Introduction

              So you think you'd like to make a map of your own?  Maybe
              you'd like to make some custom textures,  models, provide
              in-game  support  and  unleash a virtual world of your own 
             design.  Well hold onto your butts because that's just what
               I'll  show  you  to  do  and  give  you  some  tips  as  well!

                     When  playing  Quake  the  world  that  your  running  around  in  is  called a map or game level.  There
                         are  some  basic  elements  that  make  up  these  environments  such  as  brushes,  patches,  textures,
                          shaders, models, and entities.  Try to think of a game level as a big box that the map maker puts doors,
                          cliffs, lights, temples, ect.  It's in this 'box' that the magic  happens.  We'll  start with  this  concept  first 
                          to make  things  as simple as possible to prevent confusion.  Now  the  editor  that  we'll  be  using  will 
                            be Radiant.  It's  really  the  best  in  my  opinion  and  has  the  most  support  from  the  mod  community 
                            and even from id  software  as  well.  Radiant  starts  out  with  a  3  dimensional  space  or  'box' that  you
                             create  your  environment  in.  This  space  does  not  go  on  forever  but  has  a  limited  amount  of  room 
                              to build in and is measured in units.  Think  of  a  unit  as a little  block that  makes  up a  3-D grid  having 
                           height,  width,  and  depth.    It's  within  this  3-D  space  that  you'll  put  objects  like  pyramids,  blocks, 
                            cylinders,   and  so  on.    These    objects  can  be  combined  to  make  more  complex  objects  that    will
                           eventually   become  stairs,  statues,  or  jump pads.    These  objects  are  called   'brushes'.    Making  a 
                              map  is  just  building  brushes  and  linking  them  together  to  create   the   illusion  of  a   virtual  world. 
                          Think  of  when  you  were  a  kid  screwing  around  with   Leggos  or  wood  blocks,   building  all   kinds
                           of stupid stuff.    This  is  exactly  the  same  but  now  your  using  your  computer.  This 3-D environment
                            is divided into three dimensions just like  the  real  world.    This  space  exists  on  three  planes  called
                                 the  x  axis,   y  axis,   and  the  z  axis.    Here's  a  little  graphic  to  get  the  idea:

          

                Well those are some of the basics that will  help  when  thinking  about  your  map  and  how 
                Radiant builds the level.  Now go on to the next page to see some images from a basic map.