Terra-jin Posted March 8, 2004 Hello everyone! Over the past few weeks, I've compiled an army of new ZDOOM monsters, and decided I should go build the map to go with 'em. However, I find it very difficult to do. My map will be composed of 'battles'; fights with a certain posse of demons, the rooms in which to do battle, and the resources you have to get the job done. As a beginner in map design, I use this pattern to build my map, but I seem to lack the inspiration for it... I just can't think of good 'battles', because I don't really know which group of monsters is interesting to do battle with (for instance, a huge posse of Imps is less fun than mixed groups), what kind of setting the map must have (natural cover, how much space you have) and so on. Other than that, the first try-outs of my maps were not very goodlooking, and they just didn't feel right... I guess what I'm trying to say is: please help a beginning mapper get some inspiration. How would you design a map? What kind of method do you use? How do you plan the gameplay of your map? 0 Share this post Link to post
exl Posted March 8, 2004 I usually lay myself down somewhere and start thinking until suddenly something good hits me, like some nice looking architecture or a sneaky trap. 0 Share this post Link to post
PumpkinSmasher Posted March 8, 2004 i dream about Doom sometimes, and then i turn that into a map. 0 Share this post Link to post
Shaviro Posted March 8, 2004 Actually...I have found that if you are well enough prepared (as in plans about the level) there is no such thing as a mapper's block. 0 Share this post Link to post
Uncle 80 Posted March 8, 2004 When I started mapping, I used to view my favourite levels from the Doom II iwad in my editor for inspiration. Strangely, my first 20 half-finished maps bore a strong resemblence to either MAP04, MAP07 or MAP16 :) 0 Share this post Link to post
DooMBoy Posted March 9, 2004 OK, here's what you do: Get a really good idea for your map and then try as hard as possible to design your map to where it fits the idea in your head. It's what I do, and the success rate is 9 out of 10. 0 Share this post Link to post
SyntherAugustus Posted March 9, 2004 You could always make something random off the top of your head. 0 Share this post Link to post
DooMBoy Posted March 9, 2004 Making things up randomly right off the top of your head for an entire map doesn't always go well. 0 Share this post Link to post
Ichor Posted March 9, 2004 No, but it works for a room or two until you get some good ideas. 0 Share this post Link to post
Bucket Posted March 9, 2004 Think about what would make the battles challenging, then build the arenas around the idea. Like your example of imps: what would make the battle a challenge? Well, what if their long-range attack gave them the advantage? Base it on that. Have it so the player is forced to use a weapon that isn't very effective at long-range(SG) and make it difficult for the player to get close to the imps. Giving the imps more mobility than the player would also add to the challenge. Also, remember that architecture plays second to atmosphere, originality, and fun(OK, fourth). You should worry about how your map is going to be built AFTER the rest of the concepts are defined, unless you're being particular about buildings. 0 Share this post Link to post
Fletcher` Posted March 9, 2004 DooMBoy said:Making things up randomly right off the top of your head for an entire map doesn't always go well. It works for me every 1/100 times. 0 Share this post Link to post
chilvence Posted March 9, 2004 Draw it first and then you can't possibly get stuck on the actual building of it. However, you may get stuck drawing it... oh well, at least you werent letting a monitor slowly destroy your retina's in the meanwhile. 0 Share this post Link to post
Chopkinsca Posted March 9, 2004 DooMBoy said:Making things up randomly right off the top of your head for an entire map doesn't always go well. That's how I map... 0 Share this post Link to post
DooMer 4ever Posted March 9, 2004 I usually try to think of a theme, like a mine that has access to hellish caves (that's the map I'm working on at the moment). Making interesting fights is another thing though. I usually first finish the map and then try to figure out what monsters fit best in which areas. W00T, 500 posts! 0 Share this post Link to post
LexiMax Posted March 9, 2004 DooMBoy said:Making things up randomly right off the top of your head for an entire map doesn't always go well. It does for me if I start at the end and go backwards. Though I usually map DM and CTF, instead of SP, so am not very well versed in SP game mechanics. However, if you are totally 100% out of ideas, do not try and map. Wait until an idea hits you. Trying to force an idea out is one thing that really does never work. 0 Share this post Link to post
Submerge Posted March 10, 2004 I cannot stress this enough: If you have a doom level idea, GET IT DOWN ON PAPER. It's what I do. Maps I draw on paper before doing in WadAuthor are 10 times better than winging it. And plus, when you draw the map, the picture is forever. So it's there on the paper even if it leaves your head, and you may come back and do it some day. 0 Share this post Link to post
The Ultimate DooMer Posted March 10, 2004 I draw my maps out months before I make them. (usually because I draw all the maps for a project before starting it) 0 Share this post Link to post
Cyb Posted March 10, 2004 DooMBoy said:Making things up randomly right off the top of your head for an entire map doesn't always go well. that's exactly how I map 0 Share this post Link to post
Linguica Posted March 10, 2004 Cyb said:that's exactly how I map And we see how well that turns out don't we OH BURN 0 Share this post Link to post
The Ultimate DooMer Posted March 11, 2004 Linguica said:And we see how well that turns out don't we OH BURN Massmouth said:Who would make a maze like this? 0 Share this post Link to post
sirjuddington Posted March 11, 2004 BloodRust was made off the top of my head, although not randomly (I tried to keep to single-themed maps). Same goes for pretty much every other map I make. I actually used to draw maps down, but usually I'd either not get around to mapping them or I'd lose the drawings... 0 Share this post Link to post