by andylegate » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:52 pm
The main thing that I don't like about the Alcugs tutorials, is that they are sort of thrown together.
Just about every 3D program that I've used to create a virtual world that you can walk around end always had the same pattern for their tutorials:
1 Program Basics and Interface (learning how to use the basic features, and get used to navigating with the program)
2 Basic Mesh (Brush, Object, etc) Manipulations (shows you how to make basic things, so you can get used to scaling, sizing, cutting, etc all the meshes that you use to make, well, many many things)
3 Your First Room (this is something that Alcugs lacks, they have Making your first Age, but its....very...limited. Basically shows you how to make a your Book, a plane, throw in one object, and then export. That's not enough. It should be like I stated: Have you make a basic room, with a floor, 4 walls, a ceiling, how to texture those things, and how to put in some lighting. There are other tutorials for Texturing and Lighting, but they can be done with this tutorial, to give you more of a sense of building something)
4 Advanced Mesh (this shows you how to do much more advanced mesh manipulations, like 3D cuts, shaping and carving your objects)
5 Terrain Building
6 Advanced Texturing (in the First Room tutorial, you use simple textures. This one show you how to do more advanced stuff, like texture painting, decals, etc)
7 Lighting (the on in Alcugs is so-so, it just kind of throws it out there, and hopes that people can figure out a way to make the lighting look good........which is very hard right now)
8 Skies and Enviorment (kinda self explanitory)
9 Scripting
Now, what I did, was of course started with the Blender Noob to Pro tutorial, and walked away with a bad taste in my mouth......sorry, but I used to be a course manager and instructor, that tutorial needs a lot of work.
So instead, I simply plowed on learning how to navigate and how to manipulate meshes first. Took awhile as Blender is different than any other program that I used before. But I kept at it until I got more and more at ease with it.
Then I decided to Make My First Room. Taking what I had learned about navigating Blender and manipulating Meshes, I took bits and pieces from the Alcugs tutorials, and learned how to make just a basic room for my first Age. Then I started learning more advanced stuff, but using the same room to make it look better and better, and what NOT to do, or what does and what does not work.
The best advice that I can give you: As a new Age creator.....start small and simple. More than what you described, but don't try to make an Age like Eder Kemo or Teledahn right away. If you start out trying to make something really big and complicated, chances are you'll get very frustrated and not want to do it, or give up. Keep it small at first. You don't even have to show anyone what you've done with it. Think of it as your Scratch Pad. Once you feel like you know what you're doing better, then think about that bigger, more complex Age.
And that's another thing: Think it through. Sit down and make notes about the Age you want to make, how you want it to look. It's theme. Draw sketches if you can, or take a trip somewhere that looks like it to see with your eyes, or take pics to bring back with you.
Then plan it out, how you want to build it.
Then start.
Other suggestions, and you'll find these suggestions for every 3D editor type for other games out there:
1) Make sure you have time to do this.
2) Keep distractions away: turn off the TV, get some alone time for it.
3) Music: listen to music that you like while doing this.
4) Take breaks: Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your Age. Don't burn yourself out, unless you feel you're on a roll.
5) If something is not right, or not working right......step away from it for a while. Do something else for awhile. Then come back.
6) Come here and ask questions. No question is stupid. EVER! I don't care how smart someone thinks they are, nobody, and I mean NOBODY knows it all! No mater how "Noobish" a question might seem, it is someone seeking information because they want to do something creative. Anyone that answers you with sarcasm, insults, or belittles you in anyway for asking a question, no matter how simple it might seem, does so to make themselves feel better. I've found the Majority of people on here are quite helpful and answer most of the questions when they can. Some tend to be a little terse in their answers (pay them no mind, they just might be having a bad day themselves). If you still feel confused or don't understand, ask again, be patient, someone that knows a way to explain it so that YOU understand it will happen along. Move on to something else in the mean time.
7) Not everyone can produce a Cyan looking Age. Don't put yourself down. Keep trying. You'll find that most people here, and the Maintainers will pat you on the back and offer kudos for trying. Listen to their suggestions and comments. But remember, you'll be your hardest critic on anything.
8) Keep on the look out for upgrades, new versions, and new tools to help you. There are a LOT of people working behind the scenes so to speak to make the tools we use right now better and better.
Hoped this helped.
I think the second part of your post above is a good starting point, but maybe it can be enhanced. Making it more positive, more encouraging too. I'm not sure, it's past midnight here and I have a hard time thinking.. I'll give this another look tomorrow.
