Basic Mapping: Difference between revisions
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[[image:Mapping.JPG|thumb|right|An example of an Empires map in Hammer.]] | |||
==Overview== | |||
After you've [[Configuring Hammer for Empires|configured Hammer to run with Empires]], you're ready to start making maps. | |||
{{Note|Feel free to experiment with map settings and looks with [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7315285/Maps/Empires/emp_template.7z emp_template] ([http://raegquit.com/beerdude26/emp_template.7z mirror]), which comes with all the entities required to compile and run a basic Empires map.}} | |||
== Step 1: Build a large room == | == Step 1: Build a large room == | ||
Build a huge room that will represent your level. If you're doing an outdoors map with vehicles, make sure to allow lots of room. | Build a huge room that will represent your level. If you're doing an outdoors map with vehicles, make sure to allow lots of room. Your map will need to be '''at least''' 10000 units square and that will be a small map. | ||
If you want to have a sky | If you want to have a sky instead of a solid roof, then use the Tools/SkyBox texture on those walls that will be the boundary to the sky | ||
== Step 2: Add Entities == | == Step 2: Add Entities == | ||
| Line 11: | Line 15: | ||
* [[Emp_info_params]] (Required) | * [[Emp_info_params]] (Required) | ||
* [[Emp_info_map_overview]] (Required) | * [[Emp_info_map_overview]] (Required) | ||
* [[Emp_building_imp_barracks]] | * [[Emp_building_imp_barracks]] '''OR''' [[emp_info_player_Imp]] | ||
* [[Emp_building_nf_barracks]] | * [[Emp_building_nf_barracks]] '''OR''' [[emp_info_player_NF]] | ||
* [[Emp_nf_commander]] Norhern Faction command | * [[Emp_nf_commander]] Norhern Faction command vehicle (Optional) | ||
* [[Emp_imp_commander]] Imperial command | * [[Emp_imp_commander]] Imperial command vehicle (Optional) | ||
* [http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Info_node | Info_node] AI pathfinding node (Optional) | |||
== Step 3: Create your map's resource file == | == Step 3: Create your map's resource file == | ||
The best way to do this is to go to your empires directory and look under the ''resources/maps'' directory. Copy one of the existing map's files there and rename the copy to match the name of your map (plus the .txt extension). Edit it and make adjustments as needed. | The best way to do this is to go to your ''empires'' directory and look under the ''resources/maps'' directory. Copy one of the existing map's files there and rename the copy to match the name of your map (plus the .txt extension). Edit it and make adjustments as needed. | ||
This will let players select spawns when ingame | This will let players select spawns when ingame. | ||
More Detailed Guide: [[Setting Up Map Resources]] | |||
== Step 4: Set up your map's materials directory == | == Step 4: Set up your map's materials directory == | ||
Go to your ''Empires\materials\maps'' directory and | Go to your ''Empires\materials\maps'' directory and copy a pair of any two .vtf and .vmt files (must be the from the same map). Rename them to emp_<yourmapname>.<vtf/vmt>. These will serve as placeholders for your map's overhead view until later. Untill you have created your own minimap picture and .VTF file, your map will use the minimap from the map files you just copied. | ||
This is no problem for testing things out, so do not worry about your minimap until the map is nearly ready to go. | |||
More Detailed Guide: [[Setting Up Map Resources]] | |||
== Step 5: Flesh it out == | == Step 5: Flesh it out == | ||
=== Deciding Gameplay === | === Deciding Gameplay === | ||
Empires | Empires supports a few quite interesting gameplay types, with more to be added later. | ||
==== Classic ==== | ==== Classic ==== | ||
The standard (Classic) [[Gameplay_Types|gameplay type]] involves capturing [[Resource Node|resource nodes]] and building bases is used on maps | The standard (Classic) [[Gameplay_Types|gameplay type]] involves capturing [[Resource Node|resource nodes]] and building bases. It is used on maps such as [[Map:emp_duststorm|emp_duststorm]] and [[Map:emp_crossroads|emp_crossroads]]. The objective is for the players to destroy the opposing faction's [[Command Vehicle]]. | ||
For it to work you need a [[barracks]] ([[emp_building_imp_barracks]], [[emp_building_nf_barracks]]) for each team, a [[Command Vehicle]] per faction ([[emp_imp_commander]], [[emp_nf_commander]]) and also at least two [[Resource Node|resource nodes]] ([[emp_resource_point]], | For it to work you need a [[barracks]] ([[emp_building_imp_barracks]], [[emp_building_nf_barracks]]) for each team, a [[Command Vehicle]] per faction ([[emp_imp_commander]], [[emp_nf_commander]]) and also at least two [[Resource Node|resource nodes]] ([[emp_resource_point]], preferably marked by an [[emp_resource_point_prop]] so that one can actually see the point) to be able to play properly. | ||
None of above entities are absolutely required, the game will work | None of the above entities are absolutely required, the game will work as long as there is a way for people from both teams to spawn. | ||
==== Conquest ==== | ==== Conquest ==== | ||
The second one is as seen in Battlefield and other games, involving capturing and holding flags. While it is possible to have a [[Commander]] and a [[Command Vehicle|Command Vehicle]], it is not required. This gameplay is slightly featured on [[Map: | The second one is as seen in Battlefield and other games, involving capturing and holding flags. While it is possible to have a [[Commander]] and a [[Command Vehicle|Command Vehicle]], it is not required. This gameplay is slightly featured on [[Map:as_escort|as_escort]], on which it has been converted into a push type of gameplay by not having the flags to be recapturable by the [[Northern Faction]]. | ||
To be able to spawn at a flag you need to place spawn points. These are called [[emp_info_player_Imp]] for the [[Brenodi Empire|Imperials]] and [[emp_info_player_NF]] for the [[Northern Faction]]. | To be able to spawn at a flag, you need to place spawn points. These are called [[emp_info_player_Imp]] for the [[Brenodi Empire|Imperials]] and [[emp_info_player_NF]] for the [[Northern Faction]]. | ||
