Halo: Reach Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Forge Lessons w/ PDF ***UPDATED*** Lesson 33/34/35 (10/30/10)
  • Subject: Forge Lessons w/ PDF ***UPDATED*** Lesson 33/34/35 (10/30/10)
Subject: Forge Lessons w/ PDF ***UPDATED*** Lesson 33/34/35 (10/30/10)

Check out my personal game/level design blog at:
http://www.reachingperfection.com

Want to get better at forging maps? Check out my
Forge Lessons.

Looking for a quality map to play with your friends? Then check out: Affinity and Think Twice.

********** NEW LESSON **********

Today marks another lesson. Inspired by Carney's Map Design 101 guide, I decided to do my take on Simplicity in design. If you missed it, I cover a full analysis and comparison of Carney's guide and my forge lessons. Feel free to read it if you don't mind a long read. Here is the link for that: Map Design 101 vs Forge Lessons. Also for those of you who enjoy the series I HIGHLY suggest you check out my blog tomorrow to participate in a little social experiment. Here is the link to today's lesson as well as the typical synopsis:


Lesson 36: Simplicity ------- (BNet Version)

* By simplifying your map you can amplify the experience that a player is enjoying on your map
* A simple map is much easier to learn, meaning that players spend less time learning the map and more time actually playing it and having fun
* Sometimes reducing something so that there is less of it can improve your map more than just simply redesigning it

  • 11.05.2010 3:54 PM PDT
Subject: Forge Lessons ***UPDATED*** Lesson 30 (10/18/10)

Check out my Forge Handbook blog at http://forge-life.blogspot.com for everything you could possibly need to know about the technical aspect of using Forge 2.0.

The Guide is nearly complete, but there is always room for new submissions, so remember to check back.

Posted by: Godly_Perfection
Posted by: A 3 Legged Goat
Godly, could you do a lesson on popular Forge techniques (if you haven't already)? I'm sure it's online somewhere already, but many people could still benefit from it here.

For instance, using the corner to light up objects and using Platform XXLs to make buildings are just a few popular ones. Then of course, there are the ladders with Shield Doors, empty Teleporter frame decorations, etc.

Just little tricks of the trade to make a map look pleasing. The light-up corner really helped illuminate the Rocket Launcher for version 10 of Downtown. Holding crouch while moving pieces also helped smooth it out (although the map will go off coordinates after a safe; stupid).


You know Goat, I've gotten a lot of requests for that. I think I may actually end up doing it and calling it Forge Tips and Tricks. I'll use the tricks section for things like the light and the fine tuning. The tips section I will use for a translated forge lessons section that takes a bunch of little tips like don't face spawns towards a wall and make the majority of your map to where you don't have to jump too much.




Funny, I've been putting stuff like that aside, bulleted list style, so I could use it later. Let me know how it goes on your end, I'd love to add to it.

  • 11.05.2010 9:25 PM PDT
Subject: Are you waiting to make maps in Forge 2.0? This will help you wait...
  •  | 
  • Fabled Mythic Member

R.I.P. DeathPimp. Never Ending Respect.

"Posted by: Kickimanjaro
I'm trying to become an '04, but it's not working too well."

give me a perfect forge map, and i will go over this guide.

  • 11.05.2010 9:26 PM PDT

Check out my personal game/level design blog at:
http://www.reachingperfection.com

Want to get better at forging maps? Check out my
Forge Lessons.

Looking for a quality map to play with your friends? Then check out: Affinity and Think Twice.

Posted by: dmg04
give me a perfect forge map, and i will go over this guide.


As one of the guys from the Workplace, you would know better than most that there is no such thing as a perfect forge map. A map can always be improved and always be made better. Taking the time to read all sorts of guides out there can help people improve their design skills by either introducing new concepts to them or giving them a different take on concepts they have already thought about. Whether it is reading Joeski's guide, Carney's guide, a guide by Insane, or a guide from some random on BNet, it is worth the read to open your mind just a little bit more.

