- Joined
- Apr 20, 2007
- Messages
- 232
About
This tutorial isn't about triggers, jass, modeling etc. It's about productive map-making. What's that? Productive map-making is working with heart, not like a machine. It's when you really want to make a make, work with it, not because you need, but because you want. Be sure, otherwise your map is ruined.
So how to have a productive map-making? These are my tips, so that map-making won't get bored soon, or if so, how to make it interesting again. Hope it will help you.
Warning ! So much text, you could build another great china wall !
1. Listen to Music
Music is a wonderful thing. It can change your mood, even fill your blood with adrenaline. It can encourage you, make things you thought you can't. But you must make the right choice. Listen to music you like, but also ,that was created with heart. The whole techno thing (in my opinion) is worthless. It was created using machines (computers, synthesizers etc.) Professional music, such as rock (which I prefer), is much of a worth. Rock is really fiery music, emotional. It can be :
- Alternative;
- Hard;
- General;
- Grudge;
- Rock&Roll etc.
- So, I would encourage you to try some of the old ones, such as Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd.
- If you want somewhat modern or relaxing music, you can try Coldplay.
Just try. One or all. Of course, you can listen to the music which you like the most , it's just my opinion, In my personal experience, music can encourage to work or change your mood (to the good side). Mood changes productivity , and that's what we want , isn't it ?
Examples of Music:
- Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
Led Zeppelin - Black Dog
- Pink Floyd - What Do You Want From Me
Pink Floyd - High Hopes - Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana - Come as You Are - Metallica - One
2. Make Pauses
We are human beings - living ones. We have lifes, friends, parents, brothers, sisters... We are living. Not machines. If you get tired of map-making don't work against your own will. That's not productive or quality map-making. Sounds more like a slavery. Make a pause. Play Warcraft III , go out, watch a movie , anything. After that, you'll be full of new ideas to your map and eager to continue. Make pauses. You can make from 5 minute to 1 or 2 hour pause. Don't work against your will. Be a human.
3. Be Original
How many AoS clones there are? Or Vampirism, LoaP? I bet you don't have enough fingers on both your hands and feet to count. Be original. Maybe while walking the street back home you saw something interesting. Maybe in a history lesson you read about some great battle and "*Sight* It must have been a great battle... Wait a sec... No one made a map about it.. Maybe I should make one ?". Maybe while just looking through window you saw something interesting. In example, I live a bit far from the city, so one time I saw a pack of wolves. That was my muse. I started to work on map about controlling one wolf in a pack and surviving (go ahead , create one !). I didn't finished for some reason. Maybe you saw your muse in a book ? A film ? Or just watching through a window? Maybe by just thinking? Don't make a clone, be sure to be original. It adds productivity, really.
4. Working in Team
Working alone can be tiresome, boring work. It may be slooow. And one of solutions may be finding a friend in real life or in the internet, work with him. Friend can push you to work, though not against your will (it may seem now
). Working in a team kinda' makes map-making your another job - you must do it, no matter how lazy you are. Otherwise the team will leave you (if you're leader) or kick you out of the team. That's not productive, isn't it ? Why you should work in a team , and why not.
Of course, working in has it's own cons. The map your team is making may not be the one you like, while working you can discover that your partners are lazy and don't do anything at all, and it may be hard to organize them. They can think that you're idea is stupid, that they don't like you (which results in leaving (couldn't guess that, right)) , they can not work, do something wrong. To be a good leader, you have to have one thing in you - leadership.
What are those ?
Some people cannot control a 5 man band while others can easily control 100 man army. What's that ? Charisma and leadership. People are born with more or less charisma, they maybe natural leaders. Don't know if people can "make" or learn more charisma (which sounds stupid to me), but those people tend to work with others ... easier. Charisma and leadership helps organizing a large group, somewhy. Still, you might try. It's just easier for them, not impossible for you. So, organizing.
How to do that ?
Every one has to have a work station. You can't make one make some mapping and then go to do some texturing. Every team has to have Mappers (or a mapper, if your map is small), which are the main ones. Mappers can be splited into three groups :
- Terrainers;
- Triggerers;
- Jassers.
As for Triggerers and Jassers, you must tell them what systems, events you want in game, what units (in my opinion Triggerers should also create units) and structures you want. They may not work at first, 'cause they won't have anything to do, but later... So the guys who work on the editor have they're stations. That leaves Model Designers/Texturers if you have any. Less work for you with them. Simply tell them the models/skins you want. That ain't hard.
How to keep people working ?
If you know them in real life, and they're near you, simply visit them (which will result in getting them mad maybe, still give it a try
), see how they progress.Otherwise, it may be hard for you , especially with people you don't even know or trust. If you happen to be the "Charismatic one" it will be much easier to motivate them, otherwise, you should ... well motivate them, but try as hard as you can.
- Speak of glory (nothing glorious in that, but no one banned brain-washing)!
- Say a bunch of lies! Speak how famous they will (may) become! That even be true.
- Use any means necessary to get them productive!
It's also hard to make sure that they don't do anything you don't need, so ask them to update you with map or models frequently, so you can see the progress. Of course, it differs from what your position is. That's all tips I can think of, so if you like solo work, keep it, if you don't, make a team of mappers and designers, venture into the dangers of organizing them (which may break you kinda' fast). If you're new at Map Editing, you should try solo first.
5. Don't be afraid of Big Maps
When you want to make 256x256 map (epic), you see how much you will have to terrain, you hit the little X on the upper right corner of the screen, don't you ? That's not working, really. You shouldn't be afraid of big maps, if you want, you can make 64x64, terrain it, when you finish you can add more, so it wont look so intimidiating. Big maps mean a lot of work, but the more you work, the better quality map you make, don't you?
The End
So, I guess I finished on this one. Can't think of more, that I personally use to make my map-making not boring. So, uh, I know it won't get to the real tuts, still, feedback will be accepted, positive or negative.
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