Do I need tools to get a good map?

[NiceOne]

aloha, I pretty new on this website... not been so very active and so on.. anyway Im making a rpg map and I have heard of alot of programs that could help you out etc etc..

anyway if Im going to get some tools? what tools should I take then? and what do they do?

please respond with tips

 

[Aeroblyctos]

Depends of your style. I don't need any and still I can do pretty good maps.

 

[jsheph03]

I would reccomend searching 'Colorpicker' its alot easier than the other tools on THW, i would also reccomend Wc3 Unit Tool, WCIII Armor-Damage Reduction Calculator , Button manager for RPGs. of couser a good game dosnt rely on 3rd party tools to make it good, it requires work and a good idea.

 

[WaterKnight]

Maybe, first, you should have a problem before you try to solve it.

"Im making a rpg map" is not very precise. Still, you should realize that there are more things you can implement in your map than the World Editor alone is actually able to. It is not a drawing tool which you could use to create new texture resources for example, however, it has an import manager that allows you to import some of the things that others made.

The original editor does not display every feature of itself to you, either. The basic trigger script library and an mpq reader to browse all resources could be useful. Most of times, so is a calculator or pen and paper for conception purposes.

If you insist to take a peek into the tool catalog to see your possibilities beforehand, there are some specifically for Warcraft 3 engineered offerings on this site.

 

[chilla_killa]

All I need for mapping (only mapping) is Magos Model Editor.
It can create me coloured text and loading screens.
If you want to make your own icons out of pictures I recommend Button Manager linked abov

 

[Chizume]

Depends of your style. I don't need any and still I can do pretty good maps.

Nuff' said, so to speak.

Personally I do not usually use tools either. Hexdecimal colours are helpful to know about, although one wouldn't need a tool for that once you learnt the basics. An exception would be softwares for external files, such as for instance a blp>tga converter. But I consider these programs to have as much to do with actual Warcraft modding as Photoshop does.

 

[_PV]

is there some way i can just download loading screens, already in a TGA format and just import it and it would work? i don't have a photo editing program. while i stand at the ground of importing, i'm having real difficulty importing spell models and effects, e.g. i downloaded this wicked sick effect for my ability (looks like faceless void's ultimate on DotA), i import the damn thing and it doesn't work. can somebody please help?

 

[OrangeAngel]

I thought loading screens had to be in .blp?

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

The only thing you really need for a quality map is the WE (you already have it)
Aside from that, things like calculators can help you get numbers a bit closer to ballanced and art tools can make the map "pretty" - in the end if your work in the WE itself is terrible, no other tools can help you.

 

[_PV]

i have no idea on how to import or edit a pic to fit it into my loading screen.. i did read the forum (or a part of it) but i probely forgeot it...

 

[chilla_killa]

Like I said above, Magos Model Editor can make every picture into a loading screen.

 

[Adiktuz]

I thought loading screens had to be in .blp?

nope... loading screens are in .mdx format... their are also models and the texture (which gives it the image thing) can be in any format supported by wc3... blp, tga etc... and to create one, follow the suggestion above by chilla killa

 

[GhostThruster]

You. Need. GIMP. It is free, and it allows you to create excellent independent art instead of requesting and downloading.

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

Though you can't make models with it, and it's very difficult to use if you have absolutely no knowledge of creating art with the comp beforehand so it may be quicker to request it. But yeah, if you want an art program and don't want to shell out for photoshop gimp's nice.

 

[GhostThruster]

Actually, GIMP is pretty user-friendly, I picked it up the 1st day.

 

[WherewolfTherewolf]

Well I was saying in general if you have absolutely no experience past perhaps a few paint doodles, also note that computer art within itself takes some work to get proficient in - it'd be like that for any comp art program