do i need a good comp?
any good sites for help?
Size?
Thxs

do i need a good comp?
any good sites for help?
Size?
Thxs

1) generally, no
2) mardymouse etc.
3) size is based on the gameplay, if you want a big open map, go for it, if you want it small and close quarters do that.

ok
i will begin works on my idea i drew it out today in class

First thing I did when I started was to do about 20 tutorials from various sites on small maps like a single house and a patch of ground. Test out all the entities and see what the various functions do for each model, prop, env, etc.

Really practice on displacements and view others maps and gain some insight into how it's done by either decompiling or just running through the map yourself. (Avalanche boggles my mind)

It's very key to gain as much knowledge as you feel you need before starting on a map. 2 weeks ago I was absolutely clueless as to all mapping. Now I fly right through certain aspects of mapping without even having to put much thought into it.

With mapping, practice truly is key. I think others here would agree with that.

How do i install the SDK?

Did you buy just DOD:S or do you own HL2. If you only own DOD:S I don't think there is much you can do at the moment.

If you own HL2 as well you have to setup Hammer for DOD:S until the SDK is released. You can basically do that by following a particular thread... I can't seem to find it, but it explains how to use GFScape and Hammer to set up mapping properly. Anyone have the link to that thread?

Trying to be helpful but I didn't save all those links.

i own both thxs for the help tho

Mapping with a top-of-the-line computer can be a bad idea, as the map can generally run well without much optimization for the mapper, but can run awfully slow for people with more modest systems. Mapping with a more modest system will force you to optimize your map in order to get more performance from it.