Need a curve/mesh/patch HOWTO

[corvias]

Hi all,

As much as I like Nexiuz, I suck pretty bad at playing, so I've decided to try my hand at mapping. I used to fool around with HL1 and Quake 1+2 mapping, so I'm familiar with the basic concepts (never released anything, though). What I need though, is a good tutorial on using patches, meshes, curves, etc for making pipes, cables, curved hallways, etc. I've looked at existing maps which use them a lot, like Aneurysm, and I've managed to figure out a little on my own, but I could use some proper instruction. Anyone know of some places on the web? Google has not been my friend in this case.

[C.Brutail]

Patches are very evil. Use them only when it's realy necessary, since they don't block VIS. Placed un properly they can eat away a lot FPS.
1.:
What you must always do: if there's a patch mesh, aslways place a caulked brush behind it.

2.: Tools for manipulating patches:
Texture properties for patches: SHIFT+P (experiment with CAP and Natural)
Vertex manipulation: V
Bending: B

3.: A patch has only ONE SIDE. Use Curve -> Matrix -> invert to change which side of it can be seen.

These are the very basics.

[corvias]

Thanks, C, but I've already figured out most of the basics of what the tools are. I'm looking for something more practical -- something that describes how to use the curve tools to make, for example, pipes, cables or hallways properly. I had no idea they were "evil," though I suppose that's all the more reason to learn more about them.

Pressing 'B' for the bending tool doesn't seem to do anything different than just dragging vertices around. In what context do I use it? Is there some fundamental difference to curves, meshes, and patches? Are they all the same thing?

Sorry to ask so many questions.

[corvias]

Nevermind. I just found the mother-load here:

http://web.archive.org/web/200108112227 ... #qw3_water

Found the link in the Nex editing forum.