Kiriashi's Mapping Depot

[TheSchneid 0]

id like to sign up..

hows my map??

 

sorry that its not imageshack.. it wouldnt let me

put the picture on

http://rapidshare.com/files/266275020/Map_...pping_Class.bmp

[Black Shadow 14]

Can't you just use photobucket or something?

[Kiriashi 117]

HereYetGone

Yo I think I have some good maps, although they're not grassland, I would love it if you took a look at them

 

[First of all, just so you all know, I am commenting on all of these maps in order, regardless of whether these members are active or not, so don't complain to me that I didn't comment on your map too because I am just about to.]

 

@ HereYetGone: You are up first 'cause you were the first person to post a map to to my absence.

 

Your first map, the grassland one is the not the best I've seen, but don't worry, this is for improvement! Make sure that when using the grassland tileset, you spread the details around fairly. What I mean by this is that you should use all of the little weeds and things like you did, but spread them around a little more, and try adding tall grass in the empty spaces and put some weeds in there.

Also, your path is a little to linear. Try to spruce it up a bit. also try using the water and path tiles I posted in my first post of this topic. Also put a few more trees in the map around the path, which should go through the entire screen. Why else would the player even go through area? Your bridge seems to be used only as a dock or fishing pier, so I guess you don't have to, but try putting up a fence on it so it looks nicer. IMO it looks better that way. and put a water post on both sides of the bridge. Also in my opinion, undulation autotiles are always bad looking.

 

Your second map is okay, but the cliffs in there need to be WAY more elevated in different areas and they need to have random side cliffs jetting out and such. Mountains can be kinda hard to make, but they will become second nature with practice. Lose the moat around the barracks, it looks just way to bad unless you make it look more natural and pull off a waterfall, but still it would be hard to make it look good. Speaking of waterfalls, you need one.. for sure. That empty darkness area could have some more elevation too.

Another thing you need to do is play around with tall grass. This will really add to the whole experience of being in the mountains for the player. Your trees also should be spaced out a little more an so should all of those weeds. Well not really spaced out, what they need is better placement, and more of them, but variated. The second fort at the top looks really weird so I suggest you drop it, that and the bridge. It just doesn't look like it fits in a mountain area. I'm not a big fan of the path because it is to linear in some places and there needs to be more than one line in some places. Those pillar like mountain things look kinda bad too.

 

Your third map is a little too hard to see so I can't give you a lot of advice on it, but those rooms seem to be a little much the same. Other than that I can't tell. Ohh wait, that carpet is really fancy for a fort.

 

This cave map is quite nice. I really like it! Maybe a little bit more elevation would be nice though. Do you have a nice tint? That would be a nice edition if not already in your map. Some of the stalagmites (Sure they don't look like stalagmites but I can call them whatever I want to call them!) are hanging over cliffs, two little ones and a big one. There is an elevation error with the wall next to the cliff that is nearest the water. Other than that you just need to practice with variating elevation in cliffs.

 

This last map, the inside one... its just.. WAY TOO BIG. Making huge interior (and exterior) maps is probably the most made error in mapping, and I DO consider it an error. Try making the house much smaller, as this will really make a difference. Cut out any rooms that aren't 100% necessary to the owner of the house. Check out the "Inside" section of this topic, it will really help ya' out.

 

I don't have access to RPG Maker XP right now so I can't make demonstrations right now, sorry :( , but keep up the good work!

 

(If this post was helpful, give me some rep' for it! :D)

[Kiriashi 117]

KODI HAMMON

add me to this Class plz :)

I <3 My little Island

[You are second for me to reply to due to my absence. ;) ]

 

Well is your little island an island of a big lake? Because if it is, there needs to be elevation around the entire island because RMXP

makes grass islands look weird without it. The undulation looks a little odd, and as I said in my last post, I'm not a big fan of it no matter how it is used. The path can be dropped because there shouldn't be one on an island. Where would it start? Where would it end? Where would it lead? Nowhere..

