Concept Map: "retrieval"
Lt_Gravity
Join Date: 2003-04-28 Member: 15909Members
Join Date: 2003-04-28 Member: 15909Members
<div class="IPBDescription">a small experiment</div> some time ago I thought about working out an alternate gameplay concept to be used within ns. there are not many teamspecific entities but I figured out how to achieve my goal with as less work as possible.
this concept rested on my hdd some time and I never had time to work on it anymore because I spend most of my time working on ns_source. after "finishing" (beta 34 so is not really a final) there was some time left to work on another project.
3 days ago I read through the textures thread and found a nice wad created by "the Duke". I also took some textures from "soylent green"´s wad and played around with them.
and it seemed like I had figured out how to do some ok looking areas without spending weeks. thats very important because I really dont know if this map work like I exspect it to, so I dont want to "waste" time till I know it for shure.
the pictures bellow were taken after the first compile. the lighting has to be tweaked as well as the shape of the neons.
the style is little bit more "clean" than most of the custommaps out there. thats because Im referring to maps created for "alien trilogy" (PS 1), which I really liked because of their atmosphere. there wasnt any fancy architecture, just the feeling that something is watching you while walking through empty corridors...
<img src='http://mitglied.lycos.de/centercross/bilder/test1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<img src='http://mitglied.lycos.de/centercross/bilder/test2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<img src='http://mitglied.lycos.de/centercross/bilder/test3.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<img src='http://mitglied.lycos.de/centercross/bilder/test4.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Im not shure about if it should be an ns map or an co map. both modes have some
advantages. atm Im shure I would do best as co map, although I dont like the mode.
but I will play completely different in the end so it shouldnt matter.
at the end you "just" have to fight through several corridors and fulfill you goal. WHAT you will have to do is still up to the mapper <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
this concept rested on my hdd some time and I never had time to work on it anymore because I spend most of my time working on ns_source. after "finishing" (beta 34 so is not really a final) there was some time left to work on another project.
3 days ago I read through the textures thread and found a nice wad created by "the Duke". I also took some textures from "soylent green"´s wad and played around with them.
and it seemed like I had figured out how to do some ok looking areas without spending weeks. thats very important because I really dont know if this map work like I exspect it to, so I dont want to "waste" time till I know it for shure.
the pictures bellow were taken after the first compile. the lighting has to be tweaked as well as the shape of the neons.
the style is little bit more "clean" than most of the custommaps out there. thats because Im referring to maps created for "alien trilogy" (PS 1), which I really liked because of their atmosphere. there wasnt any fancy architecture, just the feeling that something is watching you while walking through empty corridors...
<img src='http://mitglied.lycos.de/centercross/bilder/test1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<img src='http://mitglied.lycos.de/centercross/bilder/test2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<img src='http://mitglied.lycos.de/centercross/bilder/test3.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<img src='http://mitglied.lycos.de/centercross/bilder/test4.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Im not shure about if it should be an ns map or an co map. both modes have some
advantages. atm Im shure I would do best as co map, although I dont like the mode.
but I will play completely different in the end so it shouldnt matter.
at the end you "just" have to fight through several corridors and fulfill you goal. WHAT you will have to do is still up to the mapper <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Comments
My concept would have a timer linked to an 'event'. The 'event' will mean certain doom to the Aliens, and a Marine win. The timer means the Marines have a certain amount of time to hold out against the Aliens before this event is triggered.
The 'event' can be stopped relatively easily by the Aliens within the last few seconds of the timer -returning the gameplay to normal NS however Aliens will probably be defeated.
The Marines can reach a weldable deep in Alien territory which will disable the timer -returning the gameplay to normal NS mode, which due to the res placement will mean an easy win for Marines.
In short, the Aliens must strike fast and hold their territory. It will be difficult for the Marines to push up and to hold positions. If Marines hold out long enough and cap extra res nodes, they will win the game.
You could call it an Alien training map; training you in quick responses and cooperation.
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Sorry to hog your thread Gravman, but I wanted to explain it to see if what you're planning is similar.
but no, my concept is much more simple... and much more reliable under different circumstances <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
ok, lets summarize:
<img src='http://mitglied.lycos.de/centercross/bilder/conceptmap_overview.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
how the gameplay (should) work:
- marines spawn at location 1 or 2. the separated locations are meant to make it harder to spawncamp the marine team. to bring this effect even further you will spawn inside of a closed elevator. you will have to push a button to open the doors. this is also useful to regroup and strike back a possible alien assault.
- the two corridors havent got any vent exits. aliens arent supposed to do anything besides stopping marines on their "own" territory.
- first room: 2 vent exits and 2 action spots. to make the game little bit comfortable there will be one pot to weld open and another one where you just have to press a button. the action spots are meant to be obstacleswhere the marines have to pass in different ways. however, there is no EASY path.
- you will have to decide where to go next at each junction, you will allways have four choices:
1. straight ahead (weldable spot or "the hard route")
2. left /right (button, the "easy way" but the route is allways longer)
3. stay and wait for reinforcements (but I guess thats not much of a good choice)
4. fall back to the last room, where you will be able to defend yourself
- once you have managed to reach the "critical area", ergo you have managed to pass the hive area (which cant be accessed by marines) you will have to trigger a single event, resulting in a event killing the hive.
Im not yet shure, what exactly the marinescould do. maybe they activate some kind of emergency "put down" system that kills the hive by injecting an overdose. this would fit te background perfectly (another "biological research lab" theme).
another possibility would be to launch a malfunctioning rocket that safes all the scientific personal.
