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OpenArena Contributions => Maps => Topic started by: cosmo on April 04, 2008, 02:52:45 AM



Title: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on April 04, 2008, 02:52:45 AM
Rising another CTF map because OA needs it.
Again, playtesting is required. Itemplacement can be very difficult (as well as spawnlocation layout).

Gameplay testing has already been done a bit and I feel more comfortable with current layout to release beta 1. Don't be shocked by screenshots I post here. The map is not as dark as they are. Somehow my mac q3map2 produces different results and ioquake renders more brighter so I always have to check how it looks on windows which can be difficult 'cause I don't own such a machine. At the moment performance should be good but I'd like to add more details to some of the walls to have a less plain feeling. (Thanks to kit89, I created mostly everything regarding to blocksize so I didn't need a single hint brush and got VIS working in a fine way.)
The whole map took me 3 days now. Help me to improve it.

(http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/ctf_inyard.jpg)
file: http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/ctf_inyard.pk3 (http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/ctf_inyard.pk3) (Save link as...)

If you're interested in skinning my teleporter model, drop me a line, I'll send you everything you need.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: andrewj on April 04, 2008, 07:46:16 PM
Looks absolutely great!

I know you're after comments on gameplay, sorry I'm just going to comment on some things that don't look good imo (probably stuff you are already planning to fix).

(http://glbsp.sourceforge.net/shots/cosmo_ctf.jpg)

top left: ugly gap in the ceiling

top right: those diagonal edges seem too "sharp" to me, specially when you walk/fall through the gap (to underneath).  Plain vertical edges would be better.

bottom left: the blue flourescent lighting stops awkwardly at the corner, should flow around the corner.

bottom right: you said that some walls needed more details, and those walls with the flags have the biggest need imo, some kind of red/blue motif on each side.  Also the bit of flourescent lighting on the slope above doesn't look good and wouldn't be missed.

Hope that helps


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Snickersnack on April 04, 2008, 09:14:34 PM
Cool Map Cosmo! I really like how you set up the courtyard such that you can rocket-jump between the three levels. That or nick the lip and fall into the abyss. :)

There seem to be a lot of straight-aways between the two bases. This could be frustrating for people who don't strafe-jump. Maybe some of the paths could be made less hospitable for that type of movement (ie uneven ground, low doorways, extra RG, etc)?

I'm a fan of areas to stand above doorways ( for ambush ala Tremulous ) but that's a matter of taste.


I''m afraid I'll need to play the map against real people before I can give you a better opinion. Do you know of any servers with this map in rotation. :)


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on April 08, 2008, 10:32:33 AM
Thank you guys, that was helpful.

@andrewj: I fixed that issues which were not all known to me at release time so this is big help!

@Snickersnack: Beta release was in rotation on an european server for a short time and I was able to had some fun there. Better (balanced) maps would be available if there is a bigger testing community. ;)
I understand what you're saying about a Tremulous-themed map. I've been planning something like this on paper a half year ago. Right now I intended to have straight ways and fast gameplay because it's quiet entertaining to fight in this area and I wonder what kind of strategies will arise for teams.

I'm glad you helped me. I regard this map as done and will commit everything to leileilol as soon as 'Repulsion' is finished.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: kit89 on April 09, 2008, 04:45:49 AM
I really liked this map, nice fast pace action.

I did find it initially difficult to find where the flags where. Maybe make it more distinctive where the flags are located?



Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on April 09, 2008, 06:46:51 AM
Bold coloured arrows on the floor to find flagroom easily? ;)
You might be right. Anything but a little podest would take some serious brushwork which I'm unable to do at the moment.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: kit89 on April 09, 2008, 07:17:08 AM
I was thinking more of a small podium for the flag to be placed on with a bright light(colour co-ordinate of course) to make it more visible. :)


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: jackoverfull on April 09, 2008, 07:21:15 AM
looks nice. :-)

a little ot…

you're mapping on os x, right?
if yes, did you managed to get a working bspc?


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Gerbil on April 09, 2008, 07:22:44 AM
Cosmo, you are my hero.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on April 09, 2008, 09:06:05 AM
A small podium will be added. ;)

@Gerbil: I'm just a happy mapper.

