• Jackroy
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Re: hoth_canyon

Twigs wrote:

As a first map mate, I'd just advise you not to think about the backstory at all at this point. Just decide what you want on your map, and what the objective is. Once it's all done, then perhaps think of a story and make that fit the map, rather than trying to make a map fit your idea of whats happened.

good advice i wait til the map is finished before think about the planet

  • Jackroy
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Re: hoth_canyon

here is a list of the veichles/turrets and the cp's they spwan at. and wich side they are on.


Imperials:

Imperial Command:
3 S-1 Firehawks
3 AT-ST's
3 AT-PT's
4 Speeder Bikes
2 Combat Speeders

Central Wall:
2 Speeder Bikes
2 Dish Turrets

East Wall:
2 Speeder Bikes
2 Dish Turrets

South Wall:
2 Speeder Bikes
2 Dish Turrets

Central Fort:
2 Speeder Bikes
2 Dish Turrets

Eastern Fort:
3 Speeder Bikes
2 Dish Turrets

North Wall:
2 Speeder Bikes
3 Dish Turrets

Rebels:

Rebel Outpost:
2 APC Freerunners
2 Dish turrets

Canyon:
3 T1-B's
2 MLC-3's

North Wall:
1 Combat speeder
2 Speeder Bikes
3 Dish Turrets

Central Fort:
1 T1-B
1 Combat Speeder
2 Speeder Bikes
2 Dish Turrets

Eastern Fort:
1 T1-B
2 Combat Speeders
3 Speeder Bikes
2 Dish Turrets

South Wall:
1 Combat Speeder
2 Speeder Bikes
3 Dish Turrets

Eastern Wall:
1 Combat Speeder
2 Speeder Bikes
2 Dish Turrets

Central Wall:
1 Combat Speeder
2 Speeder Bikes
1 MLC-3
2 Dish Turrets



tell me what you think

24 Reply by evgenidb (edited by evgenidb 2011-08-04 02:30:17)

  • Registered: 2011-07-31
  • Posts: 28

Re: hoth_canyon

Jackroy wrote:
Twigs wrote:

As a first map mate, I'd just advise you not to think about the backstory at all at this point. Just decide what you want on your map, and what the objective is. Once it's all done, then perhaps think of a story and make that fit the map, rather than trying to make a map fit your idea of whats happened.

good advice i wait til the map is finished before think about the planet

As someone who is doing the exactly the opposite, there is a reason to think first about the the place you'll be doing. And that is inspiration! If you research the place (or places if you're wondering between few planets/places), where the battle will be fought, you might get inspired to do something you haven't thought before. It might be a weather condition, or terrain, it might be the battle itself or something else. Also, it usually gives you a clearer view of the map you'll be making.

Of course, the price is that you're also putting constraints to yourself. For instance - no walls on Hoth. No tanks for the Rebels, just infantry, turrets and T-47 airspeeder.

If the location ends being too boring or the constraints it puts too much for you, you might always search the lore for something better.


The good side of making a map without considering anything else (like the location) is the freedom it gives you. You can do pretty much everything, but the map usually is more traditional (the lore and Wookipedia usually push your imagination more and more, giving you good ideas for the map). And also it's a risk - you might not be able to fit your map in the in the canon and be forced to make up things (planets, battles, stories,...).


As you can see, both option have pros, both options have cons. So, the only question is what's more important to you - complete freedom but a more traditional map or inspirations to spice it up but to also have some constraints.




About the list: is it just one base, where the Imps have partially captured or there are two bases (one Imp, one Reb) next to each other? Also, a sketch of the map will be perfect if you have a digital one (drawn on a computer).

  • Twigs
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Re: hoth_canyon

if its his first ever map with the battlefield engine then the story or lore do not matter one bit. He's better just making a map, learning how the editor works and the limits of the editor and what other things need to be done outsde of it. Instread of constraining himself, he should instead just have some fun with it.