 

Some tall grass would also be nice as well as more trees, and the bunnies and stumps have to go. I like the cute little critters don't get me wrong, but why would there be bunnies on an island in the middle of a lake? The frog can stay though. :P When adding the tall grass, use the tall grass circle like things that you've already placed on the map on the third layer, they add variation to the grass.

 

I can't make a demonstration for you because I don't have access to a computer with RMXP on it, but keep mapping away!

 

(If this post was helpful, give me some rep' for it! :D)

[Kiriashi 117]

id like to sign up..

hows my map??

 

sorry that its not imageshack.. it wouldnt let me

put the picture on

http://rapidshare.com/files/266275020/Map_...pping_Class.bmp

 

That's no problem, just use this sites image uploader the next time www.imageshack.com doesn't work, and when uploading files, always use Mediafire, there is no wait for free users.

Here is your picture uploaded to www.imageshack.com.

Anyways, epic text time:

 

THE SCHNEID

 

Alright, one of the main problems of this map is the huge space of the tall grass. It is way to empty and open, and the edges are all wrong. Don't worry though, this can be easily fixed :D . The square patch of grass in the tileset has edges, you need to use those to close off the edges instead of using grass variation tools for edges. These are supposed to go over the edges on the third layer to create variation. This huge area needs to be much less open with a few more trees or water going around it.

 

The third layer path autotile shouldn't ever go over the edge of the water like that, but when you do use it, put less rocks on it. The main path needs to have at least two lines in width or else it will give you that boxy look. Also, get rid of the undulation under the grass in the bottom right corner it looks nasty. Your trees are too close to the tent, so fix that up.

 

And the bridge rails only work when you have them on both sides, and I don't like the look of them when they are on one-tile-long bridges. And you seemed to of copied and pasted it onto the bridge, you need to use the middle piece five times making sure it replaces that crack and the far left rail edge piece.

 

Once again, I cannot use RMXP right now but keep mapping away and try practicing with the grass.

 

(If this post was helpful, give me some rep' for it! :D)

[Tomo2000 60]

Welcome back, Kiriashi :D . I'd like to submit what is probally the map I am most proud of. It isn't grassland, however. It's Farm Village Interior. Here's the link;

 

Probally My Best Map

 

Just remember to click on the image to view it in its full glory :D .

 

Thanks,

~Tomo2000.

[TheSchneid 0]

in my opinion thats good =]

how do you make the fire?

and make candles have shine??

[Tomo2000 60]

I used events. It was a bit harder compiling the map because I would have to change the starting location, start the game, take a screenshot, take it to paint, cut it out, repeat, fit pieces together, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat :D . And that is how you do it :) .

[Kiriashi 117]

Welcome back, Kiriashi :D . I'd like to submit what is probally the map I am most proud of. It isn't grassland, however. It's Farm Village Interior. Here's the link;

 

Probally My Best Map

 

Just remember to click on the image to view it in its full glory :D .

 

Thanks,

~Tomo2000.

Thanks I enjoy being back!

 

My browser already does that for me :P

 

 

Well the first thing I have to say about this map is that is too big no matter what your explanation for it is, house, hotel, manor, Inn, castle, fortress, Pentagon.. whatever! You should tune down the map to half its current size and make the hallway a lot thinner and furnish the hallway. Notice how you have a large portion of the hallway extending to the right where the stairs are? This area can be lost altogether.

 

When you're making a map, you don't have to base the inside of the map on the outside of the map, because there can be empty spaces in a house, and because its an RPG so it looks better that way, the small way that is.

 

Using the shadow tiles to make a room look nicer is near impossible, so I suggest you use cosmetic lighting.

 

Another thing to look out for is spreading out your details, like the boxes for example. Why would there be so many of those in a house? There may be a reason, but I assume that you made this map purely for the fun if it and it isn't apart of any game.

 

Before you make maps when you are just practicing, you should come up with an idea of what kind of building\area the map is or come up with a backline (storyline for the sake of not having nothingness in a map) for the map.

