A good turnout last night, up to 8v8 at times. Thanks to all for showing an interest in playing these new maps.
For the remainder of the time we have left I’d like to merge the rotations into a single rotation containing the “best” of the bunch, and try to get as many people as possible over the weekend to play them.
My thoughts on the maps we’ve tried so far are as follows:-
Definate contenders
2hide_cal_r1
A bit big, but well made and seems to play well enough. Although it has several stages (take a detonator from one part of the map to blow a wall somewhere else to get some docs to open a door somewhere else again to blow a gun) it’s not too long-winded and could be a contender. It’s used in a couple of US leagues, so should probably be given a better testing over here.
rommel_fp
Had some good games on this map. Although it’s a first-playable, and does need some tweaking, it looks like it could be a really good competition map and I’d definately like to see this one developed further.
svarvadel
My initial impression was that it looked pants. Blocky, bland buildings and walls, a bit too bright, and too much wall / roof access making it a “let’s shoot each other at distance from the roof-tops” type map. But had some good games on this map last night, and the objective is simple enough.
vengeance_final
Another map with several things to do. I started out liking this one a lot, but I’m not so sure now as it can be confusing and the Flag area seems a little too easy for Allies to defend making it hard for Axis (the attacking team) to take a grip. Being able to mine up all around the Flag doesn’t help. If it were on a concrete base perhaps?
Possibles
armada_b2
A good map, but a few too many narrow passageways and let down badly by the Tank prefabs which are simple block structures. Not bad for a beta, and indeed excellent for a first map from a new mapper, but needs a bit more work IMO.
mc_bergen
Ridiculous 12 second Axis spawn time would be the first thing needing to be fixed on this map, plus it seems too defensively biased. It’s hard for Allies to get the half-truck near enough to blow the main door, harder still to get across the bridge seeing as Axis spawn just inside the door, although there is an alternative foot-bridge way in. A bit Fueldump-ish (which is not good!). Maybe if Axis spawned further into the base, on a much longer spawn time (30 seconds at least) it could be playable. Not a write-off, but not the strongest contender either. (Very well made though!)
stalingrad
A nice enough map, with simple enough objectives (blow 2 Tanks), but a bit concerned about the amount of roof access the defenders have. Has a rather COD-ish feel to it, and my FPS suffers a bit on this as well, but has promise. Would like to see how this one plays with more people, as it was on for the first 2 days when we only managed 3v3 most of the time.
townsquare_beta2
A very well made map from Blushing_Bride, but a bit too simple, and Axis spawn too close to the objective. I can see this being the kind of map where a strong team can full-hold on defense and set lightning fast times on attack, in other words not that well balanced. Another definate maybe as a lot of people seemed to like it.
[b]Maybe next time[/b]
hotchkiss
This map is just far, far, far too big and complex for competition, and was skipped in the rotation after the first few attempts at playing it (whenever a Ref was on) as it’s just not right for what we’re trying to do here. However, it is exceptionally well made, the attention to detail is superb and I imagine it would go down a storm on publics. More like a single-player mission than a multi-player competition map.
pitchblack
A bit confusing, a bit too dark, and didn’t seem to play that well. Hard to put my finger on why, I guess just a case of it didn’t do anything for me and can’t see it winning favour as a competition map. Would be happy to be proved wrong but can’t in all honesty put it forward as a contender.
steelplant2
A great fun map, had a real blast on this one, and plays better at 6v6 than I thought it would, but even though it’s a simple enough objective, I can see it being a bit too easy for the defense to camp the objective and make it a bit of a boring map once you get past it’s fun quirks (like the fan-assisted people launcher and the bad-ass “Sentry”). Nice for publics, but a definate “maybe” as a competition map.
uboot
Maybe OK for 3v3, but doesn’t play as well as I’d expected and a bit too small and simplistic for an ET map. Can’t really recommend this one either.
Unless someone can convince me otherwise I’m going to put the top 4 maps (2hide, svarvadel, rommel, vengeance) into a weekend rotation and drop the rest. Although I’d like to also get Blushing_Bride’s “Cathedral” in as well as a late entry, even though it hasn’t figuered so far. It’s made for competition and is exceptionally well made, I think people are going to like it.
Thoughts and suggestions welcome.
