I wanted to gather all the new, newish and not so good at modding folks together and try and support one another. I've been trying to get my custom campaign 1st episode out and well...it still isn't out. It's sorta done, but boy does it need some help!! I got to thinking that I really need a buddy or buddies to test my map, but that person or persons is still learning the editor...cause well it is just embarrassing to give your "heart and soul" map to an expert and realize that person could crank out your map in 1 hour and you've spent countless nights reading the wiki and cursing blizzard.
Anyways, I got some ideas of how the group can work, but I'm hoping to hear from people who might be interested in really supporting each other on their epic quest to finish their damn map or maps! Speak Up!
I'll be bumping this thread for a little while to recruit folks.
We could have a hazing ritual that involves a map! :)
Perhaps this is more geared to the custom campaign newbies, I am one. I'm envisioning 3-5 people play-testing, learning, critiquing and pushing each other to get their map or maps out to the larger community for more rigorous map testing.
i think i am mor experienced than you in mapping (just a guess, who knows), but i've found myself rather bored lately and would enjoy looking over anyones map and helping with anything that you may be stuck at, or just help with optional input. the best way to find me is ezbeats in sc2, or on skype as ezbeats.sc2
even though it shows me online, i levae it on a lot, i work mon-fri 8-5 and personal life as well, so i'm not on 24/7, but feel free to hit me up and if im around ill be glad to join up.
I think having an Advisor would be a good idea. If the group is 5 or more people it might get a little overwhelming for the advisor, but it could be a rotating position. I'm sorta envisioning the group pushing folks to update and do play through of the group's maps on a weekly basis as well as checking in, offering encouragements, being ra-ra.
sounds like you are talking the already existing map night. its a good place to get feedback and have some fun. they do it in eu or fri, and us sat morning/afternoonish
honestly, i dont think you'll get a group here as more of connections possibly to find other people looking to reach out during the next 1-2 weeks this thread is active. you could start a clan for it, but then again, my friends list is always looked at over my clan list.
Now that does sound interesting, considering the very basic learning curve for the editor is like scaling a cliff on Jupiter with no arms. I mean just looking at the data editor was enough to make me reconsider my priorities. I spent years learning the Wc3 editor and thought, yknow, there will be learning, but I'll be good with the Galaxy Editor in no time. Didn't happen. Still hasn't. Having a dedicated 'support group' of sorts does sound interesting, though I'm not sure whether it's just me.
I'm not particularly interested in making campaigns (for now). All I was ever really passionate about was making altered melee type maps (Hell, I even made a mod for Warcraft 3... which I have yet to update lol), or maybe tower defenses to an extent, but these tend to be rather ambitious. I tried to start slow with a very simple tower defense with just a few towers just to learn the data editor but even that was too challenging.
For this to genuinely work, imo, there will need to be an expert to help people out. Otherwise it'll just be an unending case of, "Hey guys, I'm having trouble with XYZ, anyone have a solution?" being met with, "Er, no idea, ask the forums."
Colour me interested, but perhaps some more incentive might make this experiment more likely to succeed. I'm talking money. As in donations. From the newbs. Those who are able to. To the experts. Maybe? That will be tricky.
Perhaps something to pitch to Blizzard. A person who actively does courses/instruction on the Editor and gives feedback on people's maps (only a one time course). Kind of a like an edX class or CodeAcademy. I'd imagine people would be a little more excited to "jump off the cliff' if blizzard provided a parachute. I love Mapster and the editor, but I banged my head against the desk on numerous nights trying to get the simplest things to work. Been nice if someone was holding my hand and made a decent living from it.
I highly doubt Blizz will do that. If anything, it'll have to be an entirely fan-funded project. Imagine something akin to a kickstarter, like something to be done on Patreon or Subbable, where teachers sign up, and people interested to learn donate whatever amount they can, and the monthly fee is split between the teachers. Food for thought.
I don't think monetary rewards would be a good idea.
I find that I'll to go to any length trying to help a newer editor and enjoy it, IF I like them. If I don't, then all I want to do is get it over with. I think, if there were just a simple group chat (i.e. Skype convo), it would be a great way for the more learned editors to pick and choose who they want to help.
It's not uncommon to see a new user on the site ask a few questions, then go inactive. Especially early on, newbies are going to have lots of easy questions. I like the idea of them having a place to go for quick help, when they first get into it.
