SC2Mapster

As I was working on a map using the Temple Bricks to line a pathway, I had an epiphany. I thought, "Hey, I could make a pyramid with these bricks." And so I did.
As some terrainers will tell you, using doodads creatively makes your map look exponentially more professional, so I thought I'd start a thread about crazy doodad purposes. I've used protoss power lines as pathways, crystals on top of the closed biodomes, cliff doodads as 'locks' for my subway trains, doors within Giant Space Platform Cliff doodads (the hangers, thanks for the idea TimeIbis), and I've used gap fillers extensively in my maps. I hope to see some totally unexpected things that really open my eyes.
Usually the best ideas are using two or more doodads together, but here I threw an entire pyramid together in about 45 minutes (lol, took a lot longer than I had anticipated) but I figure two or three of these could make a desert map look insanely epic. Of course, someone could probably model it in about 20 minutes and have it be easily modifiable, but that's not the point.</P>
I probably could've hit "I" to lessen the interface or cropped it out, but it's so damn late that the morning birds are already singing. Nonetheless, Enjoy :)

That's really cool! You should try to make an entrance now.

lol wat? that mustav tooken forevar.

lol actually i made really good use of copy/paste and group/ungroup. kind of improved my efficiency too. think it was 45 minutes total.

My idea is actually not really special and maybe you already know it, but in case you don't it's probably interesting to know. I was wondering why there's no such thing as fire in the doodad list and then I found out (by mistake) how I could do it. Just take a doodad you want to be burning, place some Space Platform curtains behind it (you have to check "Ignore doodads footprint") and then just place a few Lava Splashs on your objects top (or inside as I did in my cave entry.) /e: Oh, didn't see the "crazy" in the name of the topic. >.<

@ Lennywing

doesn't have to be crazy, anything creative i enjoy. i have used the lava splash for fire, but never thought of using smoke with it. thanks a lot, it makes my fire look so much better!

I love both these ideas..great work, very inspiring.

I also use red/orange lights around the fire to amplify the effect...thought I'd add that.

This might be an obvious one, but you can use rock archs to create caves. Especially with the new possibilities for FPS-play inside maps, this should prove useful in many a map.

Edit: Heck, you can create some pretty interesting alcoves this way. All this needs is some lightning to set the mood and it's ready to go.

not very obvious at all, nice contribution! lot of people have been complaining about a lack of ceilings in maps, but this really opens up doors. i'll probably be using this in some of my maps.

Pretty cool if you ask me. You get one internet.

Here are a few more of my doodad uses, just to kind of revitilize this thread:
In a Temple Dungeon in my Team Pandora project, Evocation, I used crystals on top of closed biodomes to create kind of a "captured crystal" effect. Maybe I use crystals too much, but I feel like they really fill some space when a mountain range feels a little too barren, or when something just feels missing. I used protoss power lines as path lighters, and the sunken rune as a foyeur piece. the door is missing, i seemed to have not put it in yet :x
In the same project, I used bridges (with very little lighting to eliminate seams) along with terran gap fillers to create a raised walkway look. I also used Lennywing's smoke idea on the rubble buildings. I love the way the rubble set looks, a little hard work makes a rubble town look very convincing.
Again, from the Evocation project, I used a space platform cliff doodad to create an "airlock" for the tram. If i was into modeling, I'd make it look a little more like a tunnel, perhaps with a track and a tunnel wall on the "airlock" part of the doodad. Of course, I have no modeling programs. Also, I used temple walls, modified their size, and put them directly adjacent to each other to get the wall effect. In case you were wondering, this is one of the battlefields to be used in the FFish Evocation.
Here's the finished pyramid with the entrance. I may create an Egyptian map later. It'll pretty much look awesome methinks.

@Mokse: Go Nice suggestion!

@Mozared: Go Obvious? Wouldn't have thought about it in years. Thanks. =)

@Mokse: Go A few days ago I was wondering how to create a wall, even though it actually seems to be logical I didn't think about it. Thank you, too.

I would love to see more such creative doodad usages. It's really inspiring.

To add to the list, an alternative way to make aesthetically pleasing cliffs/ramps; http://forums.sc2mapster.com/development/artist-tavern/3627-a-revamped-ramp-terrain/

All credit goes to PoisonHunter for coming up with this technique.

that's pretty sweet, i laughed a little bit at the guy who said "yeah, it's just doodad clutter."

I used a similar technique to cover the terrain around my waterfall: (not done yet)

@Lennywing: Go

This is a bit off-topic, but... MAH EYES! You need to smooth those edges, even if just a little bit. Otherwise an awesome piece of work.

@Mozared: Go

Yeah, I know. That's why I added the "not done yet". ;)

Quote:

Here are a few more of my doodad uses, just to kind of revitilize this thread:

Where did you get the red lights on image #2 from?