Cyst Chain Lengths

Flaterectomy · December 2012

<div class="IPBDescription">in the official NS2 maps</div>In order to see if you get the scale of your map "right" (a debatable topic), you might want to know how many cysts it takes to get from the starting hive to the nearest viable resource nodes of the official NS2 maps. I compiled this list in build 234, which featured some changes to Refinery. Of course, there are many more factors to keep in mind than the amount of cysts required, but I figured this could be a valuable resource to mappers regardless.

Notes:
Orange = Tech Point
Brown = Resource Node
* This number is the smallest number of cysts required to reach the res node, meaning that the final cyst is not directly next to the res node, requiring you to wait for the infestation to reach the node. Consider +1 cyst directly next to the node in order to drop the res node as fast as possible.

Summit
Often played competitively, Summit is the most consistent in cyst requirements due to its fairly symmetrical layout.
Atrium -> Crevice: 5*
Atrium -> Reactor Core: 5

Data Core -> Reactor Core: 6
Data Core -> Ventilation: 5

Sub Access -> Ventilation: 5
Sub Access -> Computer Lab: 5

Flight Control -> Computer Lab: 5
Flight Control -> Crevice: 5

Tram
Another competitive map, with only the Warehouse -> Platform connection breaking the mould, though 6 is still very acceptable.
Warehouse -> Ore Processing: 4
Warehouse -> Platform: 6

Server Room -> Platform: 3
Server Room -> Mezzanine: 3*

Shipping -> Logistics: 4*
Shipping -> Observation: 4*

Veil
Though also often played competitively, Veil differs fundamentally from Summit and Tram in that it does follow the one-resource-node-between-tech-points principle and has a double res node location in the middle of the map. It features some lengthy cyst chains.
Sub-Sector -> Overlook: 6
Sub-Sector -> NanoGrid: 7

Cargo -> NanoGrid: 8
Cargo -> Sub-Sector: 9
Cargo -> Pipeline: 10*
Cargo -> C12: 9

Pipeline -> C12: 5*
Pipeline -> Cargo: 9*

Docking
Not often played competitively, though still fairly balanced.
Generator -> Stability Monitoring: 4
Generator -> Maintenance: 6*
Generator -> Departures (after Stability Monitoring): +6*

Departures -> East Wing: 6*
Departures -> Stability Monitoring: 7
Departures -> Generator (after Stability Monitoring): +4

Locker Room -> Maintenance: 5*
Locker Room-> Bar: 7
Locker Room-> Courtyard: 7

Refinery
Not really played competitively, though I do not know how the new changes in yesterday's patch will affect its non-competitive status.
Containment -> Lava Falls: 4*
Containment -> Chasm: 4
Containment -> Pipeworks: 7
Containment -> Turbine (after Chasm): +5*

Turbine -> Chasm: 6
Turbine -> Containment (after Chasm): +4
Turbine -> Lava Falls (after Chasm): +5
Turbine -> Conduit: 5
Turbine -> Smelting (after Conduit): +3

Mineshaft
Also really not played competitively.
Cave -> Cavern: 4
Cave -> Crusher: 8*
Cave -> Sorting (after Crusher): +7

Sorting -> Crusher: 9
Sorting -> Deposit: 6*
Sorting -> Central Processing (after Deposit): 6
Sorting -> Central Processing (after Crusher): 7

Flaterectomy · December 2012

While working on ns2_caged I decided to try and find out the info above, and it made no sense to keep these findings to myself. If you see any errors or have any other additions that I could include, please post below.

nSidia · January 2013

So are you going to try and make everything as even as possible for starting alien hives?

hozz · January 2013

Using Cysts to get an idea of distances is a great idea!

A question: can you commander-test a map locally (not on a server)? Right now you can play a map from the editor, but the game does not start (you are the only player) so you cannot get into the command chair.

Evil_bOb1 · January 2013

type cheats 1 in console and the game will start.

deathshroud · January 2013

wont this drastically alter the layout of the original caged though? i mean if you are trying to keep the cyst chains similar then obviously the distance between nodes need to be similar., maybe this is something you should use in a custom map but not one that remakes a classic

great information thoguh and something i will try to consider whilst making my own map

Flaterectomy · January 2013

You're right, Deathshroud. The current workshop version of Caged has some big changes from the original on the east side of the map (That One Hallway, Auxiliary Generator, Upper Shipping Access, and Shipping Tunnels). I did this in an attempt to balance the map in a way that I later (after having tested the map a bunch of times - thanks to all who played with me and gave me feedback) realized was quite flawed. I have reverted those changes in my current work-in-progress version, so it's a lot like the original again.

I'm planning to make a little video explaining and illustrating my original (faulty) thought process, and why I eventually reverted those alterations, as those considerations might be interesting to other mappers.

deathshroud · January 2013

eagerly awaiting the video, its always the biggest concern with a map, how well it plays doesnt really matter how nice it looks if it doesnt play well it wont get played.

Cyst Chain Lengths

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