[WIP] pl_valley (tentative name)

[necro]

Well, I'm only 5 days into this map, and I thought I'd post a few screenies already. This will be a payload map. The first stage is a mirrored setup where each team must push its own cart to the entrance of the enemy's mineshaft. Whichever team make it there first will then go on offense to push the cart the rest of the way thru the enemy's mineshaft.

I've always been hesitant to do natural settings because of framerate concerns, but now that I fully understand displacements, I'm goin crazy with em. And no noticeable framerate issues yet, even with no vis!

Lots more work to do still, but I'd love to get this in a playtest soon.

 

[necro]

here's the layout. pretty simple really. and the track length is almost identical to goldrush, so I hope I dont have scale issues like my last map

 

[TheDarkerSideofYourShadow]

Shit man, thats fucking beautiful.

 

[AWESOME-O]

Omfg, that looks so cool.
Finaly something else that industrial, Mining theme

 

[Half-Life_Maniac]

Only problem is now it looks like a Counter-Strike: Source map. As nice as it is..

Pretty interesting layout though.

 

[Spacemonkeynz]

But it uses HL2 textures and models, which will means if someone doesn't own HL2 they won't be able to play.

Plus the realistic textures of HL2 and the stylized ones of TF2 look totally out of place with each other.

And what type of computer do you have? Because if you have good frames on that, either your computer must be really powerful, or you'll running at really low settings.

And maps should be optimized to run on lower end computers as well, the official maps are a good example of the performance you should aim for.


However I must say that's some good work with displacements, looks very natural, well done.

 

[Snipergen]

Hey, this looks ok, but for a hl2 map. TF2 is diffrent! If I see 1 hl2 texture/model in the final I'm gonna kill you
Also, you have to change because people without hl2/ep2 will see a nice purple map with allll error signs!

 

[roninmodern]

Agreed, the hl2 textures have to go....at the very least so that people who don't own hl2 can play it - but stylistically they don't work. Can you see the stylized characters of tf2 running through that world? it would look like a cartoon running through the lord of the rings movies.

 

[Bonafide]

You guys are wrong. If you own TF2 then you have all the HL2 textures. The TF2 devs even use HL2 textures in the official TF2 maps.

Its a great lookin map and will hopefully be a pleasant change of scenery.

 

[Vander]

I think it looks awesome. I don't think it fits the TF2 theme. Regardless if you can see the textures or not, they could all be changed to fit the TF2 theme.

I like your layout and idea as well.

 

[drp]

damn this looks pretty sweet. doesnt fit the theme tho. but good work nonetheless.

 

[YM]

Hey, this looks ok, but for a hl2 map. TF2 is diffrent! If I see 1 hl2 texture/model in the final I'm gonna kill you
Also, you have to change because people without hl2/ep2 will see a nice purple map with allll error signs!

Agreed 100%

You guys are wrong. If you own TF2 then you have all the HL2 textures. The TF2 devs even use HL2 textures in the official TF2 maps.

Looks like there are some episode two props/textures in there, which no one without episode two installed will see.

 

[necro]

Appreciate the feedback guys. Lemme respond to some of the concerns.

First, the relatively few HL2-ep2 models I've used, like the trees, will get pak'd with the bsp.

Second, none of the textures (even the ones on the models) are default HL2. I've stylized the hell outta them to tone down the photorealism. I'll probably do even more work to add some more brush strokes and such. Trust me, I know how bad it looks pairing photo realistic textures with tf2.

Third, regarding the framerate, no I dont have a super computer. On Badlands, I regularly get 60 fps in spots. So if this map is getting 100+ even without a full vis, then I must be doing something right, no?

Lastly, OK, so this isnt a stock TF2 desert/industrial theme. Thats a bad thing? Whats wrong with a fresh look in a map?

BTW, I'm surprised noone commented on the real time reflections on the ice. HL2 doesnt support realtime reflections, no?

 

[tedrock]

i don't think they mean the theme as in rocky/woodsy doesn't match the TF2 team. it's the fact all the textures look to real that doesn't match the TF2 cartoonish theme.

also i always thought packaging other game content with your map was a real no no.

 

[AWESOME-O]

well i'm kinda up for some realism, atleast i dont have that see that industrial/mining theme, that is a good thing :thumbup1:

 

[Pseudo]

Have you set up the entities for payload yet? I fear that you may have trouble getting two simultaneous carts to appear in the HUD correctly.

 

[Trypto]

You guys are wrong. If you own TF2 then you have all the HL2 textures. The TF2 devs even use HL2 textures in the official TF2 maps.

You have to realize TF2 will be put on individual purchase seperate from the Orange Box, and that all the HL2 textures that were used will be included, not all of them entirely.

*This post is according to my knowledge*

 

[Pseudo]

Every install of TF2 includes an install of "half-life 2 content.gcf" as well as all of the Source shared content, according to this thread. Anyway, for this map it's a moot point because:

None of the textures (even the ones on the models) are default HL2.

 

[necro]

Yeah, its a bit gray. If you take content from another game and heavily modify it, is it really custom or not? I'm not too worried. My take is that we're expanding the content for TF2 which ultimately benefits valve, since it prolongs peoples interest in the game. So if taking a model or two from ep2 and modifying it should not be a big deal.

And yeah Pseudo, I did get both carts to work, thanks to help from the forums here. However, I couldnt get the HUD to display both tracks at once. It was one or the other. So I just disabled the HUD feature. Dont think its critical to the gameplay anyway

 

[Bonafide]

Yeah, its a bit gray. If you take content from another game and heavily modify it, is it really custom or not?

Its still not custom. Its like taking a painting and changing the filter in photoshop then saying its your own work