Mapping Idea

CoronerCoroner Join Date: 2003-09-18 Member: 20994Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Opinions wanted/requested</div> Im making a new map. In the layout I just made, I realized the marine spawn has worse access to res than Tanith, its sorta secluded. When running through possible changes, an idea came to mind. What if I made MS the double node spot on the map?

Its never been done before, so it should be unique. Of course I could just completely change the RT layout of the map, but Im actually considering this now. So my question to you guys is, what do you think would be the pros and cons of it, given the provided information that the rest of the map is a bit harder to hold RTs on for the marines? Or should I just scrap the current RT setup and change it to be more balanced overall.

Comments

  • EriasErias Join Date: 2003-08-17 Member: 19878Members
    It might work. Keep in mind, however, if you <i>do</i> get it to work, your map could very well become significantly unbalanced if the effect of your unconventional resource layout changes due to the next NS release or something like that.
  • prsearleprsearle Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2365Members, Constellation
    edited December 2003
    It's up to you, but doing this will prevent your map from being considered as an offical NS map. From the mapping guidelines, appendix A (baseline e-polies):<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->no more than 1 hive viewable at once, no more than 2 nodes viewable with a command chair, no more than 1 node viewable with a hive, and no more than 3 nodes viewable at the same time from any angle. Don't count command chairs placed by commanders in the limits.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <b>Edit: </b>Looking back, it seems I'm wrong - you should be Ok as long as you're not making marine start a triple node.
  • CoronerCoroner Join Date: 2003-09-18 Member: 20994Members
    yeah I looked over the guidelines very well for my last map ns_spellbound <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    Only technicality I can see is that it does say 1 node for marines spawn, but then it does also say 3-8 additional nodes across the map, and places no limitations on where they can be.
  • MeanMrMustardMeanMrMustard Join Date: 2003-11-23 Member: 23456Members
    Seems like a good idea, but you have to ask yourself why it has not been done yet by other mappers.

    The pro's and cons.
    Ultimately, it could give the marines an advantage, but if you keep this double res node in mind, and build the other parts of the map accordingly, it could really improve the gameplay factors.

    Also, the double res node could dictate the sort of scenery around the marine start. Very industrial, because it has a juicy double res..etc.

    Nice idea. Cant believe I never thought of it <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    Your breaking the mould, go for it.
  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    IF MS was double noded then <b>every</b> hive would have to be double noded for aliens to stand a chance
  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    <!--QuoteBegin--Thursday-+Dec 9 2003, 08:55 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Thursday- @ Dec 9 2003, 08:55 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> IF MS was double noded then <b>every</b> hive would have to be double noded for aliens to stand a chance <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I disagree. I think balance COULD be worked out with MS being the double node although I believe it would be more difficult.

    I also think having the double node at MS will cause the marines to turtle more while the aliens take control of the rest of the map. Then the marines will tech to HA and win when they should have been taken out much earlier. JMO
  • MeanMrMustardMeanMrMustard Join Date: 2003-11-23 Member: 23456Members
    yeah, good point.

    Everyone would get greedy, and there would be mass chaos on the marine side of things.

    I dont think it is unfair on the aliens. But as I said, the rest of the map would have to be balanced very very well.
  • tseepratseepra Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10530Members
    I don't think we will surely know untill a map is made with 2 res in the ms. But you could just move the res just outside the ms, like in eclipse (station access), if it turned out to bee too unfair couldn't you?
  • CageyCagey Ex-Unknown Worlds Programmer Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8829Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    When I think double node, I think of two nodes stacked next to each other like Hera's holoroom, but that doesn't have to be the case here.

    Consider putting the two nodes on opposite ends of MS -- possibly without direct line of sight to each other -- so they can't be defended as a single location. If you put the nodes next to or just outside two different MS entrances, it would be more expensive to turret farm and more difficult to hold both against an aggressive alien team. The marines would still be able to claim both and defend either fairly quickly, but the aliens wouldn't be required to take out a single huge resource & defense blob.
  • MeanMrMustardMeanMrMustard Join Date: 2003-11-23 Member: 23456Members
  • ReeseReese Join Date: 2003-05-08 Member: 16143Members
    Although I think this is a pretty good idea there's only one problem I see with it.

    pubs.

    In general a map like that will see pubbers immediately deciding it is unbalanced towards marines. They won't really care how the rest of the map is balanced, even if it is well balanced for equal gameplay. In the end I think you'll have too many people
    1)declaring it to be unbalanced
    2)attempting halfheartedly to play an alien game they think they'll lose
    3)losing because they didn't play their all
    and
    4)deciding it is in fact, unbalanced.

    I like cagey's idea of spacing the two nodes out so that they are not within the same position.... maybe you could even fool people by putting one of the nodes in a seperate info_location that doesn't list it as part of marine start (don't underestimate the power of that, btw) In the end though I think you'll end up making a map that competitive clans will respect and enjoy, most of us will claim to be a brilliantly executed display of asymmetric strategical design, and pubbers will whine and ***** about until the it's changed to something else.

    I hate to burst any bubbles or anything, and I really would like to see this idea work, but I wouldn't be suprised if the public server community decides they don't like it.
  • MeanMrMustardMeanMrMustard Join Date: 2003-11-23 Member: 23456Members
    yeah good point.
    looking at it from a social side, if it gets a bad name, the whole Community will jump on it. Its basic human instinct to follow a crowd.
    It could either go two ways.
    But, taking risks is what its about (seems like a bloody rations run during WW2, not making a bloody NS map) but hey! Spicing up the convo is only positive.

    I would make it a beta, and see how people/gamers react to the decision.

    If it works well, people dont have an arguement. Except they are overweight, Lara croft loving, Pokemon fiends. (Tried to go for Ultimate Grief).

    I like the idea. You have my vote.
  • EriasErias Join Date: 2003-08-17 Member: 19878Members
    Stupid public n00bs. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->

    I agree that two res nodes directly next to each other wouldn't be quite right. But if the res nodes were in little rooms spaced close beside MS with the comm chair in some interesting place between them... well, that would be kinda neat. Make sure they're not too far away or hard to access, but spaced just right so as to make them equally important yet difficult to properly defend with a turret farm.
  • CoronerCoroner Join Date: 2003-09-18 Member: 20994Members
    Thanks for the responce guys. I think I am going to try it, with a variation similar to Cageys suggestion. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    I called it first, my idea! lol <!--emo&::marine::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/marine.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='marine.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • WindelkronWindelkron Join Date: 2002-04-11 Member: 419Members
    hmm, I don't like it. marines have enough ease turtling up to HA with 1 node. If you're going to make the marine node a double, at least put it in a different room than the CC so that it's not so easy to turtle.
  • CoronerCoroner Join Date: 2003-09-18 Member: 20994Members
    To be honest IMO a double res would probably promote less turtling and more agressive actions, at least by commanders with some experience. Thus meaning the marines win or lose harder.

    Just my take on it. Im going to try it non-the-less. If it does not work, I can simply edit.
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