Custom Map building Tutorials (Links Please?)

[Doomddtb]

Figured if I could get answers for these questions, it would help out alot of people with good map ideas to actually apply them to the game.

Alright, I have modded Halo PC a bit in my modding career with 3dsmax and the help from video tutorials, I got the entire map made..just haven't textured it yet, so I need to know these things and where to get them for making custom maps for left 4 dead:



-Programs to Build Custom Maps (names and where to get them?)

-Where to Get Textures and 3D Objects needed for mapping (names of source games?)

-Any Links to Tutorials for Applying Textures

-Any Links to Tutorials for creating Scripts for safe houses, calling a rescue on radio, other things of that sort.





If I can get some good answers, maybe this topic could be stickied to help out any other soon to be custom map creators that don't have a clue what to do or where to start.

[DangerWillRobinson]

They are all over the internet, seeing as the map editor is the same for all source games. The SDK isn't out yet though, so good luck finding any L4D specifics until it's release.

[Doomddtb]

Would the SDK be on steam to download or somewhere else on the net?

[one of them]

I'm guessing Steam will release a new SDK, so check your Tools tab when it releases. If not, it will most likely be added on to another SDK, probably Orange Box.

[Enzo]

Hmm... a mapping newb we have here.
Yeah, SDK would be on steam to download, under the tools tab.

Go check these out:
http://interlopers.net/index.php?page=tutorials&ca t=Counter-Strike:_Source (http://interlopers.net/index.php?page=tutorials&cat=Counter-Strike:_Source) -> CSS mapping only.
http://interlopers.net/index.php?page=tutorials ->misc. SDK tuts (Not specific to hammer)
http://forums.facepunchstudios.com/showthread.php? t=519418 (http://forums.facepunchstudios.com/showthread.php?t=519418) ->GREAT HELP
http://www.halfwit-2.com/?page=tutorials&category= 1 (http://www.halfwit-2.com/?page=tutorials&category=1) ->misc. tuts
http://forums.tf2maps.net/showthread.php?t=198 -> GOOD Tf2 spawnroom guide. It has some tips on lighting, though.
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Category:L evel_Design (http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Category:Level_Design) -> JESUS/CHUCK NORRIS COMBINED FORCES AND MADE THESE TUTORIALS. BEST RECOURCE AVAILABLE.

Even as an experienced mapper, these help me immensely. Sometimes it's best just to load up the valve developer community wiki, just in case you have a question or problem.

[tjsource]

If anyone can find me a tutorial on how to create a simple custom map for l4d it would be much appreciated and i will gladly put there name in the cast who helped make it!!!!! PM me if you find any or just add me to steam friends my steam friends name is [MR.TJ]

[Tagischeap]

Currently, we are unable to make maps for l4d the right way.
the way I believe people are doing it now is there decompiling the maps and copying the entities or getting the from this list.
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/List_of_Le ft_4_Dead_entities (http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/List_of_Left_4_Dead_entities)
Thee aren't any tutorials as of now to make a l4d map but there are PLENTY to make the other source engine maps.
if you don't know how to make a map I suggest you start here.
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Your_First _Map (http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Your_First_Map)
if you don't even have SDK then go here.
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Downloadin g_and_Installing_the_Source_SDK (http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Downloading_and_Installing_the_Source_SDK)

[Doomddtb]

thankyou for your help, i can't wait til i start to make maps.

[Enzo]

thankyou for your help, i can't wait til i start to make maps.
Great attitude.
Lastly, it does wonders for you if you play some of your favorite band while you're mapping. It keeps you aware, and it makes all of it seem as though it weren't so monotonous.

[munkeypants]

Start with very simple maps. Fully underground/indoor areas are easy to start with, because you don't have to worry about a skybox. If you do an outdoor map, you also have to worry more about making the terrain and such look realistic.

It's also a good idea to focus on a single thing. Just pick a building like a barn or something and try to make the best barn you can.

Then later on when making a full-scale map, if you happen to need a barn/etc. you can just bring in that detailed barn you made beforehand.

[TheShower]

As a leveldesigner I made maps before, but not with Hammer. Can someone tell me if there is a terrain editor ? Or do we need 3dsmax or the xsi mod tool and make terrain models..

[TOPMO3]

I think you need to use the "Displacement feature". Select a face (your ground plane for example) and click on the multicolored cube tool thingy on the left, it should bring up a small window with texture properties, lower right hand corner should have displacement. This allows you to subdivide that face, and pull points up or down to make hills etc...

M

[YinToniq]

Lastly, it does wonders for you if you play some of your favorite band while you're mapping. It keeps you aware, and it makes all of it seem as though it weren't so monotonous.
Good tip, also try to take a break every 45-60 minutes. Sit back, compile your map (you'll learn what that means soon enough), run it. Have a walk through it. Ask yourself, what would I like to see here? What would I like to do here? Would these changes mean something to other players aswell? Can I pull it off?

Good luck learning and mapping.

[TOPMO3]

awesome links! thanks for this. I do 3D in post-production, and know maya/xsi very well, so hammer is rather easy to pick-up, but level-designing is a new beast and i'm just trying to get my head around it right now :)

T