Transparency (alpha 2 now available)

[Pikachu]

O hai! Decided I'dd register and join the madnes

So this is like, my first map ever. I've probably screwed up some stuff, hence the alpha. Needs testing and bitching.

Screenshot (I haven't started working on the visuals yet)



The gimmick of the map is that the bases start out in places where the teams can see each other, there's also glass parts between the major battlezones.

Need to get layout fixed first. Probably have a better elevator too, this one is too easy to exploit I'm afraid. But func_train physics suck, so... lol

*updated* Download:
http://www.spiney.me/files/tremstuff/ma ... alpha2.pk3 (latest)
http://www.spiney.me/files/tremstuff/ma ... alpha1.pk3 (old version)

[Weed]

good work mate, ask imp or shitshitshit or other players for help they are busy with mapping (:

[shitshitshit]

cool map. I hope that soon it'll play, so I hope the'll play it on my own.

[Fang152]

Tbh I don't think the map needs wallpaper - I would rather play it as it looks!

[Redman]

I like the map's layout. It's quite big, there are a lot of interesting rooms to build in. I'm not sure about the balance though, you'll have to do an open test. I like the looks of it as well, although the bottom layers have little contrast and are dull.

However, the map is unplayable without modifications. The PK3 you supplied is malformed. The content (folders named maps, models, sound, scripts, etc) should be placed directly in the archive root.

[Pikachu]

However, the map is unplayable without modifications. The PK3 you supplied is malformed. The content (folders named maps, models, sound, scripts, etc) should be placed directly in the archive root.

Are you certain of this? I followed the official mapping guide, also other archives I checked all have them in those subfolders.

[Weed]

redman is know from the paint maps

[Redman]

...

Are you certain of this? I followed the official mapping guide, also other archives I checked all have them in those subfolders.

Absolutely. Here's a quick comparison of two valid pk3s and the one created by you:



Note that the Quake 3 engine creates a giant virtual file system made out of contents of all PK3s it can find, like that (actual console output):

Code: Select all

File "maps/transparency_alpha1.bsp" found in "/home/redman/tremulous/base/map-transparency-alpha1-corrected.pk3"
File "transparency_alpha1/maps/transparency_alpha1.bsp" found in "/home/redman/tremulous/base/map-transparency_alpha1.pk3"

[Pikachu]

Oh wait... that's not right...
Hah, I fixed that and then proceeded to upload the wrong file. Durrr...
You're obviously right, I was under the impression you were talking about having no subfolders.

Fixed! (Link updated)

About the balance, yeah, hard to make out without testing.
Right now I think it might be easy for humans to camp their main entrance. (in ubp at least). So I might open up some walls to create some a loop rather than the linear hallway that does into the base now. Aliens might need some more cover in their base and outside, but I'm afraid I might have a bias and make it pro alien in the process. Needs testing.
The lift shaft is a bit problematic. You can block the elevator to the upper position by siting on it. I'll probably switch it for a triggered func-train and give it a roof (so dretches can't crush bsuits by landing on their heads). I might also try having 2 elevators to work in tandem, to avoid the elevator becoming a bottleneck. Ladder could have some end caps to make them easy to get onto. I've added a cushion brush at the bottom of the shaft, so you can jump all the way down without taking damage, that's not very realistic, maybe I just need to put on a texture to sell it.

Visual wise still pretty bland, though I like the overbright sunlight on the upper parts, probably keeping that. I'm also gonna have a granger statue, haha.

[Fang152]

Would go nicely with a human holding a blaster statue

[Fang152]

btw, would it be difficult to have everything including the walls transparent? just an idea!

[BillyRazOr]

Your map is awesome!!!

[Pikachu]

Thanks Billy <3

Played it a bit yesterday. People seem most drawn to the high loop. The large outside room doesn't seem very popular except to humans when they get jets and start to build on the roof of the high loop, haha. I'll probably make the outside a bit smaller towards the top (tapering towards the center) and open up some walls to let some more sunlight in. I certainly want to keep the verticality.
There's a cushioning brush next to the elevator so players can jump down without taking damage which can lead to some funny situations. I was thinking of maybe exploiting that some more and make it something of a halfpipe so players can jump down and slide around.
Also maybe connecting the high loop with the outside but in a one way fashion. Was thinking of a door with an emergency exit sign that has a slide downwards with one-way doors inbetween (triggered in advance so you retain the momentum of the slide).

I was first thinking about making it a fairly neutral map like the stock ones but some of the typical RCZ crazyness would be fun I think. Maybe even have a cannon above each base, haha. Merry asked for some secrets, I think I might have some triggered doors. Suggestions are welcome, it's much more fun making this with feedback from players.

Fang: I could make everything transparent, but that would probably be bad for performance (both on the rendering and networking side) since there wouldn't be any occlusion culling possible. I could try it with a smaller map sometime though. Another issue with the glass is that after a few layers it starts becoming too bright so I try to limit the amount of overlaps. But maybe that would even be cool in some maze like structure where it could work as some kind of fog.

[Redman]

Another issue with the glass is that after a few layers it starts becoming too bright so I try to limit the amount of overlaps.

You could change the blending function to regular blending (same effect as when you have multiple transparent layers in GIMP or Photoshop stacked), but then you have to make sure the rendering order is correct.

[iain]

Really nice map man, well done!

Looks good, and the gameplay is for the most part pretty good.

Obviously there is the jettard issue, as aliens cant even reach them... And maybe more routes to each base?