By your statement, you may never look at this guide. While I hope that you do, I cannot force you to do anything you don't want. However your feedback on the lessons would be greatly appreciated dmg, and I hope that in the future you do take a gander at these lessons. They have benefited thousands, and they may benefit you or one of your friends if you give them a chance. Even a slight benefit will mean that the past three months of writing them have not gone to waste. Each person that finds help from these lessons is just icing on the cake. I am proud of what I have written, and I apologize for any time that it has wasted for anyone.

Have a good day, good sir. ;) And good luck in your future endeavors.

  • 11.06.2010 12:16 AM PDT
Subject: Forge Lessons w/ PDF ***UPDATED*** Lesson 36 (11/05/10)

Godly Perfection, thanks for writing out all of these guides. I just started working with Forge last week and it's been a lot of fun so far. I read through all your columns last week.

In addition to reading all these, people can join the group ForgeWorld for tips, a forge-specific forum, and groups organizing almost daily to playtest forge maps.

http://www.bungie.net/fanclub/forgeworld/Group/GroupHome.aspx

A simple thing that helped me with my map was playing other people's forge creations. It can help you decide what you like and don't like, what works well, what you think should be avoided.

[Edited on 11.08.2010 11:16 AM PST]

  • 11.08.2010 11:16 AM PDT

Posted by: Gangster No1
Anyone who claims the AR takes skill ought to shoot himself in the head. Preferably with the AR because they'll most likely miss with any other weapon.

Congratulations on making the front page, Godly! It's awesome to see that your expertise is being acknowledged by Bungie. I guess we're one step closer to getting Conquest and other great games into Matchmaking!

  • 11.10.2010 1:25 PM PDT

- Dragon Ball/Z/GT and it's merchandise are awesome.
- All "abriged" parodies are hilarious.
- Humanity, as a whole, is stupid.
- I have asperger's syndrome
- This is the best used 20 seconds of your life
- Official helper to the Halo: Reach - The Armor You'll Be Wearing This Fall! Thread

Congrats for finally getting on the home page!



[Edited on 11.10.2010 1:30 PM PST]

  • 11.10.2010 1:29 PM PDT

Based on your principles and use of my own I've created many outstanding forge maps. I'd like to share on of my personal favorites with the bungie community. Its entitled "The Black Pearl" some of you may know of it from Pirates of the Caribbean. It took about three days to create and setup. Enjoy!

http://www.bungie.net/Stats/Reach/FileDetails.aspx?fid=954454 2&player=KiDzpRO

  • 11.10.2010 2:57 PM PDT

One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them,
One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie

lol

Noob thinks he can make good forge maps and make guides. What a joke.

  • 11.10.2010 2:58 PM PDT

Robot Academy ] | United World Gaming | The Arch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RA is a Halo Discussion and Off-Topic group that holds gamedays, contests, and group map projects

Posted by: Sandwich
lol

Noob thinks he can make good forge maps and make guides. What a joke.
lol

noob thinks he can troll.

  • 11.10.2010 4:22 PM PDT

Join Robot Academy! The best general discussion group ever. Basically the flood with more manners.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The moment man devoured the fruit of knowledge, he sealed his fate. Entrusting his future to the cards, man clings to a dim hope. Beyond the beaten path lies the absolute end. It matters not who you are... Death awaits you.


Posted by: Xx Niner7 xX
Posted by: Sandwich
lol

Noob thinks he can make good forge maps and make guides. What a joke.
lol

noob thinks he can troll.


Lol! I ran into a friend on a hot topic. No troll for either one of you! OP Thanks for the Guide BTW

  • 11.10.2010 5:28 PM PDT

Posted by: Gangster No1
Anyone who claims the AR takes skill ought to shoot himself in the head. Preferably with the AR because they'll most likely miss with any other weapon.

Posted by: Sepian1148

Posted by: Xx Niner7 xX
Posted by: Sandwich
lol

Noob thinks he can make good forge maps and make guides. What a joke.
lol

noob thinks he can troll.


Lol! I ran into a friend on a hot topic. No troll for either one of you! OP Thanks for the Guide BTW

Woah hold on, Niner has friends? Utterly shocking!

