Where is startmap.pk4?

[cvlw]

Hello TDM crew.

I am starting to craft maps and am going through the various guides.

I cannot find the startmap.pk4 that is often referenced.  

How might I get it?

Appreciated.

CVLW

[Zerg Rush]

You can find it in the Wiki, but the DarkRadiant tutorials are somewhat outdated (v.2.0) and the download link of the Startmap point to a discontinued webpage (domain for sale), but I think that the tutorial of Dark Radiant is valid and alternatively to the startmap, you can use any existing map and modify them to your like. As far as I know, there is also a small example map in Dark Radiant.

I hope that our geeks will fix it and update the Wiki in a spare time.

Edited May 7, 2022 by Zerg Rush

[cvlw]

Thanks Zerg.

I had been eyeballing an existing map to do just that since the startmap.pk4 was a functioning and packaged mission.

I will stop short of copying Iris, renaming it to, say, Lily, and submitting that to a speed build contest.  There is still SOME honor among thieves.

CV

[Wellingtoncrab]

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/801851353072795719/936987945603309608/startmap.pk4

Here is a link to start map.pk4 from the discord server - which if you are getting into mapping I encourage you to join us over there as well!

[Zerg Rush]

Anyway it's advisable to edit also the wikipage and update the links to ot confuse new users which want also create a mission.

[freyk]

I added wellingstoncrabs link to that wiki page.

[JackFarmer]

1 hour ago, cvlw said:

Thanks Zerg.

I had been eyeballing an existing map to do just that since the startmap.pk4 was a functioning and packaged mission.

I will stop short of copying Iris, renaming it to, say, Lily, and submitting that to a speed build contest.  There is still SOME honor among thieves.

CV

I think it is a better idea to start with another mission as template, as Iris is quite complex, uses lots of advanced stuff and thus will be for a newcomer surely confusing.

I recommend you to start with Sotha's "Bakery Job" which is available via the downloader and there is also a video tutorial that shows how he produced this mission from scratch to beta:

https://piped.kavin.rocks/watch?v=gem2sHGhfZE

You can then start modifying this mission and see how it changes.

However, after Sotha's video tutorial, you should definitely go through Springheel's tutorial as well because it includes vital information regarding Visportals, AI and other things:

https://piped.kavin.rocks/watch?v=6m-yq4hH81Y&list=PLUoSeWinI05Qv5srQnKYAC-MrYwCY2-lk&index=1

 

[Wellingtoncrab]

I started Iris with startmap.pk4 myself - as I think it is a nice clean package. Though you often have to peak at other missions to understand how things work, opening even a basic mission can be overwhelming at first and I actually find you need have your bearings in the editor to be able to really understand what is going on.

If you are truly starting new - less is better imo. Startmap.pk4 is a good launching point to start following along with video tutorials as you have a functioning safety net under you with a lot of the house keeping done but nothing more.

[datiswous]

In the wiki there is a detailed list of video tutorials:

https://wiki.thedarkmod.com/index.php?title=DarkRadiant_Video_Tutorials

I think the startmap.pk4 is still very relevant.

Edited May 7, 2022 by datiswous

[cvlw]

Thanks for the replies.

I believe I found some objects from MapStartPack in ..\Prefabs\Mapper_Tools.

I am many hours into my first real attempt {from scratch} and it is amazing how one can get hung up on the minutia.  Maybe even more so trying to find the one nasty teensy little leak that tempts you to simply rewrap EVERYTHING in another room box just to make it go away.

Thanks.

Clint

 

[Nort]

25 minutes ago, cvlw said:

trying to find the one nasty teensy little leak

 

That's where you use a pointfile. Just select "File -> Pointfile" in the menu, and you'll see a red line pointing from one of the models, crossing the gap in your brushwork where the leak is, and end in the void.

Edited May 15, 2022 by Nort

[Zerg Rush]

Apart of the startmap, there are also some small experimental maps in the Moddb which can serve as base, I think