ctf_compromise V2 Beta 4 release

Time for next release. A part of a new teleporter model is included. The screenshot is all about it.
An improved gameplay of ctf_gate1 is in this pk3 as well. Shader is partly taken from pulchr.

Changelog:

ctf_compromise:

• replace teleporter model
• add new teleporter model
• make sand a bit darker
• ledge sink in RL room
• further improved renderperformance
  
• add easteregg to top towers
• center area jumppads reach to RA now
• minor texture fixes
• additional clipping
• removed nailgun because it does too much damage
• for missionpack kamikaze added (replaces YA in center area)
• support for domination and double domination gametypes
• support for missionpack gametypes 1flag, harvester, and overload

ctf_gate1:

• double domination support
• domination points moved and reduced to 3
• Chaingun removed
• Nailgun replaced by Lightning Gun
• improved item balancing

Download:
http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/zctf_compromise_v2b4.pk3 (Save link as ...)

altering ctf_compromise

This is a work in progress screenshot. Ivan and Feidi gave me very helpful hints on ctf_compromise. Strange: This should have happened about a year ago!

More accessible ledges are there now and another teleporter in every base. Item balancing has to be done all over again. :(
I hope to get more vertical action and I am trying to get more focus on the middle area. Maybe I should place a quad there instead of just a biosuit.

I am improving performance more and more. This time the fog had to be banned. Next will be separating the areas so less gets drawn at once.

Included in this screenshots are two new player skins for assassin and beret.

ctf_inyard_v3_b2 release

download (Save link as...)

changes:

• large health items replaced by multiple normal (+25hp) ones
• better jump pad behaviour
• domination gametype support
• double domination support removed (doesn't suit that map)
• missionpack gametypes support (one flag, harvester)
• additional spawnpoints
• added a torch at the now blocked hallways
• visual polish and other compile options
• rocketlauncher in the central yard near MH
• music (sonic1) meta entry in worldspawn
• alphamod yard ground texture, the evil skull is shown there
  
• roof to main platform added, it is becoming a balcony
• no railgun slugs anymore
• armor shards added to lower floor
• additional dom points
  

long time no see

Due only sporadic progress I was lazy adding my changes and ideas to this blog. Time to list up what has been done. This screenshot shows an experimental state of ctf_compromise. I am working on it at the moment to fix the sky clipping problem allowing players to exit the map and enter it at the enemy base. While on it I thought of improving the overall appearance and playability of it. Still it bothers me a bit not seeing it online at all.

Additional changes went into the other maps. See linked screenshots of ctf_gate1 and oa_koth2. I give a changelog below.

ctf_compromise:
-done

• ground patch meshes replaced by phong shaded brushes.
• renderperformance increased slightly but I am not satisfied yet
• many patchmeshes replaced by brushes
• nailgun replaces grenadelauncher
• additional way to every base added
• fog less dense now
• foghull removed (bad performance impact)
• skybox added (see screenshots) but it looks silly

-todo

• fix the sky bug - no clipping at the moment at all
  
• weapon balancing
• replace teleporter model
• reduce patch meshes or their visibility even further
  

ctf_gate1:
-done

• main layout changed, less pillars, less jumpy
• less obstacles, better reachability, faster
  
• additional ways to the sides of each base
• weapon spawn textures
• a trap
• texture improvements
• brush cleanup
• clipping bug fixed
• double domination support
  

-todo

• weapon balancing seems to be bad. Put chaingun to a different spot?
• better: remove nailgun and replace it with chaingun. :)

oa_koth2:
-done

• music (sonic1) meta entry in worldspawn
• domination support
• smoother outer stonewalls
• alphamod of outer groundtexture not looking like being cut with a knife
  

-todo

• new flag textures

Work in progress

HUNT OA Server is up and running again. I cannot promise it will 24/7 but I am glad to have it working. Highscores will be tracked and put online every few days. I see quiet a lot people connecting and disconnecting seconds afterwards. Seems not everybody is able to get it running or just didn't enable auto download?

Improvements of maps are on the way. The biggest overhaul will be on ctf_inyard where I hope to release a version 3 beta soon. To have a more interesting and less straight map I want it to be more arena like which means that there will be no fog of death anymore. The centre of the map is becoming a big yard with a 90° turn in it. The pillars in every base will be moved aside so freedom of movement is gained. A serious change in weapon placement is on my list too.

