map making

[uptown]

I want to give this map making thing a try and any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I haven't got a clue as to what I'm getting into here or if I can even do this, but it sounds fun. What kind of time from start to finish, am I looking at here?
I'll call HTC today to get some more info, but wanted to throw this out there to get a feel for the work involved.Also, is there a certain order that thing have to be done?

[NHawk]

The two most time consuming aspects of making a map are creating the elevations and setting the fields in place.

If you're good with external programs like photoshop, terragen, etc elevations can take as little as 15 minutes. If you're not good with them, it could take months to set them by hand.

Setting the fields, again if you're good with the TE it could take a day or two. If you're not it could take a month.

So, as you can see time is relative to expertice.

So far as the order, take a look at the sticky titled MA Terrains in this forum. It should give you some idea of the steps needed.

[USRanger]

Do a search for "tutorial" and find Denholm's. 

[uptown]

OK thanks guys. Looks like i'll have my work cut out for me 

[USRanger]

Once you get the jist of how it works, you'll be finishing your first map in no time (I recommend a small test map first).  If you run into something and have a problem or question, just post.

[Spikes]

I made my first map and it was a simple 3 base map. One base at 0K, one at 10K, and one at 20K. Once I got that down it was pretty easy thereafter.

[bobtom]

whAts the highest hight possible for a base??

[NHawk]

whAts the highest hight possible for a base??

For the MA, 6000ft.

Maximum terrain alt is 32,767ft. (may be slightly lower if you put a base that high, I've never tried to put a base at that elevation). So, for offline/lan play you could put a base that high. Anything above that shows as being below sea level and you can't fly below sea level.

[bobtom]

Rgr, thank you

[Denholm]

Do a search for "tutorial" and find Denholm's. 

Here are the links:

Terrain Editor Tutorial:
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,196120.0.html

PDF version:
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,209750.0.html

Object Editor Tutorial:
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,188450.0.html

NOTE:
My tutorials DO NOT teach you how to build a proper MA terrain, they simply get you started.