Eclipse 1.1
KungFuSquirrel
Basher of Muttons Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 103Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
Basher of Muttons Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 103Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
<div class="IPBDescription">uh-oh.</div> Eclipse during development was hell. And I mean total hell. I fought back allocblock:full 3 times, I fought random crashing if I so much as resized an info_location by 8 units, and I fought just general crap that managed to get into it. I stuck with it, though, and managed to have a fairly presentable product completed in time for NS release. Interestingly enough, it jumped to the top of the NS maps in playtime on most servers and still remains there to this day.
That puts me in an interesting predicament. I'm by no means completely happy with Eclipse. I'm definitely quite pleased by its success, but on the other hand there's so much that I know I can do better. Due to its popularity, though, the significant changes I want to make could be total suicide.
I've gone ahead and created a preliminary Eclipse 1.1, however, that may evolve into the next version of this map you'll see in a client update of NS. Here's 6 shots of some of the changes.
Below is the updated layout. I've marked about everything applicable with the usual colored dots. Mostly the same, with a few things to be noted.
1) Marine spawn reconstructed from scratch. No more doors, elevated floor with railings for setback defensive capacity.
2) Yes, that's a weldable vent to marine spawn
3) Maintenance hive transformed into Plasma Relay hive. It sucks right now, though, so it'll get a rather major reconstruction.
4) New route added to third Triad generator. It's an overlook, but an effective vantage point to rain death on the nozzle below.
5) New Triad entrance corridor. Formerly another hurried copy/paste of the central access corridor in the middle of the map, there's some spiffy new geometry in place. This style also shows up in Veil's ready room as part of an effort to give some consistency between the two maps (as they are set in the same facility).
<img src='http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/eclipse_11_1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
View of the new Triad overlook.
<img src='http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/eclipse_11_4.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
That puts me in an interesting predicament. I'm by no means completely happy with Eclipse. I'm definitely quite pleased by its success, but on the other hand there's so much that I know I can do better. Due to its popularity, though, the significant changes I want to make could be total suicide.
I've gone ahead and created a preliminary Eclipse 1.1, however, that may evolve into the next version of this map you'll see in a client update of NS. Here's 6 shots of some of the changes.
Below is the updated layout. I've marked about everything applicable with the usual colored dots. Mostly the same, with a few things to be noted.
1) Marine spawn reconstructed from scratch. No more doors, elevated floor with railings for setback defensive capacity.
2) Yes, that's a weldable vent to marine spawn
3) Maintenance hive transformed into Plasma Relay hive. It sucks right now, though, so it'll get a rather major reconstruction.
4) New route added to third Triad generator. It's an overlook, but an effective vantage point to rain death on the nozzle below.
5) New Triad entrance corridor. Formerly another hurried copy/paste of the central access corridor in the middle of the map, there's some spiffy new geometry in place. This style also shows up in Veil's ready room as part of an effort to give some consistency between the two maps (as they are set in the same facility).
<img src='http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/eclipse_11_1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
View of the new Triad overlook.
<img src='http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/eclipse_11_4.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Comments
<img src='http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/eclipse_11_2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/eclipse_11_3.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
<img src='http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/eclipse_11_5.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
And the new marine spawn. Still some lighting tweaks to go, but I think it's much better than the old half-assed one. Note the weldable vent visible on the left.
<img src='http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/eclipse_11_6.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Once again, this is a preliminary test version of ideas for the next Eclipse. All of these ideas may be included with additional new ones, or maybe nothing will end up being changed. Time will tell on this one. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Can't wait to see it in NS 1.1 <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
(I have seen lots of marine / phase gate rush to the hives)
And those textures changes are really nice in the screens and marine spawn is nice too =)
My only thought, it in this shot: <a href='http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/eclipse_11_3.jpg' target='_blank'>http://planethalflife.com/awmaps/pics/eclipse_11_3.jpg</a> , maybe add somg hanging infestation in front of the computer screens to complete the wholy infested feel.
I run a server, so if you wanted any help in having the map playtested I'd be happy to give you feedback of what people on my server think of the map. mercior@hotmail.com
That marine spawn is a definate improvement <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Marine spawn, glad you removed those doors i had a serious dislike for them to say to say the least.
And in that shot of the marine spawn, was it already welded? If not, make the bar crossing the vent transparent <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
And you really, really, REALLY should move the CC so it isn't shootable from outside, its target practice for fades like that <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->
There is this transparent "pillar" in Computer Core, that you can get up in as a skulk, and there is a ledge up there... it is quite possible to go gorge and make 2 def chambers or so, and camp once all hives are lost and annoy everyone... You can see through that ledge from above btw, but not from below.
Oh, and at keyhole(near horseshoe), the blue lightning pushes me if I stand in it O_o ...why is that so?
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I think its cos they were made with a convayer entity/func thingy/thingy
I'm a lot more confident about the changes being made after seeing the response here. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> I was really afraid I might get shredded, heh. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Feel free to shoot me down on this if I'm a dumb-ace as I prefer playing Aliens (obviously I suppose). I'm totally excited to see Eclipse 1.1, looks good so far!
<i><b>edit:</b> lets learn to attach images!</i>
I may go back to that idea. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
I wondered about that too, but surely its not that simple...
Also, it looks like the new chair location might be a little too hard to defend ... just a quick observation that might be way off base.
The only thing I don't like seeing is the hanging infestation in eclipse hive. It is my personal goal to eradicate all use of flat { textured things forever. I hate them i hate them i hate them, especially when used on things ilke plants and trees. :P
Other than that, it looks completely sex. I'm sure you'll make it turn out gold KFS. :)
[edit]
P.S.
"omgz ur lights have no infestation on thems u sax!" ;) j/k
[/edit]
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good point, that would make horseshoe even more of a tussle. esp if the gorges are able to unweld it again if they own it for a while!
a point about triad - it looks even less defendable now than it was - is that intentional?
a point on the eclipse control hive - what is controlled thru there? maybe you could add a few switches for light control in various places in eclipse? or turn off/on a "pump" to drain the water in comp core, as low as it is? right now the name seems a misnomer.
It's not eclipse control, it's eclipse command.
Not sure, another commanding point taken by the Kharaa?