Any dummy mapping tutorial out there?

[Yuval 29]

I am new to mapping. I wanted to create a map a long time ago when I was playing ArmA 2 (and the dayz mod) but I never did anything about it. I wish to learn how to make maps, but for ArmA 3. I know nothing, I have no previous knowledge or experience in mapping (I do know how to script a bit tho). I wish to learn from the very scratch.

This tutorial didn't help me because I'm pretty sure it's there for mappers that already know how to make maps for ArmA 2.

I don't want to waste time learning how to make an ArmA 2 map (though I really like ArmA 2 and if I could port my dayz code to a map I create that can be awesome) while I know there's a way to learn how to make an ArmA 3 map directly without any other games involved (I don't find learning something in order to learn something a great idea.. :D). I want to focus 100% on ArmA 3.

So, I need to know where to START and not where to CONTINUE. I want to get more familiar with mapping and how to do it. Can anyone give me a tutorial for beginners / give me dummy instructions directly?

P.S: yes, I have ArmA 3 tools.

[badluckburt 78]

I don't find learning something in order to learn something a great idea

I think you may need to change that attitude a little if you're serious about this. Most of the stuff you learn when making Arma2 maps is still relevant to Arma3 maps and since the tools for Arma 2 are a bit more stable, is it really that much of a problem to learn those first? I didn't do my first map until a few months ago and that was an Arma 2-map, just to wrap my head around the import+setup process for maps.

Most of the tutorials you'll find are still geared towards Arma 2 including the ones I'm about to link you to:

https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Mondkalb%27s_Terrain_Tutorial

https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Layered_Terrain_Surface_Representation

https://sites.google.com/site/bushlurker/beginners-guide

https://sites.google.com/site/bushlurker/Resources

[Snake Man 406]

Check out PMC Editing Wiki: ArmA 2 Terrains and PMC Editing Wiki: ArmA 3 Terrains, more than enough for you to read there and get started.

[Yuval 29]

Thanks, I'm pretty good now. Currently working on terrain in L3DT, it's awesome though alot of work is ahead of me. Is there any thread that talks about the creation of the terrain itself? Tips on getting into details in the map or whatever? That could help me a lot!

[bhcluster 15]

Really good video tutorial by CAPTNCAPS on YOUTUBE gave me great start.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDjPzSuI8Vo

Edited June 11, 2015 by bhcluster

[SydneyB 10]

Hello I started using some of the tutorials here but I mostly used Atlas guide.

I have a problem, following the atlas guide I have everything ready. I have packed files into a pbo and put it in a modfolder/addons/syd_demomap.pbo

The map doesn't show up in the game! I've seen it might be caused by issues with the config.cpp but I haven't been able to do anything.

Here is my config:

#define _ARMA_

//Class config.bin{
class CfgPatches
{
class syd_demomap
{
 units[] = {"syd_demomap"};
 weapons[] = {};
 requiredVersion = 1.0;
 requiredaddons[]={"A3_Map_Stratis"};
 version = "25/01/2015";
 fileName = "syd_demomap.pbo";
 author = "Sydney";
};
};
class CfgWorlds
{
class CAWorld;
class Stratis: CAWorld
{
 class Grid;
 class DefaultClutter;
};
class syd_demomap: Stratis
{
 cutscenes[] = {};
 author = "Sydney";
 description = "Demomap";
 pictureMap = "sydney\syd_demomap\data\imagery\syd_demomap_pictureMap.paa"; 
 worldName = "sydney\syd_demomap\syd_demomap.wrp";
 startTime = "11:00";
 startDate = "11/07/2015";
 startWeather = 0.2;
 startFog = 0.0;
 forecastWeather = 0.6;
 forecastFog = 0.0;
 centerPosition[] = {1024,1024,500};
 seagullPos[] = {1024,1024,500};
 longitude = 65;
 latitude = -34;
 elevationOffset = 5;
 envTexture = "A3\Data_f\env_land_ca.tga";
 minTreesInForestSquare = 2;
 minRocksInRockSquare = 2;
 newRoadsShape = "\sydney\syd_demomap\data\roads\roads.shp";
 ilsPosition[] = {1024,1024};
 ilsDirection[] = {0.5075,0.08,-0.8616};
 ilsTaxiIn[] = {};
 ilsTaxiOff[] = {};
 drawTaxiway = 0;
class SecondaryAirports {};
class Sea
 {
  seaTexture = "a3\data_f\seatexture_co.paa";
  seaMaterial = "#water";
  shoreMaterial = "#shore";
  shoreFoamMaterial = "#shorefoam";
  shoreWetMaterial = "#shorewet";
  WaterMapScale = 20;
  WaterGrid = 50;
  MaxTide = 0;
  MaxWave = 0;
  SeaWaveXScale = "2.0/50";
  SeaWaveZScale = "1.0/50";
  SeaWaveHScale = 2.0;
  SeaWaveXDuration = 5000;
  SeaWaveZDuration = 10000;
 };
 class Grid: Grid
 {
  offsetX = 0;
  offsetY = 5120;
  class Zoom1
  {
   zoomMax = 0.15;
   format = "XY";
   formatX = "000";
   formatY = "000";
   stepX = 100;
   stepY = -100;
  };
  class Zoom2
  {
   zoomMax = 0.85;
   format = "XY";
   formatX = "00";
   formatY = "00";
   stepX = 1000;
   stepY = -1000;
  };
  class Zoom3
  {
   zoomMax = 1e+030.0;
   format = "XY";
   formatX = "0";
   formatY = "0";
   stepX = 10000;
   stepY = -10000;
  };
 };
#include "cfgClutter.hpp"
	class Names
	{
		#include "syd_demomap.hpp"
	};
};
};
class CfgWorldList
{
class syd_demomap{};
};
class CfgMissions
{
class Cutscenes
{

