Ok guys, heres my idea... I want to make a prefab pack. But not just with trees and lamps and such. I want it to have buildings! Tons of them! Im thinking that we may be able to get people to donate buildings from custom maps. The reason I want to do this is because im not very good with mapping. This would be a good way to help noobies out and generate tons more custom maps. In the prefab pack, I don't just want a few buildings, we need hundreds. Im talking make this pack like 200 mb. And the maps wont be all the same, if some of you were thinking that. The reason is is that people will end up removing walls, adding textures, and making a ton of changes. So, what do you guys think of my idea? Anyone want to help me out?:)

I dont meen to bash your idea or anything but making tons of prefabs wont help noobs map better... the only way a noob can get better at mapping, is to learn how to map, which prefabs doesnt help at all, probebly the other way around....

I have never, since I started mapping "for real", ever used a prefab...

Perhaps you should consider fixing huge model pack instead... that would probebly help both new and old mappers. :D

What do you mean by "model pack"?

Prefabs are created as things that are identical everywhere (like tanks, cannons, tables, chairs, lamps, etc.). Buildings are different everywhere, and they really "make" city maps. I don't think that we need simplicity in creating DoD maps (using methods a'la Tribes). With pre-made buildings we will have flood of newbie-made almost identical boring maps. You have tons of prefabs, if you are too lazy to make even buildings I don't think you should bother mapping.

Well, "prefabs" do help in ease, productivity and consistency. Also, the "pipeline" process works like in HL2. Another example of really good work being done is Unreal with the consistent prefabs being produced like a factory belt. BG1942 too. MOHAA also uses/reuses the same brushwork sometimes, and just variates the textures and brushwork slightly. Ever read the article "A Modular-Based Level Design System"? It talks about level designers generating levels out of a myraid of prefabs. Don't believe? Just ask the pros. It's Collaboration and Productivity. But of course, there must be a balance. If you generate a level out of tons of HL prefabs, it's gonna be boring. Prefabs, a common wad, etc. they all save disk space especially for a large project.

An example of a DoD prefab are those map models and its clip brushes that come with it.

Tribes maps....kinda boring. But take a look at Green Light from http://www.invasionworks.com, those maps are still very diverse....partly because they don't share all their architecture but keep their own for their respective locale. Balance is the key.

90% of the things done in a map tends to be map-specific to that particular map. The remaining 10% should be prefabs and common objects.

I was like going thru some wargame minatures and was like thinking, "wouldn't it be cool if there was a prefab pack for all of these?!?"

More prefabs and resources = good . It will help n00bs work on 90% of their map, it will help experienced mappers on their remaining 10% of their map.

just use models, i kinda like the idea of a warehouse of prefabs but it will make mappers more lazy.

Honestly it's far better learning how to map by... mapping. Practice is the key. i've started mapping 5 months ago and with tuts and practice I'm now making maps that are... well... not so bad... I've made dod_jura from a to z in 3 weeks. I've never used prefabs... well, when I make a good brush work I turn it into a prefab but it's my own. imho prefabs=often bad compil error!!!
Work work work and... work!!!

I say we make prefabs of maps. We make a map, then make it a prefab and bam! Every noob can have its own map in seconds!

Actually I like the idea, but am against it because of the noob learning thing. Otherwise, Id say do it. I wouldnt use them, (well, probably for ideas). But, yeah, if your really too lazy to make a building for your map, I dont understand how your going to make an entire map...

I really like your idea CS but like the other guys said, it really isn't helping the newbie mapper in the long run. You just have to not be lazy and work at it, or you are not meant to map. The level of creativity, not to mention the overall quality, of the map will just be decreased.