[Mapping]Making Detailed Nature Maps in Ten Easy Steps, Using these steps, your nature maps will be elite. Options

[Lil_J93637]

As the title says, I will be telling you how to make elite nature maps in ten easy steps. Pictures will be included.

Step One : Name your map and decide the dimensions.

[Show/Hide] Step One Picture

Step Two + Three : Now select the grass floor, and the flood tool.

[Show/Hide] Steps Two and Three Pictures

Step Four : Fill the floor with your grass tile

[Show/Hide] Step Four Picture

Step Five + Six : Grab your double trees and select the pencil tool

[Show/Hide] Steps Five and Six Pictures

Step Seven : Now this is where it gets fun. As you know, nature is random, so do a sketchy outline of how you want your map to look. Mine is as follows.

[Show/Hide] Step Seven Picture

Step Eight : No, don't do anything else yet, you're not done yet, do it again, but fill in the outsides like this

[Show/Hide] Step Eight Picture

Step Nine : Now that you have a basic outline, add some random details. Don't be afraid to express yourself.

[Show/Hide] Step Nine Picture

Step Ten : Now, lets finish up the map by adding some finishing touches (the tree tops and bottoms).

[Show/Hide] Step Ten Picture

This may have not been my best map, but it gets the point across. Using this technique, you can be a pro
at mapping nature. With a little imagination, you can add/delete stuff, make pathways, waterfalls, or whatever. ^.^

[Omegas7]

I know nature is random, I already knew doing that before but I simply don't like the straight tree lines in some areas.

I like random things for nature, but I prefer more separated trees, like here:



Well, you see my point, although I am not really good at mapping --..--"".

Anyways, nice tutorial Lil XD.

[RuGeaR1277]

i love this, extremely...
i think i might wanna learn mapping myself...
now i see how you did it...
i love Omega's map too! =)

[Oceans Dream]

The problem with this is that your map (step 10 picture) doesn't lead anywhere. There's no purpose to it. It's not a forest path, it's not a secret hidden area for treasure, it's just a map filled with trees and upper tile objects to fill space. You could get away with that a bit more with RMXP RTP, not with more blocky RMVX RTP. Careful placement of the objects is a good thing. Don't randomly place some object somewhere, think of why some logs would be in the middle of the road, things like that. I would first define a purpose for that map before making it.

Simple is good with RMVX RTP. Don't make it completely square, but this isn't late SNES generation type of tilesets, this is like mapping with NES tilesets. I'd also use the objects a bit sparingly, and not toss every single one of them on your map. It's good to set landmarks (using red flowers only in one area in the game would make the player believe there's something special to it). Using objects to help define a path is good too, but you'll want to make it first with the player being able to navigate it easily in mind first.

[Sanjiv]

As Oceans Dream said, it doesn't seem to lead anywhere from a visual design standpoint. That said, it's a remarkably attractive method, and I believe people can really benefit from following this method, provided they tweak the layout of the trees to form a navigation for the player. The player can use the trees to form a path from Point A to Point B. With that in mind, applying the previously mentioned principles works out well.

[Nuque]

A pretty good tutorial, but it could definitely use some improvement. First of all, There should never, no matter the circumstances, be so many trees in a VX map. VX's tilesets are too blocky to get away with it. It is not aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Omegas' example was more pleasing to look at or walk around in. just seperate the trees a little bit, and itll look 100x better.

Second, it doesnt lead anywhere. Make a path running through it, and voila, youve got an elite mapping tutorial!

This post has been edited by shantanu: Nov 16 2008, 01:49 PM

[Lil_J93637]

I know, this was just a map for getting the point across, Usually, my maps are way better, with many directions, Ill upload one of my other maps to show, if wanted. then you can see this tutorial is applied to many other things. And as i said

With a little imagination, you can add/delete stuff, make pathways, waterfalls, or whatever. ^.^

EXAMPLE :

[Show/Hide] Example Picture

This post has been edited by Lil_J93637: Nov 8 2008, 04:05 PM

[RuGeaR1277]

I know, this was just a map for getting the point across, Usually, my maps are way better, with many directions, Ill upload one of my other maps to show, if wanted. then you can see this tutorial is applied to many other things. And as i said

With a little imagination, you can add/delete stuff, make pathways, waterfalls, or whatever. ^.^

EXAMPLE :

[Show/Hide] Example Picture

ehehe... damn! now that's what i like~ =)
nice one, Lil_J93637!

[b3nd3kzz]

wow impressive tuts...well done!

[lucifer1101]

very interesting tutorial, but people remember the way that this was setup was really good, he didnt ask for actual comments on his map just the process of making it.

Anyways this is what i get from this, comments welcome

[Lil_J93637]

Very nice lucifer. IT looks good

[lucifer1101]

And again here is another example but using a different theme



Thaughts???

[Canuck]

And again here is another example but using a different theme



Thaughts???

Not too bad, but I think due to your desert theme you should cut down on the amount of trees and extra things. I assume it is intended to be barren, as it's a desert, so fewer objects would make more sense.

[lucifer1101]

im trying to make it seem like it was really good but no rain has made it really dry and everything died..

[Dark Gaia]

Very useful indeed. Sometimes I see some truly disastrous maps, so hopefully for those who are not so apt at mapping, this will help and they can create some better looking maps, which always compliment a game.

Especially in VX, outdoor nature maps can be very hard to do, but you've simplified it into an easy to understand step by step procedure that any newbie can follow. Good job!

[Lil_J93637]

thnx ^.^