Multi Stage Dune (CP) [B13] 13.0.1

Woah, look out, here it comes, a patch to fix a small but significant oopsie on the Final Stage!

Ey, so in making a new point (E2 for the final stage, I forgot to actually have it require the old point E (now E1) for it to be unlocked, so it was unlocked by default, whoops. Gonna release a patch after work to fix that and an issue with E1's point skin not updating when BLU captures the point.

The biggun' beta 13 has arrived with a significant amount of reworks to Dune! This will require a lot of testing, so I figure on running a few tests for the map unless something game-breaking is happening.

GAMEPLAY:

GENERAL

• Cap times are measured in Scout time (x2), just as a reminder!
• I may add further details to the skybox in the future but remember that the theme of the map revolves around an expansive desert full of wavy dunes. You're not getting a lot of mesas, canyons, and cliffs.
• Nav mesh has been adjusted accordingly.
• BLU TFBot Engineers and Snipers will now prioritize setting up shop at the last point in each stage to improve their overall usefulness. BLU Engineers will no longer stay at a previously captured point like most maps tend to have 'em.
• Fixed the kill boxes for spawns, so hopefully during testing, players won't die over and over... didn't even think that was a thing that could happen, but here we are, lol.

FIRST STAGE

• The area between BLU spawn and the Data Center has been completely removed. Point A is now closer to BLU spawn, and the layout is a hair similar to Dustbowl last's first point, but unique enough to differ. Travel time, and probably performance for that stage as a whole, should be improved!
• Point A now has a capture time of 13; point B's is 8.

SECOND STAGE

• BLU Soldier sent a bomb through the Complex and royally damaged it; he said it felt too cramped and prevented him from soaring like a proud eagle. RED construction cleaned up the rubble, but it's left a giant hole in the side of the Complex, which gives some additional cover and a clearer path between points C and D.
• Point C now has a capture time of 17; point B's is 10.

FINAL STAGE

• The experiment that was a multi-cap stage had incredibly mixed results. For now, the 3-cap requirement gimmick has been removed in favor of a traditional 2-point final stage. The concept will be used in another map of mine; I don't believe the concept is flawed, but having this gimmick start at the very last stage of a multi-stage map probably wore players down.
• The area where point E originally was located has been majorly reworked to add length via cover and obstacles; I have absolutely no idea how it will fair with actual players versus bots, so that's why numerous tests are in order.
• Point E1 (originally just E) now has a capture time of 23; the new point, E2, has a capture time of 12.

Ey folks; all three stages of Dune are getting a complete overhaul! There's no download yet, but I figure on getting beta 13a of the map out for testing later today.

Several changes include completely cutting the middle segment of the First Stage and moving point A closer to BLU spawn (feels a lot like Dustbowl last's first point with some tweaks respectively; Second Stage has been opened more thanks to some demolition, especially around the Complex and the path towards point D; point E does not have the multi-cap condition, but instead I'll be embracing the idea of two points, meaning the entire area is getting new cover, therefore, new routes. Expect the Final Stage to remain a challenge for BLU!

Lots of changes mean lots of testing, so after beta 13a, I'll probably run several tests in a row and do minor tweaking as I see fit. Thanks for the feedback up to this point, highly appreciated!

Howdy; thanks for the honest feedback from the previous testing session. Took a look at this month's, and August's, feedback and lumped together some changes.

GAMEPLAY:

GENERAL

• Cap times are measured in Scout time (x2), just as a reminder!
• I may add further details to the skybox in the future but remember that the theme of the map revolves around an expansive desert full of wavy dunes. You're not getting a lot of mesas, canyons, and cliffs.
• Nav mesh has been adjusted accordingly, for the most part.
• Added team-specific kill zones in BLU's spawns and RED's final spawn to prevent enemy Spies from teleporting inside; whoops.

FIRST STAGE

• The rock formation at BLU spawn has been replaced with a shorter wooden wall to allow for rocket jumping; if spawn camping becomes an issue, I'm not opposed to putting the rock back.
• Around point A, small health has been converted to medium, and on the Data Center roof, the full ammo has been lowered to a medium ammo.
• To give BLU the original intended fortification that is the Data Center once point A is capped, there are now two one-way doors that lead out behind the Data Center. Just be careful since it's a dead end!
• Clipping's been cleaned up around point A's turret towers, and a column at RED spawn.
• BLU's respawn wave while A isn't captured is 4, while RED's is 6.
• BLU's respawn wave while B isn't captured is 3, while RED's is 7.
• Point A now has a capture time of 9; point B's is 6.
  

