Map: Volcano (Latest version: alpha4)

[LinuxManMikeC]

Welcome to Volcano, watch your step   .  A simple, symetric, arena-style map built around a volcano.  Which would you rather face: a tyrant, or the lava?  Will you use strategy to gain the upper hand, or just duke it out in the crater?  If you want find out, just dive in... :evil:

This is my first serious attempt at any sort of mapping, so be gentle.  When its finished the map file will be included as well.  Please leave feedback.  Check back here for updates.  Noobs can ask how I did stuff.  Etc...

Latest version: alpha4

[David]

Download link?
Or am I just being blind?

[LinuxManMikeC]

Download: Volcano -- alpha3

2 April 2007

By LinuxManMikeC (Michael Cerveny)
   linuxmanmikec@gmail.com


Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/)
You are free:
- to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work
- to make derivative works
- to make commercial use of the work
Under the following conditions:
- Attribution: You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the
  author or licensor.
- Share Alike: If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may
  distribute the resulting work only under a license identical to this one.


Requires ATCS (installed with Tremulous by default)

Some major changes since alpha2:
- Rolled my own lava texture (still using Thermal shader script)
- Finally figured out something to do with the "box room", though it still has
  boxes :-/.  Still thinking about what to do with those.
- Had to shorten the stairways as a result of changes to the secondary rooms.
- Added vents from base to elevator shaft
- Changes to elevator functionality and design
- Added some space in the lower tunnels
- Some additional ledges in crater
- Various artistic changes


This is my first map ever (aside from a stupid one I never finished for Doom2
:-D ).  It's a simple, symetric, ATCS-style map with some extra stuff (doors,
elevators, lava, etc...).  It uses the ATCS texture set (included in the base
Tremulous install) and one shader (minus it's texture) from the map Geothermal.
I've dumped the texture from the lava shader and am working on my own
(unfinished).

There is still a lot of work left to be done (even though its the third alpha
release), but I want to be certain of major gameplay changes before I move on.
Raves and rants are welcome, but keep in mind that this is still an alpha
version.  There is stuff I already plan on doing, but haven't yet.  Before you
start tearing my art down, the starting base rooms, the secondary rooms, the
stairways, the bridges, and the elevator shafts are mostly "finished".  Feel
free to send negative criticism (if any) about those.  The elevator
functionality has been changed in every version so far, looking for feedback on
its current functionality.  The "terrain" (if you can call it that yet :-D ) is
far from finished.  If anyone complains that "the crater/surface is too blocky"
you can go check out the bottom of the lava pit (*evil laugh*).  If you have
any ideas on things to add or change, I'd love to hear them. Enjoy.

[Caveman]

some pics would be nice

[LinuxManMikeC]

Download link?
Or am I just being blind?

Sorry, its up now.  I decided to keep download links for the various releases in a separate post in the thread and link to that post from the first.  Had trouble with the server I was going to use to host the file, so the link was greatly delayed  :oops: .

[Plague Bringer]

Link isn't working for me.


Okay, auto d/l'd from your server, still might want to fix the link though, or is it only me?

[LinuxManMikeC]

Link isn't working for me.


Okay, auto d/l'd from your server, still might want to fix the link though, or is it only me?

Guess it's just you.  I have a bunch of downloads in my server log.

*I've added an HTTP download link as well.* Scratch that, the http server I was originally going to use is now working, link now points there.

[Thorn]

Pics pics pics pics pics pics

[LinuxManMikeC]

Fine, here's your pics already!  These are half their origianl size and are gama corrected for CRT display.  You can view full size originals here http://zergrushgogo.com/users/linuxmanmikec/volcano/.  (Originals are a tad darker than in-game on an LCD)

[n00b pl0x]

theres a lot of space, but very little usable space.

[Lava Croft]

requires ATCS

Please fix this.

[p0m]

requires ATCS

Please fix this.

+1. Some people might delete atcs because they think it's a pointless overplayed map.