  • 11.10.2010 6:13 PM PDT

Check out my personal game/level design blog at:
http://www.reachingperfection.com

Want to get better at forging maps? Check out my
Forge Lessons.

Looking for a quality map to play with your friends? Then check out: Affinity and Think Twice.

Thanks for the support so far you guys! I couldn't have made the front page without your guys' support. Also sorry for the slow release of the next lesson. I haven't been in the zone enough to right one straight. I should have one out tomorrow though. I will fight through my blankness to provide some more pro tips. Love you guys ;).

  • 11.10.2010 6:36 PM PDT

Awesome! Your forge lessons are not only on the top 10 list for forum fopics, but your blog got on the front page! Outstanding, simply outstanding! I can't wait untill lesson 37. But it's strange that no one has been commenting over last few days until now when these lessons get on the front page. Great job, Godly! You should really have some sort of tag next to your name, like: Forge god or Forge mentor, not just plain old Member. Do you get my point? Again, sweet lessons!

  • 11.10.2010 7:14 PM PDT
Subject: Are you waiting to make maps in Forge 2.0? This will help you wait...

"If you bring your sword to bear harm upon us, with claws and fangs, we will exact a toll."

"An organic life contact-purpose humanoid interface created by the Data Interface Thought Entity which supervises this galaxy, that would be me."

I'm Chinese, but I'm not born in China, I'm Singaporean. Which would explain my relative fluency in both English and Mandarin.

This is the best.

Bump in disguise, because Godly_Perfection definitely deserves it.

  • 11.11.2010 2:50 AM PDT
  • gamertag: roplat
  • user homepage:

Proud member of Social infection!

Social Infection

You should make youtube videos :)

  • 11.11.2010 3:02 AM PDT
Subject: Forge Lessons w/ PDF ***UPDATED*** Lesson 36 (11/05/10)

Check out my personal game/level design blog at:
http://www.reachingperfection.com

Want to get better at forging maps? Check out my
Forge Lessons.

Looking for a quality map to play with your friends? Then check out: Affinity and Think Twice.

Actually I'm working with a close friend right now to try to get some videos made. We are trying to find a good style for them. Something that is a cross between the escapist and the old Forging 101 videos that Time Glitch did for Forgehub. Hopefully in due time we will get a rough draft working and I will let you guys know and ask your opinion on it.

For an example of part of what we are going for... here is a youtube video of an old forging 101 lesson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufswuEv15kc

[Edited on 11.11.2010 7:49 AM PST]

  • 11.11.2010 7:48 AM PDT

Robot Academy ] | United World Gaming | The Arch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RA is a Halo Discussion and Off-Topic group that holds gamedays, contests, and group map projects

Posted by: zapzap09
Posted by: Sepian1148

Posted by: Xx Niner7 xX
Posted by: Sandwich
lol

Noob thinks he can make good forge maps and make guides. What a joke.
lol

noob thinks he can troll.


Lol! I ran into a friend on a hot topic. No troll for either one of you! OP Thanks for the Guide BTW

Woah hold on, Niner has friends? Utterly shocking!
n0 yUr m0mM iZ m4I fr3nd, zap :P

GET IN DA CHAT

[Edited on 11.11.2010 9:24 AM PST]

  • 11.11.2010 9:22 AM PDT


Posted by: Godly_Perfection
Actually I'm working with a close friend right now to try to get some videos made. We are trying to find a good style for them. Something that is a cross between the escapist and the old Forging 101 videos that Time Glitch did for Forgehub. Hopefully in due time we will get a rough draft working and I will let you guys know and ask your opinion on it.

For an example of part of what we are going for... here is a youtube video of an old forging 101 lesson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufswuEv15kc


Great idea. Although I'm still trying to figure out why they can't have us make something disappear after a certain amount of time. I know invasion allows us to do this, but I'm talking about slayer, ctf, koth, and all those other gametypes. This would really be great with a gametype such as infection. A house filled with weapons spawns a certaing time into the game and then disappears a minute later.

