but it's hard to detail things and make it look pretty.

I guess what I'm asking is what are the general steps you guys take? Do you do the layout first, then detail? Or detail as you go? Or just make lots of random things and put them together?
 

Icarus

aa
Sep 10, 2008
2,245
1,210
Playing lot's of TF2. Lot's of good custom maps. Most of my inspiration came from Fishbus (steel, Freight)
 

Vigilante212

L420: High Member
Dec 21, 2008
481
33
Yea detailing can be a real pain epsecially if you dont design for it in mind. Your best bet is to look at maps valve map, some good custom maps, and practice small maps and detail them like make 3 rooms etc and add detailing.

Also you need to make it so all the buildings dont look alike people find it confusing if they cant redily destinquish where they are on your map.
 

Kronixx

L5: Dapper Member
Apr 17, 2009
205
38
i only have 1 and a half maps to my name, so im not experienced but when i made mine i started with a story-line. Even though story has no bearing what so ever in this game, it's a creative place to start that really opens the flood gates to me. My first map, pl_oversea had a story that there was this shipping dock. Red and Blu teams were once one cohesive work team. But after some arguements the teams split into 2 sides and finally sparked a riot. Blu team wanted to blow up the docks for their lack of treatment by their superiors. Red, trying to protect their jobs tried to defend the docks from the malicious blue team. This all occuring while the CEO's were away on a business trip, thus the perfect time to launch a brawl.

Creating a simple story like that, or something else can imo really set the stage for your design decisions. A dustbowl story line will have a much different layout feel than say a spytech storyline. Create your story, and your setting will follow suit. Just my method behind the madness, just experiment and see what fits your style. Everyone has one, we just may not always find it right away.
 

Icarus

aa
Sep 10, 2008
2,245
1,210
Do you do the layout first, then detail? Or detail as you go? Or just make lots of random things and put them together?

It's best to layout the map with developer textures and test it as-is. Don't even THINK about what it's going to look like, your ONLY priority is gameplay. You don't want to spend days detailing a room only to trash the entire thing later on if it doesn't work.

It's also better to concoct a "gameplay theme" as well as the "aesthetic theme", so I wouldn't advise clumping random things together.
 

DJive

Cake or Death?
aa
Dec 20, 2007
1,465
741
Really depends the mapper.

I myself cant do a layout for my life =( however im very good at detailing.

Most everyone does rough layout first.

test
test
layout tweak
test
test
layout tweak some aesthetics..
test
**repeat cycle*
 

Cameron:D

L6: Sharp Member
Sep 28, 2008
363
145
Me sucks at making an entire map. I create one area, do some detailing and get over the idea, so I have lots of sections of maps but nothing complete...
 

BrokenTripod

L5: Dapper Member
May 11, 2009
248
65
Hrm.

How do you guys manage to find enough people to test a layout only/orange map? I've got a few maps which were nice and textured and it was pretty difficult to get more than 5 people to play it, which made a pretty dismal testing environment, since everyone was changing classes to best deal with a situation, like a SG placement, etc.

Also, my computer is too lousy to support more than 5 people anyway.
 

DJive

Cake or Death?
aa
Dec 20, 2007
1,465
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TF2Maps.net Events Forum

Gamedays =)

Every Friday/Saturday/Sunday providing the map follows the criteria..

Submission rules

  • The map must be playable. This means fully functional objective system, proper spawns, non-fullbright, etc. The purpose of gameday is to help authors refine their designs, not catch newbie bugs. Maps will be rejected if this is not met.
  • Submission deadline is 4 PM CDT, 1 day prior.
  • Submissions for any given day will be on a first come, first served basis.
  • You may reserve a submission without a download only if you are certain it will be up before the deadline.
  • Please limit your submission changes. Updating your submission version is allowed if an important issue is discovered, but don't submit early if you will be updating every day with a new version.
  • Standard maps receive 30 minutes playtime, arena maps receive 15. An extension may be requested for more mature non-arena maps in need of fine tuning.
  • Testing will be limited to 3.5 hours each day.
  • The map author may request a team scramble after at least two complete rounds have been played.
 

BrokenTripod

L5: Dapper Member
May 11, 2009
248
65
I'm...amazed I found this forum/website.

Now I'm not sure if I should polish one of my old ones or start a new map! Haha. Thanks so much for the info DJive! I'll be sure to make use of this/join in the testing.
 
May 2, 2009
320
306
It may sound funny but almost all my inspiration comes from my dreams. Most of them are just random stuff with flying elephants or me flying, but sometimes I just get that feeling 'this could be a detail for my map' (actually this happened to me last night). It is very frustrating sometimes to forget what you,ve seen last night.