@jackoverfull: Yes I'm mapping on osx, no there is no version of bspc for PowerPC. If you've got an Intel Mac you might be on the lucky side. I'm using my friends windowsbox for this. Anyway q3map2 is working for me and that's more important.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: jackoverfull on April 09, 2008, 09:31:05 AM


@jackoverfull: Yes I'm mapping on osx, no there is no version of bspc for PowerPC. If you've got an Intel Mac you might be on the lucky side. I'm using my friends windowsbox for this. Anyway q3map2 is working for me and that's more important.
ok, thanks.

this summer i tried to build it, but there seems to be some endianess problems… :-(
the final binary always crashed with segfault.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on August 28, 2008, 04:30:35 PM
I put some work into the map. Maybe it gets more attractive or you have any hints how I can improve it further.
So here are my changes for V2:

  • Additional way up from lower levels
  • Double Domination Spawnpoints
  • Grenadelaunchers replaced by Nailguns (2x)
  • Chaingun added to new Jumppad area
  • Many texture improvements and replaces as they were intended to be in first place but OA didn't have those in the final release
  • Lightningbug fixed, improved lightning, better compilation settings
  • minor brushworks

I fear I underestimated the nailgun as I fought against bots it's been the deadliest weapon around. Chaingun is pretty lame and as bullet impact is missing so far I'm uncertain why I'm not hitting with it often. Map doesn't appear in skirmish menu for new gamestypes (Double Domination, ...) but is capable of them. I didn't add another arenas.txt because I don't want to mess with current OA 0.8

Just run it via '/map ctf_inyard'

Download: http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/v2_ctf_inyard.pk3 (http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/v2_ctf_inyard.pk3) (Save target as...)

Screenshot:
(http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/ctf_inyard_v2.jpg)


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Neon_Knight on August 28, 2008, 04:50:18 PM
And what if you do a ctf_inyard.arena with info like a single map has at arenas.txt and put it in the scripts folder? :P

Let's check it out...


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: fufinha on August 31, 2008, 04:40:34 PM
I checked it out and it's great.. once I copied my maps to baseoa then all I see is the custom maps. Is there a link and ss's of the default maps on the site? I ended up have to dig through the svn stuff since there is no naming strucure for the game maps.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: qubodup on September 23, 2008, 06:20:48 PM
I quite like it. (only the model of the portal [with the white noise] I dislike).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/qubodup/tags/inneryard/


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on April 11, 2009, 02:02:24 PM
Releasing Beta 1 of ctf_inyard_v3.

Download  http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/ctf_inyard_v3_b1.pk3 (http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/ctf_inyard_v3_b1.pk3) (Save link as...)

Screenshots:
(http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/ctf_inyard_v3.jpg)

Changes: several.
  • removed fog of death - more arena themed now
  • less straight and boring
  • no more pillars in flag rooms
  • gameplay changed much

Feel free to tell me how to improve it further.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: chaoticsoldier on April 13, 2009, 01:00:42 AM
Oh wow, I like it! It is much improved and is very interesting to play. The "L" shape of the map is a pleasant change from the bases always being directly opposite.

The only problem I had was when using the teleporter in the red base. The destination thingy faces a wall, so when you come out of the teleporter you are suddenly stopped dead in your tracks.

The gameplay is a lot better. This is a great map!


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: PsYthe on April 13, 2009, 02:18:17 AM
Very impressive improvement. The map works very nice and looks great too. My only issue with it now is those launch pads. I think they need to look more significant - it felt like a lucky guess when I jumped onto it and went flying.

Very incredible, cosmo.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: andrewj on April 13, 2009, 03:20:18 AM
Yeah a really great reworking!

There is a dead-end where you come out of the bases on one side (right side for blue) and has a railgun there.  I think the "doorway" should be removed and just have a normal wall there.  The doorway gives the illusion of going somewhere (somwhere very dark) but it doesn't.   You could also remove the floor trim there and integrate the jump-pad in further, so it flows more obviously.

There are little ramps at the end of each central walkway out of the bases, and at first I thought they were jump pads to the central raised platform (near RA).  That would actually be the more natural kind of flow [it seems a bit weird to come out the front door and then have to fall down], but I guess that would make the flag-to-flag path too fast and make the lower levels redundant again.

