Pokemon Mapping Tutorial

[Jeff_PKLight]

*Note: This tutorial was based on marcus's tutorial. After I saw his mapping tutorial based on RMXP's default tilesets, I decided to do one on Pokemon.*

FOR: RPGMaker Series

Ever wanted to be a good mapper? Or perhaps get better at mapping? Well, this tutorial should help you out. :)

Let's start with the basics.

STEP 1 - Plain
In RMXP, the default mapping size is 20 x 15. Let's start with that size. Remember that a good map always include details. So, the bigger the size, the more details you should add.

Let's start with a grassy plain.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/tut.png

STEP 2 - Water
You can see that the map is very bland, with only grass. Remember that water can help brighten things up, as it covers the most area on Earth. So, bits of water will do. Try not do symmetry in your mapping. Nature isn't always perfect, just take a look outside. Make the water as natural as you can. Believe me, symmetry isn't always good. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/tut2.png

STEP 3 - Shades of Grass
Take a look at the first map we did above. One kind of grass just seems unrealistic. Add a few different kinds of grass. Whether it's light grass patches to dirt patches, they really attract your attention and can tell what kind of terrain your map is on. Again, make things natural. If you are making paths, you don't have to make them that natural, since mankind made them. Just pay attention to what things are natural and which aren't.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/tut3.png

STEP 4 - Grassy Detail
Adding detail to grass can spice your map up. This includes flowers. Try not use only one kind of detail. The various kinds will obviously make your map attractive.

Let's add a few rocks and flowers.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/tut4.png

STEP 5 - Trees provide oxygen!
Think about this. If there were no trees, there wouldn't be oxygen. So, what's the use if there aren't trees?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/tut5.png

STEP 6 - Mankind
Alright, now it's time to pay attention to mankind's details. Throw in a few trees mankind probably planted, houses, and even pots and boxes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/tut6.png

STEP 7 - Events, more details, events, even more details!
Lastly, a map always should have some events going on. People! There are billions of people living on Earth, so why shouldn't there be people on a map?
Also, add more detail to the map. Even add some underwater patches in the water! More details, the merrier.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/tut7.png

FINALY PRODUCT
This is our final product.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/tut7.png

Think about it. Just use common sense and your mapping skills will be good in no time! :P

~Jeff

[DarkPegasus]

WoW! The final product looks really cool,you should use it in your game!

O and great tutorial! Althought I allready knew that...

[Datriot]

Yeah, me too, but it should prove useful to some people and that map is cool:)

[Budgie_boy]

Brilliant Tutorial, good way to make even beginners see what can be done to make it look like a detailed pokemon game.

[the O rly? owl]

This is one awesome tutorial!

I hope this tutorial will teach Protoman big time, as most of the time, his mapping skills are well... (cant remember the word)

[pokemonhackerforever]

Where did you get those Chipsets? Are they only for RPG Maker XP? Or can I get them for say RPG Maker 200 or 2003?

[the O rly? owl]

You can get these chipsets in the Resource thread.

[Peekimon]

Jeff said that I could put this, so here I go:

Indoor Mapping

Well, I know indoor mapping has reduction of creativity and limited possibilites, but, it isn't necessarily true. This tutorial will explain a new method of making indoor maps.

The Room
This tutorial will explain how to create a nice, creative room ^^

The layout
First of all, you need a basic layout, right? Well, you do know that a house has many rooms, and that the pokemon styled houses don't look that attractive, do they?

So, first of all, we put the border around the room. Traditionally, you would use up two tiles to make the border, this is what we have done:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/peekimon_gall/indoorTut/indoor1.gif

Boring, right? Well, let's try a new technique and add some more walls!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/peekimon_gall/indoorTut/indoor2.gif

Now, doesn't that look attractive, unique and more better?
Experiment with layouts and let your creativity burst out!

Objects
Objects tell a lot of a person's personalities, you could express that in your room! Like, flowers for a person who likes nature, pictures to express travel.

Here's an example of a room filled with objects:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/peekimon_gall/indoorTut/indoor3.gif

Now, you see how wonderful you can make a room?
Here is the finished product!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/peekimon_gall/indoorTut/indoor4.gif
Compared to a boring, usual room:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/peekimon_gall/indoorTut/indoorBoring.gif

Creativity can be expressed, even in a limited place such as an indoor map.

Use you imagination, creativity, and enjoy ;)

[Jeff_PKLight]

Ah... great tutorial Peekimon! :) Yours should definitely help people.