If I don't have any clue how to detail some wall etc. I go outside with my camera and start taking pictures of old wooden buildings or anything else. I already have some ideas for my next map which came from our firestation.
 

SiniStarR

L8: Fancy Shmancy Member
Mar 31, 2009
585
116
I was in a clan and we collaborated on what we wanted in map and what not, so i guess talking with what people like and dislike can halp.
 

DJive

Cake or Death?
aa
Dec 20, 2007
1,465
741

BrokenTripod

L5: Dapper Member
May 11, 2009
248
65
That's the word! Haha.

Also, TomHoen, I totally agree with Cameron:D. You should post some of your pictures up! Those could be a huge help to anyone too lazy to walk around with their own camera and take pictures. (I'm not one of these people...only because I can't find my camera.)
 

Tom Foolery

L1: Registered
Apr 13, 2009
48
4
TF2Maps.net Events Forum

Gamedays =)

Every Friday/Saturday/Sunday providing the map follows the criteria..

Submission rules

  • The map must be playable. This means fully functional objective system, proper spawns, non-fullbright, etc. The purpose of gameday is to help authors refine their designs, not catch newbie bugs. Maps will be rejected if this is not met.
  • Submission deadline is 4 PM CDT, 1 day prior.
  • Submissions for any given day will be on a first come, first served basis.
  • You may reserve a submission without a download only if you are certain it will be up before the deadline.
  • Please limit your submission changes. Updating your submission version is allowed if an important issue is discovered, but don't submit early if you will be updating every day with a new version.
  • Standard maps receive 30 minutes playtime, arena maps receive 15. An extension may be requested for more mature non-arena maps in need of fine tuning.
  • Testing will be limited to 3.5 hours each day.
  • The map author may request a team scramble after at least two complete rounds have been played.

I uploaded a map today that is currently in Alpha 1 (fullbright, however). Assuming that I added lighting (it is otherwise playable), would it be appropriate for a gameday?

As for inspiration, I usually get mine the day after I've played some, while I'm listening to music or on the internet or something. It's sometimes a problem, because I have some of my best ideas while I'm in class doodling. :D
 

BrokenTripod

L5: Dapper Member
May 11, 2009
248
65
The rules specifically say no fullbright, I think this is because of how the server works. If your map is fullbright, then all the maps after it are fullbright until the server restarts. I've had a few accidental mapchanges while I was testing maps and let me tell you...all the valve maps look terrible fullbright, and it'd be hard to criticize the lighting of the maps after yours.

As for inspiration while in class doodling...That's way better than my inspiration. Whenever something is due, or there's a test, I feel like mapping. That's actually how I found this community. I've got a math midterm on Wednesday, hahaha.

Going to try to focus on actually mapping AFTER I get done with finals, though. (Hopefully.)
 

Tom Foolery

L1: Registered
Apr 13, 2009
48
4
The rules specifically say no fullbright, I think this is because of how the server works. If your map is fullbright, then all the maps after it are fullbright until the server restarts. I've had a few accidental mapchanges while I was testing maps and let me tell you...all the valve maps look terrible fullbright, and it'd be hard to criticize the lighting of the maps after yours.

As for inspiration while in class doodling...That's way better than my inspiration. Whenever something is due, or there's a test, I feel like mapping. That's actually how I found this community. I've got a math midterm on Wednesday, hahaha.

Going to try to focus on actually mapping AFTER I get done with finals, though. (Hopefully.)

I know that the rules say that you can't have fullbright. I'm asking if it's okay to have really rough, possibly terrible maps on a gameday. I have an alpha 1 map that has gone through no playtesting yet. It has had bug testing, though.

So basically, if it wasn't fullbright, would my map (ctf_railyard_a1) be worthy of being in a gameday?

Also, I'm very similar to you when it comes to deadlines. I have a (admittedly short) paper due Thursday that I should be working on right now.
 

BrokenTripod

L5: Dapper Member
May 11, 2009
248
65
Hahaha.

Sorry about that. I totally missed the part where you said you would put in lights.

It's not against the rules, and I'm pretty positive that's the whole purpose of gameday. There's (probably) no way you'd be able to gather up enough people on a local/listen server to play your alpha map.

Though I just realized you'd have to make sure that your map is big enough for the server.
 

Tom Foolery

L1: Registered
Apr 13, 2009
48
4
Sorry about that. I totally missed the part where you said you would put in lights.

It's not against the rules, and I'm pretty positive that's the whole purpose of gameday. There's (probably) no way you'd be able to gather up enough people on a local/listen server to play your alpha map.

It's fine that you missed it, no big deal.

You're right, I'd never get enough people. The most I could probably get would be 6 including me. That just makes it even better that I found this site. Excuse me, community. ;)