Ok this is my section, I am more than happy to help anyone who is whishing to become a mapper. If you have any questions feel free to post them here, or if you are a mapper and wish to display your work feel free.

Hey Tax, I think I'm going to star making some attemps at map making for bg2.  I just downloaded the Source SDK program, I think thats what I use.  Do you know of any other programs or maybe places that have some different modles or something for bg2. Thanks.

I would go ahead and get your Hammer set up and start messing with it, see what you can and cannot do and if you run into a snag let me know. At first I would only use bg2 models or hl2dm cuz they will run w/o doing any more work. Though it is possible to use other games models. dont forget to download the SDK BASE as well, you will never have to open it up, but it does contain some files that are needed

hey tax help me set up hammer so i can make maps for bg2 got some good ideas many will like

hey tax, this is general lafayette, you gave me a site with tutorials on it for mapping. ummm.... some of the tutorials dont explain a lot of things and i just need some real big help with all this, i really am interested in mapping, though.

Hey guys, just registered. I was wondering what programs I needed to make a map. I have a few ideas that I think could give a change of pace to some of the maps.

Download the Source SDK and Source SDK Base tools from steam, and that should be a main tool you use, tax can probably give you help, because if your as inexperienced in map making as i was, the hammer map editor is so difficult to use it will mkae you want to hide under your bed and cry.

Question about the mapping.

So I created this little environment using a tutorial from interlopers.net

When I go to test it (File - Run Map), This box shows up with text, saying that it's booting it up, but then nothing happens. Any help on this would be appreciated.

EDIT:

OK so I actually misled you in my last post. My real question is when I go to test the map I created, do I run regular half-life 2? and then what do I type in the console to run the map?

Is there also a specific place I have to save my Hammer files?

OK - So now when I go to Run the game BG2 pops up, but then it crashes and I get an error message: Error: gameui

Having a little trouble getting started with hammer, anyone know of a site with some video tutorials?

go to google and type in interlopers....   then click on tutorials  and then half life 2     it will   take u from there

Mapping is like masturbating... it's only good if you finish the job

There is a Mapping Group on the Steam Community now.