lolerisJoin Date: 2009-02-23
Post Count: 1610 |
After the first 20+ entries (all rejected) from all sorts
of people, I decided to write a guide which talks about
common problems in the maps I've reviewed. Took me a whole
hour, but I hope it will have been worth the weight.
I will require you to read all the rules carefully.
If you do not manage to follow a critical rule, you
might not get a response from me. I'm only talking
with people who make something I can actually consider.
Feel free to send questions about the rules, but don't
ask me what to build - it is your task to decide.
LETS GO!
(Introduction)
To gain the impression of a TMM map, just play it and
see what maps we have. Analyse how our game would work
in another map. There is no map template for TMM.
(Size)
20 players will be scattered across your map - you have
to make a map large enough for the murderer to find people
who are alone from the rest of the crowd. If your map is
smaller than 200 by 200 studs, you should think about it
again.
(Shape)
Your map has to consist of areas (isolated by walls, hills,
debris, etc.), that are separate from the rest of the map.
corridors and tunnels, rooms and caves, buildings, trucks
are all here to help you. Try to give some variety to the
ground as well - add raises with hills, steps, maybe even
make a 2nd floor.
(Theme)
We want a bright-themed map - nature, office, city, super
market, and so on. Caves, tunnels and cellars can only be
a part of your map. Use more color - for example: Make the
ground, the walls and the ceiling of a different color.
(Aesthetics)
This one requires the most attention. Your map needs
objects to fill up it's areas. In an office, almost every
15 studs there should be some sort of furniture. Use cars,
trees, chairs, tables, cabinets and small objects like cups,
bottles, books, paintings... Remove outlines where they do
not look good. And don't forget textures!
DO NOT LEAVE UNINTENDED GAPS INSIDE YOUR MAP.
(Detail, part count)
Do not use too many parts. Making a painting on the wall
should take no more than 5 parts, a chair - about 7-8 parts,
a table can be made from merely 2 parts! I love maps which
look nice while the objects in it are made from only a few
bricks. Also, you have to make the map quick - players need
new maps! You should try finishing your map in 2 days, about
6 hours of work.
(How to start building the map)
Many people do it like this: 1) Make baseplate; 2) place roads;
3) place trees, other small objects; 4) place buildings;
If you do it like this, you will fail 200% of the time.
HOW TO DO IT RIGHT: 1) Make a baseplate; 2) Start imagining and
place the walls of your map, the big parts which cut the huge
baseplate into small, closed pieces; 3) Place bigger objects into
the map (tables, sofas, cars, trees); 4) Place smaller objects
(cups, books, flowers); 5) Add improvements to colors, textures.
YOU SHOULD NOT DO THESE STEP BY STEP - the building process is a
lot more complicated and because you already have experience in
building maps (if you don't, please stop right here), you have
developed your own building techniques.
(Uncollidable parts)
Do not use them. If you're adding doors, just leave them open by
rotating them. If you're adding water, use BlockMeshes to create
a bigger part than it is.
(Lighting)
TMM DOES NOT USE DYNAMIC LIGHTING. Do not add PointLights or
SpotLights. When building maps, set your lighting to these
options:
Ambient - 150, 150, 150;
GlobalShadows - off;
(Last actions)
When you build your map, if it's not a totally isolated one
(you can see the skybox), you must add barriers - invisible
and collidable parts. They will stop people from entering these
areas and will let through all projectiles like revolver shots or
knifes. You must completely isolate your map with these barriers
covering even the sky. Make sure you separate these parts in another
model object, so I could easily see them in the explorer when I
review your map.
And make sure to put the rest inside model objects so I wouldn't end
up inserting 1000 parts into Workspace. Select all the parts and press
Alt+G to "group" or put all parts inside a model.
Finished?
1) MAKE IT A FREE MODEL
2) MAKE SURE IT IS FREE TO TAKE
3) SEND ME A PM WITH THE LINK TO THE MODEL
Done. You nailed it. |