HL2RP rp_city38

Hi, I have been working on this map for about 2 days now. Please note that I am a massive novice at Hammer, and in no way have I started a mapping project. However, I have finally constructed a train station, I wanted to share a few pictures and information so I can get some feedback if my techniques so far are shit or mediocre.




I understand the current environment is pale and bleak without props and decals, but I have decided to save most of those for last, and also there will be few props on this map because I want to experiment with cycling through props and make a flowing and realistic environment that is changed everyday. Ex. An admin creates an earthquake event and rubble appears, an enslaved vortigaunt pushes a cart of briefcases that has been left on the train platform to a dumpster, people clean out trashcans, etc. But I will surely add decals and essential props like benches on to the map. Also, I want to experiment with light and the sun to create more depth, it looks like a map that was done by a very unskilled person atm. Plox share your thoughts.

 

Good map, but trainstation (where is train) is long and empty, i think it's good project.

 

As of the final days of this forum, I'll spew everything out that I know in regards to my experience in level design and how environmental design is.

A lot of the times it's quite common for people like you, no offense, to make roleplay maps and have them not exactly live up to expectation. The major key part in level design is to not make areas feel repeated, and forced. It's to have them naturally flow and create as realistic environments as possible that's not just nice to look at, but good to play.

Just based on looks, you're trainstation is just a mix of already done elements. Your boarding station looks like i17 and you're exterior is just a duplicate of regular 17. A lot of maps are constantly saturated because of this- they never bring ANYTHING new to the table and it's just like a variation (most of the time a worse one) than an already completed map.

All I can say is, I'd recommend starting from scratch again. Decide what environment and area you'd like to base your map on and study that specific city's architecture or make your own spin on it. I know for sure-- with City 15 I'm not Ukranian nor have I lived there so me and Sasha constantly have these little battles as to if it's acceptable to spread my ridiculous American culture into the map.

Goodluck with the city, roleplay maps are quite the task and I'd recommend stepping off of it until you've really made enough levels focusing on practicing specific skills. This would include interiors, exteriors, roads, skyboxes, lighting, water, etc. It really helps, because roleplay maps utilize EVERYTHING you possibly can do in Source. Goodluck on future endevours, and all I can do is hope for the best for you. Source 2 is coming soon, so it's relatively unknown if it's going to even support brush based mapping (It probably won't).

If you have any more questions, just leave a reply, I'll do my best to answer them as it's hard for me to say everything in one post.