Narrow Extent

Video update:
Seems the guys at Machinima have created the video for Narrow Extent that I've been too lazy to do myself. I would've focused on some different things, but I appreciate the video none the less.

YouTube - Machinima Features Narrow Extent

Welcome to Narrow Extent


Narrow Extent is somewhere between a small and medium-sized competitive map that supports all game types except for Race and Invasion. The map is perfectly symmetrical about its center point with a base on each end, a column-filled hall at the center and several figure-eight pathways moving through the map from end to end and vertically through the three levels.

Narrow Extent plays best with two to eight players or 1v1 through 4v4 team games. While the Spawning is set up to support 16 FFA players or two teams of eight, the map is really too small to provide tactically competitive game play with that many players. If you enjoy crazy action with a lot of players, however, feel free to fill it up.

I spent quite a bit of time working on a proper weapon set and came up with a relatively conservative collection due to the smaller size of the map and its layout. Initially, I placed a single sniper on the map with 2 spare clips and a 180 second respawn at the center of the main level (level 2). I thought it would be a good way to get traffic through the map center. I finally ended up settling on removing the single sniper rifle at that location and providing one sniper rifle on each team’s end of the map. I didn’t want to have a sniper rifle showing up at the center where neutral objectives were for fear that players would have a hard time picking up the objective or the rifle. During play tests I found that the majority of the traffic moved through the center of the map due to the layout of the paths without needing a power weapon to encourage it.

Weapons:

(2) plasma pistol, 30 second respawn

(2) needle rifle, 2 spare clips, 45 second respawn

(2) DMR, 1 spare clips, 45 second respawn

(2) DMR, 2 spare clips, 60 second respawn

(1) shotgun, 1 spare clips, 180 second respawn

(2) sniper rifle, 1 spare clip, 150 second respawn


Below are accurate floor plans of the map showing only the weapon and basic objective layouts. As you can see, Level 3 consists simply of elevated pathways moving from the base ends of the map to the center. Be sure to click the bar at the top of each floor plan to see it more clearly.








The most distinguishing aspect of Narrow Extent is the spiraling pathways moving from the base ends to the map’s center. I think they provide visual interest to the map and are a nice contrast to the darker interior areas. Movement can be slightly restricted along the paths due to irregularities in the floor surface, but after a few times through, it is easy to find the smoothest path. I usually end up doing a single small jump about halfway through to speed up travel from one end to the other.


Blue Spiral


Red Spiral


View just before entering the blue spiral from the center area of the map.


Spartan thrown in for scale


View that is never seen by the players. Sad but true. Maybe in a different map.



Though not quite as pretty as the spirals, the most prominent path through Narrow Extent is the long hall moving from end to end of the map on the main level. At the hall’s center, where the primary neutral objectives are located, is a large room with four columns creating multiple paths. If you look up from the objective, you’ll see the small, lonely skylight.


View down main hall


Looking down on the center of Narrow Extent where all primary neutral objectives are located


Looking up from the map's center to see the sky


Looking across Narrow Extent's center from one spiral entry/exit to the other.


Below are some important areas of Narrow Extent you'll want to be familiar with.


Red base (Blue base is the same)


Shotgun Spawn at the center of Level 1


Sniper spawn on Level 2 near the observation window under the spiral


Strategic jump for access to level 3 spirals from the map's center. There are a few other strategic jumps in the map, placed......strategically.



I have already constructed a condensed version of this map. It lacks the exterior bases, and I think it would work better with the Forge Hub 2v2 Throwdown. Check out the floor plans below and let me know what you think about it and if you have any suggestions for making it a better map for the contest. I will most definitely be losing at least two of the DMRs due to the Forge Hub 2v2 Throwdown game type, but any other weapon suggestions would be welcome. The name for this map will most likely change from what is shown on the plans below.

Spoiler

Thanks for checking out Narrow Extent and thanks to those who checked the map out while I was creating it and offered helpful suggestions and feedback. I hope you all enjoy playing on it.

