add a start to my map? i am a total noob to this so i have no clue! also if somone could tell me how to make surfaces portal proof that would be great.

Most people here would say "there's no place here for people like you", but I'll say that 1) the start of the map is defined by "info_player_start" entity and 2) the metal textures will make portal-proof surfaces by themselves.

there's no place here for people like you

COPY PASTA

You still remember when you fired Hammer up the first time yourself? I recently relived that feeling when I tried to figure out CryEngine Sandbox.

Ah....Yes....
I'm glad I stuck with it though, because I can do stuff I never thought was possible just with maps.

EDIT: I looked at my initial posts, and realised how quickly I must have been learning, because I was helping others solve problems too.
E.g. maps-and-mapping/trigger-entities-t1522.html
and maps-and-mapping/portal-gun-as-a-weapon-t1559.html

EDIT EDIT: This is going off topic, but oh well.

EDIT EDIT EDIT: On-topic, maps-and-mapping/mapping-tips-and-useful-links-t468.html has some good links, they really helped me when I was learning

It's that feeling of being completely helpless, of 'how the hell am I supposed to do anything at all?' while you stare at the many buttons and wonder which one is the 'create an awesome map'-button.

Cool edits bro. Yeah, I realized that I knew my way around Source Mapping when I was able to make anything that I thought of. Its a good feeling but it also makes me sad to know that I have nothing more to learn. . .

I can always try L4D/2 maps, I read a large amount of articles but never made a working campaign map, just a small survival map for the original Left 4 Dead.

That's kind of what I feel like, except I never get around to seriously making stuff unless I give myself A deadline.
and relating to reading Articles about L4d maps, I read all of the tutorials for those, but never bothered downloading the SDk, because By the time I had bought L4d, everyone had forgotten about it. Kind of like what has happened to portal, but portal was a lot better IMO.
Edit: Off topic thread is off topic