So I’m working on a BTB map and I wanted to get some advice for designing the team bases. They will be freestanding buildings, like in Blood Gulch or Valhalla.
Don't do "freestanding" builidings unless it fits with your theme. What is the backstory of your level? Did the UNSC crash into a conveniently cube shaped hole while fightan da cubinent? Make it original, too. Originality =/= reinventing the wheel, despite what 343 believes. There are plenty of style guides on Forerunner, Covenant, Promethean, Storm Covenant, Whatever is in Halo Wars 2, the UNSC, ONI, even natural style guides exist. It also very much depends on the size of the map and its directional. Is it symmetrical? Yawn. Would you consider you map an 8v8, a 7v7, or a 6v6? Be honest. This all we can really tell you, unless you are inclined to post nu- I mean, pics.
I don't want to be rude but I would not advise going by what was said above. Do not worry about theme until you have the gameplay situated. Worrying about aesthetics hitches can hinder a maps gameplay if you becomes attached to an idea that doesn't turn out to be good for gameplay. I designed an open terrain map recently and how I personally did the bases was encourage people to to out of them honestly. I made the inside small and uncomfortable to fight within and made the top very open. This is done in standoff, Coag, beaver creek and Valhalla. I they're mostly designed like that because of welcoming to engagements, why would you ever leave to cross the wasteland in between. Though I don't believe those kinds of maps are supposed to play well, so I wouldn't sweat it too much.
Thank you for the advice. Theme is something that I will be nailing down later, but for the time being the plan is that it will be a natural terrain map with some UNSC and Forerunner structures. I am mostly trying to find a good layout, but I’m just not sure what makes a base layout “good” for an 8v8 map. I’m also trying to figure out things like where to place the team vehicles in/around the base.
Yeah, I wasn't trying to be hard on you just to be hard on you or anything, but if you're gonna be playtesting, you'll hear a lot of the same questions I posted above. I just want you be prepared, you have to sell your map or people will lose interest.
Pathing and Function. How do you want to attack the base to take an objective? Do you want players to assault from the front, or force them to go around the back? Or maybe they have to go inside of it? Where do you want to stand to defend the base? On top of it? On the sides? Behind it? Inside of it? What is the function of the structure? Is it just a research base? Is it powering some part of the map? Do vehicles use it as a garage, or is it strictly for infantry? How do vehicles interact with your base? Do you want them to shoot players standing on top of it? What direction would an objective carrier run if he wanted to jump into a vehicle? Do you want them to be able to drive through it, or force them around it? Or perhaps you'll allow them to go into it or on top of it? How do infantry leave your base? Are there teleporters or man cannons that take them to other parts of the map? Or do they just jump off of the front? Answering these questions will help you define the shape and structure of your base. There is no right or wrong way to design a base. It just depends on what you need it to do. Nevertheless, if you want to discourage camping, try to include several ways into it from different elevations, and avoid making your entrances too narrow.