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[Protectron]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

The thermo is tricky. It increases for different reasons and has "thermo's within the thermo".

Certain materials take up more room, watch the thermo when you place it, try different kinds of materials and see which ones affect it more. The general rule is to use 4-5 different materials (look at MM's levels, they rarely use more than 3-4 different kinds - many times, they use stickers to make it "feel" like different materials.)

Decorations take up room, moving objects add to the thermo, complicated structers, the number of corners in your level, etc. etc. etc.. . .

However, often, the thermo is only "initially affected". Example, place in a new material - the thermo goes up a full bar. However, you can keep adding TONS of that same material and the thermo barely budges and more. It's kind of like it charges you a one time fee for adding a new material, but after that - it's free.

It can be tricky. Almost every one of my levels was ended early due to the Thermo.



Sure, feel free - but the best way to learn is to go into create mode together.

What's the level you have planned? Is it a plaformer, a survival level, a story level? Let me know - if I have anything (objects, etc.), that might fit, I'll give it to you.

Okay that makes sense. Still might be a problem though as what I want to do has alot of colors.

I'm planning making a power rangers story level since my brother loved power rangers when he was a kid. I looked online last night and there is not one single good power ranger level.

Basically what I want:

-Sackboy drops into the command center from above (through a chute or something) and talks to zordon

-Goes through a hanger, climbs an elevator to board the original megazord

-Fight a giant monster (thinking the monster from the show that has a bunch of eyes since that would be relatively easy to make)

-end of level

I would greatly appreciate any help you can offer. I'll try to make a sketch of everything and send it to you so you have a better idea of my concept.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by Protectron

Okay that makes sense. Still might be a problem though as what I want to do has alot of colors.

You can use one kind of material and put different stickers on it (solid colors or designs) to help keep the thermo down. And, of course, there is always the use of lighting.

I'm planning making a power rangers story level since my brother loved power rangers when he was a kid. I looked online last night and there is not one single good power ranger level.

Basically what I want:

-Sackboy drops into the command center from above (through a chute or something) and talks to zordon

Seems pretty straight forward - although, creating a transporter (lights up then, everyone disappears - gets killed - and spawns at the Command Center). All depends how fancy/complicated you want to get - and whether it "fits" in with your story/level.

-Goes through a hanger, climbs an elevator to board the original megazord

-Fight a giant monster (thinking the monster from the show that has a bunch of eyes since that would be relatively easy to make)

Tricky stuff. Depending on how in-depth you want the battle to be - it would require a lot of "logic" (triggers that cause specific actions at the desired time/interval), and could become complicated real quick.

Building moving machines has never been my strong suit (or characters).

My advice - start out with something simpler - maybe, finding the stolen MegaZord and you have to infiltrate the bad guys lair or something - then, at the end, you find the MegaZord and it carries you to the scoreboard - and then you can do a more complicated part two with a Boss Battle.

However, this advice is based more upon my level of skill. I find creating objects and advance machines difficult - by all means, if that kind of stuff comes naturally to you - go for it.

I'm more of a lighting person. I spend days tweaking lighting. I also tend to concentrate on gameplay - but have recently decided to get out of my comfort zone and try to create a story level.

One thing I try to do no matter what is have something that no one else has. My Puzzle Wheels series I tried to create a type of gameplay that I hadn't seen anywhere else. With the Great Race series I created original vehicles and made a "competitive" race. Now, with the Dream Catcher series I'm telling an original story - but I'm trying to create visuals that I haven't seen anywhere else.

My levels aren't the best - but, at least, hopefully they are original.

I think that's great that there aren't many Power Ranger levels, that alone makes it some original (in LBP). You'll have to decide early on - is this a parody of Power Rangers (making fun of it will allow people to be more forgiving of lack of detail - a lot of people use humor in their Star Wars levels) - or is this nostalgia, if it's nostalgia, you'll have to keep your designs specific. Google images of the show and recreate those.

Anyway, just some food for thought.