[the O rly? owl]

This is awesome, Jeff, hope it will boost my mapping skills :3

[Hack_Slash_Scizor]

hey, both of those look good, and the room one looks very creative, given me some ideas...

[DarkPegasus]

Hm,Peekimon I can't see how your method in now... That has always been done like that... Even is some offical pokemon houses(actually secret bases). Eighter way a great turtorial! Only one suggestion:

You should move the stairs one square to the left...

[Crystal Clair]

How about you do a forest one? I suck at forests and kinda suck at routes but if you did forests, that'd be really helpful to me.

[Jeff_PKLight]

XD I'll try and do a forest one soon. Peekimon will be doing some other ones as well.

[the O rly? owl]

We need a cave one... Seriously :)

[Dawson]

Nice tutorials. There's not really much that you can't learn without practicing yourself anyway but it's nicely done. Should help put a stop to those maps with literally no objects on them.

[Peekimon]

DP: Ah, but, I haven't seen a normal house with multiple walls in FR/LG or Ru/Sa [excluding the Secret Bases], if I'm wrong, then, I'm sorry.

Here is my next tutorial... How to make a simple cave!

Here, I'll tell you how to make a simple cave. For this tutorial, we will be using the size "20x15"

First things First: Nature is never neat
Okee, as you can see, nature is never neat, it is always random and never straight, so, first, make a simple zig-zagged layout of your cave.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/peekimon_gall/indoorTut/cave1.gif

That is a basic layout of a cave. Remember, never be too neat, or else, it won't look natural.

Next, layering
Okee, that cave looks bare, right? Well, let's give it a more natural look by adding cave layers and the like!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/peekimon_gall/indoorTut/cave2.gif

Now, doesn't that look a bit more natural? And, better?

Rocks, ladders, stairs and the like
It may be nice in the borders, but, pretty boring in the center, well, let's spice it up with physical features. Remember to never be too neat, as nature created this cave, not man. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/peekimon_gall/indoorTut/cave3.gif

Now, doesn't that look much better?

Now, we are going onto the final step, tinting the screen!
This is my favorite of all, it's basically, giving the dark effect (for a normal cave) or the spooky effect (for an ancient cave) Here is what you can do!

Here is the final results!

Normal Cave [Darkened tint Effect]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/peekimon_gall/indoorTut/finalcave1.gif


And, my favorite, the spooky effect
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/peekimon_gall/indoorTut/finalcave2.gif

Remember, nature is never neat, and be creative, oh, enjoy ;)

[DarkPegasus]

The cave looks very good! Another great one!

[the O rly? owl]

The cave tutorial is really really neat.

[Sceptile_Master]

Hmm, they are all kick ***. I need to get better at my pokemon mapping. Thanks.

[Jeff_PKLight]

My Forest Tutorial

Here's my second tut. :)

STEP 1 - Plains
Like usual, let's start with a 20x15 map. Cover the map with grass, as this will be the base.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/tut.png

STEP 2 - Trees
Forests are covered with lots of trees. When doing this, you may want to border the map with trees, but make sure the trees are natural. Forests aren't always perfect, you know.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/foresttut2.png

STEP 3 - Decoration
Decorate the map with some variety. Throw in a few flowers here and there, and some bushes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/foresttut3.png

STEP 4 - Water and more details!
Again, water is essential in life. You don't have to have too much water (or it'll be a rainforest). Just a bit will do, to attract viewers. Also add more trees. Not just the borders should have trees, because trees can grow anywhere on a map!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/foresttut4.png

STEP 5 - Light Grass Patches, Man-placed objects, grass, events, screen tinting (All Detail!!!)
Remember, all grass shouldn't be just one color. That would look too bland. Add a few light grass patches, dirt patches, and throw in some objects. Make sure not to put too many objects, or else it would look like a forest house instead of a forest!
Events can also attract people. Even from frozen people, to the little moving pokemon, each event will capture the viewer's attention.
Last, a forest should never be bright, event during the day. Keep the tint dark, to make the forest feel spooky and it makes it more realistic like.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/foresttut5.png

FINAL PRODUCT
This is our final product:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/foresttut5.png

You see? Just following these basics, you can get your map like this... and it only took 5 minutes to map! ;)

~Jeff

[the O rly? owl]

Looks good but I see a problem.. HOW DO YOU ENTER THE FOREST?

[Jeff_PKLight]

Lol Jade :D That's just the basic map (layout).

