I really don't see the point here, I'm sure a few people on #terrafusion are always mapping.
What do you mean by "get together and map"? Going on irc is probably one of the best ways to actually not get any mapping done at all... =D

Don't mean to be harsh, as you probably just want to get some nice community thing going or whatever, but you really shouldn't need that kind of motivation to finish some maps, especially if you want get a job in the industry. 

Bal: To answer your question, let me ask you a question... When do you map? My guess is that it's just when you have the time and/or you feel like mapping. That I believe would be a fairly standard answer for most mapping hobbyists. However, what if you were to join a group of mappers that said, "ok, we know we like to map, we think it would be a nice thing to do for a living, mapping sure as shit beats what kind of work we do now, and we should really dedicate a portion of time each and every week to further our talents and to create more content."

Perhaps I'm being a bit narrowsighted. Maybe there are hobbyist mappers out there whom already do this... However, speaking from experience, I know thats it's easy to get distracted when you have some free time to yourself. Looking at porn, playing video games, chatting in IRC, browsing forums etc. can quickly kill any time that should be spent mapping so you don't have to go back to your boring-ass job Monday morning. Maybe I'm just not dedicated enough? But I doubt that. I'd prefer to say I'm too easily distracted... So why not resolve the issue and make it a mandatory thing? 

I want to experience what it would be like to map on a consistant basis, whether I feel like it at the time or not. Much like a job in the games industry

It's not much different from regular mapping except it's a lot less fun because you can never take a break from it. Ask Zwiffle, neg!ke, et.al, how hard it is even to get people together consistently for 2 hours to do a speedmap every week, so I would say it would be damn near impossible to get people together a couple of nights a week to work on full maps.

It sounds to me you're trying to feel out whether or not you would hate mapping for living and that's something you'll just have to try out for yourself because it's different for everyone. 

I hang in #tf all day while I map so I guess I am already in the clan :haw: 

I really don't need anyone to join me in this little adventure. I have enough dedication to do this all by myself. I thought it was an interesting idea, and wondered what others thought.

I will be mapping Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 11:00pm EST. I will be at #levelsource on qnet.org as proof. :) If anyone cares to join, feel free... 

I don't map anymore, but for other things (mostly modeling these days) that I hope will help me get a better job (not necessarily game related), I sit down and work on stuff, if I feel like it or not.
I just don't really understand how going on IRC will help, quite the contrary, best to get rid of all possible disctractions if you think you are easily disctracted. And the idea of fixed hours just doesn't really make any sense on a message board where people all live in different parts of the planet.
Good luck though. =) 

was because it's probably the closest thing to being in the industry: you have to work with others with all the tensions, compromises, bloody fights and then hopefully also getting morale boosts by workmachines on the project or by the quality of their output.

I can understand not wanting to join/start one though because generally it's very hard to find one that with well balanced members (you hardly ever see one with good coders AND artists AND mappers) but it can be a usefull experience even if the project fails.

Otherwise, just work hard with what you want to do, practise is the way forward. 

Bal: IRC really has nothing to do with anything. Its just a place to drop in while you are mapping during the given hours. Its basically just an indication to anyone in the channel saying "ok, I'm here, I recognize the goal of this 'clan', and I'm mapping now".

bear: Ive been in about 5 mods or so. ;) 

Speedmapping clan!
Gather each week on irc and map for 1-2 hrs then setup a server to play the outcome. (been done yeah )

Ok lets elaborate. Why clans? - gamers gather for 2 reasons: 1) building a team for TP games. To win together. 3) for some� err 133t status - to add a tag and be cool.

In mapping there is no direct competition(except very rare contests), so the purpose of building a team could be some big project - a mod or a level pack, like Bear said. Just gathering to map on your own at the same time doesn�t make sense, since mapping is an individual thing. Unless you map for Cube (afaik it supports simultaneous mapping).

Speaking of status... well, you gain status only by hard work - making maps. And people recognize good map releases and their authors. It�s not like everyday fragging on the servers, that no one except your opponents witness, so you have to create clan pages and brag about your wins and slap on a tag to stand out from the huge crowd of gamers.
Maybe creating a 'super mappers' team that would constantly output quality levels would work (but that brings us to the #1 - you need some goal that would hold the team together)

There was one (that I know of) similar thing � Fresh Team. A team of good mappers, with their own page� maybe than could tell us it�s story. 

zwiffle: that world war mapping competition idea is awesome. 

for idling on irc with a nick ending in |mapping? 

Sounded like the "thunderdomes" they run oer at conceptart.org but for mapping instead. 

I would totally love to do that. Team America would so 0wn Team Russia. Capitalism vs. Communism, round 2! 

Team UK would probably come out on top, depending on who came out of retirement and if you count people who recently moved to another country. People like Pingu, DaMaul, Peej, Kell, and than each have enough talent in their toe hairs to roll over the rest of the world with their balls hanging out and a pint of beer in each hand. 

Yeah, Team UK would be a top, say, 2 team, but I just don't think they can beat Vondur. Plus you've got Speedy and Pulsar. Jago would be on Team Finland. I would recommend having like 3 people to a team, just so numbers are even. Oh the glory the winning country would obtain! Such unimaginable authority and prestige bestowed upon the victors when they set foot in #terrafusion! Oh well, I can dream. 

Speedy just sits around making snide comments and making "maps" that are only momentarily interesting as art maps and have no gameplay significance. PuLSaR, well, he's pretty good. We all know about Vondur. And as you said, Jago would be with Finland, so that just leaves two solid mappers for Team Russia.

I still say Team UK would win. Team America could do some damage with metlslime and Lunaran, though. You would just need to add in another ace mapper or two. 

I'd come out of "retirement" and together with JPL, we'd own you all. 

if it was a popular spectator sport, Jago would be persuaded to get citizenship faster than he can say kissa. :) 

Yeah lets speculate about the possible winner of impossible competition

I say you cant really proclaim a winning map if the are both of equal quality - it all comes down to personal taste. Its not a race or football.
But thats a minor problem. The major one - is to get atleast 2 teams (6 ppl?) interested AND commited.

btw thanks for calling my maps 'art' :)
yeah, I know u mean 'screenshots art' :) 

Getting in the industry is easy, you only need to put out a mediocre map and be in a country starved for good talent. (Like me). 

will be fired before next payday. 

the mapper with the best attendance will be awarded an Offically Signed and Licensed #levelsource Mapping Clan "Most Dedicated Mapper" Certificate? 

the golden ticket and willy wonka? redeemable for one free tour of metlslime's home? im sure there will be midgets... 

and one free visit to Blitz's gay sexor room. 

go map already