Mapping Improvement Thread 4

[rey meustrus]

My project runneth over. Most of the coding is done now though; lots of graphics left to do though. Here are some improvements and a new map:

I have tried to ease the sharp edges between tiles that don't fit together exactly, as well as several mapping errors. However I will not be fitting the tiles together exactly; I'm trying to use the non-vertical cliffs to give it a bit more visual interest. I've been working on my own improvements to the tileset though and working with the cliffs this way is giving me some ideas for improving the cliffs component.

 

[coyotecraft]

Just practice. Experimenting with the shadow tool. Tried using it to create a deeper level. But it kinda sucks since the shadow only covers the floor and wall tiles and nothing else.

 

[Stardust]

The shadows look awkward because they're squares and the objects they're shadowing aren't (especially noticeable on the far left). :s

 

[Injury]

Level 4 Residential/Storage Area

Demo map with no lighting effects...

 

[coyotecraft]

Could use additional floor tiles. Or lower the contrast on what you have now, it kinda hurts my eyes.

 

[Injury]

It's hard to do with what I have. The actual map has a much lower contrast. Pretty dark for the most part. Thank you!

 

[Byron]

This is kinda the starting village... I'm not to sure if that looks okay.
Normal square roofs look horrible so I tried to spice it up a bit. Not sure if it worked though.
Tested out the shading tool... Not toooooo sure about it to be honest. Half of me thinks it improves the map and the other half feels like it's tacky and meh.
I will be adding foliage and paths and shit, just wanted your opinion on this as it is.

 

[coyotecraft]

Check out the C tiles for roof tops.
I'd reason that the back of the house is 1 or 2 tiles lower then the top of the roof and thats where the shadow should stop.

 

[Byron]

OMG HUMMINA HUMMINA

Oh my god thank you for telling me about this!

 

[Ellie]

I like it. There's tons of edits I'd make to the tileset, but that's more graphics than mapping persay. For using the tiles as they are, I think it's good.

I'm not sure how my interiors are going along. I wanted to try the technique of showing an outer wall instead of just stopping at the bottom, but I'm not sure I've pulled it off.

 

[Injury]

Looks good to me! I just wonder about the universal light source. Is the light source always above and to the left despite windows to the supposed north? It looks nice though!

 

[coyotecraft]

You're using shadows for depth; implying height and separate tiles when things look confusing. It's all representational so you shouldn't stress too much about making it look natural.

The shadows auto-generate on the right and most tile objects, the big ones, have shadows on the right. The generator can be a little dumb. I would erase the shadows on the stairs since it's a higher surface compared to the floor. Also use the stairs without that edge, there are separate railings with shadows but you'll have to apply them as events if you want to layer things behind it.
I think when drawing the walls top-down instead of bottom up, the shadow doesn't correct itself and ends up thicker than the wall. If the wall is 2 squares the shadow should be 2 squares. Actually, it might suggest the shadow goes around and behind the wall too. Idk.

I gave the counter a shadow. It bugged me the way the floorboard and the counter's edge lined up. Maybe a stone tile around that part would separate it better? All minor details though. Don't get caught up in a small map.

 

[Ellie]

Thanks, that's much better; it never occurred to me that those were bannisters. I think though I will try and find out how to turn off automatic shadows as they're... well, silly, I think. I'll edit the edge of the counter, instead, as I am using that tile a fair bit anyway.

 

[coyotecraft]

I think you just have to erase it by going over it again with the shadow pen tool. It only applies to the autotile walls.

 

[Ellie]

Never even knew there was a shadow pen, thanks.

 

[coyotecraft]

More experiments. For science!

 

[coyotecraft]

The brick waterwall tiles bugged me. I think I figure out how they were intended to be used. They shouldn't have spaced the tiles so far apart. It's confusing. How am I suppose to use this? What is it paired with?
This looks much better. The reflection is to opaque now but whatever.

In order to make the autotiles work in this way you have to learn the art of shift-click.
The character would look better if he was partially submerged. I tried giving the water tile the bush flag but it's not very noticeable so this is something I would have to edit the sprite.

 

[Ellie]

I'm not sure on all of them to be honest. Visually, the map looks nice. But I think these are tiles which have another specific use, that one day someone will discover and it'll be a big "oh, of course", like the parapets in RMXP. (But then tiles don't have to be used how they were meant to, and those fountains are ace)

 

[Ellie]

Early attempt at mapping a river using the default autotiles. Not sure how I messed up the edges, but will fix eventually.

 

[Ellie]

Someone on another forum pointed out that's not how the water autotiles are meant to be used. Tried again. Still not too sure.