[Crystal Clair]

Thanks, now I can do my region's huge forest. I've got an idea, how about you do a town and a big city next?

[Sceptile_Master]

The forest is pretty good but it looks to clutterred. Shoulds there really be plant pots there?

[Squarewalker]

Nice work Jeff and Peekimon! These tutorials are great. I'm sure these will help many people to improve on their mapping skills.

[Sion]

Can I have the two maps u guys used for the indoor house, and the cave?

[the O rly? owl]

Use it, because they are "commerial material" :P

[Valdorath]

Where did you get the tiles for the grass and water and trees and stuff?

[Jeff_PKLight]

Where did you get the tiles for the grass and water and trees and stuff?

It's in the Resources Thread here. :)

[PokemonChampion2K4]

nice tutroials here but where can i get parts for trees,buildings etc. nvm :D

[sketch]

This thread helped me alot with my game!Thanks!

[Valdorath]

Ok how do you open hack games and play them??

[Firemaker]

Ok how do you open hack games and play them??
2 things
1. This is not a hack
2. This is not the help thread

Why don't you do more tutorials. How bout Towns or citys or sea routes or bottom floor of buildings or buildings with more then 2 floors

[Gold/Silver/Crystal]

Um,I need help.How do I get this on to paint?

[Rm2k3Guy]

THIS IS NOT A HELP THREAD FOR GODS SAKE :dead:

[rm2kdude]

Very nice everyone.


lol

[Fls4eva]

Great wrk.. It helps mi alot... Thx 4 da help....

[sobeman459]

wow these really helped alot can u do one for a see route or city or a regular route next once i learn to do thwem i can finish mapping my game lol great work guys

[shadowmastermarcus]

hey, wheres the resource thread? i lost it :dead:

[mattgcn]

Yeah, is this chipset in the new resource thread yet?

BTW, though those are older now, they rawk. Seriously.

[[_DarkDragon_]]

I know this is not my thread, but should I make a Beach Tutorial? :x

[Bluestar Jet]

yes, that would be nice. i dont know if the people who run this thread would be too happy...

[PokeCreator_09]

why not. Personally, i wouldn't get mad, it'd save me some time not having to do it.
And the tut in the house is pretty awesome. the only thigs I can say is move the stairs over to the left and take out the blue rugs, it looks crowded with them.

[[_DarkDragon_]]

ok, then I will work on it tonight and post it.

[Bluestar Jet]

um, "tonight" dosn't appply anymore...

[[_DarkDragon_]]

lol, I completely forgot about it... sooon :x

[[_DarkDragon_]]

sorry for double posting but here it is:

How to make an island (small one):

let's start with the obvious, we need water, use the deep water autotileset for that:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/rpg_man/1.png

now we need to make the island, islands are irregular due to the sea, etc so let's make an irregular island... do't forgetto put some grass in the middle if you want as you might use it later and put light water around the coast as it has sand under it should get lighter near the cost (if you get what I mean):

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/rpg_man/2.png

I told you I was gonna use the grass for something, a little garden... and don't forget to add the parasol shadows in some random places... cause people are random!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/rpg_man/3.png

After that just add some houses, pokecenter and mart in the third layer, also add the parasols, etc and here it is how it should look like:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/rpg_man/4.png

and there we have our final product:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/rpg_man/5.png

then if you want you can increase the brightness a little so that it looks like the sun is really shinning but that's up to you. :)

[MasaXGPMat]

Bravo Bravo (claps) really good tut on how to make an island might make ppl think before they map lol :D

[pepsi.max]

hey good job. looks great.

[fightingdreamer]

hey whenever Itry to map a pokemon game my charactr can walk over the buildings can someone tell me how to fix that btw it is on rpgxp

[[_DarkDragon_]]

when u add a new tileset you have to configure what will go over your character and what will go under, as well as what your character will be able to walk over and what he will not.

[pepsi.max]

its in the database. in rm2k3 u click on the Chipset tab. dunno for RMXP.

[Jeff_PKLight]

Ok, well... I had time to do another tut. This one is about creating Routes. In this tut, I used Fangking Omega and Mateo's tileset, and a 20x15 map.

