I really wanted to make my own Grifball map after I saw all the really boring unoriginal maps in Reach. The only one that has caught my attention is Concave (or something like that.) Because its the only one that isn't just a fancy rectangle. (I can't say anything about pinwheel though, never got to play on it.) So my friends and I have some ideas for new grifball maps we want to try out. Keep in mind, we don't like the idea of multi-level maps, and we don't like random obstacles on the maps either. We want to keep the true spirit of Grifball. Here are our ideas: 1. A huge circle. 2. A football field. (American) 3. A natural map. I've decided to try out the 3rd idea, and I think it looks pretty cool. What do you think about this, would you like to play on a map like this in matchmaking? (Pictures below are WiP) I decided to remove the ceiling, also there is an overhead view at the bottom. I think maps like these could be pretty fun, maybe even more fun than the usual strict rectangle.
One thing that you need to preserve in grifball maps is balance. the Concave variation works because it's like the same old thing with a functional twist that doesn't give team A an advantage over team B. Natural hills are a perfect example of that main rule being broken. Unless of course you want this to be casual, and not in any official playlists or competitions. Trust me, I'm friends with the guys that decide what goes in the grifball playlists. I've made many grifball maps, some of which may be added to the grifball playlist, and some of which were in Halo 3's DXP weekend.
One of the simpler, but creative things you could do to spice up scenery and feel, but not ruin gameplay, is create something to actually bomb. Don't put anything to block player movement, but maybe add something floating above the bomb target capture plate that looks like something you are trying to bomb. That way you don't potentially inbalance any gameplay, but you can still make the map have a theme and make it play into the game somehow.
I think these could be competitive. The map I posted above does have natural hills, but they wont affect game play drastically. If needed I can smooth them out with walls and also make artificial hills on the opposite side to even the two sides out. But I really want try and make something playable and competitive other than a pure rectangle. I also think a circle would work well because it will be perfect and symmetrical.
I've just got to download the game type and set up the kill barriers the n it'll be done! I would like to put in something to blow up like OMGod suggested, but I'm not sure of a good way to do it without it getting in the way.
If you use any natural areas, it's guaranteed not to be balanced correctly as grifball is supposed to be. One of the most important things about grifball is that regardless of where anyone is, they will always be able to see every person on the map, and that the map be entirely symmetrical. There's also the problem most notably in the concave grifball map that any kind of bump in the floor completely messes up gameplay. If any grifball map is to be used competitively, it needs to be the coliseum one because that is the only one with absolutely no bumps in the floor. If you want to make a grifball map with variations in height, be sure not to block any lines of sight, and build it yourself instead of just fencing off some part of forge world. No. Shut up now.
All the maps in the play list now are all pure rectangles. (Except for Concave, and I still haven't been able to play on Pinwheel.) I don't even care to vote for the map I play on because they are all the same. I, and I bet a lot of other people would like some variety. I'm sure the map will play fine, and if anything needs to be changed, I'll fix it after doing some play tests. Grifball to me feels boring, so I'm trying to dial up the fun-factor and add in some variables. I'm sorry if you don't agree with me, I'm going to continue to work on these maps and see what the community thinks. Edit: The map is pretty much finished now, just testing to make sure the game type works correctly.
I feel like the hills would block the line of sight from player to player causing chaos and frustration. it's bad enough getting hammered out of nowhere on a flat map, but on a map with hills? I'd probably break my controller in half. Although the map's appearance looks pretty tight. Maybe try and find a flatter natrual surface to work with?
You could probably accomplish balance by either a) putting grids over the terrain or b) having the grids merged in such a way that only the tops of the hills are above it (this way you're keeping the natural idea but allowing players to see each other easily).