Just wondering. When you make a map. What things should you do and what should you never do. I mean are there any golden rules that will improve your maps.

And how do you begin, do you draw a sketch?

So the question is, from beginning to end, what do you do when you make a map, and what rules do you follow :)

Thanks :D

yea first i go in photoshop and draw a layout of the map. then i usually make a box. and then detail it for the drawing to fit in. i try not to give one team the advantage over the other. and i try to minimize base to base sniping.

No, NEVER start from a box. Draw out your level on paper, scan it in, and make vertices corresponding to your drawing. Then make polygons from those vertices and work from there.

the way moooseGuy just mentioned is way to go,draw it out and throw it in the scanner then open your picture in 3d studio.follow this video tutorial and you'll come up with some good maps.
http://vimeo.com/11781231