(It's also a requirement for 1.2... and any other sane version of a game.)

[n00b pl0x]

who would delete atcs? i can see hitting the escape key when the map loads...but if you delete it just dont play on maps that utilize it.

[LinuxManMikeC]

theres a lot of space, but very little usable space.

I assume you mean put in some more cover for buildings.  I definitely realize the need for this in the starting bases.  I'm still working on the crater edge, and it wasn't intended to be too buildable up there.  Still uncertain about the areas down by the lava pit.  Could you give some examples of what you consider problem areas?


As far as the ATCS dependency, thats just how it is for now.  I will be eliminating this in the beta or final release stage.  Won't happen any earlier unless I'm forced to.  In any case, I see no point in duplicating files and I hope to be realeasing changes more frequently.  Why waste extra time downloading what most people already have?  I am curious about this "requirement for 1.2" that p0m mentioned.  The dependency on ATCS will be "fixed" eventually, so please don't flood this thread with complaints (flood my PM if you like ).


Thanks for the feedback

[n00b pl0x]

well, i pretty much have a problem with the whole 'volcano' idea. you have a 500 foot high cylindrical area, and yet you have two bridges crossing it...a lot of space...very little usable space. that is what i mean. its very empty and there arent many places you can go unless you can wallwalk/fly. and yes the bases and pretty much everything are empty, but its a beta. most things remain empty for a while. i just dont see how you will make the space in the volcano useful.

[LinuxManMikeC]

Just to clarify about "flooding this thread" over the ATCS dependency.  I appreciate Lava Croft's and p0m's input.  I just don't need a dozen other people filling up the thread with +1 posts because I'm not jumping on this ASAP.  Sorry if I came off sounding unfriendly, but if any of you have any inclination to nag me about it, I meant every bit of unpleasantness .  Keep the input coming, just don't beat a dead horse please.

[LinuxManMikeC]

Thanks for your comments n00b pl0x.  Gives me a lot to think about.  I hadn't really intended the crater to be useful for much, but considering the strategy aspect of Tremulous, it might be good to tighten up the crater a tad and make more building-friendly locations.  I have more comments on this and ideas to fix it, but it's late so I'll post them tomorrow.

[Frigey]

Well.... Guest what i think .... i think it should be a spiral staircase with platform at top    so some one can build base

[ShadowNinjaDudeMan]

This map is cool.
What I do is I go to the top of the crater and jump onto the rocks.
I BOUNCE!!!!

Its soo funny.

Bases need more development, there is a direct link from hukans to aliens, No No.

Pretty good for a first serious map, Ive seen worse, oh, that I have, *trails off muttering about bad maps*.

[David]

Great map!
its way fun on domination!
the fact that humans can shoot the OM from in their base needs fixing, and I want to be able to build on the craters edge.

Also, the blue stuff on the roof is odd. and you can wall walk on it.

[Plague Bringer]

Replacement for the open sky, it's a forcefield. Personally, I think it should go back to open sky and Linux should SLICK the sides so there's no gay wallwalking.

[Sage]

well more free space=map for human
little space(alot of box walls etc.)=map for aliens
But it depens on team too
@map
its great i love jumping into cratater of vulcan with grangers and friends^^

[LinuxManMikeC]

Well, here are my much delayed comments on what to do about the "useless space" in the crater.  As you can see in alpha3, I have the beginnings of additional ledges.  I am considering makeing some more, as well as some building-friendly locations.  Adding debris/rocks to the ledges should give some cover, and perhaps a shallow cave at a couple ledges.  Another thought I had was to squish the crater a little so it isn't so freakin' tall.  This would eliminate some of that useless space, as well as make a fall more survivable (bare human needs full health).  Don't worry basejumping fans, there would still be plenty of bounce .  But squishing the map is a lot of work, first I will see what I can do with all that space.  I don't plan on leaving it a perfect cylindar either, but I also don't want to go crazy with terrain until the overall structure is figured out.

i think it should be a spiral staircase with platform at top

A spiral staircase doesn't really fit in my plans, but having some vertical travel for non-jetpack humans might be cool.  Perhaps some ladders/beams laying between two ledges might work.  In my earlier drafts (before the idea of a Volcano) the crater was a square room with ledges on all 4 sides at 2 different heights.  There would be ladders or lifts at all 4 corners to provide vertical travel.  I definitely want to reconsider some of these additional pathways for non-wallwalkers/non-jetpackers.