 

I know this isn't the best critique because interiors can be quite hard, but I will make an example of your map soon! (Hopefully within 24 hours)

 

(If this post was helpful, give me some rep' for it! )

[Tomo2000 60]

Thanks a heap, Kiriashi. That should, hopefully, make me build a better house :D . The room is for a game me and a friend are making called Alone. The room in the bottom section, middle room is a store room. The storyline is about a semi-paranormal event where the people of a small town start disappearing during the night. Near the end your character will be the last one left, just as depicted in the games title.

 

The Cosmetic Lighting Tutorial is AMAZING! The funniest thing is that I will be getting photoshop either tomorrow or the next day :D .

[Kiriashi 117]

Oh really? Thats awesome! Are you getting CS4 or Elements? I love using CS3 still :P

 

 

Oh it's for Alone? Is that the same as your "Hope Afloat" game? (Yep, I know all about, and I can't wait for it to be completed!)

 

TheSchneid, all you have to do is make an event on the candle and click on the "Stop Animation" checkbox and go into the character graphic and go to the bottom of the list until you find a light. For the fireplace to the same except with a different graphic!

[Tomo2000 60]

Well, I'm getting Photoshop CS4 and DreamWeaver; the one you get when you get Premium. It's great to know that you like Hope Afloat :D , and before it finishes there will be a second continent. Alone, however, is the same in some ways but not in others. Alone is a horror game while Hope Afloat is not, for one thing. Alone is based in a still-standing town while Hope Afloat is in a destroyed continent, nearly.

 

And, just as a spoiler, you arn't the last person alive apart from the Military, but that will have to wait until the 2nd continent :D . Have you played the most recent demo? There is only 1 glitch I am not happy about and that it that the 'First Aid Spray' doesn't work and if you purchase one when you open your menu it will crash :( .

[Kiriashi 117]

No I have not but I will soon.

 

Does this item of yours use any scripting? Otherwise its quite odd that the Menu crashes.

 

To stay on topic:

I noticed in one of the rooms in the top of your map you put some books on a shelf. These books are hanging off of the shelf. :o

[Tomo2000 60]

Thanks for noticing that, I'm surprised I didn't pick up on that :D . With the item, yeah it uses scripting and so does the new menu so I am trying to find a way around it. When you play Hope Afloat I hope you enjoy it.

 

Edit: I should be getting Photoshop CS4 soon (hopefully in a few hours) and I have make a map to try using the Cosmetic Lighting with (I've used Photoshop before, also, and my mum is AMAZING using it). Here is the link:

 

Da Map :D

 

Before I start adding the Cosmetic Lighting I'd like you to see if I need to improve anything.

[Kiriashi 117]

Sorry I didn't reply sooner!

 

 

The white block is an area in which things are to linear. Hallways can be killers! Base your rooms on maps like this: Interior

 

The red highlighted areas are carpets in which you should take the middle tiles, this one and this one , and put them all around the room, and where the entrance to the room is, put on border on it.

 

The bright areas are where things get to repetitive. Try sprucing it up a bit. Again, this is why making your maps smaller can really benefit you.

 

The dark areas are where there isn't enough detail spread around. See above comment about smaller maps! ;) The smaller the map, the less space you have to fill up with tiles that there aren't enough of in the RTP. For right now just hang some pictures or the like.

 

:) Hope this helps!

[Tomo2000 60]

Thanks Kiriashi. That helps a lot :D .

[Kiriashi 117]

No problem!

 

Now if only more people would post...

[CrimsonInferno 35]

Okay....let's see if I can get my question down right! :>

 

 

As you can see by my picture, I'm having real big problems with the Auto Tiles. First: I don't know how to properly place map pieces, i.e, I do not know if I'm good at mapping.

Second: I do not know how to use each Auto Tile piece. I can't seem - for example - make a circle lake, not that I'd make a ALL circle lake in my game, but that's just an example.

