Starting With Authentic Restrictions

Capturing the charm of an original game like Counter-Strike means you have to impose the same set of restrictions onto yourself as you develop your map. The restrictions can be removed when your Goldsrc version of the map is complete. It may be very tempting to create "freedom", but a map created with total freedom provides none in return.

The following authentic restrictions are recommended:

Rule 1: Do not tell people what you are doing, or what you are thinking of doing. Do not let step 1 be a waste of your energy.

Understand what inspired you and say it out loud.

Choose your maps paradigm ie: Dust, Office, Assault, Oilrig

Choose your maps game mode ie: Defusal, Hostage, Assassination, Fight Yard, Aim, Surf, Training

Where in the world is your map going to be located?

What colour is your sky?

8 Textures with 8 unique colour predominancy, including sky

Represent the sky as 1 colour

No models, all prefabricated brushes

Low Key lighting, blance light and dark in harmony

3 second repeating loop sounds maxium, avoid realism and use abstraction ie: crickets, wind

Resrict design to accomodate VIS based optimization

Determine your maps lighting temperature

Each time you compile your map, take a screenshot from your Legrange Point

Add 20 units of sun brightness with each compile until the map is comfortable

Compile your map 8 times changing the sun direction 8 times with a -45 degree angle

Decide on a sun direction, compile your map 8 times again with different sun angles

Develop your Legrange Point Alla Prima

Determine a second Legrange Point

Determine your 1 predominant element for grounding (Cliffs, trees, sand, snow, water, leaves, ect)

Develop 3 pieces of modularity ie: Archeway, Doorway, wall piece

Decide on your name, make it universally recognizable and easy to pronounce

Add bots to your map and experience joy playing your map alone

Take 100+ screenshots of your map of various things that need alteration

Decide on Goldsrc ground textures by their footstep sounds above all else, make sure footsteps change with each different surface walked on.

Add a unique ambient_generic near but not in the spawnpoints

Come up with 6 callout names for 6 important areas on the map

Always remove a ladder if it can be anything other than a ladder ie: staircase, ramp, jump crates