How much planning do you do?

[Sti_Jo_Lew]

I'm curious to know how much planning people put into their projects, large or small, compared to me. I generally do multiple stages of planning for my things, with sketches, small-scale designs in SP creative, and even pattern/ shape planning with graph paper. Do you tend to spend hours figuring out how you want your building to look before you place a single block, or do you start your structure and go with the flow, making changes as you see fit?

I'll try to throw some of my planning sketches up here sometime too if you guys want to see them.

[Lord_Mountbatten]

Generally none.

But sometimes I may picture in my head what I want to do.

Since most of the stuff I've made is shit, you may not want to emulate my method.

[SisterCreep]

I'm a planner; asymmetry drives me nuts. Prototyping mostly, occasionally graph paper for some projects. I'm very map oriented. Once I figured out my style, it takes less planning, but I run the risk of everything looking the same. Following a theme, or just repetitive, I don't know.

~SisterCreep

[Sti_Jo_Lew]

I actually prefer asymetrical stuff. I've already done things that are perfectly symetrical, and I like making things with strange shapes now.

Also, graph paper + Minecraft = WIN

[SisterCreep]

Heh, I just hate squares. Minecraft is all squares. I try to break that a little here and there. Just cause.

~Sister

[vallorn]

I start everything I build with a Theme be it a block, shape or archetype then just let the build flow as I go.

[random980]

If im building something properly, be it a house to my gothic church, i always have a rough 3D image in my head that i try to follow, otherwise i just kind of go with the flow of things and build as i get ideas, this can make me build and re-build certain parts over and over until im happy with it but i find it easier than planning things out IRL.

[Furdabip]

I google images for inspiration, think about how I WANT it to look, then make it fully in SP, with Single Player Commands, do a //dist to see what blocks I'll need, and then transfer it over to the server from there.

Graph paper is an unnecessary step, really. Single Player Commands is all you need.

[LS13]

I've tried using graph paper, but I just can't manage to plan well on it. For most of my projects an idea just pops into my head and I build whatever it is in ssp creative and then transfer that onto the server. If I don't have one of those spontaneous ideas, my stuff doesn't turn out all that great :/

[J4Numbers]

Thought process:

That looks good there
That looks right
Add more blocks,
repeat

[SMWasder]

My planning ranges from having a good idea of the kind of style or shape I want to just making it up on the spot. This has mixed success... My house in Draconax is a big pile of derp.

[sag185]

I tend to just restrict myself to 3 or 4 different main blocks, and make sure i try and be creative with it.

Obviously use different blocks to highlight bits, but you get the gist xD

[Sti_Jo_Lew]

So waht I'm getting from this, is that I plan TOO much. XD

[derigin]

I occasionally google for images, but I normally just play it by ear and go with my gut.

[comic_sans]

None beyond an initial sketch, if that. Ideas burst forth from my brain fully-formed, FLCL style.