HTH :)


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: feLiZ_naVidAD on April 13, 2009, 07:24:35 AM
I like it! ;)

ill miss old version tho :)

Id be nice that you could rocket jump from the side platforms to the middel platform... right know its too far apart


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: andrewj on April 13, 2009, 09:13:51 PM
Id be nice that you could rocket jump from the side platforms to the middel platform... right know its too far apart
Hmm, I did it on my second attempt, and I don't even have magic FPS 75 or 125.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: feLiZ_naVidAD on April 14, 2009, 06:32:12 AM
ok, i admit it... i only tried once lol :$


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on April 15, 2009, 01:59:49 AM
Thanks guys. Your hints are appreciated and it's nice to hear you're already experimenting with rocket jump reachability.

I had good test games yesterday evening. The map seems to be pretty big and it's minimum playercount seems to be 3 on 3 but gets better with 5 on 5.

I'm going to fix the things you suggested. The launchpads will be redone and more obvious in final version. I need to test distance because if you jump on the pad you're going too far and hit the wall above on the other side.
Another thing to consider will be replacing the sideway patch mesh arches by brushes to improve performance and have some more freedom to add details and wall textures don't look too repetitive.
Location entities need to be repositioned and I'm going to remove the railgun in the center of the map. Maybe an additional rocketlauncher should be down in the yard instead of just rocket ammo. A few more health items won't be bad too.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Neon_Knight on July 10, 2009, 11:26:55 AM
I've sent you an email with tips regarding inyard_v3.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Neon_Knight on July 10, 2009, 02:39:52 PM
I've played a bit of ctf_inyard on Domination mode, I have some suggestions for this map in this mode.

1) What about moving the point Central Platform to the floor instead of taking the place of the Railgun? That can make the map more dynamic in this mode. The same can be for the neutral flag/skull generator on 1FCTF & Harvester. I guess that will make the map more interesting.
2) I've noticed that everyone in X team will spawn in X base, near of their flag. What about placing info_player_starts (for Dom, of course) all over the map and leaving the team_CTF_Xspawn/player for the other modes?
3) One more thing, what about putting two more DOM points, one per base? The map is big enough for 5, too big for only 3. Those points can be located at the other side of the bases, the actual base points are well placed IMO.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Michael Eh? on July 10, 2009, 09:33:39 PM
I played solo with v3 and I do like the multiple paths to get to the flags.  I would put team spawn on multiple levels within each base. I need to play more to decide what else needs to be done but it's looking good.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on July 11, 2009, 04:43:38 AM
Although I committed this already and after talking about it yesterday night it is time to release another beta with latest changes for testing purposes. :)
download (http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/ctf_inyard_v3_b2.pk3) (Save link as...)

Put ctf_inyard_v3_b2.pk3 into your baseoa folder and run it either via skirmish menu or by typing /map ctf_inyard_v3
(change gametype accordingly)

changelog:
    * additional spawnpoints
    * added a torch at the now blocked hallways
    * visual polish and other compile options
    * rocketlauncher in the central yard near MH
    * music (sonic1) meta entry in worldspawn
    * alphamod yard ground texture, the evil skull is shown there ;)
    * roof to main platform added so it is becoming a balcony
    * no railgun slugs anymore
    * armor shards added to lower floor
    * additional dom points


thanks to Neon_Knight and Michael Eh. Harvester obelisk was located down in the yard all the time. ;) Same goes for player spawns on every level in each base. Most of them are in the main flagroom. That is why it is not obvious.

Looking forward to receive even more hints on improving it.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Michael Eh? on July 13, 2009, 08:37:32 AM
I'll give it a go. 

What we really need is a Beta-only server to large scale testing for maps and mods and only after it reaches past Alpha here in the forums.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Neon_Knight on July 13, 2009, 09:05:40 AM
I've made two unofficial patches with the actual SVNC stuff, OAXb41, and some extra things (the SP cosmo & I were doing, the latest versions of my maps and some of cosmo) to make helping easier, and to show that there's still development in work. Some players (feidi, MIOW, Ivan, cosmo I guess) have actually get both, but I'm having doubts about if I should post them here.

Here's the readme (http://www.onykage.com/files/armageddonman/%21patches/patch_readme.txt) file about what's on those patches. Things can change, and the patches themselves too. (There's a v2 of the first patch, since I forgot to put the license file inside of it -.-)


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Falkland on July 13, 2009, 03:17:56 PM
It's better now ... nice job


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on July 15, 2009, 10:49:50 AM
If you play a match against human foes I'd be interested in a demo.

