Map Enhancement Suggestions?
by Eli McClanahan · in General Discussion · 05/01/2003 (11:12 am) · 11 replies
Right now I'm playing around with a new map that's based up above a fog layer. It's a small area meant to force players to fight in small, potentially lethal quarters. I don't have it set up yet, but when you fall off the playing area into the fog bank, you die. I'm hoping that I may be able to figure out how to keep the camera from following the player down after he hits the trigger that kills him. This way, it'll seem more like a mini-cinema of you tumbling off the cliff after being pushed off or such, and the camera stalling as you fall into the unknown.
But anyway, that's not important. What's troubling me is that this is supposed to be based on the top of a small mountain, and I don't know what to place on the map to make it more appealing. Right now all I have are the CTF flags, a tent per team, and three markers per team to mark where they are. What else can you realistically put on top of a mountain? There's no way there'd be a village or something of that sort sitting up there, and just putting little markers on the ground just clutters things up visually rather than enhancing the map's gameplay.
Screenshot
The map itself
If the links aren't clickable thanks to Angelfire:
http://www.angelfire.com/indie/reklaw/dropoff01.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/indie/reklaw/Dropoff.zip
So, any suggestions are welcome. We don't have really any new models in the game that are of any use for this type of map right now, so I may try to think up some concept art for this. Or, just think up some ideas on your own, since I'm not sure what to put on top of a mountain. Maybe some sandbags or something as blockades.
But anyway, that's not important. What's troubling me is that this is supposed to be based on the top of a small mountain, and I don't know what to place on the map to make it more appealing. Right now all I have are the CTF flags, a tent per team, and three markers per team to mark where they are. What else can you realistically put on top of a mountain? There's no way there'd be a village or something of that sort sitting up there, and just putting little markers on the ground just clutters things up visually rather than enhancing the map's gameplay.
Screenshot
The map itself
If the links aren't clickable thanks to Angelfire:
http://www.angelfire.com/indie/reklaw/dropoff01.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/indie/reklaw/Dropoff.zip
So, any suggestions are welcome. We don't have really any new models in the game that are of any use for this type of map right now, so I may try to think up some concept art for this. Or, just think up some ideas on your own, since I'm not sure what to put on top of a mountain. Maybe some sandbags or something as blockades.
#2
05/01/2003 (12:19 pm)
Perhaps a ruined temple of sun/wind/moon worshipers?
#3
facpub.stjohns.edu/~tsounisc/Meteora%20Album/index.htm
www.sacredsites.com/2nd56/136.html
www.ee.ucl.ac.uk/~oprnjat/travel/greece/image3.html
05/01/2003 (1:41 pm)
yeah there is at least one monastery i know of built atop a mountain [meteora], as featured in the Bond flick For Your Eyes Only. some pics of moutaintop monasteries:facpub.stjohns.edu/~tsounisc/Meteora%20Album/index.htm
www.sacredsites.com/2nd56/136.html
www.ee.ucl.ac.uk/~oprnjat/travel/greece/image3.html
#4
btw never say never when it comes to human behavior, especially when "never" gets in the way of your creative efforts ;)
05/01/2003 (1:46 pm)
"There's no way there'd be a village or something of that sort sitting up there"btw never say never when it comes to human behavior, especially when "never" gets in the way of your creative efforts ;)
#5
05/01/2003 (3:05 pm)
There could be a single building for various reasons, but not a settlement. There's no way to get food, etc. and only one way to go anywhere: down, into death. I could set a single building up there but I don't have anything of the sort right now.
#6
building, settlement, monastery: theyre all dwellings. and if im not mistaken they used a winch to bring supplies up to the monastery.
do what you want of course, not having the building to put there is a much better reason than "its not realistic."
05/01/2003 (4:32 pm)
why should you let realism get in your way? do you think people playing a shooter on a mountaintop are going to stop shooting each other long enough to say "gee, how do they get food up here? this is really unrealistic im leaving." :).building, settlement, monastery: theyre all dwellings. and if im not mistaken they used a winch to bring supplies up to the monastery.
do what you want of course, not having the building to put there is a much better reason than "its not realistic."
#7
05/01/2003 (4:48 pm)
I'm a big fan of realism in almost anything. I'm definitely not putting a village up there. To me, it's just stupid.
#8
05/01/2003 (4:59 pm)
mmkay. i never suggested a village, but ok.
#10
Or a helicopter wreakage,or an icepick and frozen backpack/body?
Anyways, Great job on the map. :o)
Kevin
05/01/2003 (5:50 pm)
How about the top of a gondola (is that what it's called?) for getting to the top, with maybe a broken cable falling into the fog.Or a helicopter wreakage,or an icepick and frozen backpack/body?
Anyways, Great job on the map. :o)
Kevin
#11
That's what I was referencing. Once again, having a single building for weird religious purposes or some kind of mini-military thing is super. If the mountain this was on was connected to other mountains it would be plausible, but this is too far away and too small.
Kevin: This is Realm Wars... i.e. - bunch of medieval things
05/01/2003 (6:28 pm)
Jeff:Quote:"There's no way there'd be a village or something of that sort sitting up there"
btw never say never when it comes to human behavior, especially when "never" gets in the way of your creative efforts ;)
That's what I was referencing. Once again, having a single building for weird religious purposes or some kind of mini-military thing is super. If the mountain this was on was connected to other mountains it would be plausible, but this is too far away and too small.
Kevin: This is Realm Wars... i.e. - bunch of medieval things
Associate Kyle Carter
Witness www.about.ch/various/nationalpark/geological-feature_rocky-mountain-side_big.jpg.
This image is a bit smaller (www.thundercloud.net/wallpaper/seven/t-mountain-approach.jpg) but it also intimates a lot of texture.
If you can, toss some small piles of rubble in, a few boulders here and there. If it can be done convincingly, a texture that looks like gravel could be a good touch, here and there. Making the middle "hump" look more like an outcrop than a smooth ridge would help a lot, too - remember, the tops of mountains are very rarely smooth.
My two bits, anyway :). It's a cool concept, and I think with a little more work it'll really stand out.