Maveritchell wrote:I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for in custom maps, then. There are maps out there that are simply beautiful (Astute's Manaan map, Squipple's maps), maps out there that have huge amounts of weapon choices (D_Boeing's maps, numerous side mods), and maps out there that are far more innovative than the stock maps (archer's OFM - which is a masterpiece, btw).

And I'm not sure how the maps can even seem loveless - each kind of map reflects not only the author's abilities, but the author's personality and what he finds interesting. You can see this in things like the Con Pack, where Tean shows the organizational aptitude he has by bringing all those restorations to a convergence, or Space Kal-Terra, where Hebes shows his push for realism, or Verena, where Penguin shows her ability and proclivity towards scenery, or even, I'd like to think, in my maps, where things like sidequests and new modes show my penchant for innovation.

Maps like these may not seem as "rounded" as the stock levels. If that is at all so, it's because at each of their cores, they are at least equal to the stock levels, but one or two facets (which represent the author's area of interest) are polished to such a high degree that the rest of that map's features seem average by comparison.

But here's the hard truth of it - no matter how good a map is, no matter how much better they get than the stock maps, not everyone is going to see that in them. Why? Because we all have something(s) different we want in a map to make a map stand out. The only way, and I mean only way you're going to find a map that "kicks you out of your shoes" is by making it. And that's going to be true for 90% of the maps out there.

With the exception of one or two, I like all my maps better than the other mods that are put out. I'm willing to bet most other modders feel the same way. It's not a quality judgement, it's just a natural consequence of making a map that intersects with what we like.

And that brings it back to the whole "what is possible" issue. The answer, as stated many times above, is almost anything - so long as it reflects the desires of the creator. This is why we say to so many people - and it's not to harp on them, it's simply because we know it's going to be true - don't ask someone else to make the map you want. Make it yourself, because only you can do that.