 

Thank you to everyone for the great positive feedback. While I initially envisioned this map providing more opportunities for some open, mid-range combat, it ended up being a bit more of a corridor-type map. Regardless, I think it offers a bit of a break from the typical, more open format of most forged maps, though I do usually prefer my maps more open.

I'm glad I could mess with your mind again, Mocha.

Ociee, here is how to make those spirals. Take pretty much any forge object and use the coordinate system to place a bunch of them side by side in a long line. Set your rotation snap to 5 degrees or whatever increment makes sense for your creation. Leave the first object unrotated, then move over to each subsequent object rotating one increment more than the previous one. Before you know it, you'll have a perfect spiral made of whatever object you've chosen. I've tried out many of the different pieces and come up with some beautiful spirals. The brace, however, is my favorite, and most useful as well. I made a spiral with the brace a few days after Reach came out and have been looking for an opportunity to use it in a map ever since.

Marcass, you are correct about the corkscrew being harder to traverse when moving from the base end to the map's center. What you have to do is initially start moving on the right side of the spiral. Then as you approach the center of its length, you have to do a small hop over to the left side to avoid being slowed down by the jagged transition between the floor and wall. I move through the spiral with little effort now and even use the same method in the other direction as well. Thanks for noticing it though.

 

III PH03NIX III, I have a personal copy of my CAD program at home (got it from my company a few years back as a bonus in lieu of a monetary bonus for the year) so I do my Reach maps outside of work. It'd be nice to get paid for drawing up Halo maps in CAD though, so If anyone wants me to CAD up his/her map, let me know. I'll try to be reasonable, but probably still too expensive.

I'll try harder to invite you. I just get into production mode so often and usually like to have a mostly completed project done before I let people see it.

If you see me on, send an invite. That'll help get me out of solitary mode. I have a few new projects that I'm pretty excited about and would love to get your feedback.

 

Thanks. Both of you touched on the unique aspects of the map, which was important to me when creating it. The initial concept for Narrow Extent began with my vision for the main central square with the four columns. I then began designing a workable map layout around that hub. When it came to creating the upper paths, which are now the spirals, I just didn't think typical platform components such as bridges would make an interesting place to be in (I actually tried bridges and they were long and boring). Fortunately, I had created the spiral brace tunnel not long after Reach came out, but had not found an appropriate place to use it until now.

So far, each of my maps has stemmed from a mix of several stand-alone visions for unique uses of forge parts and a map layout I feel I need to create. I then try incorporate those small components into the layout with the hope that my efforts will lead to an interesting, workable final map. I've been pretty happy so far, besides running into the technical limitations of the Reach Forge engine.

 

While I don't agree with all of your points and feel you may be being a bit overly cynical regarding the style over function of the map, I appreciate your honesty and constructive criticism. I must admit that a few of your points were concerns of mine when making the map and after the play tests I conducted. I agree that the flow of the map definitely guides players to the column area (aka the meat grinder) and that combat within that area can be hectic and sometimes confusing. I even tried an iteration where the columns were removed completely. That lead to a fish in a barrel situation that I preferred less than the current design.

The column area was not initially envisioned to be a central hub in a competitive map, but part of a side path across a map containing a power weapon or power up. When I began designing this map, however, I decided to take a chance on adding a real focused area of contention that players would either have to learn to fight and triumph in or avoid altogether. I feel it offers something quite different than most are accustomed to and decided it was worth it. That being said, don't expect to see any future map of mine with that column area as it's primary central hub.

As far as the spirals being too much style over function and not leading anywhere, I don't agree with this. The fact that the spirals are very aesthetic, does not detract from gameplay and they are perfectly functional in that they provide an alternate route across the map. They also offer an elevated location overlooking the map's center and probably the most useful weapon on the map is located there (DMR with 2 spare clips).

Again, though, I won't say your opinions or observations are incorrect. I have little doubt that there are others who might share your view. I am glad you shared your opinion of the map and I will definitely consider it in my future forging. Thank you.