Bite my shiny metal Tie Fighter!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/TALON_TAW/TwigsSIG.jpg
http://stats.fsmod.com/sig/pilot.JE_Twigs.png

26 Reply by Jackroy (edited by Jackroy 2011-08-04 13:49:56)

  • Jackroy
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Re: hoth_canyon

Here is a map that drew up in paint it's not great but it shows the cp's and the terrain. The stripes mean the terrain goes up so there’s mountains/hills on either side. Anyway here it is smile

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z363/jrh12/canyonmap.png


I numbered the rebel cp's

R1: Rebel Outpost
R2: Canyon
R3: North Wall
R4: Central Fort
R5: Eastern Fort
R6: South Wall
R7: East Wall
R8: Central Wall
and I is of course Imperial Command

  • From: Finland
  • Registered: 2007-01-01
  • Posts: 350

Re: hoth_canyon

Twigs wrote:

if its his first ever map with the battlefield engine then the story or lore do not matter one bit. He's better just making a map, learning how the editor works and the limits of the editor and what other things need to be done outsde of it. Instread of constraining himself, he should instead just have some fun with it.

QFT

~The Farce is strong with this one

28 Reply by evgenidb (edited by evgenidb 2011-08-05 12:25:28)

  • Registered: 2011-07-31
  • Posts: 28

Re: hoth_canyon

Benu_Kenobi wrote:
Twigs wrote:

if its his first ever map with the battlefield engine then the story or lore do not matter one bit. He's better just making a map, learning how the editor works and the limits of the editor and what other things need to be done outsde of it. Instread of constraining himself, he should instead just have some fun with it.

QFT

That sounds so-ooо... demotivating.

Anyway, they're right - the very first map is unlikely to make to rough cut. It just need to be used for test purposes and learning to make maps. But if you try to make it good enough to sell it to the public, you'll have to make a lot of effort.


And to continue to the map:
- As far as I see in the picture, your terrain is probably wrong. The hills don't feel right. They should take more space, not just be narrow.
- Are you still up to the idea of Imps attacking a Rebel base? Where the Imps attacked from? How that battle proceeded? Any holes in the wall, any destroyed buildings and turrets? Any damaged or destroyed vehicles (burning in the snow)?
- How the Rebel base looked before the attack? From which sides the Rebels were expecting the Imps to attack (at the very least it will show you where you should put the walls and the turrets (and where they will be pointing at))? For what purposes each building was used for (of course you can make every building the same as the others, but it'll be better if you make them different and unique - one is command and communication center (a comm tower beside the building, some dishes on the roof, also small and dark rooms with computer terminals and a few corridors), another one is the barracks (lot of open space, mess hall, etc.), a third one is for storage (lots of crates), a fourth one is garage for vehicles (repair equipment, heavy weapons like missiles), and so on...)? Are there any roads on the map (where the vehicles often passed), any crates, barrels, equipment, other stuff...
- When the game begins, how the game will likely proceed? Basically, what's the battle plan for each side? How the Imps are going to attack, how the Rebs are going to defend? How the Rebs are going to attack and the Imps to defend. Any covers? Sniping positions? Areas where you can make an ambush? Or expect one? Any way to make a flanking maneuver?

Asking these questions (and many more!) will ruin your initial idea for the map and force you to rethink and remake it. But, first, it'll make your map a lot better and, second, it will safe you in the later stages (in the testing mostly), where you'll probably see that it has a lot of issues and you need to fix them. After all fixing and reworking stuff in the earlier stages (even better if only in the design stage) is a lot better and cheaper than in the latter stages, where everything is ready and connected to each other.




P.S. Just an advise - learn to use a drawing software like Flash, Gimp, Corel Draw, etc. Paint is... how to say it... too basic. Drawing in Paint is bad, because editing what you've done is a complete nightmare. You should pick something where you can easily edit what you've done and rearrange things and to use layering to see and show only what you need (you need a map only of the terrain, or map with the terrain and the buildings, or map with everything). And that's at the very least.

Personally I use Flash for drawing (Flash 5, because, I can use most of the screen), it has also animation capabilities, but the other two I listed, I think, are better suited for drawing. Just choose one of them. Usually you don't need a deep understanding of the software just the basics.