bobcat b1

B1:

• Detailed!
  • This likely resulted in minor geo changes + a few odd props here and there on the sides of gameplay space
• Added a health pack on the high side; it's position might be too useful, but we'll see

Still a lot to do detail-wise (mostly a proper skybox), but I've been staring at this for far too long. I'm a bit concerned about optimization, but I tried my hand at occluders and some aggressive prop fades to help.

A6:

• Implemented spawn switching mechanism
  • Players spawn into "welcome" area and then are respawned into each spawn, swapping based on round
  • Thanks to @Yaki for the basic ent setup, env_global is pretty cool
• Attempted to shorten sightline through red's house

• Improved clipping around the boulder between red's spawn and house
• Moved ammo in blu's house for better visibility
• Added a fence on the cliff next to the felled log to better protect people using the stairs

This version is mostly to test out the spawn switching, which might actually help me decide if the balance issue is teams. A5 was 33/66 split red/blu, but from the demos it looks like medic stacking was the real decider (also, a majority of the rounds were lower player count).

A5:

• Scooted blu spawn back to its original position
• Added highground in the highground of the tree route that favors blu

• Boarded up the second red window overlooking the point
• Widened the covered route
  • Looking to reduce the effectiveness of explosive spam

Red swung back a bit too big with how effective their house and the log carriage became. So this time I'm attempting to add an option in favor of blu, undo some of the changes made against blu in A4, and try to reduce the choke-iness of the covered route.

Right now I'm seeing pushing the covered route as being critical to blu's success. This is likely due to the the removal of red's options to counter blu's hold over the point. I'll continue watching this area, but I have a feeling blu still needs a leg up here.

To the people suggesting opening the rail as a route, I've considered it. I might try it in a later version, but I think it would end up being more advantageous for red unless I severely gimp their ability to use it. It would also cause some problems with roofs around the rail being similar height and unwalkable. Maybe before I go to beta, I'll submit a version with no clipping..

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Also, people are often complaining about only getting to play one side of the map. If anyone has any ideas on how to implement a consistent spawn changing mechanism in arena that would be great!

It technically works through the team_control_point_master keyvalue, but only when the round is won by point capture (which is rare due to the size of the map). The overall options of tf_logic_arena are pretty limited, and I'm not sure how to make changes to the spawn point keyvalues without it being overwritten by a new round.

Does anyone know of an entity setup that could dynamically toggle the info_player_teamspawn "Team" keyvalue (choice) between each team that would be best? I'd even consider a random chance option.

A4:

• Can walk under the felled log now
• Shifted blu's spawn back 64u:
  • Just a guestimate
• Opened up some geo on red's house to allow them to easily attack down onto the point:
  • New sniper window on the other adjacent 45deg wall
  • Opened old sniper window into a ledge
• Shifted back the last train log carriage and adjusted a rock prop placement
  • This should allow red to better use their house, but also give the further left hand route a new high position that doesn't require climbing the logs from red's side
• Adjusted/added props on red's right hand side to better provide cover and provide read-ability

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So looks like getting the balance right the first time around was a nice little fluke, however intentional my choices were in terms of health, height, and positioning. But let's try and wrap our heads around what changed, and therefore the changes I'm introducing in A$.

Quick breakdown:
MC4_A1 and A2 were played for 18 rounds total with an even 9:9 split for RED/BLU wins. There were only minor geo changes in A2, with the creation of the dropdown room near the felled log.

A2:

A2's top down, with some quick annotations. The old buildings just don't logistically make much sense in terms of the train's angle through the map. However, the layout prompts red to move to the outer routes (yellow), rather than the building.

The rock (left hand red) especially encourages red to move left toward the log carriage for cover, creating their front line (dark red). The right hand flank is more open for discussion, but I think the ease of rotation around the tree (orange) allows for red to better keep the position and a more forward front line.

Another difference to note was it was far easier for red to spam onto the point with the geo around this stair and the medium ammo in the alcove of that sniper fence.

A3:
A3 was played for 9 rounds with a 1:8, red:blu win ratio.

Top down with more annotations. The whole upper building changed, and in extension most of the areas red can hold. The biggest weakness of which was red getting trapped in the house without any real advantages. While the position of the train did not change between the iterations, it became more of a nuisance for red to use as cover or height advantage. The left route also is more open to suggest that players can both move to the left or into the building, with the building being ultimately useless.

Also, the right hand route became harder to hold, and I think this was partially a fault of the building (again), but also because I removed the quick rotation between the left and right routes. While the right hand side never had much in the way of cover, simplifying the route also made it harder for red to escape fights.

And the building geo made it much harder to spam onto the point.

Amoney:

Top down with new intentions. So while I'm not returning to the intentions of pushing the left route, I'm hoping the new iteration of the building is more encouraging of fighting in the left route. Cover positions are marked in light red, and the quick rotation around the building in orange.

Hopefully both of these ideas contribute to more red advantage and the building being more worthwhile to be in.

And a bonus rock on the right route for cover and fun.

Here's hoping Adollar is better. Thanks for reading.

A3:

• Major geometry changes on the upper (red) half of the map
• Updates to clipping/block bullets to try and improve the general feel

Getting ready for detailing in my head because I'm not seeing a major swing in RED/BLU advantage (15mins, 9 rounds; with the matches split 5/4 either way). These geo changes are mostly to make the structures make slightly more sense with the train. We'll see if this introduces new balance issues.

A2:

• Minor fixes here and there for props that were floating.
• Added a new dropdown room near the fallen tree to allow for easier rotation from the side to the point. Might add stairs if the dropdown doesn't give much advantage.
• Removed some skyboxing so let me know if you start getting fps issues as it is almost a box atm.

Not enough changes to update the pictures, this is mostly to get more testing as there wasn't too much in the way of balance issues or feedback.