I would greatly appreciate any help you can offer.

I can give you some glitched materials (walk through glass, non-slip glass, walk through neon, 3D, extra thin layers). I'm sure there will be something you can use.

It's a very tedious process - but it's as fun as it is frustrating.

[Protectron]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

You can use one kind of material and put different stickers on it (solid colors or designs) to help keep the thermo down. And, of course, there is always the use of lighting.



Seems pretty straight forward - although, creating a transporter (lights up then, everyone disappears - gets killed - and spawns at the Command Center). All depends how fancy/complicated you want to get - and whether it "fits" in with your story/level.

Tricky stuff. Depending on how in-depth you want the battle to be - it would require a lot of "logic" (triggers that cause specific actions at the desired time/interval), and could become complicated real quick.

Building moving machines has never been my strong suit (or characters).

My advice - start out with something simpler - maybe, finding the stolen MegaZord and you have to infiltrate the bad guys lair or something - then, at the end, you find the MegaZord and it carries you to the scoreboard - and then you can do a more complicated part two with a Boss Battle.

However, this advice is based more upon my level of skill. I find creating objects and advance machines difficult - by all means, if that kind of stuff comes naturally to you - go for it.

I'm more of a lighting person. I spend days tweaking lighting. I also tend to concentrate on gameplay - but have recently decided to get out of my comfort zone and try to create a story level.

One thing I try to do no matter what is have something that no one else has. My Puzzle Wheels series I tried to create a type of gameplay that I hadn't seen anywhere else. With the Great Race series I created original vehicles and made a "competitive" race. Now, with the Dream Catcher series I'm telling an original story - but I'm trying to create visuals that I haven't seen anywhere else.

My levels aren't the best - but, at least, hopefully they are original.

I think that's great that there aren't many Power Ranger levels, that alone makes it some original (in LBP). You'll have to decide early on - is this a parody of Power Rangers (making fun of it will allow people to be more forgiving of lack of detail - a lot of people use humor in their Star Wars levels) - or is this nostalgia, if it's nostalgia, you'll have to keep your designs specific. Google images of the show and recreate those.

Anyway, just some food for thought.



I can give you some glitched materials (walk through glass, non-slip glass, walk through neon, 3D, extra thin layers). I'm sure there will be something you can use.

It's a very tedious process - but it's as fun as it is frustrating.

For now, since this is my first level, I want to keep it simple. I'm not sure how familar you are with power rangers but the command center had a central tube. I want the player to enter above and drop through a chute that is hidden behind the "central tube".

The boss battle (and actually building the megazord in fact) was the part I was most concerned with. But I like your idea better of finding the megazord. Cause then all I need is a mechanism to give him forward motion to reach the end point.

Perhaps what I can do is use a rocket to travel to the moon (where rita's castle is), infiltrate that (with some platforming elements and monsters from the show), climb the megazord and then travel to the end point.

This is my first level so I have no idea what I may be good at creating. lol

My level would be nostalgic for the most part and I already have some images/urls for reference.

I'm curious about these extra thin layer materials that you mentioned. How do they work?

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

I'm so proud of my 6 little grasshoppers! No matter how many trophies you started with and how many you have now, you've all made LOTS of progress in the last week or two, with and without me! Go you!

I synched trophies with you guys a few minutes ago and was able to check TONS of your trophies of the ol' checklist! Score! Below is the updated list. You can use it to party up with others in Stephie's LBP Clinic: Season 1 and work together to get certain trophies. As always, let me know if you need any more help on a particular trophy or level! Keep up the good work, grasshoppers!

Kissie stickers,
your sackbunny Sensei





ORIGINAL GAME


B - Expert Creator - Complete all levels in the tutorials
Jono

B - Creator - Build and save a level with the thermometer more than 30% full
Jono, Tron

B - Team Creator - Build and save a level with more than one player with the thermometer more than 30% full
Jono, Tron

B - Publisher - Publish a level
Jono, Tron

B - Look What I Made! - A level you published was played by 5 or more people
Jono, Tron

S - Crowd Pleaser - A level you published was played by 50 or more people
Jono, Tron

S - Feel the Love - A level you published was hearted by 10 or more people
Jono, Tron

S - Celebrity - You were hearted by 10 or more people as a player
Tron

G - Play - Complete all story levels without dying, with the exception of those levels that only end when you die
Cymbol, Jono, LD, Xerios

G - Create - The levels you have published were hearted but 50 or more people and you were hearted by 30 or more people
Jono, Tron

G - Share - Play 150 community levels, tag 50 community levels and heart 10 community levels
Jono

P - 100% Complete - Earn all LittleBigPlanet trophies to unlock this platinum trophy
Cymbol, Jono, LD, Tron, Xerios



METAL GEAR SOLID DLC


B - Ace Act 3 and Act 4
Cymbol, Jam

B - Ace Act 5: The Boss
Cymbol, LD

S - Virtual Survivor - Achieve a score of 3.750 in the VR Survival Challenge
Cymbol

S - Speedy Rexecutioner - Destroy the REX boss in under 2 mins 30 seconds
Cymbol, Jam

B - Thrifty Painter - Complete Act 3: The Mission firing less than 125 paintballs
Cymbol, Jam

B- Paint Sharer - Publish a level containing the Metal Gear Solid Paintinator Powerup
Tron



PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN DLC


B - Pirates of the Caribbean Booty Master - Collect all of the Pirates of the Caribbean prize bubbles
Cymbol, Jam, LD, Tron

B - Beast Slayer - Destroy the Kraken boss
Jam

B - Ace Pirate Town
Jam

B - Ace The Frigate
Jam, LD

B - Ace Cursed Bay
Jam, LD

B - Ace The Kraken!!!
Jam, LD

B - Tributary - Publish a level containing water
Tron

S - HMS Interceptor - Complete the race in Cursed Bay with at least 4000 points left on the clock
Cymbol, Jam, LD

S - The Bends - Achieve a score of 7000 in the Diving For Treasure Survival Challenge
Cymbol, Jam

[Protectron]

Originally Posted by Stephie_is_a_dork

I'm so proud of my 6 little grasshoppers! No matter how many trophies you started with and how many you have now, you've all made LOTS of progress in the last week or two, with and without me! Go you!

I synched trophies with you guys a few minutes ago and was able to check TONS of your trophies of the ol' checklist! Score! Below is the updated list. You can use it to party up with others in Stephie's LBP Clinic: Season 1 and work together to get certain trophies. As always, let me know if you need any more help on a particular trophy or level! Keep up the good work, grasshoppers!

Kissie stickers,
your sackbunny Sensei





ORIGINAL GAME


B - Expert Creator - Complete all levels in the tutorials
Jono

B - Creator - Build and save a level with the thermometer more than 30% full
Jono, Tron

B - Team Creator - Build and save a level with more than one player with the thermometer more than 30% full
Jono, Tron

B - Publisher - Publish a level
Jono, Tron

B - Look What I Made! - A level you published was played by 5 or more people
Jono, Tron

S - Booty Master - Collect all the prize bubbles on the story levels
Tron

S - Crowd Pleaser - A level you published was played by 50 or more people
Jono, Tron

S - Feel the Love - A level you published was hearted by 10 or more people
Jono, Tron

S - Celebrity - You were hearted by 10 or more people as a player
Tron

G - Play - Complete all story levels without dying, with the exception of those levels that only end when you die
Cymbol, Jono, LD, Xerios

G - Create - The levels you have published were hearted but 50 or more people and you were hearted by 30 or more people
Jono, Tron

G - Share - Play 150 community levels, tag 50 community levels and heart 10 community levels
Jono

P - 100% Complete - Earn all LittleBigPlanet trophies to unlock this platinum trophy
Cymbol, Jono, LD, Tron, Xerios



METAL GEAR SOLID DLC


B - Ace Act 3 and Act 4
Cymbol, Jam

B - Ace Act 5: The Boss
Cymbol, LD

S - Virtual Survivor - Achieve a score of 3.750 in the VR Survival Challenge
Cymbol

S - Speedy Rexecutioner - Destroy the REX boss in under 2 mins 30 seconds
Cymbol, Jam

B - Thrifty Painter - Complete Act 3: The Mission firing less than 125 paintballs
Cymbol, Jam

B - Metal Gear Solid Booty Master - Collect all of the Metal Gear Solid Prize Bubbles
Tron

B- Paint Sharer - Publish a level containing the Metal Gear Solid Paintinator Powerup
Tron



PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN DLC


B - Pirates of the Caribbean Booty Master - Collect all of the Pirates of the Caribbean prize bubbles
Cymbol, Jam, LD, Tron

B - Beast Slayer - Destroy the Kraken boss
Jam

B - Ace Pirate Town
Jam

B - Ace The Frigate
Jam, LD

B - Ace Cursed Bay
Jam, LD

B - Ace The Kraken!!!
Jam, LD

B - Tributary - Publish a level containing water
Tron

S - HMS Interceptor - Complete the race in Cursed Bay with at least 4000 points left on the clock
Cymbol, Jam, LD

S - The Bends - Achieve a score of 7000 in the Diving For Treasure Survival Challenge
Cymbol, Jam

I believe I already have the Booty Master and Metal Gear Solid Booty Master Trophies.

....Unless Sony is lying to me.

[Xerios]

Originally Posted by Protectron

How goes the acing, Xerios? Make any progress?

I woke up with 103 fever, threw up, chills, body aches... and actually hallucinated for the first time ever... i kid u not it was half LBP half star wars (because i watched family guy star wars before i fell asleep) im rolling around in my bed kicking what i think are prize bubbles and fighting things that werent there... im 100% serious too..

so that put a damper on the play trophy for now

Originally Posted by Stephie_is_a_dork

I'm so proud of my 6 little grasshoppers! No matter how many trophies you started with and how many you have now, you've all made LOTS of progress in the last week or two, with and without me! Go you!

I synched trophies with you guys a few minutes ago and was able to check TONS of your trophies of the ol' checklist! Score! Below is the updated list. You can use it to party up with others in Stephie's LBP Clinic: Season 1 and work together to get certain trophies. As always, let me know if you need any more help on a particular trophy or level! Keep up the good work, grasshoppers!

Kissie stickers,
your sackbunny Sensei

you used to make fun of me for 37%... in just under 2 weeks i brought it up to 97% plus i bought DLC for pure enjoyment no trophies necessary..

word.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by Protectron

For now, since this is my first level, I want to keep it simple. I'm not sure how familar you are with power rangers but the command center had a central tube. I want the player to enter above and drop through a chute that is hidden behind the "central tube".

Seems pretty simply. You can use the pipe decorations as a tube and try different lighting. One idea.

The boss battle (and actually building the megazord in fact) was the part I was most concerned with. But I like your idea better of finding the megazord. Cause then all I need is a mechanism to give him forward motion to reach the end point.

Yeah, a boss battle with mechanized machines - very complicated (if you want something more spectacular then walking up, shooting and having the bad guy explode.)

Perhaps what I can do is use a rocket to travel to the moon (where rita's castle is), infiltrate that (with some platforming elements and monsters from the show), climb the megazord and then travel to the end point.

Sounds good to me. Definitely review the show or images - that will help with your design - which can sometimes make it less difficult than coming up with something from scratch.

This is my first level so I have no idea what I may be good at creating. lol

People usually have a strong spot and weak spot. I feel I'm good at gameplay and lighting. I suck at making characters and machines with many movable parts. I'm also not good at architecture.

I usually get good reviews and really positive comments, so I good points are enough to overcome my weak ones.

I'm curious about these extra thin layer materials that you mentioned. How do they work?