[Edit]

Posted by: Xx Niner7 xX
Posted by: zapzap09
Posted by: Sepian1148

Posted by: Xx Niner7 xX
Posted by: Sandwich
lol

Noob thinks he can make good forge maps and make guides. What a joke.
lol

noob thinks he can troll.


Lol! I ran into a friend on a hot topic. No troll for either one of you! OP Thanks for the Guide BTW

Woah hold on, Niner has friends? Utterly shocking!
n0 yUr m0mM iZ m4I fr3nd, zap :P

GET IN DA CHAT


In what way does this pertain to these forge lessons? I'm just wondering... Just to let you know, Niner, all caps means you're screaming.

[Edited on 11.11.2010 10:03 AM PST]

  • 11.11.2010 9:51 AM PDT

Robot Academy ] | United World Gaming | The Arch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RA is a Halo Discussion and Off-Topic group that holds gamedays, contests, and group map projects

In what way does this pertain to these forge lessons? I'm just wondering... Just to let you know, Niner, all caps means you're screaming.I know that. I also know these people from groups

It bumps the lessons anyway. They are also put on the main forums spot in addition to the top forum topics




[Edited on 11.11.2010 10:09 AM PST]

  • 11.11.2010 10:08 AM PDT


Posted by: Xx Niner7 xX
In what way does this pertain to these forge lessons? I'm just wondering... Just to let you know, Niner, all caps means you're screaming.I know that. I also know these people from groups

It bumps the lessons anyway. They are also put on the main forums spot in addition to the top forum topics


If you're going to bump the lessons, write about the lessons. Not about trolling and insults.

  • 11.11.2010 10:31 AM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Dolphins, man. Dolphins. They are gonna take over the world, and kill us all, man! THEY'LL KILL US ALL! Oh no, they will start with Gondile. Haha, hell if they are gettin' me! No way man, I'll kill 'em. I'll kill them all!!!

Once again, thank you.

  • 11.12.2010 7:28 PM PDT

Check out my personal game/level design blog at:
http://www.reachingperfection.com

Want to get better at forging maps? Check out my
Forge Lessons.

Looking for a quality map to play with your friends? Then check out: Affinity and Think Twice.

********** NEW LESSON **********

Sorry for the really long delay on lesson 37 folks. It has been a rough week. Thanks for all of your guys' support. Without it these lessons would have never gotten onto the front page. Enjoy today's lesson, it is also inspired by Carney's Map Design Crash Course. Also ReachingPerfection has forums now so if you want to find other like minded designers then feel free to join us. Here is the link to today's lesson as well as the typical synopsis:


Lesson 37: Orientation ------- (BNet Version)

* Orientation is all being able to figure out where you are in relation to your surroundings
* Quickly orienting players using landmarks allows players to be prepared for combat at all times
* Many other concepts play a role in orientation and learning to combine them can greatly improve your map's ability to orient your players

  • 11.13.2010 1:30 PM PDT
Subject: Forge Lessons w/ PDF ***UPDATED*** Lesson 37 (11/13/10)

Finally. A fresh new lesson.

Edit:

Godly, aren't you going to run out of room in the index soon? It seems like it's getting pretty large if you ask me. I don't think you can fit so many characters in the index.

[Edited on 11.14.2010 6:05 AM PST]

  • 11.13.2010 5:00 PM PDT

Check out my personal game/level design blog at:
http://www.reachingperfection.com

Want to get better at forging maps? Check out my
Forge Lessons.

Looking for a quality map to play with your friends? Then check out: Affinity and Think Twice.

Apparently I still have 1330 characters left so that still gives me quite a bit of space to fit more lessons. And if it really comes down to it I can start removing some of the description at the bottom to fit more links. No need to worry.

And about the whole black ops thing before you edited it. I know the feeling it is much harder for me to get 16 man games nowadays, but I'm sure some people will come back to Reach within the next week or so. I guess I will have to settle with 10-12 man games for a while... lol.

  • 11.14.2010 9:52 AM PDT