Terrain Questions in 3ds Max

JustColorado

I am new here and this is my first real post. I have spent the last month completing some basic 3dsMax tutorials mostly from Lynda.com, and some Game Art books. I have been having fun so far and I want to start trying to model an environment.

My first idea is to make a terrain to be used in a 3d game for the Flash platform, and I was planning on using 3ds Max. I just need something basic for my first game that I can improve on over time. I had a few questions.

What range should I have my total number of Poly's for one level?

Does anyone have any recommendations for some online tutorials on 3ds Max terrain / level design?

Thanks

joeriv

For the actual ground/terrain:
http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88933&highlight=choco

(if you search on his name, he also has some rock tutorials).

Outside of that, there is lots to be found on 3dmotive/eat3D (from making props to introduction to udk/cryengine/material tutorials/baking/etc)

On polycount, it depends, especially for a full level/environment that's almost impossible to say.

But I would advice to take it slowly, there is tons involved into making an actual level for someone who has been doing this for one month.
(basic modelling, unwrapping, highpoly modelling, sculpting, baking, texturing (individual assets+all forms of modularity/tiling), then all sorts of specific stuff such as terrain, foliage, learning a game engine, materials, and so on).µ

So be sure to take it step by step to not get overwhelmed, but that is just my opinion.

JustColorado

I know what you mean about getting overwhelmed, it is pretty easy when there is so many options, and so much to learn. Also easy to get distracted. But the most fun way to learn is by doing, so I want to start putting into practice what I learned so far.

I had seen that thread earlier. I didn't watch the videos but it seemed like he was using CryEngine to get his terrain and then exporting to UDK. Those are both excellent engines but I am not planning on using either. I just want to build my terrain in 3dsMax.