....ON MAKING A MAP by SNDM
After not mapping for ages (year or 2) I decided to get back to it.
I started off with small maps, but I planned the maps on paper in boxes, on GtkRadient I would then construct the walls and corridors, leaving a series of boxes and cuboids as corridors.
I realized the problems with this method were that:
- The map was destined to be a boxmap, all I could do from then on was fill in boxes, this could not be done convincingly.
- I was highly constrained, there could be no flashy bits like underfloor pipes that werent part of gameplay.
- Its depressing when you look back through your map and realise you just gave birth to an ugly baby.
- It all looks so unnatural.
So instead I drew out a typical box plan on paper, but I then took the map apart to its individual rooms, indicating the shape, where stairs were, any features. This was MUCH easier to make in GTK, because you already have a clear plan of what you are on about.
I would start by putting down something to give an indication of scale (e.g. reactor) and building the room around it, so I dont end up with a hopelessly small room (as I usually do) or a incredibly large and plain room (as I commonly see in new folk's maps).
After making the individual components (rooms, corridors etc) I then pieced them together, trimmed a bit to make them fit (not to much problem if you have your head screwed on the right way) and viola, a sufficiently interesting and detailed map, which has gameplay included!
Maybe this will answer the unasked question of HOW would one go about making a map.
Maybe we will see a few less boxmaps.
Maybe I will be spammed with tl;dr
[Maybe] I will e-bite their heads off.
Feedback welcome! (unless tl;dr)
Whats your mapping technique?
