Mapping challenge ideas?

[[FGS]Kalman]

So who wants a new mapping challenge? I want one, and as I know Chees and Majster too
But we need ideas!

[anax]

1.5mb or 3mb aug maps that specialize in a particular environment.

Like a multi room water map that takes the aqua-lung-friendly canal in DXMP_Cmd to a new high.
or an outdoors map - try to go insane with floor lofts and have clifftop spawns or something.
multi story high maps with platforms that provide an extra challenge for speed aug users besides dodging 20mm shells.

even tho not everybody maps for augs we should all try it, because it's interesting to see how mappers could approach a concept.

I've seen some tiny maps, smallest was less than 700k, but if done right some interesting stuff can be done and the smallest room if you add some cool semisolids can become awesome i guess.

[Majster]

I don't think augs mapping challenge is needed. Augers are conservative, they don't like custom maps (except Smuggles and DryDock). I think better option is Altfire mapping challenge, because Altfire needs new maps. Altfire have only old and often big maps currently, which in nowadays DXMP isn't good (because of small number of players). Altfire needs maps like Scoutknives and new mapping challenge (3 or 4 MB) can give these maps.

[[FGS]Chees]

^ WHAT HE SAID
apart from Concordia I haven't seen any mapping done by FGS for this server in a long while. This is a top idea for a mapping challenge Majster I'd say 4 MB limit, including all textures, mods, sound's and packages like in the last challenge. also a limit of 2 maps per person MB'S split between the 2 maps made may make it more interesting? just some ideas for now. I like your thinking Majster

[anax]

if you played augs at all you'd know some auggers like the prospect of new maps. Ste, Me, Psycho, Labtec, maybe Monkee even.

Altfire is full of oversized maps that would do better for messing about on in a laggy zXc server.

please aug first before you try to criticize the gametype, either that or stick to flying around in modded gravity with modded weapons and modded everything. MOD MODDO MDODEOD MODMODEDO.

edit: sorry if i sounded insulting though, i'm an aug nazi so get used teh augmented hitlerage.

[[FGS]Chees]

No probs! As this is FGS forum and to do with FGS servers I side with Majster's idea. We did 0 - augs now it's Altfires time to shine and if done will be very good for the Altfire server. Maybe augs contest next time still ideas though so who knows what will happen!

[anax]

in fairness though, all gametypes should have a mapping challenge. My aug exclusivity comes from not being a frequent altfire or 0a player.

[Psycho]

Im going to try and start mapping this summer. I'll probs suck at it badly. I'll make a very simple 0 aug map first, and if I enjoy mapping I'll build from there. If I do enjoy mapping, I'll enter a map for this challenge. (If it is a altfire map and you want it to be scoutknivez like.

[[FGS]Kalman]

What about making our neighborhood? Like I said in chatbox. That's outdoor environment and has great variety of buildings. It can have story too. Or someone should make a short story, and we must make a map for that.

[[FGS]Chees]

sounds good. back to challenge topic disguise

[ShadowRunner]

I hear what you are saying Majster but not everyone is motivated to map for altfire, especially auggers.

Bear in mind, server settings change. You need to find out how just how far you can throw a lam in altfire. That gives you an idea of just how big the maps really need to be. Same with Vacuum grenades. Also you need to factor nukedeath in.
It will just be history repeating, Pacman and etc, it's fun for a while, but serious players leave and don't come back, which then gives you guys a worse admin problem than before. I honestly feel that most mappers will be wasting their time, creating something that isn't going to work properly. You could run a altfire contest, but you need to guide people very heavily I think as to what is required specifically of altfire maps, what jump heights are, grenade distances. Altfire needs new maps.

I can see that if I don't continue to be a thorn in your side all the time, at the expense of friendships, that you will destroy the server forever, by simply turning into a fight server yet again with a lot of spawnkilling and small rooms and tiny spaces.

Altfire is the reason I didnt quit as a newb. The reason was, I could chill there, it wasn't noob-infested like GODZ and it wasn't intense like the fight servers. It needs to show "possibilities", gameplay isn't the major concern. It needs to show newcomers just what is possible with SDK. Looking cool and sexy sci-fi-ish cyberpunk, this is what makes altfire, not you guys arguing every ten seconds about mapsize. Ste's latest map is huge, but it's getting the most votes on 0-aug server.

Maybe maps were big for a while and Chinny saw the niche market in 0-augs, but that's been done now, hopefully we can find the middle ground between the two schools of thought and not get silly again on altfire please. The weapons are just way too powerful for really small maps. The 0-aug maps getting the most votes are big ones, like Office, Turnpike, Lockdown etc...

IF you dont trust me, trust Mantra, examine his last contribution to altfire. It's not exactly a fight map and it's medium sized, verging on big...

Don't get too "fight map" with altfire, if you really must, then make a second server. People want to camp in shadows, snipe, do nooby stuff, throw neutron bombs, operate vehicles, use ring transporters, make it fun, please don't bore everyone to death with really unrealistic tiny arena fight maps where you cant have any fun at all, except die. A normal fight map wont really work, look at Scoutz, similar to Mantra's map, it is just not a normal map.

Also since Scoutz, Cybris, CMD_V1 and some others are all first class and very popular altfire maps, how the hell are you going to judge a altfire map contest, I couldn't and I've been mapping altfire for 7 years.

However, I shut up and see if it is possible, but I don't think so, even the 2mb contest ended in a fatwah.

[atrey65789]

Here's a legit idea for a map challenge...

mainly for coders....


A challenge to see what map has the most well-coded stuff in it... could be any thing coded, modified weapons, movers, decorations, anything..

People don't have to be coders to judge, just rate it on what it does, what it is supposed to do, and what worked/failed when making it.


call it Coder's Map Challenge. (I'm not good at names :P) lol

[Psycho]

Here's a legit idea for a map challenge...

mainly for coders....


A challenge to see what map has the most well-coded stuff in it... could be any thing coded, modified weapons, movers, decorations, anything..

People don't have to be coders to judge, just rate it on what it does, what it is supposed to do, and what worked/failed when making it.


call it Coder's Map Challenge. (I'm not good at names :P) lol

That's a very narrow competition though?

[ShadowRunner]

Yes, more mappers than coders, would be difficult perhaps, but it's a great idea which will spawn various teams in future.

I think altfire should be a workshop and a team effort, not a competitive thing, would be more productive I think.

My idea for a challenge would allow people up to 10mb perhaps, since maps like Office and Lockdown are around 8mb.
I'm tempted to suggest everyone pick a theme and see who interprets it the best, but then maybe a lot of redundant maps or repetition to bore players. I think an aug map challenge would be good. Make an aug map which is not totally indoors and not using grey concrete textures.

Also howabout WW2, DXAG, Arena bots or any other gametype that doesn't have many maps.

[~][FGS][Nobody~]

Yess, a mapping challenge for altfire would be a great idea!
I'd also like to adapt chinny's monthly mapvote for altfire but that required a pre-selection of maps, which I'm uncapable of due to my irregular ingame time.