Overview
These are just some tips on how to make a good level for Monaco. Any and all feedback will be appreciated!
Two Basic Parts
Building a Monaco level is split into two different parts, the Layout and Filling.
The Layout:
The Layout should be the first thing you do when building the level. The layout is just the general picture of the map, where all of the rooms are, where the characters spawn, and where your objective is placed. The majority of your Layout is going to come from the Architecture bar.
Filling:
Filling is well, filling up the map. After you have the basic outline of your map, you’re going to want to place guards, loot, and traps, right? Filling is an extremely important part for three reasons: You want your map to be challenging, at least slightly challenging if you’re making an easy map. You don’t want your map to look empty, it should be filled with scenery and NPC’s to really get the player to feel like they’re sneaking into a high security vault, breaking into a mansion at midnight, or escaping a failed mission. Lastly, you don’t want empty space. Empty space is extremely boring and can quickly turn a level sour.
The Layout
Building the Layout of your map can seem challenging at first, but once you get used to the editor, you’ll find it easier.
Know What You’re Doing Ahead Of Time
While some levels can be made at a high quality just going into the editor cold, it’s best to already have an idea of your map. I like to sketch map ideas out on paper when I’m bored so I can easily transition them into the game. Knowing what you want to do beforehand significantly decreases the dificulty in setting the Layout of a map.
The Flow
While part of the fun in Monaco is exploring the level, you’re going to want a general flow to the map. By having a nice smooth flow, this allows the player to really feel like he/she is getting to know the level. It’s a sweet feeling inside when you grab the jewels and your escape route comes naturally to you. While you want the map to be challenging, you want to give your players that sense of knowing the territory and escaping. Placing 80 million corridors on one floor obstructs the natural flow to the level, while at the same time, having wide open spaces dissapates the flow. You really want to search for that sweet spot of rooms and hallways.
Empty Spaces Kill
While this is more heavily covered in Filling, your Layout can also play a large role in creating empty spaces. Large, open spaces give the guards an unfair advantage and bore the player quickly. If you are making a large room or hallway, already have an idea in your mind of how you’re going to fill it.
Filling
Filling is a crucial part to map making, and you cannot allow yourself to get lazy at this point. Break up your level making over a period of time. Making a well constructed Monaco level takes time, and marathons will most likely exhaust your brain and result in a poorly filled map. (Some people actually work best when doing work in one session, if you are this kind of person, ignore the above advice.)
Usable Items
Make sure you give the players enough usable items throughout the map. The player spawn area should have 4 pick up items (shotgun, wrench, etc.) and throughout the map the players should be able to pick up one or two other items. Depending on the difficulty of the map, med-kits should be placed sporadically on the map with at least one on each floor. (Bathrooms and utility closets are great places for med-kits!) Disguises should also be available on the map. I suggest up 3-5 disguises be placed on the map total. The amount of computers on the map should be proportional to the amount of traps in your level.
Scenery
Scenery can be the hardest part of a Monaco map, but it can be the most rewarding! The scenery and feel to the map can make your level really stand out! Make sure you’re filling the map with tables and decor. You want the player to feel as if they are really in the environment you made for them!
Traps
No Monaco map is completely without traps! Blink lasers can be used frequently due to their low-difficulty, but don’t overdo it! Make your traps diverse, don’t just place the same traps in multiple places. Also, each trap doesn’t have to be connected to an alarm. While most should be, don;t be afraid to connect a security camera to a tranquilizer or machine gun.
Loot
It is suggested that you use 1 or 2 random loots on each floor, with only placing a few specific loots. This way, you do not overpower the players, giving them near-infinite shotgun ammo. Cash bundles are also a great idea, but only use a few. Don’t put 15 of them in your map. Safes and ATMs are also a great way to add variety and challenge, but don’t overpopulate levels with them, and don’t make them too easy to get to. I advise only 1-3 of these per map.
NPCs
Place your NPCs how you would think that place would be populated in real life. Are you robbing a bank? If so, there should be plenty of civilians in the lobby witha couple guards, while very few civilians populate the safe entrance but guards have it covered. Take a tour of the environment with your mind and place NPCs where you think they ought to be placed. Remember, each floor can only have four different set patrols, so use them wisely! Place random patrols on some guards but block them into a certain area using patrol blockers. Also, make sure that you’re making good use of foliage to give your players spaces to hide from guards!
Empty Space Literally Kills
I cannot stress this enough. Players do not want empty space, and I admit, it is challenging. I sometimes find it very difficult to fill an empty space. My advice is to just keep working. Spend a good amount of time just adding in statues, tables, decor, anything that fills up that space that feels natural! If you find yourself having a lot of trouble with filling empty space, go back to the layout. Try making rooms smaller, or deleting rooms that simply do not have a purpose.
Closing
Thank you for spending the time reading my guide! I hope that it helps a lot of people! Again, any and all feedback is appreciated, even if it’s telling me that I’m terrible at making guides haha.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.