New Forger... Any Tips?

Discussion in 'Halo and Forge Discussion' started by Shogun Turtle, Mar 27, 2016.

  1. Shogun Turtle

    Shogun Turtle Legendary

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    Hey guys I'm pretty new forger and I have made a few maps all of which are unfinished or just strait up don't work so can you guys give me some forging tips?
     
  2. Chronmeister

    Chronmeister Blockhead
    Forge Critic Senior Member

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  3. FrostPhoenix0

    FrostPhoenix0 Mythic
    Senior Member

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    Much easier for you to ask for tips regarding certain maps. What are you trying to make?
     
  4. Skyward Shoe

    Skyward Shoe BTB Legend
    Forge Critic Senior Member

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    Best tip that I can give to people starting out:

    1. Find people who host testing lobbies and play with them. Play your maps, play their maps, play other people's maps, and discuss them. Have people of varying skill levels, from noobs to pros, and get perspectives from a variety of people and try to find the merit in both sides of conflicting opinions.

    2. Keep making maps. Any idea you have that you think is cool, make it and test it. Many of these will likely be bad, and that will become more apparent when you look back on them, but what is important is that you keep making new maps and that you keep learning from each one so that your next map is better than your last. This process never ends by the way. ;)

    3. Hide traffic cones on your maps. I swear this is real advice. I swear I didn't just want 3 things for effect.
     
    #4 Skyward Shoe, Mar 28, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2016
  5. Sn1p3r C

    Sn1p3r C Halo 3 Era
    Creative Force

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    Here's some of my tips, if they are welcome:

    Finding testing lobbies is huge - there's a post somewhere that lists out a couple common ones. Can't locate it right now, but keep an eye out. The shoutbox is also a good place to find people who want to test. Make a habit of testing someone else's map before you ask them to test yours as well as provide thoguhtful feedback and you'll get invited back to lobbies a lot more. People appreciate helping people who help them, you dig, dog? (Sorry, got carried away =p)

    Also, find a few forgers on the forums whose work you respect, and study what they do. Why did he or she put that path there? Why that weapon choice? If you don't know why they did something, ask them in a PM or on their map's WIP/database thread. People love talking about their work, and if you ask them an honest, design-oriented question, they get a chance to verbalize their design something. They'll usually learn something in the act of telling you, and you'll usually learn something from seeing their design in a new light.

    Also, as much as possible be intentional about your maps. Have a reason to put a block there. The truly great designers will have everything in their maps have a purpose. If you can hit even 50% intentional choices for your new maps, you'll notice some serious quality improvement. Perhaps most importantly, when someone tells you that a section of your map isn't working, you'll be able to connect it to a design choice and have a better idea of what you need to do to change it. For instance, if you placed a statue in the middle of the map to "look cool" and someone tells you that your center feels cramped, you might just delete the statue, then be shocked when your perch seems overbalanced. If, however, you placed that statue to block a certain line of sight, you know that as you clean it up, you still need block the line of sight while leaving room for players to move.

    Learn to use blockouts. When you first make a map, you know one thing - your layout is going to change. I'm a big advocate of starting with very simple block-style structures for getting my maps ready to play. Then, when I get feedback from a testing lobby and change a map, it's easy to delete things or move them around - I don't need to worry about keeping pretty windows or having wasted work on something I needed to remove. Once the gameplay is set, then you can add art. That's not to say you can't have a theme in mind while making a map - I often find that knowing my map is going to be a powerplant or a space station helps me layout a new room - just don't spend too much time on the little details until your design choices are solid. Ultimately, if a map plays well when it's bland, it'll be downright amazing when you've added art.

    Finally, post and finish your projects. Even if they're bad, you need to get something that's playable and ready to go. Make a map post here, and ask for feedback. Don't take that feedback too hard if you know your map didn't end up the way you wanted it to. The stickied "What are you working on" place is a great spot to post a screenshot and ask for advice.

    Good luck, and if you want some feedback on a map, make a WIP thread and PM/mention me!

    EDIT: Oh, and this thread has some good ones: http://www.forgehub.com/threads/forging-words-of-wisdom-ffa.151386/
     
  6. SammichEaterPro

    SammichEaterPro The Hungriest Forger
    Forge Critic Senior Member

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    Find a mentor. Anyone who creates solid works in your preferred area of forging, whether it's core, infection, or minigames. Video's are good, but you learn more by observing and practicing.
     
    purely fat, Shogun Turtle and a Chunk like this.
  7. Chesus Khrist

    Chesus Khrist Bangin Pizza / FGPBCIA
    Senior Member

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    THE RIVERS FLOW NORTH HERE.
     
  8. Yumudas Beegbut

    Yumudas Beegbut Legendary
    Wiki Contributor Senior Member

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    Does this post need to be saved as its own thread?
     
  9. Anemeros

    Anemeros Forerunner
    Senior Member

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    The first step is getting used to the forge itself. Recreate something that already exists, like another halo map, using as much detail as possible. That will get you comfortable with the tools and help you understand the philosophy of making a map. Once you are done, scrap it and force yourself to make something original. Draw a layout in a notepad and let your instincts guide you. Pretty soon it will become second nature.

    Second step is to find at least one or two people that are also passionate about forging. Being able to help each other test and share ideas will improve everyone involved.

    Final step is the most important: Have fun and learn to take criticism.
     
  10. purely fat

    purely fat The Fattest Forger
    Forge Critic Senior Member

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    Just do it. Everything everyone said above is useful, but you just got to do it yourself. It is just as important to not have to rely on people and be able to compromise. By that I mean if someone is telling you to do something on your map and you don't 100% agree you still need to understand their point of view and try to satisfy them in some way even if it isn't exactly the way they said to do it. If they do. Not everyone here is able to see a problem and tell you how to fix it exactly. So, make them explain.
     
  11. SammichEaterPro

    SammichEaterPro The Hungriest Forger
    Forge Critic Senior Member

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    JUST. DO. IT! DON'T LET YOUR MAPS BE DREAMS!
     
    purely fat and Divade011 like this.

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