WiP in WiP, post your screenshots!

[fubarFX]

...this is possible? o.ô Is there a programm that can do this or do you have to put certain files from the BSP together with GCFScape??

There's no program to do that really so I'm just writing my own

 

[B!scuit]

There's no program to do that really so I'm just writing my own

I wonder if you could rewrite vrad.exe to do it automatically

 

[suber36g]

Can't we just modify Source hammer itself? we been changing bits here and there, but why not the whole thing?

 

[Freyja]

I can't imagine editing VRAD would be very easy, not without the source code. I'm not familiar with the BSP format but I guess you could theoretically write your own compile tools but why would you? That's a lot of complicated math.

Likewise with hammer. Far easier to write your own. Which has been attempted, there are a few projects out there like the Crowbar editor and Sledge that are promising but have fallen to lack of development. Turns out writing an entire level editor is hard! who knew!

 

[fubarFX]

Well we do have the source code for vrad.exe. it would be pretty straightforward to mod but we don't have the tf branch with prop lightmaps and stuff.

 

[Twist.vmf]

started out with CTF/medieval in mined, i wonder if i should keep going.

 

[Etasus]

You should

 

[Crowbar]

If you wonder if you should keep it going right now, and you like doing it - yes! there might be times that you wish you were in the mood and motivated to just open hammer again and make yourself do something. Map if you feel like mapping!

 

[Erk]

At least I tried.

 

[RavenStryker]

Little note Erik,
Now someone can correct me if I'm wrong since it has been a couple years since I've made a map. But if you increase the texture scale from .25 to 1 it will help spread the waves out making the water a bit more smooth and less repetitive. Just thought you should know!

 

[nitewalker]

working on a payload map for the first time!

 

[Yabayabayaba]

Erk your map shows good potential, it looks quite nice without being over detailed, what game mode is it?

Nitewalker, that payload map looks quite good, but the pit in the second photo looks quite annoying to get out of, perhaps add another ramp on the right side? Also the last pic has a big choke point on it, now this is not necessarily bad! Especially because I see a good side route, but consider adding another to the left side of the choke (forgive me if i can't see it). Also keep in mind the payload will take up a considerable portion of that choke, but this can be used as a game play factor if you balance it with good side routes and health kits.

 

[RavenStryker]

To go along with Yabayabayaba (jesus what a name to type), I agree with the pit in the second screenshot. I also implemented a possible idea or two to assist with getting out of the put in you fall into it. Overall, looking pretty good!. Might need to make that tunnel a smidge larger though. Seems pretty cramped. Could just be a matter of perspective though.

 

[Erk]

Erk your map shows good potential, it looks quite nice without being over detailed, what game mode is it?

It's not actually a map with a gamemode, Im just messing around with Hammer to try to create something that looks nice.

 

[nitewalker]

the tunnel in those screenshots is short, only about 2 payload carts in length, so i'm not too concerned about it being cramped. also, to climb out of the pit in the second screenshot, there is actually a ramp directly below where the screenshot cuts off, but i'm considering adding a third way out anyway. I've got a pretty absurd amount of height variation on the map, and I'm finding it difficult to connect the layers in a fair amount of ways without having millions of staircases sticking off of buildings everywhere.

 

[Jusa]

Do the tesla coil parts look enough like metal? I'm having a hard time deciding on which $phong and $envmap values to use.

 

[Diva Dan]

I'd add more discoloration and scuffing to the texture and make them less phongy.

 

[MaccyF]

Do the tesla coil parts look enough like metal? I'm having a hard time deciding on which $phong and $envmap values to use.

Metal material definition in TF2 is all about the specular map, with fairly dark large spaces and extremely bright, sharp edge highlights and wear.

this is the syringe gun's diffuse and specular textures for reference, notice how the majority of variation on the material comes from varied response to light on the specular map.

 

[EArkham]

Do the tesla coil parts look enough like metal? I'm having a hard time deciding on which $phong and $envmap values to use.

Nobody is going to care about the specular there even if you do it poorly. Everyone is going to be all, "Ooo, lightning, pretty." Don't waste a ton of time agonizing over minutia. You could get away with lots of small haphazard paint splotches in strong white in the specular map and that should give you plenty of metallic shine.

 

[Idolon]

Do the tesla coil parts look enough like metal? I'm having a hard time deciding on which $phong and $envmap values to use.

Does it need to be team-colored? Painting a tesla coil seems like a bad idea and using a special alloy with a blue/red hue specifically to match the coloring of the base is... unrealistic? You've got plenty of team coloring already in the scene.