17 helpful tips to host and FINISH a MAP. I know how easy it can be to start a MAP, and how much harder it is to know when to keep pushing it or drop it. I'll give you 17 tips to boost your MAP making and have more positive results. 1 - Make sure your idea is original and interesting. If your MAP idea has already been created by someone else, don't make it. If there are a lot of MAPs similar to it, but not exactly the same, still, don't make it. Yours needs to be attractive to animators, otherwise it has a likely chance of falling flat. 2 - Make sure you do only one or two MAPs at a time. If you post three MAPs at once, less animators are going to join each one and you won't be able to push them all to the finish line very well. If you do them one at a time, you'll get them done faster and they WILL get more traction. 3 - Set necessary rules for each MAP. For example, the common rule of one sprite is very reasonable because it makes it less difficult to put the MAP together. Or two parts per person. This is less valuable, but serves purpose. Animation examples are ALWAYS important when accepting someone. 4 - Know when to kick someone. Even if they are the best animator in the world, you need to be firm with them and know when to tell them to finish and when to ban them. This can be so hard, but I swear you need to. Scratch is, unfortunately, very pro-procrastination. Not that they want it, but they tell procrastinators that it's okay to cross the deadline by a few months. This is ridiculous. They need to finish their work. 5 - SIMPLE SCRIPT. This makes such a difference. Cut out big movements in the script so that people are more motivated to start and finish their parts. 6 - Simple references. Complicated designs are hard to animate and make it less likely for people to join. 8 - Don't get deflated from people not joining. They aren't trying to make you feel bad, but if you do feel bad, you need to remember what it would feel like in their head. They may get ten invites a day, and only one or two seem appealing. THIS IS ONE REASON FOR TIP 1. If your idea pops out at them, they may join. 9 - Don't forget about a MAP. This can be easy when you post a bunch at one time. But if you keep pushing and watch the people who are near the deadline, people will see you are responsible and know to finish. 10 - Don't neglect a re-host. I know it can be hard to leave a MAP in the dust. This is why there are re-hosts. They can carry your MAP to the end. 11 - Backups are important. If you need a collab for a part, you go straight to the backups. If someone drops, GO TO THE BACKUPS. They are willing to help! They signed up for it. 12 - There needs to be at least seven thumbnail entries when you publish the MAP. It can be hard to get TNEs, but I promise someone will enter, good or bad. 13 - If an animator who isn't very experienced joins, put them on the backup list. Don't just ignore them. This boosts their confidence much more than a flat out 'no' would. 14 - Make sure when you pick the winning TNE the words on it are very visible. The art could be amazing, but if the words are too small to be read by someone scrolling by, they won't notice it. Big, bold words catch people's attention. 15 - Make a ping list. This just makes things easier when it's completed and you need to share it with everyone. Get another Scratcher to help you if the list is too long. 16 - Value everyone equally. If the animation is terrible, love it and comment. If the animation is amazing, love it and comment. Commenting on completed parts is very encouraging for the maker, giving them a sense of belonging. 17 - If you complete a MAP, take. a. break. MAPs are exhausting. You need fuel for the next one. Good luck!!
