And its going to be themed... I don't know how. One thing I do know is theres going to be a super hidden Ratman den (you won't be able to find it even if you noclip), which you can get to via a specific combo of buttons (The combination is revealed by a game_text at the end of the last level in it, and there will be game_texts with a story throughout). I just have a few questions and things to say...

Statements:
1: Feel free to make suggestions
2: There are going to be about 10 (maybe more) maps in it, each one with revolve around different puzzle elements (though most will use multiple)
3: There are going to be one or two deathish escape maps (few turret ambushes, some crushers, I'll figure out how to make a spinny blade wall), but other than that there won't be much death, and in maps where there is any way to die there will be autosaves
4: This will be done mostly in the PTI, using the BEEmod. This does not mean there will be no variety, because I'll still Hammer every map at LEAST a little bit, and my PTI has some things that arent in the normal PTI (bomb droppers, different lights, rocket tripwires, and security cameras)

Questions:
1: Should the maps be clean or dirty? I'm not very good with Hammer (as you know), but if dirty gets the most votes, then I'll be sure to make most of the maps dirty, and I'll learn how to make those grating things and testing spheres. I will make one or two BTS chambers. I WILL NOT MAKE ANY DESTROYED APERTURE MAPS OR WHEATLEY STYLE MAPS.

2: What color should the lighting be? Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Warm Orange, Cyan, Pink, or Normal?

Thats all for questions. I'll post updates regularly about how its going, I don't know how quickly I'll be able to do this, but I do expect it to be done by the end of the year.

Oh, one more thing, can someone upload all the default instance folders with the instances? I've lost them somehow, and validating didn't get them back.

Souds good. Especially the part with the Rattman den.
About the style: You should make both. The first maps should be dirty, the last maps should be clean. If you make a story where the charcter is getting deeper and deeper into the facility, it should be the other way around. The lightning should be normal, that would look best.
However, I'm going to play your maps when they're done. Good luck!

Thanks, ace.

And I stand corrected - hiding it under goo doesn't make it invisible from outside the map. Just makes it so when you noclip in without god mode on you die... hmmmmmmm... Guess I'll just throw it off map and just hope nobody spoils it for themselves.

So a person with limited knowledge of hammer who just learned how to place a trigger is gonna make a mappack?

tanger2b wrote:
So a person with limited knowledge of hammer who just learned how to place a trigger is gonna make a mappack?

Yep.

Sure am! I didn't say it was going to be a super-duper fully voiced full on story map pack, its just a GOOD PUZZLE (and maybe visuals) map pack with some game_texts that tell some of a story I've made up at the end of the level... and one that lets you get to a ratman den I've been working on, its going to be awesome.

And I think every level is going to be a companion cube level, that would allow a better story. And on the plus side, I have like 5 of these already published. I'll get rid of everything bad in them and re do all the puzzles, but the geometry and maybe 1-2 puzzles from each will be re useable. May as well....

Honestly, I don't see whats wrong with him creating a mappack. You learn a lot in the process, and it gives you an incentive to actually map. The first Portal project I made was a mappack. It was horrible, but i learned a ton from making it. You may argue that you should start "smaller" and "simpler" at first, which in some cases is true. But if he feels like he can make a mappack, why stop him? We all start from somewhere.

The only ways I can see this back firing is if Alexander refuses to listen to feedback, or simply just uses modified PTI maps.

Seriously though, the amount of hate here is ridiculous. Criticizing the mappack and the creator just because he's new at mapping is plain stupid, even if he annoys you.

Another Bad Pun wrote:
Honestly, I don't see whats wrong with him creating a mappack. You learn a lot in the process, and it gives you an incentive to actually map. The first Portal project I made was a mappack. It was horrible, but i learned a ton from making it. You may argue that you should start "smaller" and "simpler" at first, which in some cases is true. But if he feels like he can make a mappack, why stop him? We all start from somewhere.

The only ways I can see this back firing is if Alexander refuses to listen to feedback, or simply just uses modified PTI maps.

Seriously though, the amount of hate here is ridiculous. Criticizing the mappack and the creator just because he's new at mapping is plain stupid, even if he annoys you.

And I assure you, I'm going to listen to feedback and mod my PTI maps.

Vordwann wrote:
tanger2b wrote:

So a person with limited knowledge of hammer who just learned how to place a trigger is gonna make a mappack?

Yep.

And...? Better than giving up and not learning it because of some shitty hater-comments. You don't have to play the maps. So would you please look for a place where your baseless hatig is more appreciated? At least, we all know who won't actually help Alexander when he needs help with his map; this makes things easier.

I would help him with anything I know should he ask, but I'm using my common knowledge to his previous maps. Env_explosions and music with textures changed= Quality map.
I also started making a mappack before. It taught me a lot. I'm just hoping he doesn't think he can learn how to remake patent pending in the PeTI editor. Even with BEEmod, It's still a lot of work.

tanger2b wrote:
I would help him with anything I know should he ask, but I'm using my common knowledge to his previous maps. Env_explosions and music with textures changed= Quality map.
I also started making a mappack before. It taught me a lot. I'm just hoping he doesn't think he can learn how to remake patent pending in the PeTI editor. Even with BEEmod, It's still a lot of work.

FFS, you didn't even player the map. Its puzzles that use prop_rocket_tripwires, not a bunch of env_explosions.

Ace_StorM wrote:
Vordwann wrote:

tanger2b wrote:

So a person with limited knowledge of hammer who just learned how to place a trigger is gonna make a mappack?

Yep.

And...? Better than giving up and not learning it because of some shitty hater-comments. You don't have to play the maps. So would you please look for a place where your baseless hatig is more appreciated? At least, we all know who won't actually help Alexander when he needs help with his map; this makes things easier.

Pfffft I am fine with giving help to people. I even fix .vmfs sometimes.

(sorry it posted twice for some odd reason, so I deleted the text in this one)

I tried making a MapPack before, didn't go so well. I ran out of ideas to use and never released it (except a small demo).
Anyway, if you need any help, I'd be happy to help.
I tried leaving a hidden code in my MapPack. It involved leaving CD's laying around and could be put into a DVD player for a message regarding a lock combination.

Vordwann wrote:
Pfffft I am fine with giving help to people. I even fix .vmfs sometimes.

"Fix".

Voted other clean textures. There's probably less to screw up, and you can focus on making good puzzles instead, while still using something you can't make in PetI.

If you need any help with it feel free to add me on Steam.

Thanks for all the support, guys.

Currently I have 1 and a half maps PTI'd, one of them is re textured but still needs overlays and cameras ... still haven't begun work on the den. Could someone upload the instance for the wheatley screens and wheatley box? I think that putting GLaDOS on them would be much cooler than just security cameras, and I somehow lost all my instances (except p2editor)... and validating didn't get them back.

What about reinstalling? Just back up your maps and edited instances. Besides, we don't want to end up uploading every instance over a time as you need each one.

I don't think I'll need anything but the screens... okay, I guess I will if I'm going to be making a BTS chamber. Time to find a flash drive lol