As much as I like the thought of a newbie "clan," I doubt there'd be enough people (newbies and experts alike) willing to participate for it to work initially. I think it's something that, if started, will start small and grow into something great!
But really, as long as there's a way for me to pick and choose who I help, I'd love to participate in helping.
And as long as it's user driven, holds promise, and lasts a while, I'm sure Blizzard will eventually throw in an advertisement for it on the Arcade site. I don't know how many people use that site, however.
Skype personally would be great for me since I'm always online. Maybe we could have like a chatroom of sorts where some experts decide on a time they will be available and people can come in and ask questions? Maybe limit it to a couple or trio of people per expert so as to not overwhelm them?
As far as people who use the Arcade site are concerned, I'm pretty sure something like that could get coverage by the more popular gaming news sites like RPS (who have been known to cover mods) and Reddit. If they don't, we can always let them know lol. If this mentoring thing takes off, people will know.
I think my newbie clan idea died before I even got done typing, but I wanted to get something rolling on the topic.
Maybe we should do a roll call for other interested veteran modders? We have to be considerate of time differences cause our community spans the whole globe. Also, I'm pretty new to the whole computers/gaming/coding stuff so I don't have a microphone yet and therefore don't have skpye, but can something be done on the Mapster irc as a sub-irc??
As far as advertising...I think Blizzard would jump at the chance to promote a fan-made Editor help room.
Well you don't really need a mic to Skype, you can always just type. The selling point of this entire endeavour, imo, is the fact that you get quick response and maybe specific explanations to your problem(s).
This Skype idea is non-sense like reinventing the wheel. Theirs an active IRC channel and it offers alot of additional help to the forums. If you wanted to form a chat group you should just make an FreeNode IRC channel then people can move between the channels easily, and your noobs will benifit by the expertise of people in the channel.
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Hey folks!
I wanted to gather all the new, newish and not so good at modding folks together and try and support one another. I've been trying to get my custom campaign 1st episode out and well...it still isn't out. It's sorta done, but boy does it need some help!! I got to thinking that I really need a buddy or buddies to test my map, but that person or persons is still learning the editor...cause well it is just embarrassing to give your "heart and soul" map to an expert and realize that person could crank out your map in 1 hour and you've spent countless nights reading the wiki and cursing blizzard.
Anyways, I got some ideas of how the group can work, but I'm hoping to hear from people who might be interested in really supporting each other on their epic quest to finish their damn map or maps! Speak Up!
I'll be bumping this thread for a little while to recruit folks.
Am I re-inventing the wheel?
@Hockleberry: Go
So like a SC2 mapping fraternity?
We could have a hazing ritual that involves a map! :)
Perhaps this is more geared to the custom campaign newbies, I am one. I'm envisioning 3-5 people play-testing, learning, critiquing and pushing each other to get their map or maps out to the larger community for more rigorous map testing.
i think i am mor experienced than you in mapping (just a guess, who knows), but i've found myself rather bored lately and would enjoy looking over anyones map and helping with anything that you may be stuck at, or just help with optional input. the best way to find me is ezbeats in sc2, or on skype as ezbeats.sc2
even though it shows me online, i levae it on a lot, i work mon-fri 8-5 and personal life as well, so i'm not on 24/7, but feel free to hit me up and if im around ill be glad to join up.
Will it be a group comprised entirely of noobs? I suggest having 1 or 2 experience mappers as advisors to the group.
Ezbeats, I'll be hitting you up soon.
I think having an Advisor would be a good idea. If the group is 5 or more people it might get a little overwhelming for the advisor, but it could be a rotating position. I'm sorta envisioning the group pushing folks to update and do play through of the group's maps on a weekly basis as well as checking in, offering encouragements, being ra-ra.
@Hockleberry: Go
sounds like you are talking the already existing map night. its a good place to get feedback and have some fun. they do it in eu or fri, and us sat morning/afternoonish
honestly, i dont think you'll get a group here as more of connections possibly to find other people looking to reach out during the next 1-2 weeks this thread is active. you could start a clan for it, but then again, my friends list is always looked at over my clan list.
Map nights might be too intimidating for new mappers. For me, I have a 20 min single player map, so it wouldn't be a good candidate for a map night.
