About speeding up mapping: Basicly I think you need three things. Being efficient, (as already stated,) motivation, and planning.

Rubrica wrote:
Also, this.

I do most of those things anyway. But I get distracted too easily by the internet If there was no internet I would have my maps done in no time.

chickenmobile wrote:
Rubrica wrote:

Also, this.

I do most of those things anyway. But I get distracted too easily by the internet If there was no internet I would have my maps done in no time.

With that page and that tip, I feel like I could finish the E3 Complete pack tomorrow! (It'll probably be a few months before that, but thanks anyway.)

You know what saved me a ton of time? Press "X" to turn on editing in 3D view. For the first couple of weeks while was learning Hammer, I had no idea that you could actually move/edit things using the 3D view. Once I learned that, I could put stuff together a LOT faster. You can shift-drag to duplicate, you can rotate, stretch, scale, etc. All while looking directly at what you're working with, instead of a sea of wireframes.

Combine that with a religious snapping to the 32 unit grid for clean texture seams, and things really started falling into place a lot faster.

I have to agree that planning on paper is the best tip, though.

Ctrl-E is extremely useful in combination with the 3D view. Select your brush/prop in the 3D view, then Ctrl-E to adjust the position in 2D.