[Free Release] Sage's Awesome Map Package 1.0

[Sage]

Sage's Awesome Map Package 1.0

 

Sup homies! I won't bore you all with some unnecessary convoluted introduction, so we go: This is a package of some of my better work, mostly made over the course of the last year and a half or so. This is not everything I have ever mapped: The maps in this package are mostly just the ones I've finished that are functional and do not possess incredibad errors or problems.

 

 

What you'll get:

• 7 Towns: Port Aquitaine, Carnivale, Dorado Harbor, Tortuga Bay, North & South New Alberta, and Zhunan.
• 2 Ancient ruins maps: The swampy city of Lafayette, or the bright and open Lumina.
• Several fields for Aquitaine, a satellite village for Dorado.
• Several interiors for Aquitaine, Dorado, Lumina and Zhunan.
• Dungeon maps for Lumina and Tortuga.
• A badass airship somewhere in there. It's crazy big.
• In total, there are over 20 maps here, of rather good quality.

This map release is by no means perfect. I will be open and honest about this.

 

 

Flaws you can expect:

• Not every town has interior maps, and those that do, do not always have many. I may or may not add more in the future.
• Not every town has field maps. I will definitely add more fields in the future.
• This package currently lacks a data file to organize warps/exits between maps. One will be added in future releases.
• Mini-maps will also be included in a future release. Sorry!

Why this release is still awesome:

• It's completely free. I am not charging for this release, nor do I plan to charge for future releases.
• The only credit I ask for is that you link back to this forum thread and mention my name. Just 'Sage' is fine.
• You have my permission to modify and tinker with these maps to your heart's content. They're yours to do with as you please: That said, do still give credit for using them as a starting point.
• I will add to this in the future, as I've many half-finished projects and new things in the works, including fields, dungeons, interiors, and the like which will augment the maps currently available.
• Some of these maps use objects from the recently released town of Verus. I highly recommend you keep your kRO client up to date, or else some of these maps will have missing objects and textures.

Additional notes, because I love making lists:

• Do not ask me to map for your server. I will say no.
• That said, if there is something in this map package you like and want more of (ie, "More Dorado fields, please!") then feel free to comment and I will consider working on it.
• If you find any functional errors on these maps (such as objects you can walk through because I messed up the GAT,) then don't hesitate to comment about it in this thread. Even if it is something you can easily fix yourself, this allows me to save others the trouble in future releases.
• I am not asking for money for this release, but if you really want to make a donation, then drop me a forum PM and we can talk from there.

Previews of Maps:

Previously posted Showcase threads:

http://rathena.org/board/topic/78212-showcase-el-dorado-harbor/

http://rathena.org/board/topic/73564-showcase-the-swamp-city-of-aquitaine

I'll add more previews shortly.

 

Download: Aren't I Nice?

 

Enjoy. <3

[williamII]

hey !! beautiful maps thx for the relase.

[Olrox]

Sup homies! I won't bore you all with some unnecessary convoluted introduction. 

 

This reminds me of someone. I think, me? Haha

 

This is really good work. I really had to review this one, cause I was really impressed by how precisive and detailed is this work, in all the aspects: like terrain, models and such.  All of this together, reminds me a lot of the official maps style. Personally, I'm sure I'll learn a lot from this.

 

We are thankful for this free release and your dispossal to give us more.

[kasumy]

Carnival map is so pretty *-* !! GOMENASAI BUT I WILL STEAL SOME IDEAS OF THIS MAP UHUUU!!!!

Edited January 27, 2014 by kasumy

[Angelisk]

Free? Really? (Really, as a server admin I could easily pay for all this package, this is really beautiful!)

Oh well, how can I use that new Awards system? Mapping Award for you please, excelent work!

[Najara]

Absolutely outstanding. Thank you very much for releasing this to the community!

[Kido]

thank you so much o:!

