A Guide for the New UDK Mapper

  • Please make sure you are familiar with the forum rules. You can find them here: https://forums.tripwireinteractive.com/index.php?threads/forum-rules.2334636/
HeadClot

HeadClot

FNG / Fresh Meat
Dec 2, 2010
286
110
0
Utah, United States
I am noticing allot of people that are wanting to get into mapping and Modding with RO2

I have some mapping experience under my belt but I am going to share what i have learned with everyone as well as a few links.

I will update this as More information becomes available

What you will need -

"Prep work Section"
- Note Paper / Note book
- Drawing Paper / Sketch Pad
- Pencil with allot of Eraser.

"Basic Layout Section"
- UDK September 2010 Build
- A Computer that can Run the UDK/RO2
- Basic UDK knowledge.

"Detailing Section" - ( Coming Soon )
-UDK September 2010 Build
-Blender or 3DS Max
-3D Modeling Knowledge


"Further Reading Section"
- Free E-books
- Links (3D Modeling)
- Links (Level Design)

------------

Prep Work Section-

1. Before even thinking about how the map will play out you have to know what it looks like. Draw it out on paper.

- The first drawing you make is NOT Final -

- Use Pencil with an eraser you will be doing ALLOT of erasing -

2. Once you have your first rough map drawn out next up is Determining the flow of Game play. If something does not fit in the map, take it out!

Is your map a combined arms map?
Is your map a Infantry only Map?

Make notes of the map type (Combined Arms/Infantry Only) and Game Mode(Countdown, Territory, etc.) Make as many notes as you can so you are not confused later on why you put that there or why you put a certain aspect of the map there.


3. Once the notes are done proceed to the Basic layout section. Feel free to revisit the Prep Work section as much as you want. This is actually encouraged.
 
Last edited:
HeadClot

HeadClot

FNG / Fresh Meat
Dec 2, 2010
286
110
0
Utah, United States
Basic Layout Section -

If you are doing an outdoor area use both terrain and BSP.

IMPORTANT - BSP is not final for the map it is just a place holder. BSP is horrible on Performance in General so do not use it in the final or any release map in general.

As for a program for Height-maps Use L3DT.
It can export in the Unreal Height map format. You can also Design your height map in 3D more on that later though.

I am not going to go into detail on UDK's Terrain System but i am going to share a few things.

1. If your terrain comes out looking like Death Spikes instead of smooth and flowing. Right Click -> Terrain Properties -> Display

Where is Says 256 under Drawscale Lower the Z to around 16 your map should now look a bit more realistic and less like a series of death spikes. If you want to make your map bigger under drawscale up the X and Y to a higher number. Try Keeping it in a power of 2.

While this will make the map absolutely huge you can block off sections with Blocking Volumes.

2. Lighting and LightmassImportanceVolumes

You map may be running slow at this point in terms of building lighting we can speed that up. Take you builder brush and put it over you entire level.

Now go under Special Brushes and Click Lightmass Importance Volume.

Your lighting should now build faster.

Notes -

Static Meshes cause Lighting to build faster than BSP.
DO not go BSP heavy in any map with the UDK. If you need to use BSP use it EXTREMELY lightly.
Reference your Initial Notes and Drawings when creating the level, make adjustments where needed.
 
Last edited:
HeadClot

HeadClot

FNG / Fresh Meat
Dec 2, 2010
286
110
0
Utah, United States
Further Reading

Free EBooks -

http://www.worldofleveldesign.com/

The Above Site contains allot of resources in terms of Level Design and 3D modeling with Autodesk Maya. If you Use Maya and you want to get stuff into UDK the above site is recommended. They also have a Ebook titled Ultimate level Design. This is a invaluable resource for both UDK and Source Users.

http://eat3d.com

An awesome site for both UDK and 3DS Max Related Items. There stuff is not free however BUT they are running Contests some which involve free stuff from there store.


Links (3D Modeling)

The Below Links are ones that have helped me in the past. So I am passing the links out. :)

3DS Max unit setup for UDK - YouTube

Rigging your character in 3ds max with epics base skeleton for UDK Part 1.avi - YouTube

Creating Character Rigs for UDK using CAT in 3dsMax 2011 - YouTube
 
Last edited:
Xendance

Xendance

FNG / Fresh Meat
Nov 21, 2005
4,484
572
0
32
Elitist Prick Club RS Branch
I wouldn't change the X or Y drawscale of terrain if it is spiky. Just change the Z-drawscale (eg. height), or adjust the heightmap in the program you made.
But if you want a bigger terrain, then sure go ahead and change the X and Y scale too.
 
HeadClot

HeadClot

FNG / Fresh Meat
Dec 2, 2010
286
110
0
Utah, United States
Xendance said:
I wouldn't change the X or Y drawscale of terrain if it is spiky. Just change the Z-drawscale (eg. height), or adjust the heightmap in the program you made.
But if you want a bigger terrain, then sure go ahead and change the X and Y scale too.
Click to expand...

I will Fix that ASAP. Thanks Xendance :)

@ Frostedfire - The Only reason I did not put up hourence's site is that Eat3D has a version of their UDK series that is done by him. It covers most if not all of the stuff he has in his tutorials on his site but in the UDK.
 
Last edited:
Haekb

Haekb

FNG / Fresh Meat
Aug 4, 2011
4
0
0
Canada
For those who want to go the free route with modelling (Although I'm pretty sure 3ds max has a free student non-commercial version now) There's an excellent site with loads of high quality video tutorials for blender called blendercookie.com.
 
C

Cirdan

FNG / Fresh Meat
Jun 22, 2011
28
6
0
Is there a way to find out which version of the UDK I have installed? All I see is Unreal Engine version 8364
 
HeadClot

HeadClot

FNG / Fresh Meat
Dec 2, 2010
286
110
0
Utah, United States
Cirdan said:
Is there a way to find out which version of the UDK I have installed? All I see is Unreal Engine version 8364
Click to expand...

Go into your UDK directory and the Date of the Version you are using should be there.

My UDK Directory is located in C:\UDK\

You should have UDK-2010-09 as your directory name for your UDK install.

That is how I tell what version of the UDK i am running :)

@Osok What 3D Modeling program are you using?

From my Experince it can vary from programs and versions.
 
Last edited:
O

Osok

FNG / Fresh Meat
Sep 2, 2011
4
0
0
3ds max 9
Im considering getting 3ds max 11

I also found that a UU = .75 inches from the UDK wiki.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom