Originally Posted by TheSilentLord (Post 3873297)

(at least when it's finished)

Originally Posted by stargroup100 (Post 3873330)

Updated the sentence about not using jacks limiting pattern choices. Hopefully this is an improvement.

As for the phrase length, here's an analogy:
"TC_Halogen's definition of a phrase was slightly off, so I clarified what I meant."
Each clause is a phrase, which is usually 4 measures. The whole sentence is usually the 8 measures you're talking about.

Musical example: here you can see that the melody doesn't really reach "completion" until the authentic cadence at the end, a total of 12 measures. However, this isn't a single phrase, it's more like a sentence. This excerpt is actually 3 four-measure phrases.

Originally Posted by Xx{Midnight}xX (Post 3873303)

I only majorly disagree with one thing I read

Limiting your pattern choices by avoiding jacks severely limits your work, especially for 4-key, where you don't have a lot of room to begin with. By incorporating jacks into your patterns, you not only have more options, but these jacks will add a lot of expression into your work.

There's a lot that can be done while avoiding misc jacks and such.

Still a great guide either way.

Originally Posted by stargroup100 (Post 3873330)

Updated the sentence about not using jacks limiting pattern choices. Hopefully this is an improvement.

Originally Posted by Choofers (Post 3873375)

have you heard of jack theory

Originally Posted by Xx{Midnight}xX (Post 3873395)

Maybe add a section discussing the types of rhythm games?

Sections could include:

KBO
SM (4K and 6K)
FFR
Osu! (Taiko and Standard would make great mentions)

Originally Posted by Xx{Midnight}xX (Post 3873395)

Tips and tricks could have some subsections:

AntiSplitting Techniques if there aren't any
Cheating patterns such as rolls
Key Setups?

Originally Posted by Xx{Midnight}xX (Post 3873395)

For charting a section on appealing to a specific difficulty would be outright amazing.

Originally Posted by robertsona (Post 3873891)

bufang

hows college

Originally Posted by bmah (Post 3873922)

Something maybe worth mentioning regarding pitch-relevancy: there are multiple ways of conveying an ascending or descending melody line. This can be achieved through symmetry.

The basic example is 1234 or 4321, but what if the melody line ascends/descends for more than four notes? Use symmetrical patterns that give a generally ascending/descending impression. Some examples:

5 notes: 13243, 42312, 21324, 34231
6 notes: 121324, 213243, 131424, 123234, 234123, etc.
7 notes: 1213243, 2132434, etc.
8 notes: 12132434, 43423121, 21314243, 34241312

This would most likely fit within your Advanced Pitch Relevance/Counterpoint section.

Originally Posted by bmah (Post 3873922)

Dunno if you mentioned this but certain patterns may provide different "textures" to the file. e.g. smooth, streamlined stuff may be 1234321, while a "bumpy" texture may be 1324132. I call them textures because the patterns affect the way your fingers move from one arrow to the next.

Originally Posted by robertsona (Post 3873923)

good guide son, glad to see youre still on that stepmania grind, u should like teach stepmania or some hsit

Originally Posted by Choofers (Post 3873995)

this should be sent to jae immediately

Originally Posted by Razor (Post 3873969)

a copy of this thread should be put in the ffr songs sub-forum imo

Originally Posted by Roar176 (Post 3874178)

I don't like the introduction to notecharting it's really influencing

You make it sound like "scoring files" and "artistic files" are two distinctives things which is something I noticed and disliked about you when you reviewed FFR4 because it seemed to me that because you can't play anything that goes beyond X NPS (X being your skill) therefore file goes to the "scoring files category". Seeing things that way, your opinion on a file is subjected to change if you gain or lose skills. If you are able to play the file then you will start seeing beyond the heavy loads of notes. Okay the reviews are subjective but if you do the same sh*ite in your guide it's not gonna work.
The way you say it it looks like if you do a file for "scoring" (I f*ucking h8 that word) a.k.a. it goes beyond X NPS the chart is devoid of any artistic value and obviously an "artistic" file cannot be made for "scoring".
And that sh*ite is wrong.

On top of that you obviously make it sound that making "artistic" files is the way to go. You start by saying that files made for "scoring" purposes are not serious and "artistic" files are the Rael Daels.
I read this multiple times:
"Oh you know ... you can do decent notecharts with basic knowledge you can make scoring files *giggleZ* ... or you can go pro and make artistic stuff with me. l00k @dis Grace notes OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH" ~Bufang The Apache
Obviously when you read it like that you don't wanna do "scoring" files it just sounds like it's for da newbs.

Anyways only separating the two things is already enough bullsh*ite to me. Difficulty doesn't make anything less artistic and you should know it after your X years of stepmania overseer career. Whenever someone mentions the word "scoring" he still has something to learn (that thing is there no such Thang as scoring files (proven by Nordic players (just click on Brag Board once in a while and you will see))).

Originally Posted by stargroup100

These are the guidelines in which eVILPeeR follows while making his charts. It is generally assumed that most stepmania guidelines/theories are subjective, therefore do not take these guidelines as your own. They are only theories, not facts.


The song should guide the direction of the stepchart (IE pitch relevancy, layering, etc).

Picking songs for stepping is not difficult. The song should have good rhythm, be interesting, and have a good amount going on throughout the song.

Layering with hands is fundamental to deliver a proper arrowsmash experience.

Spread is the most efficient keyboard style and should be the only one used.

Files should be caterred 50% to both hands, unless called for otherwise (see #1)

It is generally OK to repeat patterns in a stepchart more than once, or even twice, as long as that part of the song is interesting and fun.

The graphics should represent the song to the utmost.

Perfect synchronization is almost impossible to achieve, but should be sought after.

You can be pitch relevant while using more than one set of patterns to represent a part of a song twice.

Steps should not follow the feel of the song, rather the layering should.

Using two arrows for one instrument is a waste. If that part of the song is intense enough, there should be enough instruments going on for the layering to represent how powerful it is. However, in the case where there is only a couple of instruments that are going on, it is acceptable to use "extra" layering to make up for the lack of instruments.

Song selection should be done for only two reasons (assuming the song you chose is steppable): you like the song, or the song is interesting.

"version 2" files are stupid and should not have to be made (unless it is a song you stepped terribly and you're re-releasing it for quality purposes).

"version 3" files are even worse.
BPM changes should be used when justified.

Do not double/halve the BPM of the song unless it calls for it (IE speedcore or gabber/quiet sections in a song)

Climax theory is very cool when used properly, and adds a lot of fun to the file.
Although stepmania is just a video game, stepcharts should still be made professionally for the sake of maximizing enjoyment.

Stepmania is srs business

Originally Posted by bmah (Post 3891651)

For comparison, check out SG's old charting rules on KBO:



Went a long way since.

Originally Posted by stargroup100 (Post 3891884)

i dont remember typing this