One thing: Having a single railgun on the center of the maps upper platform instead of two near each base is not a good idea because easier domination through campers? I am not sure. Balancing items is difficult.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Cacatoes on September 28, 2009, 02:06:06 PM
Spotted by Helvas:

http://download.tuxfamily.org/openarena/files/screenshots/h/00.jpg


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on September 29, 2009, 03:24:32 AM
A missing texture. Thanks again. Ouch... it seems I publish pretty unfinished stuff. That's not satisfying.

Gonna fix this one too.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: menganito on September 29, 2009, 11:14:11 PM
Seems like it hasn't been mentioned here yet: in the red base, right after you use the basement teleport, you end up facing a wall. Not only it is dissastisfying and counfusing, it might lead to easy telefrags...
In blue base the teleport faces out of the base (to RG).

Certainly, don't put one RG onto the RA platform, that would cause a lot of camping (mainly with small teams). Two RGs mean you ca camp the camper out :)

One more thing: the pillar beneath RA is weird. Seems like it's shape doesn't correspond the textures, often it seems i should slip by easily, but i hit it and stop. I have no idea what to do about it, tho.

Otherwise, it's a very good map, lot of fun, i love the many levels and paths, I already noticed some players have they preferred ways. Friendly 1v1s are fun there, there's a lot of items to get:).


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Neon_Knight on November 12, 2009, 09:33:31 AM
Here're some suggestions and bug reports.

Suggestions:
* I think the Nailgun could go well here, teams can use it as a defensive weapon. An ammo box could be placed in the center area. What about setting the weapon pickup as a 30 second-respawn weapon, so not everyone will catch it, thus controlling a bit the nail spam?
* Also, a Guard by base can be a good addition as well, it could be picked up by attackers.
* Could you also add an info_player_intermission to the level?

Bug report: Try to lower or move to the middle the target_push a bit on both jumppads on both bases. Otherwise, players would get stuck going from jumppad to jumppad, with the walls stopping them, which is something happening to bots already. Look at the attached screenshot.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Cacatoes on November 12, 2009, 11:10:07 AM
Bug report: Try to lower or move to the middle the target_push a bit on both jumppads on both bases. Otherwise, players would get stuck going from jumppad to jumppad, with the walls stopping them, which is something happening to bots already. Look at the attached screenshot.

When I tried to do that on purpose, I didn't succeed ;) (it pushes far, so even if I brake it's hard to land on the other jump pad)  Yet another fps issue maybe.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Neon_Knight on November 12, 2009, 11:58:49 AM
It seems like I have to record a demo. I'll edit to upload it.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on November 12, 2009, 04:15:30 PM
like ctf_compromise this map plays very different on various pmove_fixed settings. I regard everything as optimal with pmove_fixed 1 and the other value at 8. (=125Hz)
I encountered this problem too. If I lower the target_push entities it might get difficult with other settings.

About the nailgun: It's already in there. Seems you didn't check then map. :(
It's not in the center and actually this gun can ruin balance a lot doing more than 200 dmg...

Other missionpack addons are inclueded too if you run it with missionpack basegame.



Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: Neon_Knight on November 12, 2009, 04:35:11 PM
My mistake, it's there. I've forgot to check that area. :/
Limiting the weapon as I've said can work. I've done the same to the Prox Launcher on oa_reptctf11.

I've checked the map file of cosmo_oa082.pk3 on SVNC and aside from the NG I didn't saw nothing. :/

We should talk about the TA weapons and how to make them being balanced in maps in another topic.


Title: Re: CTF MAP: Inner Yard
Post by: cosmo on November 13, 2009, 02:59:12 AM
There is one RL in the central yard which is way more important in my point of view than any nailgun. Besides I earned lots of critics on changing respawn time in slimefacV1 so I will not do this if there is not a very good reason.

True: I must have been removing other TA powerups in the V1 to V2 process. I don't regard this as too important at the moment.

Quote
We should talk about the TA weapons and how to make them being balanced in maps in another topic.
Go on and create a topic. Nailgun and Chaingun are unbalanced compared to the vanilla Q3A weapons.

Thanks for reviewing. :)