Mapping tutorial
Inspired by and based off of hamstermans Spriting tutorial.

Special thanks to Santa Samurai for teaching me everything i know about mapping.

These are step by step tutorials that will teach you the basics of making a decent map under different conditions.
This tutorial will get more and more vast as time goes by...
(after all computers aren't magic you know!)
House tutorial
Nature tutorial
Video tutorials
Bridge tutorial
Mountain tutorial
Snow Mountain tutorial
General Nature tutorial/Forest tutorial
Tips
Tutorial Makers
Inestical
SSBM Freak
Dai_Hiey
HamsterMan
__________________
<--Buildings()-->
By SSBM Freak
First we begin by filling the ground with the normal terrain that the area is defined by in the first layer.
IE: Using snow in snow town and fill the first layer.

Next using the second layer we will create the roof of the building.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/Map2.jpg
Using Layer 3 place the decorations you desire on the house.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/Map3.jpg
Still on layer three we will finish up the front of the house...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/Map4.jpg
Now on layer 2 we will make the edges of the back and side of the house like so...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/Map5.jpg
Now back to layer 1!
We will fill in the empty space of the sides...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/Map6.jpg
Now on layer 3 we will make the decorations for the sides of the house like so...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/Map7.jpg
Using layer 2 we will make an enclosure around the house and the gate of course.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/Map8.jpg
[optional]Events! the little things thqat liven up our lives! wildlife,Smoke from a chimny,windows,and a door!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/Map9.jpg
Now using Layer one we will make the paths and roadways...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/Map10.jpg
And last decorate the yard as you please!
__________________
Nature by Inestical

-------------------------
First of all, when you are making nature (woods, forests, deserts), remember that you have only 3 layers to use, so use them efficenly.

First, we have a normal map, size 20, 15, tileset Woods.
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/5991/scr17yi.png

Then fill the area with grass.
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/7902/scr20np.png

Now, we want trees, this is 'Forest', right?
Change to Layer 2
Select the whole tree from the tiles. then just put 'em randomly (not intefiering each other, yet).
http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/3208/scr30rn.png

Now, you are thinking "Hey I DO want that tree over that", okay, let's change to Layer 3 and put a tree partly over the other, and second intefiering other tree (red marking, circle, thing).
http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/525/scr49yq.png

Now, the layer 3 tree is over the layer 2 tree, even when its roots are further away ("higher"). To change this, just flip the interfiering parts from layer 2 to layer 3 and vice versa. It looks quite funny, but you can check the result at the events layer.
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/8771/scr56zl.png
http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/5674/scr67dz.png

Now, we have our trees, we want road, go to layer 1 and select sand autotile, and make roads NOT intefiering the trees, the flipping won't do any good, sorry.
http://img426.imageshack.us/img426/2034/scr82uh.png

Now the decorations, select some of the plants and put the randomly not intefiering the trees, flipping can be used.
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/9954/scr90sl.png

yay! This is the current result:
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/6179/scr106rl.png

Thats the forest tut, I didn't add the water, since its common sense
__________________
Bridge tutorial(AKA the easiest most simple minded tutoiral ever! XD)
by SSBM Freak

First put the what is underneath the the bridge with the first layer.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/mappy1.jpg

Next put the walking path of the bridge on the first layer.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/mappy2.jpg

Now on layer 2 Place the edges of the bridge on.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/mappy3.jpg

On layer 1 or 2 place the walls of the bridge.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/mappy4.jpg

And on layer 2 or 3 Place decorations.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/mappy5.jpg
(Plx note this is the first time i've ever used this tileset so i couldn't make it look super awesome.)
__________________
Mountain Basics Tutorial
by SSBM Freak
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/asdef1.jpg
Using The first layer we will create the far edges of the mountain...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/asdef2.jpg
Still using layer 1 we will finish up the mountain sides...
Additional mountain sides are optional...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/asdef3.jpg
Using layer 1 fill in the rest of the empty space with grass...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/asdef5.jpg
Using layer two add extra optional mopuntains! And follow the same rules as above only using layer 2!

These are the basics and as you will experiment you will master layer munipulation...Also be sure to read the nature tutorials for finishing your mountains.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/asdef4.jpg
Now using Layer 2 use Mountain edges to finish shaping the mountain!
__________________
HamsterMan's
Snow mountain tutorial

Firstly, add as much as possible to the first layer. The more you can get on here the better. This leave more space for the upper layers.

Just map out where the floor will be, and where the hero will be able to walk and whatnot. Worry about the cliffs after you've got that done.

Don't be afraid to leave a blank space at the top. You can always add a panorama that will make you maps look superb. Fogs help alot too.

