Hammer - Optimisation questions

Currently trying to optimise my map so I can do a full compile in under a week (1000 numportals down, 10,000 to go) Opposite of map-porn: http://i.imgur.com/94JtJGx.jpg Focusing on realigning the skybox currently so its shrank to the existing brushwork rather than a 'big box' that contains the whole map- I believe this is the biggest issue with the map at present. Further questions though that might help me:

• How important is the 'power of 2' methodology for brushwork? If so is this just thickness or all dimensions?
• Do hint brushes need to fully seal an area for them to be effective? Does it need to be a single hint brush per side if so, or do you 'fill in the gaps' between the brush and the skybox?
• Area portals VS hint brushes. Any issues created with me just using hints for now?
• Any way to 'join' numportals? I've noticed it creates a new one per ground brush.

ok

at least that's an achievable goal just now. tedious, but achievable.

Yeah I've watched that one a couple times. everything in it makes sense but it gets a little more complicated when you're trying to apply it to a fully (or close to fully) brushed level.

Interlopers has answered a lot of my questions so that's good. LOTS of work for me with little visual improvement though.

Lessons learnt:

• A boxed-out skybox is amazing at hiding bad brushwork
• probably start optimising at greybox. at least get the skybox wrapped around the brushes as this is a pain when your map is further down the line
• full compile every couple of iterations
• build using nodraw and then add textures to the visible faces, not the other way round
• Visgroups are lifesavers

Most of you are probably going 'duh' at this but hey, you only need to make a mistake like this once, right?

Yeah I'm going to use that in conjunction with visgroups once the skybox is finished.

I'm learning a lot, that's the main thing!

[Blocked Image: http://i.imgur.com/K5rhkbF.png]

These two brushes weren't func_detailed at the time of the screenshot. that's sorted now.

Can I try to fix the issues myself before posting a vmf if I hit any brick walls? I like being as self-sufficient as possible...

sure, I'll send later when I'm home

https://www.mediafire.com/?8xjzdjpvpmh4e4v

Warning - make make you wince

http://www.megafileupload.com/en/file/600532…lution-vmf.html

okay leplubodeslapin looked at the map last night and found massive inherent flaws with how the map was build:

• overlapping brushes
• misaligned brushes
• brushes mainly built on a grid of 1
• lots of offgrid work.
  

  I've decided to leave this one here and go to a simple AIM map and then come back to this .vmf. See if it's fixable, if not I'll start again at greybox and do it right.

Edit- Thanks again to leplubodeslapin

How do you guys the balance between open skybox vs closed but optimised right? I want to keep the numportal count as low as possible but also don't want a limiting skybox...