I'm creating this thread in order to increase the number of modders in the community, with some tips or steps to follow in order to improve the current maps in the Pending section. Any player who knows some notions of this game mode is welcomed to participate! Also, if you have problems with modding or things you are unsure about, please do not hestitate to ask in this thread!
(If one of these factors doesn't apply, the pattern can be questioned. The more factors do not apply, the more questionable the pattern becomes and should be probably changed.)
Previous Hint:
- Always check by yourself if the notes in a map are snapped correctly. Use ctrl+a.
(Sometimes the the notes are snapped 1ms wrong due to timing changes, which AiMod doesn't recognize.) - Try to mod from mapper's perspective.
(We want to help the mapper, not remap the map in our way we would like to see it.) - When a beatmap has too many issues don't be afraid to suggest a remap!
(In this way, you save the mapper's and your time. Provide also some points which helps remaking the map.) - When modding, don't focus on finding issues where aren't any. Instead, give suggestions when the beatmap is overall fine.
(Sometimes beatmaps are ready for rank. So it's okay to tell mapper the map is fine or give maybe additional personal suggestions.)
I've downloaded a Pending map. What can I do now?
STEP 1: Check the folder and the files inside it.
Remember to follow the General Ranking Criteria and the Taiko Ranking Criteria. AIMod in-game and external programs as AIBat are quite helpful to fulfill this step. There are some particularities to consider here:
- Help to add some info here!
There are some external pages where you can check if the Artist, Title and so on are the correct ones. Some common and handful webpages are:
- vgmdb.net: For videogames and anime.
- Touhou Wiki: Specialised in Touhou songs.
- Vocaloid Wiki: Specialised in Vocaloid songs.
- RemyWiki: Specialised in Beatmania and Bemani songs.
- Digital Emergency: Specialised in Beatmania and Bemani songs.
- Help to add more info here!
Put your headphones on, and show your special abilities to detect timing incongruities! Some help:
- Playing: When hitting a note, you can see if you hit it too soon or too late. It is a perfect comparison to the headphones.
- BPM Analyzers: External programs such as MixMeister help you to detect the correct BPM. Take into account that it'd only work with single-BPM songs, and it doesn't detect the correct offset.
- Timing Analyzer v0.32.4 by statementreply: Tool to detect an accurate BPM and Offset in most of the mp3 files. Only working for single-BPM songs!
- Charles445's advanced timing videotutorials: Where you can see how to time different types of songs according to their BPM.
- LKs' timing tutorial (Chinese):
- Help to add more info here!
If you're already an experienced player, you won't have much problems to test any kind of maps. Moreover, you'd know already what is difficult or not, or what is fun or not. For any other players who aren't so experienced, or who want to learn to mod, there are some stuff to consider:
- Kantan: The easiest level of the mapset. It should use a quite simple rhythm without following too much the vocal or off-beats.
- Futsuu: Possible use of simple off-beats and more 1/2 patterns.
- Muzukashii: The perfect level for the average player. Longer 1/2 patterns and the introduction of simple 1/4 patterns shall fit here.
- Oni: The use of patterns become complex and denser, especially 1/4 patterns.
- Inner / Ura Oni: Similar to Oni, but it is more of a challenge for the players!
Also, the following questions are the ones that modders have to ask themselves, in order to improve the quality of the map:
- Does the difficulty spread make sense? Probably the most important one. Mapsets should be enjoyable for any kind of player! Think about possible solutions for a map-set which spread can be made better, like adding a new difficulty or refining the existing one.
- Does the label / diff-name of the difficulty fit? A difficulty should be labeled right. Making it easier than usual is possible, but not harder.
- Is the SV reasonable? It is important to keep the SV natural to the songs BPM.
- Does a pattern sound, play and look well? These three factors are important for a pattern. If one isn't ensured, the pattern can be possibly made better.
- Could a beat fit in this point / be avoidable? To create a good rhythm and avoid overmapping.
- Does the map have emphasized / unstressed parts? Stanza-technically this is really important. Check how the kiai, SV changes or simple breaks and gaps has been used in the map to avoid having patterns which might feel monotonically to the player.
- What was the mappers intention? Keep asking this yourself over and over again. You are the modder; not the mapper. So you should respect mappers intention and the way he made the map. Think about how he mapped(E.g.: beat-, vocal-, own pattern based).
- Help to add more info here!
Original thread: CTB Modding Academy by Deif
