Tips for getting mapping help in this forum

# Aug 05, 2008 at 12:44 PM

Join Date:	Nov 15, 2007
Post Count:	721

Milky 80328

Specialty: Heavy

Clan: {TF2F} Community

I decided to write this so that people new to the Map Creation forum will have an idea of how to best get help from those in the community.

1) This forum is not for posting your map for others. You want to go to the Custom Map forum for that located here. Even if you can't upload your map there you can still post a link, description, and pictures so that people can rate your map. This forum is intended for mapping questions and discussions.

2)    Be descriptive. The worst thing you can do when looking for help is to say something to the effect of, "My map doesn't work, what's wrong with it?" This is simply not enough information to go on. You have to describe what's going on when your problem occurs and the things you've tried. Also specifc error reports are very helpful in order to help pinpoint the issue at hand.

3)    Post your compile log. This one is closely related to 2 and EXTREMELY important. 9/10 times an issue that is going on during or after a compile can be remedied simply by posting a compile log for others to peruse. NOTE: If you post your compile log from the text file generated by the map make sure you only copy over the latest copy of the compile. The text file holds all the previous compiles so posting the entire thing is a waste of everyone's time and energy.

4)    Consolidate your questions. If you have 5 different questions try to ask all of them in a single thread instead of creating threads for each one. It helps reduce the amount of clutter and potentially repeated threads. If a question in that group doesn't manage to get answered you can then post it solo later on to get the needed info.

5)    Search first. There is a wealth of knowledge already located in this forum over many beginner questions. If you search through this forum first for your questions chances are you'll find something relating to it already that may be of use and if not then you'll genuinely have a new question that probably needs answering.

That's all I can think of at the moment, if I come up with any more or if anyone has other suggestions I'll add to it. Below are some helpful links that offer online tutorials for beginning through advanced mapping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMFie2D4yO0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERg8ljweh5g
http://www.halfwit-2.com/?page=tutorials&category=1
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Team_Fortress_2_Level_Creation
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=192
http://www.twhl.co.za/tutorial.php?id=111
http://www.twhl.co.za/tutorial.php?id=112
http://www.hl2world.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
http://www.interlopers.net/index.php?page=errors
http://uk.youtube.com/user/mattdawg420
www.tf2maps.net

# Aug 06, 2008 at 3:18 AM

Join Date:	Nov 01, 2007
Post Count:	137

Zipok 79665

Specialty: Heavy

Steam ID: Zipok

It seems you have missed a quite important website that saves everyones time. http://www.interlopers.net/index.php?page=errors <-- That is a compile log checker, and once you paste your compile log there, it says what is wrong with it. If one has a problem with the map and needs help, this should _always_ be the first step before asking help.

# Aug 06, 2008 at 4:57 AM

Join Date:	Nov 15, 2007
Post Count:	721

Milky 80328

Specialty: Heavy

Clan: {TF2F} Community

I've never used it but added it to the list.

# Aug 07, 2008 at 3:09 PM

Join Date:	Oct 22, 2007
Post Count:	53

Vilepickle 79014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milky

Maybe that should be fixed? There has to be a server setting that times out or something when uploading. I think if you want people posting their stuff at all rather than the occasional fellow who doesn't get a big error message in his face, that would be the thing to look into.

Oh well, if links can be posted there then I guess that's fine. But still pretty dumb.

# Aug 09, 2008 at 7:35 AM

Join Date:	Nov 15, 2007
Post Count:	721

Milky 80328

Specialty: Heavy

Clan: {TF2F} Community

Well, I know that Redbull has been working on it so I'm not really sure what more you could want on that. I agree it's a bit of a pain but may as well make the best of it that you can.

# Sep 19, 2008 at 8:22 AM

Join Date:	Jan 14, 2008
Post Count:	434

BuckyKat 82158

Specialty: Soldier

Steam ID: {TF2F} BuckyKat

Clan: {TF2F} Community

A user on YouTube has posted a really good series of videos on the basics of TF2 Hammer editing. http://uk.youtube.com/user/mattdawg420

It would be another good resource to add to the links.