Then you add cliffs, outlining all the footpath you just made. You should be able to get most of the map done on the first layer, as seen in the following picture:
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/6572/snowlvl1cy8.png

Then you add things like trees, and the upper corners of the cliffs. you can also place almost all random objects on the second layer aswell; including things like stairs.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4387/snowlvl2kp3.png

The third layer is usually used for overlapping things, such as making forests and such. This is exremely useful if you use it in the right way:
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9011/snowlvl3dw5.png

The final product:
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/3646/snowfinishedtw2.png
__________________
SSBM's
General nature tutorial/Forest tutorial...
As usual we begin with one type of tile in this case grass...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/ssRF1.jpg
Now if possible we set up patches of square grass on layer one...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/ssRF2.jpg
Still on laye rone we make an optional river...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/ssRF3.jpg
On layer 2
We finish up the grass by putting the sides on...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/ssRF4.jpg
Using whatever natural items we can find we will place them randomly on the second layer starting with one square then look for empty space for 2 square items...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/ssRF5.jpg
Now on layer three we will place our massive natural objects like trees around...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/ssRF6.jpg
Now we add wildlife with events...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/ssRF7.jpg
this is our end result...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/ssbmm/ssRF8.jpg
__________________
Coming soon desert town,and swamp tutorials by SSBM Freak.
__________________
tutorials
Prison in by dai_hiey
Quick mapping
Church Video
Church interior video
Heaven exterior video
Ruins Video
The four caves Video
__________________
Tips


Tip from Santa Samurai
Ok this how I see it when it comes down to mapping, mapping is what i like see down well in games though there are so many types of maps.
All mappers have there own style, there style could be what makes them stick out as a good or bad mapper and it could be holding them back from geting better.
Always lisen to criticism you may never like but it's always good to hear some and try new stuff out, though on neoseeker criticism is to light.
Selda was good at it (I'm not) but his style is not like mine he wanted every thing to be natural that stuff i could care less about, me i try to fine what fits in the puzzle and looks nice even if it's not natural.
Neoseekers seems to ignore all the mapping because they now how hard it is and can't do any better then the next guy but if you let out your game no one will want to play it because they will say something like your gaphics sux or gameplay sux.(sad but true)
Ok now try this on your next map put more then 2 hours into your map no less even if you think your done at and hour look though the map till you see more stuff you can add or change, even go around the map in test play a few times and don't stop there try to make look even nicer with effects like try to put some fog in and make the lighting on the map to look good with the seen even use events for effects. (something i never really see but i do alot)


Hamsterman's tip
Add as much as possible to the first layer. The more you can get on there the better. This leave more space for the upper layers.

Breadfans tips

Use the right mouse button to copy a tile. It saves lots of time, and you can delete tiles simply by right clicking an empty space and clicking the space to delete. You can hold and copy multiple tiles.

While using autotiles, you can double click the tileset auto to bring up the autotile override options. You can apply override to the tile by holding shift while mapping the tile.


This message was edited by SSBM Freak on Aug 26 2006.

This message was edited by SSBM Freak on Sep 23 2006.

Hey Santa Have you worked with the Swamp tileset before?
Because if you did i would apreciate some pointers.

ive used the swamp..not sure if it looked good or not, maybe i'll record me making one...

nice mapping there..i think you shoudl do desert town tutorial that would be much appreciated!

After seeing Santa's Desert town that should be easy as soon as i understand the layers for each thing...
Towns arn't exactly my specialty but i'm learning!

hey ssbm, why layer 3 to roads, what if you want rock to there, it won't show up since the road is blocking its visiblity else very neat and simple tut for simpletons *joke*

I don't care about the layer for road so maybe i should edit it abit for common sense...

lol one of the image shows my taskbar

-Drops jaw in utter amazement-

The bridge one is almost done

It's not too flashy or cool looking but it gives the people an idea of how to use the bridge tileset.

hey santa, pretty neat swamp
The mountains are done and sent you by 1:00p.m gmt+2

I finaly learned how to use the dark space tileset!
So a tutorial of that will come soon.

EDIT: here is what i made using the dark space tileset.

Its just a mixture of castle multifloor technique,cave multifloor,mountain,decorated like nature,and a little bit of the 5 layer background technique.

When i get better at it i'll make a tutorial.


This message was edited by SSBM Freak on Jul 06 2006.

hmmm its good but i think its too many rocks, everything else is perfect, though you see how you have teh crystal shards floating in space, well they got little shadows under them and it doesnt look rite, those shoudl be on land

strangely enough i just did Depths Of Darkness too o_0 ima post a link to it later...though its like 17 mins its kinda long

-Bumped-
Inestical is gone for the weekend so his tutorial will have to wait.