When is a good time to start a BAT thread?

[LivingInThePast 364]

I'm starting to build my first, serious gmax effort: a small-town Wal-Mart. I did the work of looking up the size of the buildings in square meters (I did Wal-Marts in four cities).

Unfortunately, if I tried to post that as my first thing in a BAT thread, or even an untextured box that is of the correct width and depth, I'd get laughed out of my thread and it would be locked.

So, wanting to avoid embarrassment, I've decided to ask a good time when to start it. 

[Jasoncw 11,841]

Whenever you're ready to present and receive comments about your BAT.

If you posted what you've done so far, no one would mind, although it would probably be too early for anyone to have anything to say. As long as you're posting genuine work, and are being receptive to advice, your BAT thread will go fine.

[Alex_Bervoets 91]

Any time is a good time to start a bat thread...

I did it and you get a lot of help. So just show your work here and after a few days you'll get some response to improve your BAT.

Oh... and don't worry if you get a lot of remarks from the experts, they really mean well

Good luck!

[mntoes 271]

Go ahead and show us what you have done. As Jason said if you are peceptive to advice then you'll be fine. Remember don't take a less favourable comment personally. I find that the trouble with these sort of threads is that sometimes you can get the wrong meaning from a comment that is designed to help. No need for embarrassment either my fist Bat was simply awfull! So bad I ditched it and a few more too. But I got some good advice here.

Good luck with your project

Mntoes

[madhatter106 3,903]

Originally posted by: LivingInThePast

Unfortunately, if I tried to post that as my first thing in a BAT thread, or even an untextured box that is of the correct width and depth, I'd get laughed out of my thread and it would be locked.quote>

You sort of answered your own question here, I think...when it's more than "an untextured box that is of the correct width and depth," then it's time to come here to post and get feedback.  Keep in mind, though, the more you have to show, the more we have to see and critique; that said, keep in mind the following the further down the road you get -

You're going to make mistakes.

You're going to have to redo things.

You're going to scale things too large, or make things too small.

You're going to have to redo things.

You're going to take shortcuts that don't work, or overly complicate something that doesn't need to be complicated.

You're going to have to redo things.

You're going to have a lot of trial and error while texturing.

You're going to have to redo things.

You're going to have a lot of trial and error while nightlighting.

You're going to have to redo things.

It's going to happen...so that first BAT will be a long road; for some, it's a longer road than others.  It all depends...but if you stick with it, it clicks and you're on your way.  Just listen to the good folks here, take their critiques and apply them, and the work will get better and better...

[Timmystwin 201]

Meh. An untextured box is cool with me, at least my comment will have some meaning to it when it is posted. Put Any stage in the design you want up, there is NO quality limit. So go on. BAT and post your heart out. Anyone laughing forgets that we are all new once, and shame on them.

[LivingInThePast 364]

Jasoncw: Yikes. I tried my first BAT as the tutorial office building (in the BAT Essentials tutorial) but there were things that didn't seem to make sense, even when I did them exactly as they said. I do realize that the building may look horrible at first, but I'm going to start it up and try to get somewhere tonight. It might be a bit difficult...said Wal-Marts have an overhang in the front.

[Gn_leugim 858]

Well, Every one, or almost every one starts badly, and then improves. and even when you reach a good quality, you will be (or you should be) always improving, trying to reach better techniques, better skills, new types of works and so on. I remember now my beginning and they have nothing to do with my last works ^^

[LivingInThePast 364]

I finally did manage to start, but stumbled across problems (which I posted in the BAT Troubleshooting and General Discussion thread). A little bit more work is needed, though: at this rate, I might launch an actual thread later today or tomorrow.