[url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/p/forge-lessons.html]Download PDF w/ Lessons 1-51[/url] [LAST UPDATED: 11/22/11] [i]Join like minded level designers on my game/level design blog @ [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com]ReachingPerfection.com[/url] where I fill you in on many things in the level design world. You can also join [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/p/forum.html]our forums[/url] to meet other people that enjoy game/level design just as much as you do. ;)[/i] [b][u]Forge Lesson Index[/u][/b] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-1-first-impressions.html]Lesson 1: First Impressions[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-2-knowledge-is-power.html]Lesson 2: Knowledge is Power[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-3-path-manipulation.html]Lesson 3: Path Manipulation[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-4-perspectives.html]Lesson 4: Perspectives[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-5-deterrents.html]Lesson 5: Deterrents[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-6-incentives.html]Lesson 6: Incentives[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-7-combat-congestion-and-traffic.html]Lesson 7: Combat Congestion and Traffic[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-8-eye-catching.html]Lesson 8: Eye Catching[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-9-perspective-variance.html]Lesson 9: Perspective Variance[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-10-spawn-perspectives.html]Lesson 10: Spawn Perspectives[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-11-smooth-spawning.html]Lesson 11: Smooth Spawning[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-12-path-maps.html]Lesson 12: Path Maps[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-13-area-introduction.html]Lesson 13: Area Introduction[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-14-essence.html]Lesson 14: Essence[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-15-purpose.html]Lesson 15: Purpose[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/08/lesson-16-innovation.html]Lesson 16: Innovation[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/09/lesson-17-color-contrast.html]Lesson 17: Color Contrast[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/09/lesson-18-patience.html]Lesson 18: Patience[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/09/lesson-19-threat-zones.html]Lesson 19: Threat Zones[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/09/lesson-20-safe-spawning.html]Lesson 20: Safe Spawning[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/09/lesson-21-incentive-weighting.html]Lesson 21: Incentive Weighting[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/09/lesson-22-rule-of-thirds.html]Lesson 22: Rule of Thirds[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/09/lesson-23-static-perspectives.html]Lesson 23: Static Perspectives[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/09/lesson-24-advertising.html]Lesson 24: Advertising[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/09/lesson-25-investment.html]Lesson 25: Investment[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/09/lesson-26-nurturing.html]Lesson 26: Nurturing[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/10/lesson-27-reputation.html]Lesson 27: Reputation[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/10/lesson-28-perspective-direction.html]Lesson 28: Perspective Direction[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/10/lesson-29-degree-of-focus.html]Lesson 29: Degree of Focus[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/10/lesson-30-application.html]Lesson 30: Application[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/10/lesson-31-immersion.html]Lesson 31: Immersion[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/10/lesson-32-cohesion.html]Lesson 32: Cohesion[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/10/lesson-33-continuity.html]Lesson 33: Continuity[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/10/lesson-34-peer-review.html]Lesson 34: Peer Review[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/10/lesson-35-failure.html]Lesson 35: Failure[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/11/lesson-36-simplicity.html]Lesson 36: Simplicity[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/11/lesson-37-orientation.html]Lesson 37: Orientation[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/11/lesson-38-dance-floor.html]Lesson 38: Dance Floor[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2010/12/lesson-39-dedication.html]Lesson 39: Dedication[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/01/lesson-40-foreshadowing.html]Lesson 40: Foreshadowing[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/01/lesson-41-consistency.html]Lesson 41: Consistency[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/01/lesson-42-polish.html]Lesson 42: Polish[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/01/lesson-43-lasting-impression.html]Lesson 43: Lasting Impression[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/02/lesson-44-aesthetic-noise.html]Lesson 44: Aesthetic Noise[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/03/lesson-45-pacing.html]Lesson 45: Pacing[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/04/lesson-46-active-engagement.html]Lesson 46: Active Engagement[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/04/lesson-47-kleenex-testing.html]Lesson 47: Kleenex Testing[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/05/lesson-48-veteran-testing.html]Lesson 48: Veteran Testing[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/10/lesson-49-exposure.html]Lesson 49: Exposure[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/11/lesson-50-navigation.html]Lesson 50: Navigation[/url] [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/2011/11/lesson-51-audience.html]Lesson 51: Audience[/url] [b][u]The Short Version... for us lazy folk ;)[/u][/b] The short and skinny of it is that all of the above lessons are level design theories that are used by level designers in order to make their maps play better. Sure anyone can make a map now in Reach, but can you make a map that will get into matchmaking and be better than everyone else's? These lessons cover advanced design techniques that aren't your normal forging tutorials. They will actually improve your map's spawns (Smooth Spawning and Spawn Perspectives), weapon placement (Incentives), and gameplay. I will be updating as I release each of the BNet threads. Use this one as a reference and save it somewhere. [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/p/forge-lessons.html]Original Source[/url] [b][u]The Longer Version for more info[/u][/b] Are you ready to jump into the powerful tool that is Forge 2.0 to start making maps for you and your friends? Did Halo 3's system frustrate you too much to even try it? Do you aspire to get your map into matchmaking? This will get you prepared for all of those. Let's all admit that with the new Forge system anyone can build a map. No more geomerging, no more interlocking, or any other painful methods. But just because anyone can make a map easily now doesn't mean that the map is going to play well and people are going to enjoy it. I want to help all of you make your maps and gametypes better. I want to help make your maps play well enough to get into matchmaking. You can't even find this much quality map design help at Forgehub, I guarantee it. I write this series of level design theory lessons called "Forge Lessons" to help all designers make their maps play the best that they can. They will teach you about how to make your spawns smooth, how to place your weapons (and other incentives), how to get your map noticed, how to fully control every step that your player takes, etc. I cover advanced level design topics used by professional level designers in all games... though I may name the techniques differently ;). Eye catching, perspectives, incentives, deterrents, path manipulation, color contrast, innovation, and area introduction are just some of the topics I cover. I write a new lesson about once a week, sometimes slower. Some of you may need to ensure that I am actually qualified to teach people. My old GT was AZN FTW. I was one of the original 6 members of Forgehub that turned it from a wordpress blog to a vbulletin forum. I created one of the most popular and iconic gametypes in Halo 3, Conquest. I am one of the two designers of Ravinia, one of the 50+ community maps that got into matchmaking. I am also the designer of Affinity in Halo: Reach's matchmaking system. I have taught many forgers and aspiring designers. These lessons have been used by teachers to teach high school and college game design classes. Several of them have been featured on Gamasutra and various other game/level design sites. But I'm not going to tell you how good they are. I'll let those who support these lessons tell you. Keep an eye on this thread for testimonials of the lessons from all that read them. Many well known figures amongst the Halo community will take their time to stop by here to let you know what they think about these lessons. If you don't want to trust me, then trust what others have to say for them. I will update the top of this thread with a link to all of the lessons as I post them and reply to this thread when I post a new one, so save this thread somewhere. You can find all of the original postings with summaries of the lessons on my blog @ [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/]ReachingPerfection.com[/url]: [url=http://www.reachingperfection.com/p/forge-lessons.html]Forge Lessons[/url] I hope these lessons help you as much as they have helped everyone who has read them. Enjoy my fellow Halo fans! [Edited on 01.19.2012 11:02 AM PST]