Halo: Reach Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Are you waiting to make maps in Forge 2.0? This will help you wait...
  • Subject: Are you waiting to make maps in Forge 2.0? This will help you wait...
Subject: Are you waiting to make maps in Forge 2.0? This will help you wait...

Everyone seriously needs to read through this. This is helpful and will make your efforts better, reducing the clutter that will soon populate the landscape.

Thanks, OP. We need more helpful threads.

  • 09.10.2010 5:55 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.

Incoming!

It has been done. Let's speak nothing of it :)

  • 09.10.2010 6:51 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Honorable Heroic Member
  • gamertag: Aeoss
  • user homepage:

Its our nature to kill one another. its also in our nature to refuse to accept that.

If forge had a manual on how to succeed. this would be it.

  • 09.10.2010 6:51 PM PDT


Posted by: Aeoss_
If forge had a manual on how to succeed. this would be it.

  • 09.10.2010 6:52 PM PDT

You should make this all into one giant book XD

  • 09.10.2010 6:52 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 again you guys. Hopefully people are reading this, cuz they don't seem to be commenting much :P.


Posted by: Gamer Stix
You should make this all into one giant book XD


Funny story is that I have all of these kept in a word document. I use word as a guide so that I don't make the lessons too long and it doesn't come out being a wall of text. I shrink all of the lessons to fit on one page with narrow margins. Who knows if this gets popular enough I may actually get it made into a book lol. But that won't be for a few months until I have more than 40 lessons written lol... ;)

  • 09.10.2010 7:09 PM PDT

An amazing read, through and through. The best compilation of Forge tips I have ever seen, and I am sure my work will benefit from it.

  • 09.10.2010 7:12 PM PDT
Subject: Are you waiting the weekend out for Reach? This will help...

This thread is pure awesomeness bro.

  • 09.10.2010 7:20 PM PDT

This is something that all forgers should read before Reach comes out! Something like this would probably help lots of people out.

  • 09.10.2010 7:26 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
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Adjective noun is Adjective.

Are you planning on doing one on FF or MM or are you just gonna leave that to the official game guide and "mlg" players youtube tips?

  • 09.10.2010 7:49 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.

If people enjoy these a lot I may put together some other guides. I can definitely cover tips and tricks for Firefight... I used to love soloing firefight on legendary. As for matchmaking I may be able to put together a guide for that as well. Not sure what I would cover but give me some time and I may be able to throw one together for you guys.

  • 09.10.2010 7:54 PM PDT

Read these lessons people lol. They have already helped me out a lot, I'm finishing a sketch up I had planned and the design of it has already surpassed my other projects, and its because I read these. The read is worth it.

  • 09.10.2010 8:05 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.

Good news... the daily thread limit timer is up and I am posting the last 7 lessons... here is lesson 14's synopsis and link:


Lesson 14: Essence

* A map's essence is what defines the map and makes it unique
* An essence is made up of a list of goals that serve as building blocks and can be used in multiple maps
* By prioritizing your list of goals you are able to effectively make important and difficult decisions for your map

  • 09.10.2010 9:06 PM PDT


Posted by: Godly_Perfection
Good news... the daily thread limit timer is up and I am posting the last 7 lessons...


Good to hear..

Thanks again for the lessons.

  • 09.10.2010 9:41 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: E1emayoh

Posted by: Godly_Perfection
Good news... the daily thread limit timer is up and I am posting the last 7 lessons...


Good to hear..

Thanks again for the lessons.


No problem bro...

And while I was away I finished lessons 15, 16, and 17. Enjoy folks... here are their links and synopsises lol:


Lesson 15: Purpose

* Everything in your map should be helping towards your map's essence, if not it needs to go
* Prioritizing your list of goals can help you improve your map by replacing something with something that serves a higher purpose
* Most additions to a map can serve more than just one purpose and it is the designers job to juggle the pros and cons of each possible addition


Lesson 16: Innovation

* Innovation will pull eyes to your map and make it stand out above the thousand others out there
* Aesthetics are the easiest to grab a player's attention, making something visually unique can make your map stand out
* Breaking gameplay standards is another way to stand out; take every challenge and never say never


Lesson 17: Color Contrast

* Contrast is defined as the difference between two colors that are next to each other
* Both high contrasting and low contrasting color combinations have their uses in a scene
* Use high contrasting colors for objects you want to stand out in a scene and low contrasting colors for objects that need to blend in with the scenery

  • 09.10.2010 9:48 PM PDT

Wow these tips are simply amazing! I always thought that my maps were good for my level, but Godly_Perfection has opened my eyes to the finesse of map making. Bookmarked! A must-read for anyone interested in map design! Keep the tips coming!


