I apologize if I put this thread in the wrong area. So... I SUCK at building. I always get mad half way through building something because it doesn't look good. I'm not trying to build a mansion y'know? Just trying to build a house for two people on a modded game to live in but I can't, any advice for how to build a good looking house? Size doesn't matter as much, I'm trying to build a medium to large scale however. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My advice? Literally just copy something you find cool off the internet. I myself am normally such a bad builder that I need some sort of template to work off of so I'm past the point of being guilty for using someone else's work. Besides, I normally add my own personal touches after I get the basic framework of the building made. For instance, check out the pic attached. The largest building in that pic, my town hall, I actually found a picture of one the internet and then copied it by hand, block by block. It can also be used as a large house, if you wanna use it too.
Not a bad idea I suppose. Not something I do a lot mainly because I want to be the one who actually builds it, and not have to rely on someone else's work. I dunno
Not an immediate solution, but should help you improve long term…
As you surf the net, you'll come across examples of buildings (actual or MC builds) that strike you as particularly appealing or well done
Save a picture of the build, take a moment to analyse why you like it (or what about it you like), and write this down alongside the picture(s).
There are various sites that let you do this online [the comments on imgur.com or pinterest {no association with either} can work], or you may want to dowload the pic/take a screenshot and past it into a word processor document above your coments. (OpenOffice.org is a free alternative if you don't already have access to such a program.)
These comments don't need to be profound, over time just pausing to record things like 'cool roof technique', or 'good proportions' will both build up a repertoire of techniques you can use and help you understand what it is that makes some builds more to your taste.
[This follows the old idea that – if one wishes to learn to do something well – studying the work of the masters (or at least those who have created successes) lays a good foundation.]
Another thing that will help is to build... a lot....
Practice in creative mode so you can focus on the building and ignore the logistics.
Make multiple copies of the same area of the same seed and see how different ideas work out. [Putting a build into a landscape is what one does on most servers so practicing in superflat worlds is less than optimal.] This also allows you to work on a copy and easily return to the base design. [Learning to use structure blocks can be a huge help with this aspect if your builds are fairly compact.]
Superflats are, however, great as test worlds where you can keep examples of 'things' – eg an interesting wall treatmeant, or a way to do a particular style of porch (without having do reset the scaffolding eleventy million billion times :rolleyes:).
Get some feedback; sometimes another pair of eyes can see a small change that makes a big improvement. [Family and friends may not be the best for this, as they may prioritize diplomacy over honesty. (Thinking the reviewer is an ignorant idiot also has fewer repercussions if you know them only via the web... particularly if you are wise enough to keep that opinion to yourself. ) ]
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"Why does everything have to be so stoopid?" Harvey Pekar (from American Splendor)
WARNING: I have an extemely "grindy" playstyle; YMMV — if this doesn't seem fun to you, mine what you can from it & bin the rest.
Not an immediate solution, but should help you improve long term…
As you surf the net, you'll come across examples of buildings (actual or MC builds) that strike you as particularly appealing or well done
Save a picture of the build, take a moment to analyse why you like it (or what about it you like), and write this down alongside the picture(s).
There are various sites that let you do this online [the comments on imgur.com or pinterest {no association with either} can work], or you may want to dowload the pic/take a screenshot and past it into a word processor document above your coments. (OpenOffice.org is a free alternative if you don't already have access to such a program.)
These comments don't need to be profound, over time just pausing to record things like 'cool roof technique', or 'good proportions' will both build up a repertoire of techniques you can use and help you understand what it is that makes some builds more to your taste.
[This follows the old idea that – if one wishes to learn to do something well – studying the work of the masters (or at least those who have created successes) lays a good foundation.]
Another thing that will help is to build... a lot....
Practice in creative mode so you can focus on the building and ignore the logistics.
Make multiple copies of the same area of the same seed and see how different ideas work out. [Putting a build into a landscape is what one does on most servers so practicing in superflat worlds is less than optimal.] This also allows you to work on a copy and easily return to the base design. [Learning to use structure blocks can be a huge help with this aspect if your builds are fairly compact.]
