I've found several tutorials for noobs (me :D ) on how to map in hammer, but I was wondering more about how you decide the layout, where do you get your ideas, ect. do you always try to include certain things (like 2 good sniper spots per side, as an example). do you draw out an overview by hand first? make a building or two and just go with it? just trying to get a feel for how you guys get started, thanks.

this may not be the way to go... but i just start with 2 spawns then make the layout with walls, so there isnt much detail, and add the detail in after... as for ideas... gah... i just kinda make it up as i go... but thats a bad idea,..

Sometimes I try to make a level from scratch but only when I'm not near my PC actually... :rolleyes:

Mostly I start of with a single building and from then on I get idea's for the rest of the map. I map as long as I get idea's and if I'm out of idea's I just quit Hammer.
Then I'm walking over street/dreaming/sitting in classroom and I get an idea. I just try to hold on to the thaught and next time I start up Hammer, I implement it. That's it. Sometimes I feel like mapping and start of something and it won't work. Then I just quit Hammer again.

For example, the next screenshot is a level I'm currently mapping on and it started off with one single building.
http://img199.exs.cx/img199/664/hey8ak.jpg

I have a tip for you though: I always try to first make a road and to then add buildings, it has showen me that this method might be more convenient for the layout. Always adept buildings to the road (layout), not the other way around. :hamster:

Well my map in particular was designed to be a clan War map. Bearing that in mind I knew it had to be non-linear and quite low detailed.

It took me a while to get a suitable layout which I sketched out on paper. I knew I wanted a central house, so I started with that. Then I expanded it out.

My map is ALOT different from the original sketches and most of the ideas I got when at work or whatever.

Quite a few times I'd get stuck and not be sure how I wanted to do something. Then I'd look at maps that are already out and I like and implement something similar to what was done.

Although for your first map it's OK to just 'mess about' I think for any serious releases you should think about what you want to do and how it will be different from exisiting maps. But then I'm the sort of person that likes to work to criteria.

xerent (mapper of donner....thunder etc) once said that the way he mapped was start with a piece of paper and draw in the flags, then he would draw in the routes to the flags. I do this method sometimes but i would say he worked out rather successful wouldnt you?

I once read that dod_glider, by Fuzzdad also started out as practice map. He began with the axishouse I believe and from there on he created the whole. :)

i've only made one dod map so far, which still isn't released, but i've made loads of maps over the last few years for mohaa and cod. i nearly always draw out a plan on paper first to get an idea of the layout.
i'll usually have a few ideas first, i don't just make a house and then build from there. i went to normandy on holiday in august, and when i got back, i had the idea of making a map based on the architecture in the small french towns like bayeux, so i made a map of that. i also took some photos of houses and other stuff there, aswell as pictures of the bunkers and other places that i would have taken anyway, and drew sketches of some things. you can also just google for pictures.
after i went to derbyshire and went around the caves a few years ago, i came up with the idea of a cave style map for mohaa, and made an underground mine map set in the mountains. after i went on holiday to holyhead in wales, i got the idea to make a map set in england in ww2 during operation sealion with the same style of buildings and including the menai bridge
so basically i just make a map based off an idea or place i've been. it's a lot easier to create something when you've got it in your head, or a photo infront of you so that's something i always do.