I just got an e-mail from Jenna Jameson. I must be some kind of stud or something. Hey, why isnt this mouse working? 

Okay p1mps here they are:

1. 1+1 Brush map

Okay this is supposed to be a 1 brush map, but apparently you need 1 brush for the exit trigger too?? I have no idea, that's what the mapper people said. So yeah you have one exit trigger brush, and then the map made out of 1 brush. Obviously a phat custom texture will be important. Preferably a properly playable map too.
Note: If this is completely unfeasible, blame metslaime and czg for not telling me in #tf.

2. Mini proper maps

Okay this is a bit more serious and potentially a whole lot cooler. Some maps have been trending this way anyway. Basically, a smaller, simpler, scaled down version of a full map. Not necessarily in architectural size, but in the feel. The idea is the map should feature the main concepts of a full map, but only to the extent that you can cram into 120 minutes or so.

E.g. You'd want, say, a start area, an outside bit, a secret or two, a bit of non-linearity, and a proper end battle. As I say some maps have been notably trending this way, but I think it could go further. 

Wait, wasn't i the one that suggested this? As i recall, everyone else said it was a horrible idea. Like I said in irc, I'd rather do a true 1 brush map and have it be a DMSP map -- those don't need exit triggers. 

look at how those quarter sides of the storage pumps in CZGToxin form a concave surface. WTF?!? You are not suppose to be able to do that in a vanilla Quake engine but he pulled it off -- jeez. 

When/where do you do it? I'm lookin for the IRC, trying to make sure I've found the right place.

I'm actually wanting to get back into game mapping, and speedmapping is the best way to do it:) It's like speedmodelling, but you get to enjoy the project when you're finished! 

BTW, what programs are available for Q1 mapping? What's free with a pretty large feature set? It's been a while, and I dont know if I can find my stuff. 

Usually Saturdays, 4:00 pm EST on #speedq1, forget what server though. There is none this week because Scampie sucks.
As for tools, Valve's Hammer editor with Aguirre's tools works really and reliably. Also GtKRadiant with whatever tools you want seems to be popular, but I can't say how well it works. 

why don't you speedmap anyway? why does scampie need to be there for you to map?

if you want to do it, heck, even you could run the speedmap session, then email the results to scampie so he can post it on the site... 

I say Shambler should be given the keys to the kingdom when Scampie is a way. Can you imagine getting detailed, ego crippling e-mails from Shambler on why and how bad your map sucked. It would be like being pissed on by Alice Cooper at a concert. So warm and tingly. 

i have no problems if anyone else wanted to be there to organize one, but it's a bit late to get it all together now. if I'd known there'd be so much interest I would've asked 

anyone want to speedmap Sunday? an hour earlier than normal (3 PM EST) would be optimal. I'd be happy to run one then. 

as for themes, a few I've heard that I liked:

Obilvion theme. Floating islands in space maps.

Shambler's mini proper maps theme could work, but seems like something people want to see for playing, not a theme that really inspires mappers to do fun things, which is what speedmapping is about. I could give a flying fuck about how much people enjoy playing the maps.

long ago, Metlslime suggested 'maps you play thru twice'. I like that idea.

I'd like to suggest a 'gimmick' theme as well. Maps are built to some specific gameplay idea/theme and not just 'run around, shoot things, win'. Things like my speedmap with a Toilet in a Crate DM map, or Starbuck's shooter/shambler shambler shambler maps are good examples. But the idea can be as simple as a large room with tons of enemies and you have to kill as many as possible before dying. etc etc.


WyldeSnake: I see you found the irc channel alright. I would suggest you familarize yourself with q1 mapping before speedmapping though :D 

long ago, Metlslime suggested 'maps you play thru twice'. I like that idea.

yeah that sounds interesting. 

long ago, Metlslime suggested 'maps you play thru twice'. I like that idea.

i might do another one of those... sunday you say? 

yeah. 

long ago, Metlslime suggested 'maps you play thru twice'.

Aren't we normally allowed to play Speedmaps more than once then? Because if so, I need to apologise to most of the Speedmappers out there! 

"maps you have to play through twice"

This means that, without cheating, you can't see and do everything in a map in a single play-through. 

He means using runes & episode gates to change the gameplay of a map the second/third/fourth time round. Necros did an interesting example once, one sec while I just find it... 

twas sm47_necros

http://speedq1.spawnpoint.org/files/sm47_pack.zip

Thinking about it, you might not have to use runes... if you were to just have two routes through the map with two different exits. I've always wanted to try the rune thing though. 

I want to get into the speedmapping just so I can get re-acquainted with it, and actually get good at it this time :)

GtkRadiant...I spent a whle getting that running some time ago, and it was pretty nice. I used to map with QuArK, usin the basic compile tools. I'll have to poke around and get my stuff back. I might have it on a CD somewhere...

Odd thing is, I still have Quake installed after 5-1/2 years, but all the tools for modding it are missing :-o

Necros: It's infinitely more fun to speedmap, or speedmodel as I'm more familiar with, when you're doing it with other ppl at the same time. I like the rush of the competition, to try and get done before the other guy(s) and have a blast doin it. I'm a longtime vet of www.3dfightclub.com, and that started off fun as hell, modelling joysticks and mechabeavers in 15 minutes or less. Even if it looked like crap, the fun was had in just tryin to get it done and having a good laugh at the results :) 

I'll try to make it to the mapping session. I'll be at my parent's for the weekend, but I should be able to steal some time on one of their PCs and map :) 

If I run the 'maps you play through twice' theme, it won't require the use of episode gates and runes and such. That's an acceptible interpretation of the theme, but I'd say layouts that double back, or just using a teleport to make the player restart at the beginning and play through again are both cool too. 

I got an idea for it already :) I can't wait to get a crack at this 

the rune thing necros did was the inspiration, but i can think of a number of ways to do it.