Mapping Improvement Thread 4

[Æ№∞₧]

I'm starting this new thread because there is need for a new one because #3 is filling.
FYI, I have a mod's permission to make a new MIT.

Here's a map that I really like:

Tell me what you think...

 

[Zekallinos]

The map lacks a bit of logic. You are in a dry, barren desert, yet some grass (and a lot of it!), plus some palm trees grow out of nowhere. I suggest putting a oasis nearby, otherwise you should try to avoid the green stuff (aside from the cacti). You're not using the slopes correctly - it should be one tile lower, and connected to the cliff with the thing you use for the corners. The grass autotile isn't used correctly either - it looks blocky like that. You should be used the other autotile, the one with grass less dense and inside it put the dense grass. And don't just randomly put cliffs and obstacle around the place and call it mapping - mapping is also a lot of design.

 

[Dalton]

What Zekallinos said, plus: I wonder why there is a campfire in the middle of the desert. Even if someone left it at night, when the desert is cold, wouldn't he seek a more sheltered place near a rock instead of the wide open area?

 

[Æ№∞₧]

@Dalton - that is where you start

 

[bacon]

when making nature maps, NEVER use the square selection tool, Always use the circle, especially for auto tiles involving nature. Try making that grass using an autotile.

 

[dylanf3]

Well guys, my blacksmith, used in my game, whadda ya think of it, something missing or anything else?

 

[bacon]

my only gripe is the doors. Try lowering tthem one tile. Also, that autotile tou have for the borders dont match the walls. Go for a brown.

Other than that, its a pretty decent map.

 

[Dalton]

@Dalton - that is where you start

But that doesn't justify it being in the middle of the desert. You would look for a more sheltered place when setting up camp. I would move it to such a place.

 

[Tindy]

Teengamer: I'll say this plainly: the grass bits look terrible. Definitely use less squares. Squares can and do work for games like Mario, but with the RTP graphics, it simply does not look right. I also suggest using shift tiles (autotile + shift) to make it look more interesting as applicable. The areas you made it also make no sense - why would grass grow in a circle around sand when there is no water source in sight? I also agree that the campfire is a bit nonsensical, but I'll assume that you were out in the desert and just camped wherever you stopped. But then I beg the question: Why stop on grass? Wouldn't you rather build a fire on sand, which has little to no chance of catching? But more to the point: Your map is pretty boring. There's nothing terribly interesting about it, and when I'm playing a map I like there to always be at least one point of interest. I'd add more cliffs if I were you - a single plateau in the desert isn't unheard of, but it's not very aesthetically pleasing.

dylan: Definitely take those doors down one more tile. Not only do they not look good like that, but that's not the way the sprite was designed. I'd also use less of that shadow floor tile - it doesn't make too much sense in the doorway and most everywhere else it just sticks out. And then I ask: Is that second room just a storage room? If so, why is the player given access to it from the hallway?

 

[dylanf3]

Its a storage room, but at the same time, an exhibition of the stuff, so ppl can browse there :D
I will chang the doors But isnt there supposed to be shadow at the sides of a wall?

 

[Tindy]

isnt there supposed to be shadow at the sides of a wall?

...No? Not unless it's outside and there's a light source coming from the upper left.

 

[Anaxim]

I got one gripe with that blacksmith besides the things already said - the work space he has is devoid of usefulness for a blacksmith. Optimally, he would opt for a stonework workshop with a furnace. That wooden floor and wallpapered wall are too liable to catch fire in case there was one around.
A blacksmith doesn't usually run the shop, but he rather makes the weapons.
In closure - I think you should give the store a salesperson front and produce a worthy workshop for the blacksmith (which, between you and I, should be outside).

 

[kingo'mountain1]

dylan, is the bottom room really neccesary, i'd lose it and make a direct passage between the two main rooms, not a visible corridor... 1 door between the rooms

other than that, maybe make the rooms a bit bigger, maybe like 2 squares wider all around, my 2.2222222 cents

 

[silver wind]

dylanf3
remove the boxes behind the blacksmith, it looks like he has no room to move.
I'd use a stone floor, and add a fire-place for him to use.

 

[KuidonNZ]

I agree with the above posters.
For a Blacksmiths work area it does seem a bit cramped...
Otherwide it does look good, though maybe a bit too much on the walls.

 

[cordynasty]

Yeah. When I saw that map, I said one thing: fire hazard.

 

[dylanf3]

my only gripe is the doors. Try lowering tthem one tile. Also, that autotile tou have for the borders dont match the walls. Go for a brown.

Other than that, its a pretty decent map.

If i lower the doors one tile, ther is a gap between the upper part of the door, and the lower part of the autotile, so this looks better then that cuz of that

 

[Tindy]

There's gonna be a gap, you have to either lose the top of the door (the black ceiling part) or sprite in a thing to go above the door (I always choose this method). Believe me, doing one of those two will make it look multitudes better.

 

[Rappu]

What about just putting a wall tile under the door and then lowering the door one tile? That should rectify the gap problem...

 

[Tindy]

That would be great - except you can't walk through wall tiles.