Pokemon Mapping Tutorial

*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.



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. ;)



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.



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.


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?



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.



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.



FINALY PRODUCT
This is our final product.



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

~Jeff

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

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

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

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

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)

I have a question!

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?

You can get these chipsets in the Resource thread.

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:


Boring, right? Well, let's try a new technique and add some more walls!


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:


Now, you see how wonderful you can make a room?
Here is the finished product!

Compared to a boring, usual room:


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

Use you imagination, creativity, and enjoy ;)

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

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

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

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...

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.

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

We need a cave one... Seriously :)

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.

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.


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!


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. ;)



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]



And, my favorite, the spooky effect


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

The cave looks very good! Another great one!

The cave tutorial is really really neat.

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