 

http://rathena.org/board/page/badges_and_awards.html/_/mapping-lv-1-r16

 

Lol i believe you are a girl

 

map level 1, totally agree

[Sage]

Oh gosh, I haven't dropped by in a few days and this really blew up! Thanks for the kind words, everyone! It really makes me smile seeing such a positive reaction. 

 

 

This is really good work. I really had to review this one, cause I was really impressed by how precisive and detailed is this work, in all the aspects: like terrain, models and such.  All of this together, reminds me a lot of the official maps style. Personally, I'm sure I'll learn a lot from this.

 

We are thankful for this free release and your dispossal to give us more.

 

 

Considering how much I lurk this forum and admire your own work, this is really high praise for me! Thanks, Olrox! 

 

Carnival map is so pretty *-* !! GOMENASAI BUT I WILL STEAL SOME IDEAS OF THIS MAP UHUUU!!!!

 

Go for it! Some advice though, since there was a problem with that map I only realized after making it!

 

If you are going to have a group of objects making up something bigger, as I did with the trees in Carnivale (multiple leafy objects, and a separate one for the trunk, all duplicated over and over), make sure you're careful about how many objects you've got! I had a bunch of leaf clusters inside the middle of the trees, where they were really unnecessary, because players simply can't see them.

 

There were so many objects on that map that my old computer straight-up couldn't render shadows for it! Consider that a little pro-tip: When you map, try to look at your work from a player's perspective, and try to focus most of your time and effort on the parts of the map they can actually see and go to!

 

Free? Really? (Really, as a server admin I could easily pay for all this package, this is really beautiful!)

Oh well, how can I use that new Awards system? Mapping Award for you please, excelent work!

 

What an honor! I did have to think for a really, really long time over whether or not I would release my works for free. I eventually decided that I would because RO has been a large part of my life for many years now, and seeing as I've gotten fairly good at mapping, I thought this would be a nice way I can do my part to make the private server community just a little bit better. I don't have as much time as I'd like to play RO proper nowadays, but I'd really love seeing my maps just completely fill up with players on different servers.

 

thank you so much o:!

 

http://rathena.org/board/page/badges_and_awards.html/_/mapping-lv-1-r16

 

Lol i believe you are a girl

 

map level 1, totally agree

 

That is correct! <3

 

Update time!

 

I am working on new field maps for the region surrounding Dorado Harbor. Here is an (Warning, big image!) overview image of what I've managed to put together over the weekend and monday. The two western-most maps are complete and available in the 1.0 package posted above (dorado and dor_fild01, respectively!) and everything east of those is a work-in-progress. Here are a few work in progress screencaps in closer detail, a few of which are more recently taken than the preview image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unless something comes up in my schedule this week, I would like to release version 1.1 of my map package this weekend, which will just add mini-maps and data files for the exits of maps and other convenient things, so you all don't need to take guesses as to what interiors are meant for what buildings and things like that. (I think that could get particularly confusing as time goes on!)

 

The preview images shared above will be included in version 1.2, of which I don't have a solid estimate for a release date right now. This is largely because I don't like to release my work before I've playtested it and made sure it looks/functions as well in-game as it does in the editor.

 

Dorado is a large region- All in all, I expect it to be comparable in size to the Sograt desert before Gravity made it stupid and cut out like half the maps. Maybe a bit bigger. There will be another town accessible by land to the east of it, and you can expect a few varying landscapes, namely arid biomes like dunes, canyons, salt flats, and a volcano, all of which I think are awesome and under-represented in RO.

 

What will definitely be in 1.2:

• Field maps East of Dorado, including a mountainous area, a sandy plain of dunes, and the southern beach!
• Several new Dorado interiors!
• Mini-maps and warp data files for the above!
• A small expansion to Aquitaine's fields!
• A dungeon! There are several I could whip up for this reason so we'll see what I come up with.

Question: Would people be interested if I included, in a separate package, a collection of recommended BGM tracks for the various maps? On my test server I mostly just use songs I enjoyed from videogames and TV shows that seem fitting.

