Perform (Updated 2-19-11) Hi guys! This is my 3rd real attempt at a map in forge, but I feel that it is the most solid. Using some experience with my other maps, and getting insight from a few friends helped in getting this one designed. This guy started out as a CTF map. And I'm wondering how it will play for Slayer (both team and FFA). it is a symetrical map with a UNSC training facility type of vibe to it. Lets begin the tour shall we? The top of this ramp is where I am considering putting the inital spawns on either side. This gives a quick wide open shot to establish what is going on at the beginning of the game. Under the inital spawn ramp you will find another ramp that leads underneath your "base" platform. In my testing I found it pretty easy to slide down there, and it is possible to jump out it just takes a bit of skill. I like how this turned out however. If you happen to go down the lower ramp you will find yourself on an enclosed platform with a teleporter at the end. Mirrored on the opposite side by the oppossing team. The teleporters will lead you atop one of platforms outside of your spawning area. This puts you roughly in the middle of the map. This is more of an angled shot of where the teleporter leads you to. If you look there is a ledge slightly sticking out from the wall. I have the platform slightly off set so you are able to jump to that small ledge, over to the opposide platform or onto your ajacent tower. View from the left platform from each base. The tops of the walls I'm really proud of. I needed something to cover the gaping hole where i moved the outer wall in and I came up with this domed observation deck. Threw some scenery in there to make it look like an area ONI officals would be observing Spartans in action. Opposite observation deck. I made them similar, just just subtle enough changes to add to the Red vs Blue style. Top down aerial. So thats the basic overview of my map. I came up with this more or less on the fly once I got the squared flooring down. (The grid saved my life for that) I have a weird case of insomnia so sometimes I'll just throw on some music and see what I can come up with, and this is the result of one of those nights. I have yet to place any spawns, or weapons as of yet. I'm thinking of adding a few more things on the ground level of the map, but without making it seem too cluttered. For CTF I plan on having the flags spawn at the base of the upper ramp. So they are more in the center of the open dish. For the return points I'm debating having them in the same area or up by the inital spawn point. I suppose once I get some play testing in I can go from there. Any thoughts? Ideas? Questions? I'd love to hear feedback. Or if anybody would like to hop on and run around on it and get a gauge for it size wise let me know. Thanks in advance! UPDATE 2-19: I took Plasma Blades input and reworked the lower ramp and opening spawns. I lowered the platform and built the lower ledge. I really like this reworked lower area as it gave me a place to throw a few respawns. Really easy to get down there and to get out, so I don't think flow will be effected much. Closer shot of the platform. I threw a crate down and covered it with nades and a plasma pistol. A few shots of the updated aesthetics on the map. I used the back of the satellite as a weapon rack. It seems to fit the feel of the training facility. Cross view from the platforms. View from the bottom of the opening spawn ramp. Notes I completed all the weapon spawns and spawn points on the map tonight. I'm hoping to give it a test run in the coming week. I'll be out of town with no access to my xbox, but hoping I can can rally a few friends together one night for some custom games.
The barebones of the map is pretty decent. You just need to try and spruce it up a little bit aesthetically. Try and add some colored pieces to define bases and such...
If there's a single area that looks sloppy it's the area in the second picture. It looks disjoint from the design around it, it just doesn't belong. You may want to consider enclosing the are, lengthening the ramp, etc.