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I've noticed that most first maps have the same mistakes in them. The kind of mistakes that give first maps a bad name. The problem is this: no one is learning from the mistakes of past first map failures. People keep publishing maps with the same mistakes.

Because of this, I've written a short guide on how to avoid the pit falls that give first maps their bad reputation. Here is the review from Jedikiller on Filefront:

Fierfek is back, with an overview of some common "first map" criticisms and some suggestions for avoiding them. This is something that every new mapper should read, since it goes over pretty much everything that we find ourselves pointing out again and again in new submissions. With any luck, this will give you some advice in making your maps not fit the common "first map" mold. It's well written and in user-friendly language, so give it a download if you're wanting to make new maps!

If you are an aspiring mapper, PLEASE take a look at this and learn from the mistakes of others.

Download Link

Are you actually posting this here because you want peoples opinion on it? You know, personally, I think this "how to" is a bit hypocritical. But your intention is nice, of course.

Additionally, don’t start with water. Water requires extra programming, and should be left alone until you are more experienced.

If you want to add water, I don't see any reason why not too. You've got nothing to lose, and it isn't that hard. You just have to follow the tutorial very carefully.

a small map is always better than a big map. ALWAYS.

Mostly, I think.

Don’t start with indoor maps – outdoor maps are much easier.

Probably a reccomendation to be honest. I mean you can, but like you said - you might not pull it off all too well. It's worth a try, if you are really set on doing it.

Apart from those 3 points, I think that's a pretty helpful tutorial, so nice work!

mswf wrote:Are you actually posting this here because you want peoples opinion on it? You know, personally, I think this "how to" is a bit hypocritical. But your intention is nice, of course.

Why do you view this as hypocritical?

sampip wrote:

Don’t start with indoor maps – outdoor maps are much easier.

Probably a reccomendation to be honest. I mean you can, but like you said - you might not pull it off all too well. It's worth a try, if you are really set on doing it.

I have to agree with Fierfek here, as a new user to the Zero editor, trying to make a indoor map can be very discouraging, as the lack of pieces that weren't used can make things seem very repetitive, and the struggle to get pieces to fit together can be very annoying, even on snap-to-grid. Failing at an indoor map as a first map can be very discouraging to beginners.

Whereas succeeding is very encouring . If you spend long enough doing it and take a lot of time polishing it then you could make a very nice map. One of the main pitfalls is that you could spend two hours doing a typical beginner map or 3 weeks doing a very polished, good-looking map.

I have problems with the title of this article. This actually has nothing to do with HOW to make your first map, it's just a list of things to avoid. Helpful? Yes, but not to someone who's trying to figure out how to use ZeroEdit, only someone who has a handful of hours under their belt.

A beginner could just not release his or her first map. Primarily practice and get use to the tools before even thinking about a release.

I agree with AQT and Teancum. Best thing to do, in my opinion, is to just avoid releasing a first map. Practice with the tools a bit to familiarize yourself with mapping a little more. Overall, this topic is mainly a list of things that are recommended to avoid, rather than telling you 'how to make a map'. I do agree that some people don't read the documentation correctly and then they get mad because they placed something that made their map crash. This is common. Either that or they munge their map and leave it as that hideous, flat, 4 cp'd, and Yavin-sky base map and say, "OMGZ, I made my first map. Check it outz!"

I realize, however, a lot of people mainly use that flat map as a means to test sides, but that doesn't beat the fact that what I said can indeed happen...and probably does.

Anyways, good 'recommendations' overall, Fierfek.

mswf wrote:Are you actually posting this here because you want peoples opinion on it? You know, personally, I think this "how to" is a bit hypocritical. But your intention is nice, of course.

That's kind of the whole point - I'm trying to get people to learn from the mistakes I've made. I'm reading this guide too!

Fierfek wrote:

mswf wrote:Are you actually posting this here because you want peoples opinion on it? You know, personally, I think this "how to" is a bit hypocritical. But your intention is nice, of course.

That's kind of the whole point - I'm trying to get people to learn from the mistakes I've made. I'm reading this guide too!

You're reading a guide that you wrote?

Just think of it as him going over his own notes.