[Kido]

to the question, of course! i enjoy the music too lol, i've changed some bgm music to play more nicely lol

 

we all really like your work and are so grateful, on every download !

 

so nice of you lol 

 

[Santafe]

Was using the mobile so couldnt reply to this so here goes:

 

AWESOME EPIC SEPIC DAMN COOL OMg EYE OPENING JAW DROPPING maps that too for free its like paradise and a HUGE thanx for the maps u fully deserve a mapping lvl 1 award HANDS DOWN! Carry on ur epicness mylady xD

[kasumy]

Oh gosh, I haven't dropped by in a few days and this really blew up! Thanks for the kind words, everyone! It really makes me smile seeing such a positive reaction. 

 

 

This is really good work. I really had to review this one, cause I was really impressed by how precisive and detailed is this work, in all the aspects: like terrain, models and such.  All of this together, reminds me a lot of the official maps style. Personally, I'm sure I'll learn a lot from this.

 

We are thankful for this free release and your dispossal to give us more.

 

 

Considering how much I lurk this forum and admire your own work, this is really high praise for me! Thanks, Olrox! 

 

Carnival map is so pretty *-* !! GOMENASAI BUT I WILL STEAL SOME IDEAS OF THIS MAP UHUUU!!!!

 

Go for it! Some advice though, since there was a problem with that map I only realized after making it!

 

If you are going to have a group of objects making up something bigger, as I did with the trees in Carnivale (multiple leafy objects, and a separate one for the trunk, all duplicated over and over), make sure you're careful about how many objects you've got! I had a bunch of leaf clusters inside the middle of the trees, where they were really unnecessary, because players simply can't see them.

 

There were so many objects on that map that my old computer straight-up couldn't render shadows for it! Consider that a little pro-tip: When you map, try to look at your work from a player's perspective, and try to focus most of your time and effort on the parts of the map they can actually see and go to!

 

Free? Really? (Really, as a server admin I could easily pay for all this package, this is really beautiful!)

Oh well, how can I use that new Awards system? Mapping Award for you please, excelent work!

 

What an honor! I did have to think for a really, really long time over whether or not I would release my works for free. I eventually decided that I would because RO has been a large part of my life for many years now, and seeing as I've gotten fairly good at mapping, I thought this would be a nice way I can do my part to make the private server community just a little bit better. I don't have as much time as I'd like to play RO proper nowadays, but I'd really love seeing my maps just completely fill up with players on different servers.

 

thank you so much o:!

 

http://rathena.org/board/page/badges_and_awards.html/_/mapping-lv-1-r16

 

Lol i believe you are a girl

 

map level 1, totally agree

 

That is correct! <3

 

Update time!

 

I am working on new field maps for the region surrounding Dorado Harbor. Here is an (Warning, big image!) overview image of what I've managed to put together over the weekend and monday. The two western-most maps are complete and available in the 1.0 package posted above (dorado and dor_fild01, respectively!) and everything east of those is a work-in-progress. Here are a few work in progress screencaps in closer detail, a few of which are more recently taken than the preview image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unless something comes up in my schedule this week, I would like to release version 1.1 of my map package this weekend, which will just add mini-maps and data files for the exits of maps and other convenient things, so you all don't need to take guesses as to what interiors are meant for what buildings and things like that. (I think that could get particularly confusing as time goes on!)

 

The preview images shared above will be included in version 1.2, of which I don't have a solid estimate for a release date right now. This is largely because I don't like to release my work before I've playtested it and made sure it looks/functions as well in-game as it does in the editor.

 

Dorado is a large region- All in all, I expect it to be comparable in size to the Sograt desert before Gravity made it stupid and cut out like half the maps. Maybe a bit bigger. There will be another town accessible by land to the east of it, and you can expect a few varying landscapes, namely arid biomes like dunes, canyons, salt flats, and a volcano, all of which I think are awesome and under-represented in RO.

