Firstly, wasn't sure where to post this. General Chat seemed like the best option.

Lately, I've been wanting to start modding beatmaps lately, mainly because I feel as if there aren't enough people around who are willing to. I've uploaded a couple of beatmaps, one of which was almost completely ignored, with the other one being 100% ignored until I tried to revive it from the Graveyard (at which point I was told that the beatmap was too short to be ranked anyway; I wish somebody had referred me to that rule beforehand instead of ignoring the beatmap completely).

Not blaming anyone or trying to get anything done, I'm just saying; that's why I want to start modding some beatmaps, so that nobody gets ignored.

So, on to the point. I've read a lot of guides and such, and I'm brushed up on the latest rules and guidelines for beatmapping, so I think I'm ready to start modding, other than the fact that I have no experience in it at all. So, I'm turning to the community! Why? It's simple...

While it's great to read about all of the "tried and true" methods in some guide, I think it's best to hear it straight from the people who do it all the time. What's the best way to mod? How do you help the beatmap get attention from a MAT so that it can get ranked? How far can the modding process of a regular user go compared to a MAT or BAT?
Basically, I'm looking to hear some solid tips, straight from the horse's mouth. So, if you have anything to offer to me, let me hear it! I don't want to jump right into it and make careless mistakes because I was ignorant of the right way to do things. :3

viewforum.php?f=56 is the right place.

And I'm actually expecting the same here.

The best way of learning modding techniques is by simply giving it a go yourself. Everyone has their own ways of going about things, but on the whole it's about looking through the map and pointing out anything you don't think is as good as it can be. Don't be afraid to make "maybe" suggestions that the mapper won't necessarily go through with, as getting other people's perspectives on your map is helpful even if you personally disagree with them.

Also, it's great to check technical details such as mp3 bit rates and skin element dimensions, since that sort of thing often slips through and isn't too difficult to look at.

As for how far your modding can go compared to a MAT or BAT, there shouldn't really be any difference between a MAT or BAT mod post and a normal user's - MAT and BAT members have just been picked out due to their skill and experience. If you've modded a map and think that it's perfect, but it isn't getting a lot of attention, you might want to message a MAT and let them know - I don't know about anyone else, but I'm more likely to take mod requests from people who aren't the mapper, just because it's got one surefire seal of approval

1. Use AIBat. It makes it much easier to check smaller things like tags, since those are way too easy to miss otherwise. Just use your brain to make sure that something it says is true, since programs aren't perfect.

2. Play through the map once, and then check it through in the Editor as many times as you feel are needed. After that, just make as many suggestions as possible. That's how modding works, really.

3. Don't kudosu whore. (It's a long story)

As far as getting attention from a MAT goes... Start a conversation with them, and then cleverly sneak the map into said conversation. That really is the best way.

EDIT: Oh, and ask MATs/BATs to look over your mod posts and tell you how you're doing. No, really, do it. Most will be glad to do so.

@ Blue Dragon: Thanks, I'll remember that. I can't move it there myself, but if I ever have questions in the future, I'll re-direct them there.

@RandomJibberish and Ekaru: Thanks for the tips. I have yet to use AIBat on anything... Guess I just keep on forgetting that it's there. o-o;

As for the bitrate, that's the first thing I'll be checking every time. I have a couple of maps that I've sort of labeled because they have bad quality MP3's that were obviously ripped from YouTube or something. Even though the maps themselves are good, I find myself not playing them much because the music just sounds bad.

o-o; Kudosu whore? Is, like, one Kudosu per map okay? I'm not sure what you mean by that. X'D I assume I would only be giving kudosu when I think a map is ready or some such anyway, so I guess I won't have to worry so much about that...

Jibberish's last sentence. This. I can totally understand where that's coming from. Just saying. Good tip, thanks. XD

So, basically, look for the small details that nobody else is looking for. test the heck outta the map to make sure nothing feels off. When I feel the map is ready to be ranked, use my Stealth stat in Skyrim to trick MATs into looking at it. Sounds good!

I just wanna say it now... Even if I doubtfully become some prominent modder in the future, I never wanna be a MAT or anything. I don't know how that works, but in case you just look at people of interest and ask them, don't bother. I'm too lazy/have a bad work ethic to be anything like that. XD But I doubt I'll have time to mod enough for my name to get out like that. Anyway...

And I'm actually expecting the same here.

...?

EDIT: Noticed that somebody more important than me has moved the thread into the proper section of the forum. Thanks! XD

Ekaru wrote:

1. Use AIBat. It makes it much easier to check smaller things like tags, since those are way too easy to miss otherwise. Just use your brain to make sure that something it says is true, since programs aren't perfect.

I wouldn't suggest to use such programms for beginners,they should learn everything by getting experience
what's the point of simple copypaste if the modder can't explain his issues?

about kudosu whoring - sadly,many people mod to get easy kudos and don't care much if they're helpful or not

otherwise,pretty much what's RJ and Ekaru said
play-test a map and if you think you can improve something (rhytm,hitsounds,design) - just suggest it in your mod post
but make sure to explain how it could help

:O I see. Well, aside from helping maps that I support 100% get some notice, I don't think I would care much to fill my account with kudos. XD Seeing as I don't plan to take this any further than helping some people out when I can.

Actually, I just went off and modded two or three maps. Pretty much all of them had simply horrible timing, so there wasn't much else to mod since the beatmap itself would've had to be completely re-done. xp At least I was able to give correct timing values. "I've had no chance to use AIBat at all" is the point I'm getting at. XD Guess looking at the 0 replies-to and non-star prioritized topics leaves a lot to be wanted. Nobody wants to take the time to mod a map that isn't even properly timed... Maybe I should go to Pending Beatmaps instead of WIP/Help... =p