[WIP] Solasium (4v4 core)

The architecture looks consistent and very nice. I can't tell too well from the picture, is it two levels?

 

As mentioned above, this map has a really killer aesthetic. It's clean and silvery without looking mundane, which is a challenge to pull off. I can't comment on gameplay at this point because I'm out of the country, but I'll put this on my list of stuff to check out when I get back. Looks like there are some opportunities for interesting gameplay here...Very cool man, especially if it's one of your first creations.

The one thing I'd suggest is adding some more terrain to the outside of the level. I see you have a few floating rocks there, but since I'm not in Forge I can't tell if those backdrop pieces will line up and look like mountains, or if they are intended to be free-floating objects. If you're going for a mountain range thing, it might be cool to use up the rest of your objects fleshing that out a bit more. If you're going for a sort of Ascension / floating mountains of Pandora thing, that's a valid route too, but I think you could get a little bit more creative by experimenting with the shape of the floating rocks. Right now they are a little bit 'Forge-y" and stick out to me as the ONLY thing in the map that doesn't look awesome.

I'm personally a big fan of overdoing it with far-off backdrops and facades. If I have extra objects after completing the map, I often just max out my count by adding background elements to make the space feel more tangible. I also find it pretty fun to build forced perspective mountains and such. I don't mean to plug something of mine, but if you have any inclination to check out a map of mine where I've done this, here's an example of one with some backdrops that I think worked well:

http://www.forgehub.com/maps/circuit-breaker.1891/

Many of the BTB forge maps 343 included in matchmaking use this trick too. 'Basin' (I think that's the name) is a good example where he's used rocks an other natural objects to trick you into thinking you are in a valley, where in reality the entire map is floating above the canvas. I've taken a few tricks and ideas from that map.

That being said, the map looks rad as is. The structures are clean and they fit well into the forerunner theme. I just think adding some extra detail to the environment would kick it up to the next level of raditude. It's just an icing on the cake thing.

Great work so far, I'm interested to see how this one shakes out!

 

Hmm yeah, it's a bummer we can't do more to affect the lighting. The skyboxes are beautiful, but it'd be cool if there were a couple more options for time of day / sun placement...I'm not sure, but would free floating steam or fog help block out the sun? Like a fake cloud of some sort...IDk

Either way, good work. I'm looking forward to playing some games on it.

 

ya should try turning the rocks all same way and maby add some greenery to them and see if it works

 

Nice man

 

You know, with the floating rocks you could go for a Pandora theme. If you've ever seen avatar (the blue people, not the m. Night crap) putting the floating rock mountains, like in the movie, could block the sun a bit and add a little aesthetics appeal

 

What is your budget currently

 

Ok

 

A "small" change

 

I got a chance to get a few good games on this the other day, and I have to say it played quite well. It was easily one of my favorite maps of the night. It looks like there's been some stuff done to the aesthetics of the map recently? Or perhaps the photos I've seen just haven't done it justice...But the map looks much less white and more chrome across the board, which I think is good. It looks really good actually.

The biggest bit of feedback I heard in the lobby (and I heard it a few times) was that some of the railings on the edge of the map were too short and players were accidentally falling to their deaths from time to time. There are only a couple places where this happened, and I'm sure it's pretty obvious to you where to raise them up....Otherwise this one was a blast. Good work so far!

 

duke, upload some new screenshots