Creating A New Warcraft III Map

[Prepare2Lose]

[glow=blue,2,300]Creating a New Map[/glow][glow=blue,2,300]For Beginners[/glow]

If you want to make your own map(from scratch) here is a fairly detailed step-by-step process on how to go about doing it:

1. Open world editor

2. Click File >> New map >> in the box that pops up choose the size and Terrain type. These are two things that you should have already decided on:
If you want it to be a really big map then you do 256x256, if you want it to be small then you do 32x32.. A normal size is about 128x128.
While choosing the Terrain type choose a general overview of what you are doing.. if you are making an ice-themed course choose an ice-themed terrain type, etc.

3. Now setup your terrain however you want it to be. (I think it is easier to just make the whole map the way you want before making any units or triggers or anything). To setup the terrain go to Window >> New Palette >> Terrain (typically the terrain palette is already open, but it can't hurt to open it again). Now a rectangular box should have popped up to the right of the screen, that is what you use to make terrain. The terrain editor is pretty self explanatory:
The top section is where you choose the type of terrain you want to put down. Make sure the box next to Apply Texture has a check mark in it, then you click on one of the squares then click on the ground and that type of terrain goes there.
The second section (below the top one) is where you choose if you want to make an indent in the ground, either something like a cliff or hill, or a hole. Make sure the box next to Apply Cliff has a check mark in it, then you click on one of the squares then click on the ground and the action showed in the square is performed. *Ramps can only be placed on the edge of a cliff that has enough room for a unit to stand* **I have the most problems with this section of the Terrain Editor because there are certain limits that cliffs and ramps can use, so don't get frustrated and get used to using Cntrl Z(undo)**
The third and last section is where you can make small hills and things and also control your clicker size and shape. You will rarely use this section and when you do you will generally only make small hills or indents. The instructions are the same as the above 2 sections. *I have never gotten the Plateau one to work* Size is pretty self-explanatory and you should just leaving the shape as Square.

4. Now to make Units! This editor is a bit more complex. You will most likely never need to know what EVERYTHING stands for, but here are some of the basic ones. Start by clicking the little Helmet at the top of the screen. Techniques for making units change, depending on the person, but here is a brief explanation on what to do:
You should nearly never edit an already-made unit, because those are stored separately from custom units and its hard to navigate through them all. So, click the helmet at the top of the screen. *not the same one you clicked before* **I am assuming that you have played Warcraft III enough to know what Hero's are and all of that** Use the navigation bars and everything to find a unit that matches the type of unit you want to make. For example, if I wanted to make a hero I would select Paladin or Mountain King or something like that. Then type the name of the unit in the top box, then hit OK.
Now that you have 'created' your new unit a lot of things changed to the left, you don't have to pay attention to them. Ok, in the right box (probably the bigger one) there is a lot of writing with a lot of things tabbed apart and everything, that is what you are going to change. I am not going to go one by one through the whole list with you It is pretty easy to figure out how to edit each of the lines: double click it, then change the category accordingly, either by writing in a number, selecting something from a list, etc.
The things that you mainly want to change are:
Art - Icon - Game Interface
Art - Model File
Art - Scaling Value
Art - Tinting Colors (1-3)
Combat - Attack 1 (all)
Combat - Attacks Enabled (most likely going to be either Attack one only or None)
Combat - Defense (all)
Movement - Height
Movement - Speed Base
Movement - Type
Stats (all of them)
Text (all of them)
All of the other fields will come as you desire, for example if one day you decide you want to give the unit abilities you would use the Abilities things at the top. *The reason I didn't put abilities on the list above is because those are fairly complicated and probably not the best thing for a new mapmaker to get into*

5. Placing the Units you make. Exit out of(or minimize) the Object Editor and then click Window >> New Palette >> Units. This box is easier than the terrain one and doesn't need to be explained. To find your custom unit click on the drop down menu labeled Melee and change it to Custom. Now click on the drop down menu labeled Human and select the race that your unit was in.

6. Setting up the game. At the top of the World Editor screen click Scenario >> Map Description. Now change the appropriate categories in the box that pops up. Now click Scenario >> Player Properties. Now start by setting the Controller of each player you want in the game and then fill in the rest of the boxes accordingly. Then click on the tab at the top of the box titled Forces and add different teams and move around which player is on which team.

7. Now you have the basics of making a map and you should be able to create a fairly good regular map. In order to make something more advanced like a maze or td you would need to know triggers and that is taking it a step farther and the best way to learn them is to open an already-made map the you have played a lot and look through the triggers one by one and figure out what they do and how they work, then when you try it yourself you come here and make a thread asking how you make certain triggers.

Be sure to post any additional questions into the World Editor section of the forum.