Constructing levels question

RacistRagdoll

Hey!

So i want to get into making levels. atm not really for a game. But the issiue i came across is really only the layout. I can make the moduals and the art, not really an issiue for me, but when it comes to the map layout i kinda freeze. Got any tips? tricks?

, Rayco

musashidan

Indoor/outdoor/hybrid/linear/open-world/multi-storey/fpp/3rdpp/top-down/isometric/sidescroller?

What have you got in mind? A simple 2d plan sketch is a good place to start. Planning the assets to a real-world scale/grid is very important if you intend to build a modular level.

RacistRagdoll

musashidan said:

Indoor/outdoor/hybrid/linear/open-world/multi-storey/fpp/3rdpp/top-down/isometric/sidescroller?

What have you got in mind? A simple 2d plan sketch is a good place to start. Planning the assets to a real-world scale/grid is very important if you intend to build a modular level.

I want to make a cave with a lake and a small "forest" inside it. I want to make it a nature environment but also a bit medieval. I think Openworld "explorer" would be easiest. 

Though im thinking to make a FPS one too soon, and i try to make 2D sketches but they just keep turning out crappy in my oppinion. Im not sure if there is like a trick or something or if its just a matter of keep trying.

musashidan

It doesn't matter if your sketches are 'crappy' They're just a means of getting ideas out. You can also just bash simple geo together in your 3d package to concept your vision. It's quick to do and may give you a much better idea of scale/etc if you're not comfortable sketching. Also, using real-world refs of your subject is great (and highly recommended) to get ideas flowing.

Don't be too precious at the conceping stage, just get in and experiment.

RacistRagdoll

musashidan said:

It doesn't matter if your sketches are 'crappy' They're just a means of getting ideas out. You can also just bash simple geo together in your 3d package to concept your vision. It's quick to do and may give you a much better idea of scale/etc if you're not comfortable sketching. Also, using real-world refs of your subject is great (and highly recommended) to get ideas flowing.

Don't be too precious at the conceping stage, just get in and experiment.

Currently with the open world environment i made a simple sketch in paint and i have a basic idea. Somehow with natural environments i dont find it that hard compared to actual FPS levels

Eric Chadwick

We have many good resources to check out on our wiki. See the Level Design section.