 

So, I wanna learn how to make this:

 

Turn to this:

 

And I don't mean the exact same thing, but how this person made the edges of his lake not look like how I made my pond.

 

So, did that make sense...or was I being so stupid? :unsure:

[ShinyToyGuns 29]

try this perhaps?

 

[CrimsonInferno 35]

What am I to try? Copy the image myself....?

Gah, I'm sorry I'm being stupid about this...

 

EDIT:

Oh, I see!

 

 

Okay, now that that is sorta complete, I need to know if my mapping skills is a Kay-O-kay.

 

I did it! But I'm gonna map something and post it, so Kiriashi and everyone can see it and judge. :>

 

Should I post a map too?

[ShinyToyGuns 29]

yes to autotiles

[Kiriashi 117]

(SHINY! MY FORUM! ME ANSWER! lol)

 

 

Your arrow path INSANELY hard to follow, but that's just be..cause... you're.. smart? Yeah..

 

So I'm assuming you just want to have water with round edges? Its the autotile, not how you use it. Here is a good water auto tile (more specifically, the one used for that stormy lake map)

 

 

In response to the other thing you said:

 

...?

 

 

You just said you were going to make a map and post it, then you asked if you should make a map and post it.

 

 

Please make sense hun.

[CrimsonInferno 35]

Ooops, I was actually editing that post and forgot to erase the rest of it. Sorry.

 

 

So, really, really bad or is it just bad?

[Kiriashi 117]

Well they don't look quite finished yet.

 

 

 

Try adding a lot more and making the river a little more realistic.

 

 

Right now, I don't have much to comment on! You cut off a few tree shadows with your flowers.

[Polraudio 122]

I know i need more detail on the ground but what else can be done? PLEASE I NEED YOU ALL MIGHT KIRIASHI.

This is for the ever popular game Umaro Tondaro.

[CrimsonInferno 35]

Oh, phooey! I did cut some off!

 

By realistic...could you explain? A little more round, less round, more water or less water?

[Kiriashi 117]

Well for one Crimson you should use the autotile I posted, not the one Shiny posted. (No offense Shiny, mine is just better).

 

Give reason to the river. As you can see your river just breaks up a bit. Make it a bit wider, and add more variation. After that you need to use some tall grass and other details all over the place.

 

 

Polraudio, the main problem with your map is the path, it needs a lot more variation. It is waaaaaaaaaay to linear. Try using the autotile I posted in the first post. Also put a few stumps near the road, and maybe add a stream of water somewhere. You also need more detail. Like add some shadow grass or something and flowers. AND PEOPLE! >,< I assume you were going to put people in there eventually. Make sure you add lots of mini quests and birds and animals like them so you can add more feeling to the map. Some clouds would do nicely there as well.

[ShinyToyGuns 29]

Well for one Crimson you should use the autotile I posted, not the one Shiny posted. (No offense Shiny, mine is just better).

The only reason I didn't post the one you posted is because there's a few problems with the way it autotiles, and the grass is different than the one he was using. Sorry, was just trying to be helpful :(

[Kiriashi 117]

I'm not saying you weren't man! : D

 

That water auto-tile can look messed up, but only if you don't use it properly. And about the grass, it is too hard to see. : D

[CrimsonInferno 35]

Well for one Crimson you should use the autotile I posted, not the one Shiny posted. (No offense Shiny, mine is just better).

Got it, switching now ;)

 

Give reason to the river. As you can see your river just breaks up a bit. Make it a bit wider, and add more variation. After that you need to use some tall grass and other details all over the place.

Okay...I'll get to it and see if I can make it better.

 

.....AND PEOPLE! >,< I assume you were going to put people in there eventually. Make sure you add lots of mini quests and birds and animals like them so you can add more feeling to the map. Some clouds would do nicely there as well.

*sheepishly smiles* Well, I can't event yet, but I'm hoping I can learn. I can do small stuff, but I can't do the bigger stuff yet.

How do you add clouds?