SECOND STAGE

• The one-way sliding door at the end of the DOOM hallway past point C has been flipped to aid BLU.
• Another one-way sliding door has been added to the upper floor in the fortress front entrance to further assist BLU in setting up fortifications. If needed, a one-way door can be added to the remaining doorway directly below the upstairs one, but for the time being, this hasn't been done to allow RED an alternative route back to point C if it's under attack.
• The ceiling above point C, specifically on the upper balcony-hallway, has been raised a bit.
• BLU's respawn wave while C isn't captured is 5, while RED's is 3.
• BLU's respawn wave while D isn't captured is 3, while RED's is 5.

FINAL STAGE

• Point E now has a capture time of 24, and total captures required for BLU to win has been lowered from 5 to 3. This adjustment should make E's gimmick hopefully not overstay its welcome; this can be adjusted accordingly, but expect games to vary... the joys of multiple tests, hooray.
• Fixed an issue with some projectiles being eaten at point E; had to ungroup all of the func_breakable walls surrounding BLU spawn since it was using the grouped hitbox instead of their individual hitboxes.

Ey folks, been a while! Hope y'all are doing well.

I've spent the past few months branching out and learning some additional skills: Minecraft modding to name one example, been having fun with that.

I think I've taken a long-enough hyperfixation break from mapping, as I'm starting to miss it. So, I've uploaded the map to the testing rotation just to get refreshed on its current status. If you have any feedback you'd want to indulge right now, you're more than welcome to do so!

Ey! Minor thing: fixed a bit of clipping near RED spawn where the small health + full ammo packs are; kept getting caught in the corner between the open spawn doors. Major thing: initial round times are back at 6 minutes compared to 5, but I toned down the total amount of time BLU gets to capture a sequential point in the first two stages. Instead of getting 8 minutes when capping A or C, now BLU only gets 5. This should help RED a bit more during the earlier stages. The Final Stage, point E, should be a bit more doable for BLU since they have the extra minute to start again; they will still only gain 45 seconds for each capture, so they need to keep the pressure and defend against RED's counterattacks.

RED spawn at E sucks, it does. I've done a lot to make it suck less and bring a bit more classic DOOM into your eyeholes! Hopefully this'll do.

The new ladder flank in Stage Two was awkward with the clipping, so I went ahead and fixed it. Also patched up some weird nav mesh issues around the same area, along with the First Stage. Should all be okay now!

Ey folks! Although player numbers were scarce for the last beta, and quite frankly some feedback was pretty broad, I went with what I interpreted and did some noteworthy tweaking to some stages! I'll update screenshots in due time.

GAMEPLAY:

GENERAL

• Cap times are measured in Scout time (x2), just as a reminder!
• The skybox has been shown a bit of love, with it being pretty level with the gameplay area now. I may add further details in the future but remember that the theme of the map revolves around an expansive desert full of wavy dunes. You're not getting a lot of mesas, canyons, and cliffs.

FIRST STAGE

• Health and ammo sizes have been lowered a bit around point A.
• RED is now given a singular small health pack, and a singular full ammo pack in between the two spawn exits.
• BLU's respawn wave while A isn't captured is 4, while RED's is 5.
• BLU's respawn wave while B isn't captured is 3, while RED's is 8.

SECOND STAGE

• The old ladder flank has been reintroduced but reworked to increase the travel time. It still leads to the stairwell, but now BLU must wrap around the upper front entrance complex to hop in through a window.
• BLU has a bit of additional high ground from the billboard building to look down at point C.
• RED has been given more advantages in order to protect point C.
  • There is a one-way gate leading from point D through a cramped new set of halls leading to C.
  • The lower deck looking out towards point D has been expanded and given easier skill-jumping to allow RED to utilize that connecting hallway.
  • RED now has an additional high ground pocket to look down upon point C, which connects to the upper hallway in the complex, and drops down to the new cramped gate room. The flooring is grating, so watch out for explosives!
  • The hallway below the previously mentioned grating is visually a nod towards old-school DOOM; if you get the reference, then you get the vibe of the map!
• Health and ammo have been adjusted around point C.
• The window inside the rusty building that looks onto point D has been reopened due to RED having a lot more cover to work with around point D.
• Point C now has a capture time of 20; point D's is 12.
• BLU's respawn wave while C isn't captured is 5, while RED's is 4.
• BLU's respawn wave while D isn't captured is 4, while RED's is 6.

FINAL STAGE

• Point E now has a capture time of 25, and total captures required for BLU to win has been lowered from 7 to 5. I'm sticking with my guns because it can be a clever idea, but the execution and unique nature make it a challenge to balance, and from earlier iterations, repetitive and a bit bland. It's hopefully getting there!
• BLU's initial respawn wave at point E is 7, while RED's is 9.