STEP 1
First, you need ground. Let's add grass to the entire map, but remember, to make maps more 'interesting', you can create different grass patterns on the ground.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/Routetut.png

STEP 2
We'll need trees next. If you look at almost all the routes in the pokemon games (excluding water routes), each route almost always contain trees.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/Routetut2.png

STEP 3
Paths are what connects a route to a city, town, cave, to the sea, or to another route.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/Routetut3.png

STEP 4
Detail. Let's first add the basic details. Flowers, light grass patches, and... water! Try and scatter them, because you want to make the maps seem that nature created them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/Routetut4.png

STEP 5
More detail XD. Don't ya need grass?? Of course... If you need to rearrange anything, do so. Also, try adding the ledges, but again, randomize them... and don't try and make the ledges in an organized pattern...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/Routetut5.png

...

THE FINAL RESULT
Add in the events now. Focus on the trainers and make them face a certain way so if you try and walk right by them, they'll battle you. Get the big events out of the way first, then focus on the little details. Finally, add some darkness, some rain, and voila!... a masterpiece. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v660/Jeff_PKLight/Routetut6.png

~Jeff

EDIT: Whoops... placed a sign over grass XD

[Sorye HK]

The tut(and map) look really great. Thanks for yet another, Jeff. xD

[Datriot]

Yep, like always Jeff, good stuff.

[BlackD]

Nice! This will be help me much, thx!

[Dream Illusionist]

Ok... so I got in the tutorial buiseness too, and starting with a village mapping tutorial.

First, let's start with a 20x15 map, and fill it with grass.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/Sylph009/Town01.png

Yes. That's it.
Now, as it is empty, you should add trees and water, to make it more lively. But, in the contrary of Route maps, don't make the trees fully dispersed, as they have been cut and planted by humans to their liking of the town's beauty.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/Sylph009/Town3.png

There. Now, for the important part: the houses. Humans live in houses, so villages have houses. Else, it would be a tourist spot. Houses would be preferably made in two ways: or together, side by side (and in this case, house appearance should be the same in a village, not required in town), or spaced, and must be two tiles (at least) distant from the other houses.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/Sylph009/Town4.png

Done. Now... you don't want the townsfolk to walk barely on grass, do you? You should add some pathways to the village, connecting the houses, and to the path that leaves the village. Also, this is when details come into action: add some other trees, rocks, flowers, lakes... all depending on the location of the town. If it's on a moutain, for example, it should have a majority of rocky decroations. In a forest, trees. You got the idea, right? :)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/Sylph009/Town5.png

Keep adding a few decorations, and the town will be *almost* ready. Only the final step remains, and also the most important one: people. They're the ones that live on the village, so you should put a few on the map. And put reasonable sprites too. You shouldn't put beacher clothes on a person in an icy village! It would freeze to death! (Unless it's there for a certain special event)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/Sylph009/Town6.png

And there. You got your nice looking village ready for action! ;)
Adivice: You should NOT make a 20x15 village. It's way small. Just learnt that... by doing this tutorial. It should be at least 30x25

[Budgie_boy]

Well done, that's very decent of you to post a good tutorial like that...

[GiANNO]

Did you create these tiles or is there a website where i can download them?

[Dream Illusionist]

The tilesets can be found on the Game development's Game resources thread, but be sure to credit whoever made the graphics you'll use ;).
I'll write one about cities soon...

[Joey the Cockroach]

hey thats pretty good there guys! this could really help me!

[Budgie_boy]

The tilesets can be found on the Game development's Game resources thread, but be sure to credit whoever made the graphics you'll use ;).
I'll write one about cities soon...
I was wondering if I could try and write one too, you know for dungeons like the tin tower or something?
I think that I would help me to understand exactly how to map the more difficult places in my game.

[shinycollector]

hey can someone tell me how to put sprites in them like the trainers tress rocks flowers etc.Pls PM me this plss!!

And do you need an rpg maker for this and do i need to dowload it to make a map hehe PM me this also!!!

OK thx!!!

[Jessekb]

WOW!!! These are VERY!!! VERY!! goods tuts :-D

[pokemon500]

these really helped me thnxs alot

[Yuoaman]

I can make a mountain tutorial if you want me to...

[Rixorster]

Would it help if i make mapping tutorials for RM2k3? ;D

[exteradude]

I could make a sea route tut, if you'd like me to...

[Micklo]

Just wondering, what is the best way to map out a gym?

[tdata]

Gyms are almost as easy as a pokemon center... except Sabrina's gym... That one is a pain to make.

I's got a request. A largeish pokemon "city" focusing on the fillers. No one seems to do verywell on the larger towns.

[Raze-finiarel]

I'd love to see a mountainand city guide...Keep up the good work!