It looks just like the regular thin layer, but somehow, it doesn't bump into the other thin layer - so, it's an "extra" thin layer. I've only used it once. Most of these glitched materials aren't things you'll use very often - but once in a while, they'll be just the very thing you need. So, they're great to have.

My 2 biggest recommendations:

• Experiment - create something, then try it in different lighting, different materials ect. - you'll be surprised at how things change and what direction they'll take you as you experiment.
• Beta-Test - can't stress it enough. Have other people play your level before publishing. Trust me, you'll find mistakes - people don't play your level the way you designed it. They jump on trees and you'll find out you didn't glue it down, etc. Having people play your level is like letting monkey's loose on an obstacle course - your level has to be unbreakable -beta test, beta test, beta test.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by Xerios

I woke up with 103 fever, threw up, chills, body aches... and actually hallucinated for the first time ever... i kid u not it was half LBP half star wars (because i watched family guy star wars before i fell asleep) im rolling around in my bed kicking what i think are prize bubbles and fighting things that werent there... im 100% serious too..

Sounds like you need to make a level about it - call it, "Fever Dream".

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

Originally Posted by Protectron

I believe I already have the Booty Master and Metal Gear Solid Booty Master Trophies.

....Unless Sony is lying to me.

Either you need to synch your trophies again, or I just missed those!

Originally Posted by Xerios

I woke up with 103 fever, threw up, chills, body aches... and actually hallucinated for the first time ever... i kid u not it was half LBP half star wars (because i watched family guy star wars before i fell asleep) im rolling around in my bed kicking what i think are prize bubbles and fighting things that werent there... im 100% serious too..

so that put a damper on the play trophy for now



you used to make fun of me for 37%... in just under 2 weeks i brought it up to 97% plus i bought DLC for pure enjoyment no trophies necessary..

word.

Yikes! Hope you feel better soon!

LOL...I don't recall making fun of you for having 37%, especially since you have way, way, WAY more trophies in other games than I do! I just remember hating your old Raiders avatar

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

Originally Posted by Protectron

I believe I already have the Booty Master and Metal Gear Solid Booty Master Trophies.

....Unless Sony is lying to me.

Verified and updated!

[Xerios]

it was scary.. i never felt like that before... hopefully the end of this week / this weekend ill plat

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by Stephie_is_a_dork

I'm so proud of my 6 little grasshoppers! No matter how many trophies you started with and how many you have now, you've all made LOTS of progress in the last week or two, with and without me! Go you!

Yeah, thanks Stephie - and everyone else on this site who helped me get my 100% back.

Just need the 100% in POTC and Marvel now.

[Protectron]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

Yeah, thanks Stephie - and everyone else on this site who helped me get my 100% back.

Just need the 100% in POTC and Marvel now.

You're welcome!

Cymbol, I made a sketch of my level and I'll scan it and send it to you so you can an idea of what I'm going to be creating this week. I would be honored if you would beta test it with me, when I'm ready.

Is there a good material that's good for background decorations (command center structure for my level) that doesn't raise the thermometer very quickly?

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by Protectron

You're welcome!

Cymbol, I made a sketch of my level and I'll scan it and send it to you so you can an idea of what I'm going to be creating this week. I would be honored if you would beta test it with me, when I'm ready.

Is there a good material that's good for background decorations (command center structure for my level) that doesn't raise the thermometer very quickly?

You can use quite a few decorations before your thermo goes up too high. There are a lot of "metal plate" decorations - I'd have to see what look you are going for to be able to recommend properly. Also, I don't know which DLC packs you have. I buy every level pack so I have more options for creating. Each pack has different materials, decorations - sometimes sounds, or even the paintonator or water.

So, it's hard to list/recommend with out know what you have available in your create bag.

I have:
POTC level kit
MGS level kit
Marvel level kit
Incredibles Pack
History Pack
Monster Pack
Valentines Day Pack
Christmas Pack

What do you have?

