roadworx Posted January 17, 2017 i'm wondering, because it's taken me forever to make this one map, and it's still only half done. so, how about you guys? how long does it take you to make a single map that doesn't suck? 0 Share this post Link to post
Fonze Posted January 17, 2017 Start off with a few years to learn what not to do. This is like asking a musician how long it takes to write a song, heh. 0 Share this post Link to post
nxGangrel Posted January 17, 2017 For me it depends. It usually comes down to schedule, but trying to make a bigger or more interesting map, plus revisiting it and changing this usually takes around a couple weeks or so usually in total (ignoring time gaps). The shortest time it took for me to make a level was 3 days. The longest it took for me to make a level was over 6 months (then the file got corrupted and I had to do it all over again and use a different texture pack because the custom one I made got destroyed with it. I'm still working on that level) Keep in mind, these are level I think don't suck. I don't know about everyone else's thoughts. 0 Share this post Link to post
floatRand Posted January 17, 2017 Too long. Looking at some dates on my progress-screenshots, I started following map 2 weeks ago, finished it three days ago or so. Of course, it wasn't completely active mapping. First four days were just making single sector and calling it a day. I guess it took a good week span. Of course, it is rather massive compared to my other maps. I need to learn to make smaller maps... Spoiler Try out Disjunction 0 Share this post Link to post
baja blast rd. Posted January 17, 2017 It's really hard to know what people mean by "x [units of time larger than hours]" in threads like these: on one extreme, a mapper might average an hour a day, if they work at all; and on the other, a mapper might be the sort who can work six without compromising ideas or quality. A build time of "1 week" represents a wide range of possibilities: something like five hours of work, which isn't much at all, or something like forty hours, which is comfortably enough for a sophisticated mid-sized map. For (a farcical) example, this map took a month: (A couple hours one day, and then not even that some weeks later. :D) 0 Share this post Link to post
DooM_RO Posted January 17, 2017 Depends. My first map ever was a really big Vanilla Style E1 map. It took me years (with big gaps) to make because for a long time I didn't know wtf I was doing. I am really happy with the result but a few areas are underdetailed and uninteresting but considering the size of the map it's not such a big issue. It also has a few visual bugs I forgot to fix. I intend to revisit it for some final cleanup after I finish the second and boss maps. The second map, which I am working on right now is even bigger but it's going a lot smoother but still a little slow. I started working on it last August and took a few breaks in between. It is about 80% complete. I intended to release it last year but I got lazy in December. After I am done, I will likely start a project in which I make 7 day maps, while cramming in as much quality as possible. I am kind of done with 30 min+ maps for now. 0 Share this post Link to post
MFG38 Posted January 17, 2017 Longer than my average time spent making one map. 0 Share this post Link to post
40oz Posted January 17, 2017 My best work usually takes me about 6-8 hours. 0 Share this post Link to post
Nine Inch Heels Posted January 17, 2017 MFG38 said:Longer than my average time spent making one map. This one cracked me up. Can't possibly get any more precise than this. 0 Share this post Link to post
Liberation Posted January 17, 2017 Wouldn't know, never made a decent wad! :-) My map for THT: Threnody took probably 35 hours maybe. 0 Share this post Link to post
Pinchy Posted January 17, 2017 After 2 years of experience, 12-40 hours depending on size. 0 Share this post Link to post
Doomkid Posted January 17, 2017 16 years and counting! Spoiler usually about 5-6 hours total on a reasonably sized SP map. 0 Share this post Link to post
everennui Posted January 17, 2017 I've easily got 200 hours on my newest map, but it's probably a pile of shit. 0 Share this post Link to post
Tristan Posted January 17, 2017 My D2INO map took 7 months I think, wasn't really an on and off process though so that must have rolled into at least 100 hours. Decent is a bit of a stretch there though :P My DMP2016 map probably amounts to about 5-10 hours I guess, spread over a couple of months 0 Share this post Link to post
PRIMEVAL Posted January 17, 2017 Anywhere from 5 hours to 5 years, give or take. 0 Share this post Link to post
Not Jabba Posted January 17, 2017 an_mutt said:About 3 hours. Ok, but how long does something like "Crumbling Necropolis" take? 0 Share this post Link to post
Memfis Posted January 17, 2017 Hard to say, but nowadays maybe something like 3-8 days where I work 2-5 hours a day. I think for me it really helps to work continiously, i. e. open the editor every day until I'm done with the map. That way I can stay somewhat focused, keep my pace, make sure that I make the whole level while I'm in the same mindset, etc. Taking extended breaks can really slow me down. For reference, most of my maps are short or medium-sized at best, feature 90's-style detailing that's a bit higher than in iwads, and typically don't require too many gameplay adjustments. Also I don't do skill settings and don't care about horizontal alignment too much... Of course there are always exceptions. This took less than 4 hours in total, and yet it rocks somehow. 0 Share this post Link to post
Soundblock Posted January 17, 2017 I lose track of time. Months, usually - if its a fair sized map. 0 Share this post Link to post
Argent Agent Posted January 18, 2017 Depends on the size of the map; usually I end up spending about 12-48 hours on smaller maps while larger maps may take many days' worth of time to make. This excludes time spent testing (especially for multiplayer) and making fixes. This all depends on when I actually have time/motivation to do something. DM/LMS maps have a much shorter time table than my Coop/Single Player/Survival maps. Layouts don't take long to make and the detailing can be finished within a day. 0 Share this post Link to post
LordShadowZ Posted January 19, 2017 Depends on the type of map, how large I want it, and how clear my initial vision is. I can sketch out and get the basic shape of the map and get all the mechanics working within a week, detailing and lighting the rooms can take another week, and then item and monster placement is likely a few more days. So I'd say if all goes well, I can get a medium sized, decent looking playable map made and polished up in about two or three weeks. But I also get mappers block pretty often when I just can't figure out a particular room so I tend to bounce between other maps I've started work on just so I can clear my head and work on different ideas and styles. Lack of motivation can also drastically increase production time. 0 Share this post Link to post
Yugiboy85 Posted January 19, 2017 I don't know, it depends on the flow of ideas i have at a designated time. One day, i will have a shit ton of ideas and it will go very smoothly then, the other day, i will not have any and ill end up adding one small room/piece of detail to the map all the while sitting in front lf the editor doing nothing... As examples though, my first ever released map took a year, the second one took 3 weeks (a map for a project), the third one took 1.5 years, the fifth one took about 1 day (was for 2048 unleashed). My most recent maps took 6 (travelling to the moon) and 2 months (dwmp 16 map), respectively. Other than that, ive been sitting on fortress of misery for more than a year and im currently mking a map for cereal killer (been at it for about a week and it is nearly done). Basically, it depends. When i work for cps, i find myself coming up with ideas quite easilly and thus, i work fast heh 0 Share this post Link to post
Deadwing Posted January 19, 2017 My lasts maps took 2 weeks each to get finished. They weren't long though, and I've worked 1 to 2 hours each day. 0 Share this post Link to post
TMD Posted January 19, 2017 I have yet to make a decent map, and I am goin on nine years. 0 Share this post Link to post
Mechadon Posted January 19, 2017 Provided I can keep the map at a reasonable size, and including a decent amount of testing, I can finish off a map in about 2 weeks. That includes drafting the layout, doing detail, and polishing gameplay. I can make maps faster than that, but in order to maintain a certain level of quality, I tend to put a lot of attention in the testing and polishing phases. 0 Share this post Link to post
Urthar Posted January 19, 2017 Depending on size, complexity and motivation, anything from 1 week to 2 months. 0 Share this post Link to post