Mod or Map

I actually find this subject extremely hard to puzzle out.
Do we call maps "maps" or "mods?"
And what does modding refer to?
Blizzard has really blurred the line, which I absolutely hate them for it.
In StarCraft, we have mapping and modding, clearly spaced out. A little tedious opening all the programs at first, but that's okay; it's much faster than WC3's system.

These are my own definitions.
Mapping: Terrain and doodads. Nothing else.
Modding: Changes actual gameplay, but does not relate to triggers.
Triggering (WC3 specific[?]): Triggers. Just, triggers.

I want to know what you think of this. I find that many StarCraft modders hate how WC3 blurs the line, but I haven't had much input from those of WarCraft 3.

I personally like bold definitions, but blurs are sometimes nice. This is an exception (for me).

Mapping is just a term people made up that means modding just specifically for WC3. They're really identical, I don't see the confusion. You use the Half Life 2 engine to create a mod for HL2, and you use the WC3 engine through the WE to create a mod for WC3.

mapping is making maps. u don't really mod wc3, u model and stuff but moding is more like aom, were there isn't an easy implement system. wc3 u make the map and add in extras, mostly models, but sound sets, skins, textures, etc. its part of the map though and doesn't require u to "modify" any thing. well u do but I'm not sure how to say this. ur just changing a simple field, not changing hard code or any thing like that.

Here's my take:

Mapping - Making a map, and just a map (or a campaign). Anything within that map or campaign is just a map.

Modding - Anything involving editing the game files outside the map, custom mpqs (not the map file), DLL injection for custom natives, custom loader, etc. - examples being Project Revolution or WarSoc.

maps are mods.

People seem to use the "mods" word to differentiate the project's scale. But in reality, they are the same thing.

Traditionaly, mapping would refer to making custom maps for the regular game, like custom levels for Quake or custom melee maps for WC3. Moding would refer to making a custom game using the engine of an existing game, like CS for HL or PR for WC3.

WC3 custom maps fall somewhere in-between; considering the definitions outlined above, both terms are about equaly valid. A WC3 custom map is just a map, you don't have to modify any game files and you don't need the knowledge needed to do stuff like that, but you're still making much more than just a regular map for the game, you can modify gameplay considerably.

Saying that your project is just a map is an understatement, since a WC3 map can be so much more than just a different terrain on which the players play the same game; saying it's a mod, however, implies that it required a lot more work and knowledge than it actualy did.

Maybe we should think of a new name for what we do here.

or just use map. that keeps it simple and as long as every one nos what u mean it doesn't matter. the internet slang dictionary is already huge.

map fucking xD
afaik fuck is a universal word ^^ so anyone can interpretate it how he will =)

imho
mod - alot of changes from base game. so map also can be a mod (for example imo my TcX)

the feature is what war3 does support modding through the map. (for example in HL you can't almost fully change the gameplay with a map.) so it's a question of perception.

I never though of mapping as modding, because blizzard has a way to let you make maps, ie, the world editor.

But as Antiarf says, a map is more then just a change to scenery. FPS engines, mini games, TDs, melee, AoS and RPGs are all completely different, if you didnt know it was all WC3, then you wouldnt know that it was WC3! So diverse, unfortunatley, it is still mapping (in my opinon). It is true that you have changed the gameplay, but it is still within the confines of what blizzard allowed you to do.
(not sure about jass, because realy ur going breaking down the makeup of the game further...)

True, what is the difference when it takes a shitload of time in either case,
this thread is meh.

Why do you people care if mapping is technically modding? Just ignore the fact that it changes gameplay and understand that modding, like that in hl makes it so you must download a whole new client to play. The same should apply to wc3, if you have to download a whole new exe to play it then its a mod, if its just a map, then its a map. Blizzard clearly shows us this by gicing us the "Map Editor" Its not called a mod editor, its a map editor.

world editor, but thats just a big map

You do download a whole new executable though, WC3 just calls it w3x. :)

Mapping - inside WE and putting everything together

Modding - outside of WE making skins, models, whatever else

+1