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

Yeah, thanks Stephie - and everyone else on this site who helped me get my 100% back.

Just need the 100% in POTC and Marvel now.

No prob, Bob!

[Euribo]

I am looking for some people to play with. Most of the time when I try to play online, I'm the only one in the level. I do not have a head set though. My PSN is BobShaw44, feel free to add me.

[Trailbreaker77]

I'm going to try again this Thursday to finish up my MGS set. So some of you LBP'ers on my friends list expect an invite.

[Protectron]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

You can use quite a few decorations before your thermo goes up too high. There are a lot of "metal plate" decorations - I'd have to see what look you are going for to be able to recommend properly. Also, I don't know which DLC packs you have. I buy every level pack so I have more options for creating. Each pack has different materials, decorations - sometimes sounds, or even the paintonator or water.

So, it's hard to list/recommend with out know what you have available in your create bag.

I have:
POTC level kit
MGS level kit
Marvel level kit
Incredibles Pack
History Pack
Monster Pack
Valentines Day Pack
Christmas Pack

What do you have?

I have:

POTC level kit
MGS level kit
History Pack
Monster Pack
Valentines Day Pack
Christmas Pack
God of War Pack
Heavenly Sword Pack
Fragrances
Norse Mythology Pack
Egyptian Mythology Pack


Sorry I haven't sent you my scanned sketch yet. Started creating my level and before I knew it, it was 10:30pm! Didn't get very far though and I have a couple of questions:

1) I positioned the entrance point above the command center area but when sackboy drops he keep going to the back layer instead of staying the middle layer (where I positioned the entrance and chute for him to enter). How can I fix that?

2) I want to add some led lights to simulate the blinking computers in the command center but I can't get them to stick to anything. How come?

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by Protectron

I have:
God of War Pack
Heavenly Sword Pack
Fragrances
Norse Mythology Pack
Egyptian Mythology Pack

Oh, I have those as well - forgot about those.

Sorry I haven't sent you my scanned sketch yet. Started creating my level and before I knew it, it was 10:30pm! Didn't get very far though and I have a couple of questions:

Trust me, I know - I can spend 4 hours tinkering, trying out ideas and have almost nothing to show for it.

1) I positioned the entrance point above the command center area but when sackboy drops he keep going to the back layer instead of staying the middle layer (where I positioned the entrance and chute for him to enter). How can I fix that?

Either put the Spawn Gate lower - or place something in the background so he doesn't float back. Hard to say without seeing it.

2) I want to add some led lights to simulate the blinking computers in the command center but I can't get them to stick to anything. How come?

When gluing, you have to select the direction you want to glue (a welcome update they made a while back). So, when gluing your LED, move it "back" against the object, as if you're trying to move it back a layer - then, glue.

If you are doing that, then I can't imagine why it won't stick - if that is the case, again, I'd have to see it to see if I find anything out of the ordinary.

LBP is strange - sometimes, I'll do things and I think, "Why isn't this working, this should work!" But once in a while, I'll discover that it was something I didn't do right.

Example, I had a fire effect early on in the stage. I'd spawn in, but when I got to that part, the fire wasn't working - happened everytime. Later, I discovered that before that, I had a water level trigger - and the water was putting out the fire.

I'm betting your LED problem is something simple.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by lbloodojunkieg

I am looking for some people to play with. Most of the time when I try to play online, I'm the only one in the level. I do not have a head set though. My PSN is BobShaw44, feel free to add me.

Hey, I saw that you played my Dream Catcher level yesterday - (I actually sent you a PSN message thanking you for your comment) - didn't realize you were part of blu-ray.com.

Be sure to check here for the next get together. Looks like Trailbreaker is trying for Thursday for the MGS pack.

I'm not actually a good player myself - I have the guys on this site to help me out.

I tend to spend my time in Create Mode the most. Working hard to get The Dream Catcher II up before I move next month and I'm without my PS3, etc.

Busy, busy.