don't even know what to call this Created 20 years ago2004-07-12 19:10:02 UTC by JujitsuMan

I'm making a very nice mod, so far it's running perfectly, i only have about 2 levels, but it's still good, anyway...

when i made this cavern and put in torches in all, it seemed fine at first, no problem at all, but now every time i load it up there's some new peice of the cavern that disappears or becomes an invalid solid.

what i did to make the cavern was make a block, cut it a few times to make it an odd block, then hollow it. like i said, when i did it, there was no errors, now it's a new peice missing every time i load it, i fixed it up now, but for future reference, why is this happening?

Don't 'hollow' brushes to make caves.
Build them brush by brush.
All other methods can create invalid solid structures which do things like you described.

ic, never would of thought that

Well, the HL engine is pretty old and very limited.
You must pay attention to many things.

yes i know, i can't wait until my bro gets back so i can use his comp to try the unreal tournament 2004 engine :):):):):):):):)

Don't say things like that in a Half-Life community!
You insult us.

I am surprised you haven't all moved on to bigger and better engines?
Or are you sticking around to see what they offer with HL2.

My comp just sucks andy, otherwise i would

HL? myself.

hmmm i forgot about unreal....srry srry looks around walks backwards slowely runs to go learn how to make maps for ut2k4

Shoots ragnarok's retreating back

I thought Unreal map making was hard?

It is. I've had 2 years experience mapping in engines that use that type of geometry, like RED, and I opened UnrealEd and I was floored. It's incredible and complex.

Although the Special DVD edition for the same price as the CD one comes with hours of editing tutorials, so one weekend, I'm gonna make some popcorn, pop in the DVD and learn how to do it. It came with a free version of Maya for non-commercial usage, though, which is handy and can do pretty much everything the commercial version can. Maybe one day I'll take up Modeling....but I doubt it.

The thing about Unreal levels is you have these things called 'Static Meshes' which are complex models, pre-made and textured which you have to use to make up the architecture, so the only things you really have to do with brushes are the base work, and then you have to spend hours loading and browsing through the meshes and placing them in your level. It kind of ruins the fun of mapping for me, as the Mapper has to essentially model his level. Which is why I'm staying with Half-Life2 and Source, unless those folks at Epic offer me a job .

Oh yes, and those solid world engines like Unreal and RF involve carving for almost every function, as you carve out of a big block instead of building in the void. And the forced view controls are horrible, you have to click-drag and use the mouse only for navigation, though people who use Milkshape and 3d programs will be used to it.

But that's enough on Unreal mapping for now. I'm only inviting myself to flames :P.

I used to map for the first unreal engine. It was no way as intuative as Hammer, u had to type in all the measurements of ur brushes etc. However, doing it all as carving out of an infinate solid is handy because you get no leaks. HL2 is gonna be the one to look forward to. Its supposed to be accessible to amateurs but also uses a very powerful engine.

Yeah, I hate having to type in brush dimensions.

that is so boring, although wiht modeling you sometimes start wiht a basic block and then you fill in the dimensions.

I tried mapping for the Medal Of Honor engine, and while not as complex as the UT2K4 engine, it was still difficult, what with patch meshes, and the cualk texture...

ungh.

Ill stick to hammer, thanks

Half-Life still is the best choice for mapping.
Here you have millions of people that will probably be able to play your map.
And it is the most flexible engine. You can do thousands of different things without the need to code. No other engine provides this, yet.