 

What will definitely be in 1.2:

• Field maps East of Dorado, including a mountainous area, a sandy plain of dunes, and the southern beach!
• Several new Dorado interiors!
• Mini-maps and warp data files for the above!
• A small expansion to Aquitaine's fields!
• A dungeon! There are several I could whip up for this reason so we'll see what I come up with.

Question: Would people be interested if I included, in a separate package, a collection of recommended BGM tracks for the various maps? On my test server I mostly just use songs I enjoyed from videogames and TV shows that seem fitting.

When i see something very beautiful, i almost cry T_T your maps is so beautiful T_T how many time for do this nexet work??

[Angelisk]

wow @.@ maps fit perfectly (overview image), really good job, I learned some things from ur mapping style.

[Sage]

When i see something very beautiful, i almost cry T_T your maps is so beautiful T_T how many time for do this nexet work??

 

I'd ballpark it around late this month or early March, but don't quote me on that. I'd like to get all that done around that time, but my schooling takes priority. We'll see! I'll try to keep this thread updated as I make progress.

[Paladin Arthur]

I love you na ), cant wait for those minimaps ill use them for my server. love you works 

[Sage]

I'm not dead! HA HA HA!

 

Alright, status update time, since I've been quiet and lurking for a few months now. College has had me a little overwhelmed this past semester, but my summer is looking like it'll be a lazy one, which means I plan on putting out an awesome 1.1 update. I've steadily began working on things again a couple weeks ago, and while I don't feel there's enough to put out a proper update yet, I'd like to showcase some of the things that'll be coming.

 

Important notes off the bat: I'll be open to donations in the near future, to fund a personal RO-related  project I'm working on with some friends, but everything I make will continue to be free. I don't plan on actually selling my maps now or in the future, and I'll be forthright in saying I can't give out any perks or compensation for that sort of thing. More on that another time.

 

Contrary to what I may have said/implied before, I'll only be releasing updates to this map package every few weeks or months, rather than more regular mini-updates. Don't fret, though, whenever I get around to putting out a new release, you can expect at least a dozen new things to sink your teeth into.

 

Here's a preview of what's to come!

 

Electric Town!

An amusement park and city of steel, built high above the clouds! I've not gotten to interiors yet, but there will be several, and probably a dungeon. This map uses no custom textures or objects, so you only need an up-to-date kRO patch to implement it on your server. Isn't that convenient?

 

 

 

The Dorado Badlands!

I've already shown some of this before, but it's a truly big region! Here are a few more admittedly work-in-progressy shots from a few of the dune fields, and the not-yet-done canyon village of Madelin, as well as a few of its respective fields!

 

 

 

 

Mapping tutorials?

So, this doesn't exactly pertain to my map releases, but I thought I'd pitch the question now to see how much interest there is. I'm considering starting up a series of mapping tutorials/guides, based of my methodology for putting a map together and making it look good. This series would probably be 85% design and 15% technical stuff- That is, I'm going to write it assuming that everyone reading already knows how to use all of Browedit's basic functions.

 

There are many, many great tutorials and guides out there on the technical side of Browedit, written by people who know that side of the program better than I do! So, this series would focus more on things like "Making a town market look busy" or "What should be in every harbor town" or "How to make your mountains look mountainous" and shit like that.

 

The point of the series would be to become a better mapper, and not just make maps that are "good enough." For this reason, I'll also be focusing on teaching how to become a better mapper without using custom models or textures, as I believe they make mapping too easy and everyone should learn good design before they start exploring that stuff.

 

Would anyone be at all interested in this? Let me know. If I start such a thing, I'll also be more willing to provide constructive criticism and advice for people who want to learn.

[Kido]

Cool o:! do a blog with tutorials >:3! ow all of this is really cool thnak you so much for the cool maps o:! i think i will add them and make my own story for my server o: thanks a lot again <3!

[Chemical Crush]

Sage I fully support your idea for mapping tuts.  You make beautiful maps.  =]

[kasumy]

I'm not dead! HA HA HA!