Probably going to try and put something together for the Custom Campaign Initiative.
Now that does sound interesting, considering the very basic learning curve for the editor is like scaling a cliff on Jupiter with no arms. I mean just looking at the data editor was enough to make me reconsider my priorities. I spent years learning the Wc3 editor and thought, yknow, there will be learning, but I'll be good with the Galaxy Editor in no time. Didn't happen. Still hasn't. Having a dedicated 'support group' of sorts does sound interesting, though I'm not sure whether it's just me.
I'm not particularly interested in making campaigns (for now). All I was ever really passionate about was making altered melee type maps (Hell, I even made a mod for Warcraft 3... which I have yet to update lol), or maybe tower defenses to an extent, but these tend to be rather ambitious. I tried to start slow with a very simple tower defense with just a few towers just to learn the data editor but even that was too challenging.
For this to genuinely work, imo, there will need to be an expert to help people out. Otherwise it'll just be an unending case of, "Hey guys, I'm having trouble with XYZ, anyone have a solution?" being met with, "Er, no idea, ask the forums."
Colour me interested, but perhaps some more incentive might make this experiment more likely to succeed. I'm talking money. As in donations. From the newbs. Those who are able to. To the experts. Maybe? That will be tricky.
Perhaps something to pitch to Blizzard. A person who actively does courses/instruction on the Editor and gives feedback on people's maps (only a one time course). Kind of a like an edX class or CodeAcademy. I'd imagine people would be a little more excited to "jump off the cliff' if blizzard provided a parachute. I love Mapster and the editor, but I banged my head against the desk on numerous nights trying to get the simplest things to work. Been nice if someone was holding my hand and made a decent living from it.
I highly doubt Blizz will do that. If anything, it'll have to be an entirely fan-funded project. Imagine something akin to a kickstarter, like something to be done on Patreon or Subbable, where teachers sign up, and people interested to learn donate whatever amount they can, and the monthly fee is split between the teachers. Food for thought.
I don't think monetary rewards would be a good idea.
I find that I'll to go to any length trying to help a newer editor and enjoy it, IF I like them. If I don't, then all I want to do is get it over with. I think, if there were just a simple group chat (i.e. Skype convo), it would be a great way for the more learned editors to pick and choose who they want to help.
It's not uncommon to see a new user on the site ask a few questions, then go inactive. Especially early on, newbies are going to have lots of easy questions. I like the idea of them having a place to go for quick help, when they first get into it.
As much as I like the thought of a newbie "clan," I doubt there'd be enough people (newbies and experts alike) willing to participate for it to work initially. I think it's something that, if started, will start small and grow into something great!
But really, as long as there's a way for me to pick and choose who I help, I'd love to participate in helping.
And as long as it's user driven, holds promise, and lasts a while, I'm sure Blizzard will eventually throw in an advertisement for it on the Arcade site. I don't know how many people use that site, however.
Hmm, you do have a point.
Skype personally would be great for me since I'm always online. Maybe we could have like a chatroom of sorts where some experts decide on a time they will be available and people can come in and ask questions? Maybe limit it to a couple or trio of people per expert so as to not overwhelm them?
As far as people who use the Arcade site are concerned, I'm pretty sure something like that could get coverage by the more popular gaming news sites like RPS (who have been known to cover mods) and Reddit. If they don't, we can always let them know lol. If this mentoring thing takes off, people will know.
I like the skype office hour time.
I think my newbie clan idea died before I even got done typing, but I wanted to get something rolling on the topic.
Maybe we should do a roll call for other interested veteran modders? We have to be considerate of time differences cause our community spans the whole globe. Also, I'm pretty new to the whole computers/gaming/coding stuff so I don't have a microphone yet and therefore don't have skpye, but can something be done on the Mapster irc as a sub-irc??
As far as advertising...I think Blizzard would jump at the chance to promote a fan-made Editor help room.
Well you don't really need a mic to Skype, you can always just type. The selling point of this entire endeavour, imo, is the fact that you get quick response and maybe specific explanations to your problem(s).
This Skype idea is non-sense like reinventing the wheel. Theirs an active IRC channel and it offers alot of additional help to the forums. If you wanted to form a chat group you should just make an FreeNode IRC channel then people can move between the channels easily, and your noobs will benifit by the expertise of people in the channel.