Mapping for Beginners
Learning to make maps in Warcraft is not that difficult. Playing around with the editor is the best way to learn, but some people may feel more comfortable with guidance. This thread serves as a jump-start for your mapping journey. It is just an overview, but it should push you in the right direction. Good luck!
Note: If you have any questions, post them in a separate thread. This thread is reserved for suggestions and tips.
How do I make a map!?
If you are completely new to Warcraft map-making, you will find that messing around with the editor will teach you a lot. The rule of thumb is that you should start small - a beginner is not going to make the next DotA without practice. World Editor Tutorials gives some excellent advice on how to start mapping:
If you're not willing to invest the time and effort to learn how to make maps, then don't expect to succeed. Learning how to make maps is hard work, and it doesn't come overnight. That said, don't expect to get much help if you post a thread saying "help me! I want to make a map!"Our best advice for the new mapmaker is to open an existing melee map from Warcraft III. Add a few special events that can occur. Add a quest or two, and create some custom units. Change the terrain a little to learn about the terrain editor. When you know your way around the editor a little, create a few custom abilities, and maybe even a custom hero.
How do I make a campaign?
All campaigns start off with the Campaign Editor. Assuming that you can make maps, the Campaign Editor is self-explanatory. After filling in the various text boxes with the corresponding information, click on the "Add Map" icon in the toolbar, and add the maps that you have created, with their corresponding buttons. If you have experience with the Object Editor, then the Campaign Editor's analogous features should be straightforward, the only difference being the color of the edited objects' texts. In addition, you can import files much like in regular maps, except that the path to the file is wc3campimported\file, not wc3mapimported\file.
If you want to save your character between maps, you will have to use the Game Cache triggers in the Trigger Editor.
How do I make a TD (Tower Defense) Map?
TDs are very difficult maps to create. Tossing aside the technical aspects for a moment, making an original, fun-to-play map requires a huge commitment. Because of the high standards in the mapping community on TDs, your map needs to be both well-polished and entertaining.
First, you will need to terrain your map. This includes doodads and other static aspects, such as the paths for the creeps to walk.
Second, you will need to create the towers. This is self-explanatory - if you've played a TD, you probably have tons of ideas bouncing around in your head. See some unprotected TDs for more details on making the towers.
Third, you will need to make the creeps, who walk through the paths. Again, as with the towers, you probably have many ideas.
There are many excellent tutorials on the internet about making TDs, so if you're stuck you can search for more detailed information.