Do you plan out your Portal maps?
So, I was just curious how many people here actually grab out a piece of paper and draw their ideas down (maybe from a birds eye view with labels for like buttons, boxes etc)
In my opinion you need to do this, or at least have a great memory and come up with an idea before hand, its good to always improve on your plan when you make it but starting with no ideas and just creating a so-so map usually ends in miserable failure.
So yeah, I try to draw down my ideas, helps me set out the puzzles and lets me think of the idea in new perspectives without having to remember the original idea off the top of my head.
It's way more efficient than drawing plans on a paper because I have a lousy perception of perspectives when it's on the paper.
Long answer: I compile ideas in my head, think of limitations, and if I can't think of many, I go into hammer and build the room as I saw it in my head, detail and all.
That and I suck at using Hammer.
I mostly go with how Duffedwaffe does it. Compile it in my head. Less segfaults that way.
I was expecting a map like Snakebite to be planned abit 
I suppose its because I need to design alot of things with my uni work so it becomes natural to plan it out.
I was expecting a map like Snakebite to be planned abit
I suppose its because I need to design alot of things with my uni work so it becomes natural to plan it out.
Just let the ideas come to you man ^^
-vivi
Then I'll make mini maps each with a concept to validate it.
I'm currently working on assembling several of these "concept maps" into a larger playable map. You'll know as soon as I do if it works. 
I have a small notebook I always bring around.
Whenever something comes to my head, I try it or write about it.
And now I'm pretty much using it to plan my portal map.
All I do is draw square rooms, then add all the stuff I can think of then yeah.
Then I check it over, see if there is anything to add, then add.
If I want the room to be curved, I take an eraser and erase some walls and stuff, etc.
Completely different is the TF2-map I'm also working on, I first made a detailed drawing of that before I did anything, and that appeared to work out great. Got most of the map in rough shapes now, gonna let the details up to my brother (he's great at that).
Orange map
Test
Refine orange map
Texture
Add lights
...
youme wrote:
Top down drawing
Orange map
Test
Refine orange map
Texture
Add lights
...
I admire your discipline
