Remake Crater (ODST firefight)

I'm a pretty normal person, but for some reason I get a little OCD when it comes to forge. Recently downloaded and enjoyed a remake of the firefight map Crater found in this thread. It was close enough to the original but certain things about it just drove me crazy and I couldn't just let it be.

My intent was to simple tweak the map a little, but I found that impossible, one change always led to another. I went back and forth between ODST and Reach looking for aspects of the original that I liked and, come the end of it all, came out with a map that I think more accurately represents Crater and is cleaner overall. While I have to say that this is "based" on the map found in the linked thread... I can probably count the number of pieces that haven't been deleted and replaced on my left hand (or right... they both have five fingers).

Here are some comparison screen shots I took in ODST and Reach. I think the differences and similarities will be obvious.

ODST- from just behind the Turret Gun:


My Map from roughly the same angle:


ODST- long view of Red/Player spawn:


My Map same angle- Red Team Base/Spawn:


ODST view of Sniper Spawn, Rocket Spawn below:



My Map- I've Preserved the Same locations for Rocket and Sniper spawning:



ODST- Side view of the Red Team/Player Spawn:


My Map- same angle:



ODST- Side view of the recessed Quad area:



My Map- this presents the most obvious divergence from the proportions of the original. But the difference was for expediency:



ODST- Side area to the quad:



My Map:




There are a couple of differences that probably aren't obvious from the pictures. There are two areas in the original map that I kept intact, but I felt ruined the flow of the map (making the quad area completely not worth going down into)- those were the rocket spawn location, and a similar location opposite that under the red spawn. To compensate I included a two way teleporter between the rocket spawn location and just outside of the blue initial spawn.

From down below the red spawn I created 1 way teleporters to the respective side areas.

As far as weapons go:

Snipes and Rockets in Original locations.
focus Rifle in the Red base hallway
Shotgun at blue base, and one below red.
DMR's and/or needle rifles and Grenades placed such that no matter where one spawns a viable weapon isn't too far away.

I also included Armor Lock on the platform next to the sniper spawn, and jet pack down in the quad.

Another notable feature- I decided to spawn a Hammer in the quad as the Hill. In order to control the hill, one has to pick up and hold the hammer. Its a fun KotH variant that plays a little like Juggernaut.

 

sweet.

I as well love a good remake. I find reach has the best overall mechanics (especially now with the tweaked bloom and other mechanics) but the maps pretty much blow. So a good remake is where its at.

You might want to check out my colossus remake in my sig as well.

 

Someone mentioned tin cups for grass. I tried that, but they were a bit too big. I suppose I could have used rocks, but I hate the way rocks look when paired with the real architecture.

@timmypanic- there are difinitely some block size issues. Granted I wasn't going for a 1x1 or a pixel perfect translation to reach, but I wanted it to at least feel close. The budget is pretty tight, but I could probably replace some of the blocks with platforms and inclines. My fear is a dramatic loss in frame rate. The map was deceptively large, and I didn't want to get things too busy, so simpler was my mantra. I'll probably take a second and third look at this from a purely aesthetic perspective if it ends up playing well. If its a terrible map, why bother?

I'd be very interested in getting some games in on it with more than 4 players. Right now its just me and my boys split screen.

Edit: someone mentioned the drop pod. I excluded it because I lacked the pieces to forge it easily. I could use unscrew barricades, but like rocks I think they're ugly. I might end up forging something decorative, but I don't think the map needs anything there for gameplay because of the size difference between mine and the original.

 

Thanks? It kinda looks like autospell got a hold of your post, so I'll just assume you complimented me.


As far as the map goes... I had some issues with kill boundaries when playing with my sons. I'll have to change them.

 

I think its been done a couple of times already. I know of at least one, the one I linked to in the opening post. But I don't think its been done really well until mine.

But I think you're right. I might be able to cut down on some blocks there. But my second fear, after framerate, is being ugly. To an extent I picked pieces to try and break up the grey of forgeworld.

 

Budget was very tight. There are certainly things that can be cut for lights. I was thinking specifically of a red light myself.

I'll play with it.