=== Adding Buildings === | === Adding Buildings === | ||
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== Step 6: Compile/Run == | == Step 6: Compile/Run == | ||
Hit F9 and run with the default options. Check your developer console by pressing tilde in-game and look for obvious problems. | Hit F9 and run with the default options if you don't mind waiting several hours for the map to compile. | ||
If you just want to quickly check something, you can compile without making lighting calculations, this saves an awful lot of time over the development of a map. Make sure your compile options are Normal, (not advanced mode), then under Run Vis and Run Rad, check the no box. | |||
This is not to be used when you are checking water as that needs the Vis calculations in order to appear in game. This is also obviously not to be used for final compiles or your lighting will look pretty pants! | |||
Check your developer console by pressing tilde (~ or ^) in-game and look for obvious problems. | |||
{{See|[[Gameplay_Types|Gameplay Types]], [[Entity Index]]}} | {{See|[[Gameplay_Types|Gameplay Types]], [[Entity Index]], [[Setting Up Map Resources]], [http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Category:Level_Design Advanced Tutorials from the Valve Wiki]}} | ||
[[Category:Mapping|Basic Mapping]] | [[Category:Mapping|Basic Mapping]] | ||
Latest revision as of 08:23, 8 August 2021
| Empires Mapping Documentation |
| Mapping Overiew | Hammer Configuration | Entity Index | Basic Mapping | Setup Resources | Tutorials | Useful FGD Modifications | Bots and NPCs | Dimensions | Skyboxes |
Overview
After you've configured Hammer to run with Empires, you're ready to start making maps.
|
Note Feel free to experiment with map settings and looks with emp_template (mirror), which comes with all the entities required to compile and run a basic Empires map. |
Step 1: Build a large room
Build a huge room that will represent your level. If you're doing an outdoors map with vehicles, make sure to allow lots of room. Your map will need to be at least 10000 units square and that will be a small map. If you want to have a sky instead of a solid roof, then use the Tools/SkyBox texture on those walls that will be the boundary to the sky
Step 2: Add Entities
You're going to need one of each of these:
- Emp_info_params (Required)
- Emp_info_map_overview (Required)
- Emp_building_imp_barracks OR emp_info_player_Imp
- Emp_building_nf_barracks OR emp_info_player_NF
- Emp_nf_commander Norhern Faction command vehicle (Optional)
- Emp_imp_commander Imperial command vehicle (Optional)
- | Info_node AI pathfinding node (Optional)
Step 3: Create your map's resource file
The best way to do this is to go to your empires directory and look under the resources/maps directory. Copy one of the existing map's files there and rename the copy to match the name of your map (plus the .txt extension). Edit it and make adjustments as needed. This will let players select spawns when ingame.
More Detailed Guide: Setting Up Map Resources
Step 4: Set up your map's materials directory
Go to your Empires\materials\maps directory and copy a pair of any two .vtf and .vmt files (must be the from the same map). Rename them to emp_<yourmapname>.<vtf/vmt>. These will serve as placeholders for your map's overhead view until later. Untill you have created your own minimap picture and .VTF file, your map will use the minimap from the map files you just copied.
This is no problem for testing things out, so do not worry about your minimap until the map is nearly ready to go.
More Detailed Guide: Setting Up Map Resources
Step 5: Flesh it out
Deciding Gameplay
Empires supports a few quite interesting gameplay types, with more to be added later.
Classic
The standard (Classic) gameplay type involves capturing resource nodes and building bases. It is used on maps such as emp_duststorm and emp_crossroads. The objective is for the players to destroy the opposing faction's Command Vehicle.
For it to work you need a barracks (emp_building_imp_barracks, emp_building_nf_barracks) for each team, a Command Vehicle per faction (emp_imp_commander, emp_nf_commander) and also at least two resource nodes (emp_resource_point, preferably marked by an emp_resource_point_prop so that one can actually see the point) to be able to play properly.
None of the above entities are absolutely required, the game will work as long as there is a way for people from both teams to spawn.
Conquest
The second one is as seen in Battlefield and other games, involving capturing and holding flags. While it is possible to have a Commander and a Command Vehicle, it is not required. This gameplay is slightly featured on as_escort, on which it has been converted into a push type of gameplay by not having the flags to be recapturable by the Northern Faction.
To be able to spawn at a flag, you need to place spawn points. These are called emp_info_player_Imp for the Imperials and emp_info_player_NF for the Northern Faction.
Adding Buildings
Buildings are in the form of entities. See the Entity Index for a complete list. Buildings are the entities with building in their names.
Step 6: Compile/Run
Hit F9 and run with the default options if you don't mind waiting several hours for the map to compile.
If you just want to quickly check something, you can compile without making lighting calculations, this saves an awful lot of time over the development of a map. Make sure your compile options are Normal, (not advanced mode), then under Run Vis and Run Rad, check the no box.
This is not to be used when you are checking water as that needs the Vis calculations in order to appear in game. This is also obviously not to be used for final compiles or your lighting will look pretty pants!
Check your developer console by pressing tilde (~ or ^) in-game and look for obvious problems.
| See Also: Gameplay Types, Entity Index, Setting Up Map Resources, Advanced Tutorials from the Valve Wiki |