};
};


//SURFACES
#include "cfgSurfaces.hpp"

Could anyone tell me why wouldn't my map show up? It works perfectly fine on the buldozer.

[j_murphy 10]

Hello I started using some of the tutorials here but I mostly used Atlas guide.

I have a problem, following the atlas guide I have everything ready. I have packed files into a pbo and put it in a modfolder/addons/syd_demomap.pbo

The map doesn't show up in the game! I've seen it might be caused by issues with the config.cpp but I haven't been able to do anything.

Here is my config:

#define _ARMA_

//Class config.bin{
class CfgPatches
{
class syd_demomap
{
units[] = {"syd_demomap"};
weapons[] = {};
requiredVersion = 1.0;
requiredaddons[]={"A3_Map_Stratis"};
version = "25/01/2015";
fileName = "syd_demomap.pbo";
author = "Sydney";
};
};
class CfgWorlds
{
class CAWorld;
class Stratis: CAWorld
{
class Grid;
class DefaultClutter;
};
class syd_demomap: Stratis
{
cutscenes[] = {};
author = "Sydney";
description = "Demomap";
pictureMap = "sydney\syd_demomap\data\imagery\syd_demomap_pictureMap.paa";
worldName = "sydney\syd_demomap\syd_demomap.wrp";
startTime = "11:00";
startDate = "11/07/2015";
startWeather = 0.2;
startFog = 0.0;
forecastWeather = 0.6;
forecastFog = 0.0;
centerPosition[] = {1024,1024,500};
seagullPos[] = {1024,1024,500};
longitude = 65;
latitude = -34;
elevationOffset = 5;
envTexture = "A3\Data_f\env_land_ca.tga";
minTreesInForestSquare = 2;
minRocksInRockSquare = 2;
newRoadsShape = "\sydney\syd_demomap\data\roads\roads.shp";
ilsPosition[] = {1024,1024};
ilsDirection[] = {0.5075,0.08,-0.8616};
ilsTaxiIn[] = {};
ilsTaxiOff[] = {};
drawTaxiway = 0;
class SecondaryAirports {};
class Sea
{
seaTexture = "a3\data_f\seatexture_co.paa";
seaMaterial = "#water";
shoreMaterial = "#shore";
shoreFoamMaterial = "#shorefoam";
shoreWetMaterial = "#shorewet";
WaterMapScale = 20;
WaterGrid = 50;
MaxTide = 0;
MaxWave = 0;
SeaWaveXScale = "2.0/50";
SeaWaveZScale = "1.0/50";
SeaWaveHScale = 2.0;
SeaWaveXDuration = 5000;
SeaWaveZDuration = 10000;
};
class Grid: Grid
{
offsetX = 0;
offsetY = 5120;
class Zoom1
{
zoomMax = 0.15;
format = "XY";
formatX = "000";
formatY = "000";
stepX = 100;
stepY = -100;
};
class Zoom2
{
zoomMax = 0.85;
format = "XY";
formatX = "00";
formatY = "00";
stepX = 1000;
stepY = -1000;
};
class Zoom3
{
zoomMax = 1e+030.0;
format = "XY";
formatX = "0";
formatY = "0";
stepX = 10000;
stepY = -10000;
};
};
#include "cfgClutter.hpp"
class Names
{
#include "syd_demomap.hpp"
};
};
};
class CfgWorldList
{
class syd_demomap{};
};
class CfgMissions
{
class Cutscenes
{

};
};


//SURFACES
#include "cfgSurfaces.hpp"

Could anyone tell me why wouldn't my map show up? It works perfectly fine on the buldozer.

 

 

The error is here:

class CAWorld;

class Stratis: CAWorld

It should be:

class Stratis;

class CAWorld : Stratis

Because you are inheriting from Stratis (make sure that the class name is correct) not your own world. Technically CAWorld does not exist yet to the compiler. It is hard to get your head around at first but it will make sense soon enough. I recommend that you learn C++ as well because you will not only have the ability to create great things like software and game engines but you will also be able to understand a lot more in Arma 3 modding since the Real Virtuality engine was created in C++.

 

While this tutorial is old it is still the best in my opinion to get into C++.

 

EDIT: I take back what I said about the error I forgot the classnames. I haven't made a map in over 6 months. I recommend you make your post in Jakerod's thread for the Atlas guide. He is very experienced at terrain creation and will certainly be able to find the error.