I want to be able to build on the craters edge.

If you mean the edge on top, yeah, and I still have work to do on boulders up there, may add more.  Inside, as already stated, going to make some building possiblilities down in the crater.

Bases need more development, there is a direct link from hukans to aliens, No No.

the fact that humans can shoot the OM from in their base needs fixing

I agree, the bases need some work, but I meant for the direct path.  However, the direct path isn't necesarily the best path.  You have to get across the bride alive.  Then the doors are a choke-point with defensese behind them.  Once the doors open, there does need to be something additional.  I plan on putting in a computer display in both bases between door and reactor/overmind.  This will prevent direct attacks on either and will slow down any incursion.  Then there is the possiblity of pushing the rear wall back to make a bit more room.

The forcefield up top.  Top field is gone.  Among the first things I've done.  However the side fields are staying.  I want some logical reason why you can't travel down the side of the mountain.  And the wallwalking was a lame oversight on my part.  Though in my defense, an alien wouldn't make it far wallwaling up that.

I will be listing some of the planned changes for alpha4 and maybe some ideas under consideration for later inclusion.  Thanks for your feedback, keep it coming.

[Plague Bringer]

An idea for the bases, add another door!

Current Base -
_________________
|                  1         ##############
|                  1         ##############
|   +             1         ##############
|                  1         ##############
|__________1_____ ##############


New Base -
_________________
|                  1       1 ##############
|                  1       1 ##############
|   +             1       1 ##############
|                  1       1 ##############
|__________1____1 ##############


Legend

+ = OM/Reactor
|/_ = walls
1 = door
# = bridge

[DoorKnob]

:eek: huh? Can you atleast use paint to draw what you mean?

[Plague Bringer]

wtf...broke it....

[f0rqu3]

soil needs softer edges -> phong
map needs a different texture set

game play is good

[LinuxManMikeC]

Plague, meet me on my server sometime, you can show me what you mean.  I think I have a vague idea what you mean.  Or not... :eek:

f0rqu3, both great ideas.  I probably will switch texture sets, or at least redo the current set at higher res and customize it.  And I've been drooling over phong shading ever since I saw screenshots of Ancient Remains.  However, I am saving art till beta, right now I want to hammer out gameplay.  I think I'm almost there too .

[David]

An idea for the bases, add another door!

Current Base -

Code: [Select]


___________________
|                  1         ##############
|                  1         ##############
|   +             1         ##############
|                  1         ##############
|____________1_____ ##############


New Base -

Code: [Select]


__________________
|                  1       1 ##############
|                  1       1 ##############
|   +             1       1 ##############
|                  1       1 ##############
|____________1_____1 ##############


Legend

+ = OM/Reactor
|/_ = walls
1 = door
# = bridge

I added some code tags....

[ShadowNinjaDudeMan]

An idea for the bases, add another door!

Current Base -
_________________
|                  1         ##############
|                  1         ##############
|   +             1         ##############
|                  1         ##############
|__________1_____ ##############


New Base -
_________________
|                  1       1 ##############
|                  1       1 ##############
|   +             1       1 ##############
|                  1       1 ##############
|__________1____1 ##############


Legend

+ = OM/Reactor
|/_ = walls
1 = door
# = bridge

FAIL[/size]

Its so clear and understandable, obviously its a mosch pit involving the
evil hash army bashing at the gates of 1 kingdom, and their king is King +.

Explain. You couldve just said two doors instead of one.