[WIP] ctf_arch

UPDATE: ctf_arch_a2

My second release, now PLAYABLE with player clips, working doors, and pakrat. I made a few major changes to the layout, moving the flag into a completely new building behind each base, while trying to keep the map relatively small. Please leave comments! Screenshots in post on last page.


ctf_arch_a1:

Here we go! This is my first release, so be sure to alert me to any noob mistakes I might be making. At the moment, because this is just an alpha release, I'm looking more for comments and criticism relating to the layout, more than the textures/props (yes, I know my displacement textures are wonky :unsure: )

My hope for ctf_arch is that it'll be fun even with very small teams (like 4v4). Because of the small size of the map players will have to be more aggressive, even on defense. Each side consists of two buildings, one housing the flag, and one housing the spawnrooms and the capture point. Between the bases lies a rather large natural arch, which functions as another route to travel from one base to the other. There is also a tight underground passage for flanking classes like pyros and spies.

BLU base:


RED base:


The namesake Arch:


BLU's flagroom:


BLU's capture point:


Entrance to underground route:


Questions I'd like help with:

1. Obviously the area between the bases is pretty wide open. Are snipers too powerful in this part or is this a non-issue?
2. Scouts seem to be able to dash between the sides very quickly. Are scouts too powerful on this map because of this?

Download thread:
http://forums.tf2maps.net/showthread.php?t=4687

Alright, I'll add platforms for the capture areas. I think that's a good idea.

Each team has two spawn rooms: both are in the capture point building, but one is upstairs and one is downstairs.

Ah, I think you misunderstood... EACH team has TWO 8-man spawnrooms. (There are FOUR spawnrooms in my map). It's perfectly symmetrical, so no one team has a time advantage.

As for engi's getting a sentry up... I think an engi spawning upstairs might, but not one spawning downstairs.

Alright, here is the second release of ctf_arch.
http://forums.tf2maps.net/showthread.php?t=4698

The RED spawns have been fixed, the custom dev textures packed, and capture point platforms added.

Zmathue said:

ohh, I forgot to mention this in chat if you jump on the flagrooms roof then you can walk off/under the map.

Click to expand...

Sorry about that Haven't gotten around to player clipping yet, so that will have to wait for the next release

I'll be gone for about a week, so Happy New Year everyone.

UPDATE: ctf_arch_a2

NEW Download minus the fail: http://forums.tf2maps.net/downloads.php?do=file&id=1032

My new release is fully playable, and problems from the first release have been fixed. The mid-map is much the same as before, but the flags have been moved to a building behind each team's spawns, making the map larger and protecting the flag more. Scouts may still be too powerful, but I'm not sure about this yet.

BLU's base, showing new routes to the yard behind the spawn building:


The titluar arch:


Stairs and ramps in RED's base:


To the BLU intel:


I'm looking for comments about class balance (scouts in particular) so that I can make ctf_arch fun for small teams of many different class combinations.

Okay, sorry for the pakrat failure as seen in the previous post. Here is the updated version, now ctf_arch_a2c.

Download: http://forums.tf2maps.net/downloads.php?do=file&id=1032

Okay, never mind with commenting on my WIP thread. I have a good plan for a simple way to change ctf_arch for the sakes of optimization. It will also make mid-map slightly more epic.

Thank you, Mangy Carface!

First of all, thanks to all of you for your very useful comments. My planned mid-map changes will involve further use of high ground, and some new side routes. The underground route seemed, in my opinion, too easy to sneak around in, so I have ideas for different routes.

Spawn camping: I'm planning on creating stairs between each team's upstairs and downstairs spawns to avoid any enemies right outside the doors.

I'm keeping the relatively small size of the map even though scouts can traverse it very quickly, because I still want to cater to small teams.

Finally, I'm considering changing the name from the quite uninteresting "ctf_arch" to the more distinctive "ctf_entrada", referring, of course, to the sandstone formation that is part of the Colorado Plateau.

Ideas are always appreciated, but I think I have a fairly good idea where I'm going with this