Everybody is all like oh yes, think of the gameplay, make things similar to other maps, but improve on them. To me this is utter crap...
If you try to combat something some other map does, you may end up losing potential to refine the gameplay on your map. This seems to come out in ctf maps and tc maps. Yes, hydro has flaws of being stalemate-y but how the hell do you know your layout will? If I made a tc map, it would be mine, and it wouldnt be some lame excuse to fix what hydro did, I'd make it my own, unique map. Don't try to combat something that isn't a problem in your map. Gameplay will improve the more you go through the process of alpha.
All this however, means
nothing because your problem seems to be in the actual design of the map, no problems in specific. What I generally do is put on some tunes that I enjoy (I have a playlist for all my favourite mapping songs) This generally keeps a flow of work going. I never use paper, to draw or anything, I find it confines me too much. Start off with a building, a concept. What do you want in your map? A certain landmark, a building. It's what I do, now you're thinking "oh you've never finished a map, blarg blarg" No, but I'm getting better at the whole developing stage, and hoping to get armagosa's new release as a 5cp map instead of a dustbowl cp. Now, I've spent the past two or 3 days working on the last point alone, and what have I done? Not alot. I've compiled every 5 or 6 changes, making sure it can be as good as an alpha should.
It's not alot, but I'm happy with it. Don't feel pressured to continue to work work work work work. Take a break for a day or two, come back to it, and see if you have an epiphany. Remember, mapping is a hobby, don't get frustrated, annoyed, and pissed off. Yeah, you'll come to problems, but it's not something you should lose sleep over. Have fun, that's all that matters.
I get my ideas when I am
not in hammer, I get them at school, in bed, in my dreams, going to the toilet. It's that break, that I seem to figure out what I wanna do. I'm not saying this happens to everybody, but it's a start. If you ever need advice, on a building, a room, lighting, an idea, I'm always ready to help. It seems I've become zpqrei's "bounce off ideas" guy
I'm happy to talk to you, or anybody, as long as they are willing to take some honest feedback, harsh or not.
Summary
- Don't try to think ahead to affect gameplay, who knows how your map will play, until you actually test it.
- Don't try to combat flaws in other maps, that might not even occur in your map.
- Don't remake areas and try to improve them, I'm sure the authors of the maps have had feedback as well.
- Listen to music you enjoy, to get a flow going.
- Map an area, a building a landmark.
- Compile frequently and run around. Helps with scale, something I seem to have had trouble with in the past.
- Mapping is a hobby, don't lose sleep over it, have fun, get creative.
- Take breaks, it's these breaks when I realise what I need to do.
- Talk to people, build a rapport with somebody who is reliable to look at screenshots, or run around a bsp for you, and give their honest opinion.
- Be able to take feedback, it generally helps.
I just realised this wall of text, but, well, it's my ideas on the subject.