Creating Counter Strike 1.6 Maps and Half Life Source Maps using Valve Hammer Editor

Many of the Counter Strike players might be interested in making Counter Strike maps of CS1.6 and Source maps. Many of the players may not be interested much but players who play in college LANs and Hostels such as IITs and NITs may be interested to create their own trademark kind of maps. So, where to get started!

I have put much focus on how the map to be designed that how it should be created. But I will give you little intro on how to create also.

Requirements:

1. Firstly you need to download two Softwares and need to configure them.
2. I can give you a link www.superjer.com/learn.php. This will help you to download and configure the application.
3. You can try for the latest versions released.
4. Go for the keywords Valve Hammer Editor and ZHLT Compiler in the google.
5. One of the two softwares is a Source Creator and other software is Compiler.

How to move on:

1. Now go to the Block Tool on the left side panel in the application.
2. Make a box on the grids.
3. Make a Hall and Room like appeareances.
4. Go to file and click Export to .MAP
5. Your map will be output in the specified folder.
6. Now copy that folder into the ZHLT folder.
7. Now you need to make a txt file with this text in it hlbsp mapname hlrad mapname hlvis mapname hlcsg mapname. Go to new line after every mapname
8. Rename the txt file as Compile.bat
9. Thats it now run the Compile.bat file. Just Open it.
10. You will get the outputs in the same folder.
11. mapname.bsp is also one of the output files.
12. Put the mapname.bsp in the maps folder of the cstrike.
13. Open it. And hope it works fine.
14. Go to the given links in Valve Hammer Editor and ZHLT for help and support.

Tips for Making a Good Map:

1. As you know, there are some constant variables for de maps, for all maps themselves also.
2. You need to put them all in mind while making it.
3. The two Bombsites in de maps must be nearer to the CT's than T's.
4. Bombsites must provide good cover for any one who stays there.
5. The openings into the bombsites must be designed very well.
6. Snipers should have some access to those openings. But not very easily.
7. The paths from T Spawn to Bombsites must be not more than 5 when considered at the mid-point of the map. And when they are reaching the Bombsites, the ideal paths directly into the Bombsite must be 3.
8. Both the Bombsites must be sufficiently far and not too much. It must be related to the size of the map.

All these are just my variables when I tried to make a map. And there are many other factors and some of my factors may be blunders too. All the best. Create your own Clan maps and College maps for Counter Strike.