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Is there anyway to make map testing faster in terms of making the game and exiting the game? Must I always wait for those 5 seconds, the interface roll-in, the roll out, end-game score?

No. Don't complain. The only way to make to play without viewing those things would be to "restart game" instead of quiting and creating it again. The only problem with that is you can't save a map while starcraft is currently using it. Tough luck.

That's not complaining, he's just asking a simple question.

You might try just testing less. Work on the map longer and test multiple things at once.

Haha. This is what I hate about online messaging and forums. Sarcasm can't be transfered.

Thanks for defending me... and yes, I was simply curious if I was testing my maps the "Slow" way while everyone had some mod that made them test faster--- just in case.

Kenoli, thank you for the suggestion. I try to do that, but sometimes I do 4-5 hours of triggers without testing (my brother takes the cd...) and when I test it something messes up messing other things up and it's a chain reaction of pandemonium... but I guess I should just test every now and then, not 4-5 hours, eh?


Edit

In what the hell way was that sarcasm o.O? You could at least put some kind of face, they're usually pretty frendly looking

Yeah, 4-5 hours at a time may be pushing it a little. I'm just trying to point out that you don't necessarily need to test after ever little edit, that can end up being a big time-waster.

If you hate fourms, why bother?

I actually have something of the opposite view towards testing...I'll make a tiny bit of the map, test it, rework it, and make sure it not only works, but "feels" just right before going on. I always make sure a particular system works before expanding and duplicating it. Sometimes I even test systems in seperate maps before planning to include them. Then, once everything has been tested, retested, and tweaked for "feel", I begin actual testing of the map as a whole. Eventually this produces something that works, and I'll release that version and start playing it. Even though the map is "done" at that point, I'll keep changing it as improvements suggest themselves during gameplay, sometimes even redoing core map systems for better performance...and of course the new stuff all has to be tested both before and after inclusion.

Then again, it's been a very long time (years now) since I finished anything more involved than a concept test that just happened to be playable, so maybe a less obsessive-compulsive method is the way to go...

Test the map on single player... -_-

The "Esc" key on the top left of your keyboard will be your new best friend.

What's with that random link thrown in there? I didn't say I hate forums in general, I just think its too bad that we need frugal smilies sometimes in order to get our point across. I was merelyl poking fun at him, I wasn't trying to scold him or anything.

well if he wants to test out force's lappings he cant do that

anyways

just live with it

only spend maybe 10 seconds clicking through the other stuff

im sure 10 seconds is worth it ( thats if your map isnt uber noober )

Ya, wouldnt it be great if someone made a live action map tester? So you could have the map open, and playing it and changing things in real time. Yes that would be awsome too bad no one has the time to make that. And if you've ever stacked text you know that testing triggers isnt a big deal.

Lol wing of no wing, that's exactly what I do. Sometimes I create a separate map just to make sure something works the way I think it would.

Diggidoyo, i apologize for the snappy reaction (I was way too tired I guess), but I now understand you were trying to be sarcastic, so sorry ><

[q]Use Lan connection to test its as quick as single and you can see forces[/q]
Yeah it test both on and off bnet, but always multiplayer just because single player is a horrible thing for triggers.. they're all slow and stuff. Esc on single, what's that do? I just alt+q alt+o-n-e for high latency and stuff.

10 seconds starts to add up when you test really often- as much as I do anyway. What I found out is that you can still save your map while the countdown is going, so instead of saving the map, maximize starcraft, make the game and go, you can create, go, and minize to save as it countsdown, then continue on with your train-of-thought just so you don't lose it. Then you can go and test the game, and then repeat.

It becomes a good thing to do when you like to get in the game and then edit a bit further on then come back and test the game.

Stacking text isn't that hard. It usually takes me 3 or 4 tries to get something right. But, I often triple when I can to save time.

That live actiony thing is a good concept. Except, Starcraft would have to keep reloading the map every time, which would save time in the long run, but wouldn't be good for small projects. Testing in single player doesn't take that long, though, since you don't have to wait every time. And if you're overlapping forces or a map name (unless you are magical and can figure it out from the messy preview in single player and/or the score screen), you don't have to wait to test them.

Lol I'm already doing all that though I was hoping there'd be faster way... I guess I'd have to suck it up then -_- What i'm doing is what could be done best I guess. Know what I wish for? Window Starcraft. You can play Window d2, why not sc?

Good point. There might be hack somewhere out there for windowing SC but I don't have it yet.

ADDITION:
Alright! I DID find a way to load faster but there's pros and cons.

Since I use Starforge, you should know that Starforge automatically creates backups every pre-set number of seconds. So in Starcraft, instead of loading up the actual map, I loaded up the backup. Played it a little bit, then when I found something I needed to change, left the map open, and changed it in Starforge. Then, if you can time it right, push "restart mission" right when the backup is saving, and it will load the new changes.

Pros:

• Simple restart to play new changes

Cons:

• You have to time it right, could take a few tries of restarting
• You have to live with constant error messages saying "it can't save the backup file" becuase you have it open

Personally this is too much of hassle for me but if you're desperate.....

Ugh, I don't know how to use starforge.. I'm too newb and I would say the map I'm making is pretty pro-leveled

Stacking isnt hard, but if your stacking everything it takes a good amount of time. (I use pretty much the same template for all my stacks, I made one 15X2 stack and just blankout the extra letter, either that or I make a custom stack....)

The real problem's' with making some sort of live actions sc is that it would involve incrediable amount of work, and I doubt blizz would be a fan. All I was saying is that it would be cool. I doubt anyone has the amount time and dedication it would require, and recieve no compensation other than respect for there work.

Thank you for volunteering