Yup, you need the console to play your custom games. Since you said you checked the "How do I run an HL Map(.BSP)" tutorial, just post exactly what you did. Should look something like this:
Entered console,
Typed: MAP MYMAP<enter>
And still, no montsters showed up...
If this is what you did and it's not working still, you could upload it to the 'Problem Maps' Section.
Neat AV BTW...Starship Troopers is teh pwn!