I am working on a map that incorporates a kill ball hazard in the map. The ball rolls through the map on a track at regular intervals so it's location is evident and it's frequency is predictable, similar to the train in the Halo 2 map "Terminal". I am trying my best to make this map fun and competitive with a theme and ascetics, supporting a huge variety of game types. My question is, when such a "gimmick" is used in a map, can the map be taken seriously as a competitive map or will the inclusion of such a thing automatically label the map as casual? I have also seen a few other (usually new) forgers make maps that use a dynamic kill ball in them, but in my opinion none of them were very well done. I am trying to make sure the map is well made, tasteful, and with an interesting theme. What are your thoughts on the inclusion of a dynamic kill ball?
I can't see it is competitive. A competitive map has to be won by fighting, not your opponents dying. Its an interesting discussion, but it makes it casual imo.
For me personally, most of the time I see a kill ball in a map, I don't take it very seriously after that point. They normally do seem to be used on more casual maps and not maps I would consider to be too competitive (which is what i prefer to play). That said there are always exceptions to said "rule", it just needs to be done well with the map and feel proper and not to gimicky.
I think kill balls have gotten a reputation as a gimmick because of their frequent misuse or over use, or them being used in silly or outrageous ways. I believe they can be used as a valid hazard just like falling from a ledge is a hazard, or an exploding fusion coil is a hazard. You could misuse fusion coils and pile up too many, but when used right they become a tool in your map strategy that is acceptable. I guess I will just have to put mine out there in a preview when it's close to ready and get some opinions.
For the most part I don't take maps seriously when I see a kill ball on them, but to me that just adds up to a challenge rather than a rule against using them. If you can do it properly and unusually (i.e. not just the usual "kill ball floating in an antenna" or "kill ball rolling down a hill Indiana Jones-style") then you might end up with a more unique and eye-catching map for it. It will just take some effort. I actually had two kill balls as aesthetics on a map I'm finishing now, but had to remove them due to framerate concerns unfortunately. I hope you have better luck with them. As for the argument that a dynamic object that kills people makes the map automatically non-competitive - I don't agree. That might be true for MLG or high-level competitive play, but I can easily imagine such a hazard in a regular matchmaking map, so long as its movements are predictable and therefore able to be accounted for. Kill ball rolling back and forth on a track = possibly good. Kill ball flying at random times and directions around the map = definitely bad.
Well said. I will do my best with this and try to get something out there that can be taken seriously. Thanks for your comment!
Although they commonly aren't taken seriously, if you use it in a good way, I'm sure it would attract someone and they would look into what you did and become interested in the map. It depends how you use it. But it'll be hard to attract people to a map that utilities a Kill Ball. Oh btw, good luck with your map. I'm actually interested myself...
Well, Workplace Bravo (a pretty good map in H3 matchmaking) used a killball in the middle as a death area. Kill balls can be taken seriously if the creator doesn't abuse them by putting them everywhere, blinding everyone around it or if they are unnecessarily implicated into the map. The track idea: I saw a Terminal remake that used a kill ball and did exactly what you did. I think that is pretty awesome, personally. I think that a map can be still classified as "competitive" if a kill ball rolls through every once in a while. It is just as competitive as a pit of death in the middle of the map and to say that it isn't is to say that Terminal or any map with guardians a casual map.
Tip: NEVER put a kill ball on top of an upside down satellite. It is done way too often and looks like crap. So usually, whenever I see a kill ball on a map, I tend to think of it as a casual map.
The only reason I use kill balls is for puzzle type maps and to piss people off when they mess with my stuff. To me It does not have any purpose in serious maps except for aesthetics.
I basically feel exactly the same way. If a kill ball is incorperated in a competitive map in an interesting way I'm all for it. But the kill ball looks really bad just how people normally use it, so it finds its place better in casual or race games.
This is a very good question. If someone ever makes a great competitive map with a kill ball moving around and people love it, then the door is open for others to consider doing something similar. Until then, it would be a very big up hill effort to gain acceptance of such a concept.
Thanks, I had not seen that map. It looks pretty nifty. My map is set in the quarry and I am going with a forerunner fusion power station theme where the kill ball will be produced by the station as a form of energy and transmitted out and along a conduit track. I hope it's unique and fun enough that people will give it a download. I have play tested it already with some friends and we had a great time on it. At some point everyone playing forgot about the kill ball and splat. It's great for a laugh and it was still very competitive.
a lot of people dont take kill balls seriously, but they often dont give the map a try to see if it adds excitement. I prefer to play the map before judging it.
Okay I finally released a preview thread on my map concept. You can find it here. I tried to make it interesting and tasteful as I could. What are your thoughts?
Like I'd expect most people to, I take other things into consideration before judging a map on a single object, taking it on a case by case basis. The prevalence of KBs in casual maps does not preclude it from usage in normal maps. To say otherwise is pretty narrow minded... ... ...O course, in, retrospect, all of my maps use KBs for aesthetics...mostly as engines or barely contained stars or whatnot.