Other changes and bugfixes will be on ctf_compromise (no hidden passage through the void anymore) and the clipping problem in ctf_gate1. Thanks to the people reporting this.

I hope to get a good teleportermodel done for these maps.

oa_koth2 beta 3

download beta 3 release: http://cosmo.spaceboyz.net/openarena/oa_koth2_b3.pk3 (save target as ...)

Guys at OA forums gave me valuable hints. So here are my changes.

• candleholder models added. Updated my blender to latest version and discovered that the md3 exporter doesn't work anymore. Had to google for a different one which is not as good as the former exporter. :(
• BFG floats now and is reachable by rocketjumps and a harder to reach jumppad. I'm aware that there's now a 3rd way to reach the top floor from mid section of the map by a well executed rocketjump.
• BFG and Quad are now 'disconnected'
• green bobbing orb on top floor
• sound added to the orbs
• fixed 'squishing' respawn point
• replaced medkit with battlesuit so BFG usage is less dominating
• fixed problem of bots staying in front of closed door by adding donotenter brushes to the door sides.
• prevent bots from falling into abyss by adding donotenter brushes
• cobwebs. unsure to leave them in for final release. maybe a different shader would make them look better. need to discuss this.
• diamond blue shader problem solved
• reduced texture usage
• sky clipping. no more quad-proxy-mine-jumping out of the map. ;)
• tweaking compilation parameters: darker and moodier in certain spots.
• double domination gametype dropped

Most time went into mapmodel creation and texture painting. Less time was spend on testing as I state it mostly balanced now.

Give it a try. If I don't get more hints I'm releasing it as final with double domination support.

oa_koth2

As we were talking about game content creation and which old maps would be a nice remake in Paris we stumbled across good old Transfusion and it's Blood spirit. Back in those days we enjoyed deathmatch in a tower map. OA already has it's CTF bases maps which are inspired by Blood so why missing this one?

Astro had his own idea of it so I didn't go with any of his suggestions. A first unnoticed beta release was done in November. The maps structure and gameplay was too plain. I fear I was not creative enough to use all possibilities the layout gave me.

For next release a lot of changes go into this one:

• chaingun added, 1 railgun removed
• trims, ledges, lots of foilage and details
• possible to reach every level of the tower from the inside
• a ladder and glowing orbs
• 2nd rocket launcher, personal teleporter
• creating lots of new textures

Bots do fine 'cept finding their way out of the void. Map is damn cool in Elimination gametype (8).

ctf_gate1 beta 2

After reducing details of each pillar and hinting severe spots frames got decent and the map becomes playable. I just mirrored everything and autoreplaced the textures to get a blue base. Additional details are added to the walls, items and powerups changed and constantly tests against bots help me fixing lots of issues.
I discovered another bug in OA 0.8 as I think Double Domination points should not be in the same place where CTF flags are.

The next beta release: ctf_gate1_b2.pk3 (save link as...)

Still things can be improved.
Edittime so far: 10h

Pillars (part 1)

Pillars in general are nifty elements to place in maps as they may improve gameplay and create something recognizable. Players might dance around and they offer a certain amount of cover and finally pillars help to give a realistic to the map because blocks won't float in space as they rest on tessellated columns.

How pillars may be designed depends on the amount of faces they may require and the available textures. In general it's a good idea to have something that catches the eye on them so the boring rest of it is not recognized. Slight variations of each pillar is possible (e.g. texturewise) but not necessary. Pillars generate a feeling of everything belongs together.

It's good to think about how they will impact on the map: Is the pillar just an obstacle or can it be accessed? Is there an item at the top? How does the player reach it? Can VIS be blocked with it? Do my pillars connect two platforms? Do I have just for decoration reasons? Rooms with blank and plain walls are boring.

My current idea requires several pillars and I'm playing around with a concept I feel comfortable with.

Blog created

For time being I guess it's quiet nice to have a little logging of my progress as there are several maps I'm working on. It should be easier to share stuff I stumble across instead of discussing everything on IRC with lei, kick52 and Andy.