Superflats are, however, great as test worlds where you can keep examples of 'things' – eg an interesting wall treatmeant, or a way to do a particular style of porch (without having do reset the scaffolding eleventy million billion times :rolleyes:).
Get some feedback; sometimes another pair of eyes can see a small change that makes a big improvement. [Family and friends may not be the best for this, as they may prioritize diplomacy over honesty. (Thinking the reviewer is an ignorant idiot also has fewer repercussions if you know them only via the web... particularly if you are wise enough to keep that opinion to yourself. ) ]
As people have been saying, copying things is a great way to get started. You'll find what you like and start developing your style from there.
And don't set unreasonably high standards for yourself. The people who create huge megastructures have been doing creative work for a long time, and thus are able to apply their skills to building. Don't expect to be building something amazing your first few times.
Creativity is a muscle. The more you use it, the easier it gets.
I apologize if I put this thread in the wrong area. So... I SUCK at building. I always get mad half way through building something because it doesn't look good. I'm not trying to build a mansion y'know? Just trying to build a house for two people on a modded game to live in but I can't, any advice for how to build a good looking house? Size doesn't matter as much, I'm trying to build a medium to large scale however. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My advice? Literally just copy something you find cool off the internet. I myself am normally such a bad builder that I need some sort of template to work off of so I'm past the point of being guilty for using someone else's work. Besides, I normally add my own personal touches after I get the basic framework of the building made. For instance, check out the pic attached. The largest building in that pic, my town hall, I actually found a picture of one the internet and then copied it by hand, block by block. It can also be used as a large house, if you wanna use it too.
Not a bad idea I suppose. Not something I do a lot mainly because I want to be the one who actually builds it, and not have to rely on someone else's work. I dunno
Not an immediate solution, but should help you improve long term…
As you surf the net, you'll come across examples of buildings (actual or MC builds) that strike you as particularly appealing or well done
Save a picture of the build, take a moment to analyse why you like it (or what about it you like), and write this down alongside the picture(s).
There are various sites that let you do this online [the comments on imgur.com or pinterest {no association with either} can work], or you may want to dowload the pic/take a screenshot and past it into a word processor document above your coments. (OpenOffice.org is a free alternative if you don't already have access to such a program.)
These comments don't need to be profound, over time just pausing to record things like 'cool roof technique', or 'good proportions' will both build up a repertoire of techniques you can use and help you understand what it is that makes some builds more to your taste.
[This follows the old idea that – if one wishes to learn to do something well – studying the work of the masters (or at least those who have created successes) lays a good foundation.]
Another thing that will help is to build... a lot....
Practice in creative mode so you can focus on the building and ignore the logistics.
Make multiple copies of the same area of the same seed and see how different ideas work out. [Putting a build into a landscape is what one does on most servers so practicing in superflat worlds is less than optimal.] This also allows you to work on a copy and easily return to the base design. [Learning to use structure blocks can be a huge help with this aspect if your builds are fairly compact.]
Superflats are, however, great as test worlds where you can keep examples of 'things' – eg an interesting wall treatmeant, or a way to do a particular style of porch (without having do reset the scaffolding eleventy million billion times :rolleyes:).
Get some feedback; sometimes another pair of eyes can see a small change that makes a big improvement. [Family and friends may not be the best for this, as they may prioritize diplomacy over honesty. (Thinking the reviewer is an ignorant idiot also has fewer repercussions if you know them only via the web... particularly if you are wise enough to keep that opinion to yourself. ) ]
This is really helpful. Thank you.
As people have been saying, copying things is a great way to get started. You'll find what you like and start developing your style from there.
And don't set unreasonably high standards for yourself. The people who create huge megastructures have been doing creative work for a long time, and thus are able to apply their skills to building. Don't expect to be building something amazing your first few times.
Creativity is a muscle. The more you use it, the easier it gets.