 

Alright, status update time, since I've been quiet and lurking for a few months now. College has had me a little overwhelmed this past semester, but my summer is looking like it'll be a lazy one, which means I plan on putting out an awesome 1.1 update. I've steadily began working on things again a couple weeks ago, and while I don't feel there's enough to put out a proper update yet, I'd like to showcase some of the things that'll be coming.

 

Important notes off the bat: I'll be open to donations in the near future, to fund a personal RO-related  project I'm working on with some friends, but everything I make will continue to be free. I don't plan on actually selling my maps now or in the future, and I'll be forthright in saying I can't give out any perks or compensation for that sort of thing. More on that another time.

 

Contrary to what I may have said/implied before, I'll only be releasing updates to this map package every few weeks or months, rather than more regular mini-updates. Don't fret, though, whenever I get around to putting out a new release, you can expect at least a dozen new things to sink your teeth into.

 

Here's a preview of what's to come!

 

Electric Town!

An amusement park and city of steel, built high above the clouds! I've not gotten to interiors yet, but there will be several, and probably a dungeon. This map uses no custom textures or objects, so you only need an up-to-date kRO patch to implement it on your server. Isn't that convenient?

 

 

 

The Dorado Badlands!

I've already shown some of this before, but it's a truly big region! Here are a few more admittedly work-in-progressy shots from a few of the dune fields, and the not-yet-done canyon village of Madelin, as well as a few of its respective fields!

 

 

 

 

Mapping tutorials?

So, this doesn't exactly pertain to my map releases, but I thought I'd pitch the question now to see how much interest there is. I'm considering starting up a series of mapping tutorials/guides, based of my methodology for putting a map together and making it look good. This series would probably be 85% design and 15% technical stuff- That is, I'm going to write it assuming that everyone reading already knows how to use all of Browedit's basic functions.

 

There are many, many great tutorials and guides out there on the technical side of Browedit, written by people who know that side of the program better than I do! So, this series would focus more on things like "Making a town market look busy" or "What should be in every harbor town" or "How to make your mountains look mountainous" and shit like that.

 

The point of the series would be to become a better mapper, and not just make maps that are "good enough." For this reason, I'll also be focusing on teaching how to become a better mapper without using custom models or textures, as I believe they make mapping too easy and everyone should learn good design before they start exploring that stuff.

 

Would anyone be at all interested in this? Let me know. If I start such a thing, I'll also be more willing to provide constructive criticism and advice for people who want to learn.

I WANT YOUR TUTORIAIS !!

[Olrox]

I'm interested to learn from you

[Adel]

Amazing maps! I fell in love with the Electric Town!

[Angelisk]

 

Sage I fully support your idea for mapping tuts.  You make beautiful maps.  =]

 

I totally agree C.C.

The only thing u still need to improve is about indoors, all your outdoor maps looks amazing! I would like to learn some good stuff about outdoors from you too

Edited May 19, 2014 by Angelisk

[dhaisuke]

amazing works!!

[imishyou]

Awesome maps. I look forward to the Dorado!

[Olrox]

The point of the series would be to become a better mapper, and not just make maps that are "good enough." For this reason, I'll also be focusing on teaching how to become a better mapper without using custom models or textures, as I believe they make mapping too easy and everyone should learn good design before they start exploring that stuff.

 

I feel like I have a totally contrary opinion with the -easy- part. I accept that keeping on the line of using only RO models to recreate areas requires creativity and vision; however, you can't afirm that using custom models or textures makes the work easier just like that.

 

Making maps by only using browedit, requires to learn only one software. Now, If you include the custom models and textures part, then, everything changes. An extense diversification of other kind of tools becomes necessary to master and give a use... tools like : illustrator, maya, photoshop, or even maths. This is way far of saying its easier; even so, at the creativity part I mentioned, which is still a requirement at the way how you can handle and give a use to those mentioned tools.

 

The correct term would be that custom models and textures gives advantage at mapping, but advantage doesn't means is easier. It requires more knoweledge indeed, and a complex one to learn and master.

[Almighty_Duo]

thnx for the free maps, your work is great