[Edited on 09.10.2010 10:13 PM PDT]

  • 09.10.2010 10:06 PM PDT

I have been excited for Forge 2 since I saw the trailer. I found it difficult to create maps that looked anything like the image in my head in Halo 3 but being able to suspend objects in mid air means some of my more bizarre imaginings will take shape. The lessons are great and have served to get me into a creating frenzy though campaign has to come first.

Thanks very much

  • 09.10.2010 10:07 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: Legend47
Wow these tips are simply amazing! I always thought that my maps were good for my level, but Godly_Perfection has opened my eyes to the finesse of map making. Bookmarked! A must-read for anyone interested in map design! Keep the tips coming!


That's my job bro... I'm hoping that I can help all of you open your eyes to the world of level design and see it from a designers stand point and not just as a player. There is a lot behind the scenes that goes on into building a map. Keep these close and read them often.


Posted by: Maver1ck
I have been excited for Forge 2 since I saw the trailer. I found it difficult to create maps that looked anything like the image in my head in Halo 3 but being able to suspend objects in mid air means some of my more bizarre imaginings will take shape. The lessons are great and have served to get me into a creating frenzy though campaign has to come first.

Thanks very much


Well I hope these get you off to a very good start my friend. The world of level design is a wonderful place. Enjoy...


Here's lesson 18 folks... off to go do 19. Enjoy ;). Link and synopsis as per usual:

Lesson 18: Patience

* Never rush your map, it will delude it's quality and reduce your credibility as a designer
* Don't lie to yourself or your friends; everyone is guilty of not taking enough time to improve their map... including me
* Even if you are close to done or your map is already published, take the time to improve and make changes to your map to improve your skills as a designer

  • 09.10.2010 10:29 PM PDT

Killionaire

I'm often finding myself being the 117 th poster to something, or the poster after the 117th, I dunno just kinda cool that it happens .

  • 09.10.2010 10:32 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.

I will definitely have to agree with you on that spartan. That is definitely a cool thing to have going for you. Anyways... guess what? Here is lesson 19 for you guys:


Lesson 19: Threat Zones

* A threat zone is the area that a deterrent affects, weighted base on where it is most effective
* Static zones rarely move, like explosives, turrets, etc. Dynamic zones move constantly and have to learn to be controlled for maximum control
* Players make assumptions of a deterrent's threat zone and move accordingly to decrease the risk

  • 09.10.2010 10:39 PM PDT
Subject: Are you waiting to make maps in Forge 2.0? This will help you wait...
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  • Noble Legendary Member

These lessons have taught me a lot of things about Forge that will really help when I get Reach. Thank you so much for putting the time and effort into doing this, we love ya for it. :D

Thread saved.

  • 09.10.2010 11:00 PM PDT

In Soviet Russia, Halo plays YOU!

Finally an interesting and intelligent thread. I read it all, and was very impressed. You convey a lot of helpful information and get the important concepts across, while keeping each section relatively short and concise. A great introductory guide for would-be forgers.

  • 09.10.2010 11:14 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.

NO problem JV... anything for the community my friend. ;)


Posted by: Gonzogamer X
Finally an interesting and intelligent thread. I read it all, and was very impressed. You convey a lot of helpful information and get the important concepts across, while keeping each section relatively short and concise. A great introductory guide for would-be forgers.


lol I completely agree... it is so hard to find an intelligent thread on the BNet forums on the weekend. lol. I'm glad that you enjoyed the lessons my friend. I hope you share them around.


Well you guys I have finally posted lesson 20. That is my last post until I actually write a new one. It may be Sunday. But I can't guarantee that. I post every day on my blog and that is the first place that these lessons show up. Enjoy the lessons and share with those who may need it... here is the synopsis and link to lesson 20:


Lesson 20: Safe Spawning

* Being caught flat-footed (or unprepared) is an un-enjoyable experience on spawn
* There are many things that need to be kept in mind when avoiding unsafe spawning
* Spawning is one of the most important topics for level designers and it can make or break a map

  • 09.10.2010 11:23 PM PDT

Posted by: teh1maggot
Posted by: booming ben
i know but they also make a glitch for a reason dumbo


/facepalm

you dont MAKE a glitch, genius

thanks a ton for these, OP
im finding these to be quite useful in my practice forge sessions on halo 3 lol
very well written and again, very helpful!

  • 09.10.2010 11:30 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.

I need to write a lesson on that... lol. I advise anyone that forges in Halo 3. DO NOT STOP!! Take this time while you wait to improve your skills. Quickly throw together some rough drafts of your maps so you can get a good feeling for it. Also playtest the hell out of your maps this weekend. Well the ones you plan on remaking anyways.

I wish all of you the best of luck in Reach's forge. I will come back and update these as I release them over the next several months. I plan on continuing to write these every 3 or 4 days. Keep an eye on this and continue saving the thread and checking. Share with your friends and forging communities like Forgehub and any of your personal forging groups. Enjoy peepz.

  • 09.10.2010 11:42 PM PDT