Complete newcomer to Map Editing!

[palistov]

1) Those particles are the ps_light_dust.ps particle system. There's also a large version. The particle tool is accessed by clicking the light blue atom symbol on the toolbar on the left, or pressing 4. If you're referring to the light rays that shine from the window, those are billboards. Click the whiteboard icon on the left toolbar, or press 3.

2) Yes, most everything in the game is scripted or modified in the editor. Flashbacks, insanity events, trauma/horror events, puzzles, etc.

3) To load a map, you need to use the debug menu, which can be enabled by modifying the user settings. Visit this webpage to learn how to set up a dev environment. Here. The other option is to make your map into a custom story, which is what I'd suggest doing instead. Click here and follow the steps. Then you start your story from the main menu and can still use the debug menu to use a variety of dev tools.

On notes: if you want to create them, you need to put them in your lang file. Click the above link regarding creating a custom story. That will help you set up your lang file, which is where note names and texts, diaries, mementos, and a variety of other in-game text is stored.

Good luck!

P.S. Just keep working at it, you'll get the hang of everything eventually.