To mappack or not to mappack?
What are your opinions on map-packs? Is it worth the effort of turning maps into a cohesive pack or is it better just releasing maps on their lonesome? Im trying to decide wether its worth making a mappack, cause if i do itll take me forever lol. Just wondering what everyones veiws are on the subject.
I think in terms of boolean variables. Generally, it makes things easier.
Do it!! (don't do it)
Up to you really.
If you want to make a small campaign and are up for it you should. But if you cannot dedicate yourself to a project and like to do it in small maps do it that way.
However creating a mappack shows dedication and skill = respect.
Im finnishing a mappack right now, and Im kinda sick of it... I just wanna move on. I think its worth it, but dont underestimate the challange.
"I hear voices. But I ignore them and I just carry on killing."
What if you made an optional map-pack version of several maps you released separately? Obviously the main issue with a package deal is that people may want to play the levels in whatever order they like, especially if some are rather arduous.
If you want to include some kind of intertwined continuity, then I suppose that's another story. Still, I know some people have opted for map "series", rather than releasing all at once.
I'm working on one now, and that's because I want to have a connecting story in my maps. But you must know one thing: It's at least double the amount of work that you think it would be. right. now. at this moment.
Now it's still double the amount of what you think it is.
A map pack coming soon. - click for more information
I'm making map-packs because I designed the puzzles to be similiar in style/theme and progress in complexity. Map-packs are good for providing a difficulty curve between many puzzles.
It is quite time consuming, but I believe the pay-off is worth it.
I'm currently also making a map pack, it is a lot more work than just a few maps, because it needs to be consistent and the fact that I'm using custom audio, textures etcetera makes it even more complicated/more work 
What I do however, is letting some friends play through the levels to gather their feedback, improving maps, and posting some of the maps under work in progress.
I think that a mappack can submerge people into your maps, puzzles and willing to solve 'em all! Where a single maps is just done after an x-amount of minutes 
~Lp
How come I never see map packs. Where do you ppl hide your mappacks? I'm making a 5lvl map pack, and I figured I would just post it on the co_op downloads section, but there are no map packs there.
Mapping Since May 21, 2011
There have been two recent map packs: one is still in WIP, the other (portal: the core) is at released maps
I also think that a lot of mappers just started with a few single maps, and later starting with mods/mappacks. And the developments of mappacks/mods is just a lot lot longer.