"run like hell": at least one marines has to escape to win the match.
-
the result would be a game where marines have to move in groups, communicate and mislead the other team. the aliens would have to block marines movement, ambush, separate enemy troops and prevent the marines from reaching the "critcal area".
however, there is no time trigger, so the map wouldnt intersect with the roundtimer of the server. and you can easily fix problems by raising or lowering the timer.
the ns version would be much more complicated. and I dont want to spent too much time fixing ns-mode specific errors/probs to be honest <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
catch me on irc channel #ngg and hope that Im present <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
there is a big problem atm, I discovered my system to be completely infected by several viruses. thats why I will have took it offline yesterday. I hope all my important files can be rescued. Im glad I saved the last verison of my map ns_source a) on disc and b) on my webspace... and that I have another machine at home which can be used instead. but since its an old PII 333Mhz there is no chance for mapping. at least there is a chance to use a webbrowser.
If you're stopping Marines from entering the Hive then one might assume that Oni can't leave/enter either. Would this be imbalancing? I would assume, though, that you're using a barrier that lets only team1 (Aliens?) through, or something. In any case the Oni won't be able to use the vent system, so how are you going to structure the map towards the later sections where the Marines will have the upgrades to screw the Fades over.
Either make the last section super difficult, or make the earlier sections more difficult to slow down the Marine upgrades. I don't see quite how you can do the latter of the two proposed options if you have Aliens coming from one direction (the vent exits) as Marines will just camp them out for XP. You'll need to have vents leading to multiple exits in front/behind/to the side of the 'rines to keep them on their toes.
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Yeah, Grav, your way is simpler but the welding could get a bit repetitive. What about shootable buttons and breakables ftw?
(I'd also make your flourescent lights yellow, but that's just me)
@ crispy: havent thought about that in detail. I might use the ns mode because it just doesnt cause this problems. but in the end it doesnt matter which modeI choose, you will have to get used to the gameplay that WILL BE DIFFERENT from most of the maps we have seen yet.
thats why Im not going to spend hours on the design. more likely I will try to get it balanced.
onos wont be much of a choice. that will work when I will be able to prevent marines from getting too much level in co.
on the other hand lets think about the ns version:
- marines wont get many upgrades because the building options has to be restricted
- aliens would have 1-2 hives
- dropping chambers and structures will be restricted in most of the important areas
and there we have some other problems to care for <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I dont think it will be easy. I do in fact believe it will be rather difficult.
keep in mind that I will "force" the marine players to achieve their goal. otherwise aliens will have some easy food.
@ moultano: nicely said. because there isnt much to comment <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I dont like the floor texture myself. its not the easy way to stick to "unseen" textures. out of the ns textures I used four for this areas. the other ones are custom made.
the neons will vary in color within different sections in the map. the style will be kinda repetative (I will use this standart corridors allover the map) so I will give the player little hints. but the "omg, I think I have crossed this hallway before" feeling may add to the panic atmosphere.
Im sorry I cant show you more... because so little has been done <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
... or maybe aliens builded their hive in a junk press <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> and marines just have to push that button ^^ or get to a terminal
... or they infested a Cargo bay, and Marines have to try to open the gates to space ^^
I really! like that idea ^^ Go on <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Only thing i dislike is the idea of long corridors, all looking the same. And very small action spots.
Well ... i think it would be very nice, if maps with this gamemode, would look ... more like real spacestations or spaceships <!--emo&::tsa::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tsa.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tsa.gif' /><!--endemo-->. Rooms have to be placed reasonable, to fit a spaceship ... (Bride in Front ... Generators in center and Drive and Bays in the back part i.e.)
There are so many possibilities for good "Action spots" ... emergency locked doors, Crates plugging a passage, a broken hull causing dekompression, security energy fields, ...
Well ... i think it would be very nice, if maps with this gamemode, would look ... more like real spacestations or spaceships <!--emo&::tsa::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tsa.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tsa.gif' /><!--endemo-->. Rooms have to be placed reasonable, to fit a spaceship ... (Bride in Front ... Generators in center and Drive and Bays in the back part i.e.)
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thats all because I dont know if it works. I dont want to spent hours on creating some nice areas just to find out the concept wont work.
Im not in spaceships too much. how much spaceships can possibly be infested in the "ns universe"? its kinda repetative and not too believeable in my eyes. although there are only few GOOD looking spaceship maps.
but the idea for this map isnt new either. the idea of the biological warfare facility does exist back to the roots of ns I think <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
maybe a few usless doors, labeled and so on
but wd and great concept, yeah go with a TNT weldable plunger at the end, to cripple the hive
as for co or ns, go ns in my opinion, marons will jack this onto extra lvl plugs and be there all day
Taking 50+ co_servers into consideration is giving them undeserved acknowledgement. I say if they wanna ruin the balance by playing an obscenely bastardised plugin, then they have no right to complain if a map seems unbalanced.
I'm back after I took a long break tho. well I discussed and developed this concept with Gravity 3 months ago. the different part of this concept have already been listed.
Since I am Gravis personal soundmixer <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> I really took part in getting new ideas for this concept so I don't think that this could be the final version of it.
We are trying ourselves on something that nobody has done before, so don't blame us if you think the idea sucks or whatever (mainly blame gravi cos he's da mappa <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)
puts his feet up
and its kinda interesting how much you can achieve with so little possibilities. thats why hl1 mapping is more fun than for hl2 XD
just kiddn' <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
bascially he is right! and I'll support him =)