Crater [Map]

[Volt Cruelerz]

Well, there are various ideas that have been floating around such as capturable bases, mobile bases, and tethers. Here's a map idea that combines the three.

The basic structure is as follows: the map consists of one huge crater. I mean larger than Quarry in diameter. Orbiting this crater are two ships, both going clockwise, and these ships are the bases and contain the flagstand (should you be playing CTF). Because the bases always move, the field doesn't need to be a perfect mirror as each would eventually occupy the same space that the other previously had, though I'd say the ships would want to make a full circle every 15 minutes or so. As the primary bases, each of the ships would be equipped with tethers (idea for the replacement of manned turrets) and ammo stations as well.

The map would also come with various tunnels with some leading through the crater and others leading out of it as well as various buildings and a capturable base in the center of the map.

Enough of the talk, here's a picture of the map with:
Tether Anchors: red
Ship Exits: purple
Ammo Stations: green
Other Coloration: blue
Tunnels: dashed
Ship Outlines: dashed

I'm not saying that this looks particularly artistic, but it should get the point across (it was after all drawn on the back of a calculus quiz after I got done and was waiting for them to be collected).

 

[Epiclight858]

First off, great job on the pictures. Thank you. I'm sure that the developers will not leave this idea neglected. Good luck!

 

[mausgang]

Looks good. The tunnels, I gather, are spaced around the outside of the map so you can jump off the outside wing, go through the tunnel and get ramped up for a big long jet over to (hopefully) about where the enemy ship is? Cool. Getting into the ship and out would be difficult for capturing the flag perhaps the flag could be on top? Its your map so of course you have final say, but I know as a capper, coming through a ship with tunnels is just asking to be a rocket sandwich (remember mirage? those tunnels were death traps. Imagine those right next to the flag). Also, what is that gigantic blue shoop da woop like laser coming out of the middle? Is it a thermal to raise the players, or is it beam of burning death?

 

[RedInk]

Props for the doodles. I second this motion to make it a map.

 

[Vustom]

Is that what I think it is? A space ship...

 

[futureemokid]

the map seems awesome!
i hope to see some precision flying. By that i mean using the crater to get velocity and go up flying trough a hole from one of the tunnels of the ship to cap the flag and repeating to capture it.
but then again people could camp and cover the holes to make it impossible for other players to get in.
and the crater is like an arena which is really good for deathmatches (FFA, TDM).
Before i saw the pic i imagined the ships to look more like a big platforms, something like the NAVY ships that carry planes.
And then have a closed (indoors) area.
I totally like the rotation idea but 15 min seems a little too slow. But it could be perfect. it all depends on the size of the map.

 

[Volt Cruelerz]

Looks good. The tunnels, I gather, are spaced around the outside of the map so you can jump off the outside wing, go through the tunnel and get ramped up for a big long jet over to (hopefully) about where the enemy ship is? Cool. Getting into the ship and out would be difficult for capturing the flag perhaps the flag could be on top? Its your map so of course you have final say, but I know as a capper, coming through a ship with tunnels is just asking to be a rocket sandwich (remember mirage? those tunnels were death traps. Imagine those right next to the flag). Also, what is that gigantic blue shoop da woop like laser coming out of the middle? Is it a thermal to raise the players, or is it beam of burning death?

The tunnels are there so that you can yes avoid aerial fire, however the tunnels are quite wide, so you could still have rather extensive duels inside them. Of course, the ground above it wouldn't be a perfect curve, there would be hills and other smaller craters inside the main one.

Well, there's a rather large opening on the side facing inwards and outwards directly in front of the flag's platform and the flag area inside the ship is larger, giving you room to OD. In addition, you also have the option of coming in through the front downward curve and shooting out the back, or actually through the bottom "fin," and then going out the side wing. Those that can OD cap will have an advantage here, but you won't have to worry about needing to as there are other ways.

Its just basically a reference point. You can fly through it and nothing happens, but the point of it is so that you can easily figure out where the center of the map is using the two bases on your HUD. It would help primarily with orientation if you were going outside the crater (less direct, but less opposition), and really, you could then enter the front with a well placed rocket jump and since the ship itself is moving, you would be able to fly down it faster since you are going in the opposite direction.

Is that what I think it is? A space ship...

Yep. No weapons/turrets on it aside from tethers though.

the map seems awesome!
i hope to see some precision flying. By that i mean using the crater to get velocity and go up flying trough a hole from one of the tunnels of the ship to cap the flag and repeating to capture it.
but then again people could camp and cover the holes to make it impossible for other players to get in.
and the crater is like an arena which is really good for deathmatches (FFA, TDM).
Before i saw the pic i imagined the ships to look more like a big platforms, something like the NAVY ships that carry planes.
And then have a closed (indoors) area.
I totally like the rotation idea but 15 min seems a little too slow. But it could be perfect. it all depends on the size of the map.

Well, if people do cover the holes, shoot them out of it. Not only that, but most of the tubes are large enough that you could go around or simply OD straight through the person in your way.

I hadn't actually thought of DM actually, but yeah, that would work well lol.

Well, the thing is, if you go too fast, then you get problems with a version of the coriolis effect as cappers entering the front or rear would need to take a curved path because the ship itself would be rotating as it went around the map. If you wanted to call the thing a planet, it would be tidally locked. Also, and more importantly, this thing would go under the so-called "epic-scale" category. It has ships on it, so you'd have to think of this being larger than Zenith, Mirage, or Quarry. though not necessarily a whole lot bigger, it would have to be somewhat.

 

[Nvidia]

Well it's an interesting idea but two questions: is the map only in the crater or can you fly outside too? And one (for me) very important question: how can you do routes? If the bases are mooving all the time you can't do routes like on other maps. I think this map would be a heaven for llamas.

 

[futureemokid]

well the map is too simple to be huge.
i imagine it would be the size of nivosious or the map thats similar to bladerun, whats the name?

 

[mausgang]

The smaller bladerun is called moonshine. Also, with moving ships, that doesn't mean that there is a lack of routes, but rather, a more dynamic experience trying to figure out which route is the most effective at any given time. Most of the suggestions are all about adding new dimensions or more depth to the game, and that is what this map is about.

 

[Epiclight858]

IMO, more maps, the better! Hey, lets keep thinking up ideas for other maps..

 

[RedInk]

I love the ships idea. I think that the rotatation time should be 5 minutes. That way the flag capper will use the smooth/rough surface of the bowl to run away and catch the next ship to Bolton... I mean to the ship.
It's not too long, it's not too short.

 

[Epiclight858]

I wonder how much thrust we will need depending on what bot we use to reach the ship..

 

[T[h]E Dis[as]teR]

I hope it will be a long way up so the map could be a little harder

 

[Volt Cruelerz]

Well it's an interesting idea but two questions: is the map only in the crater or can you fly outside too? And one (for me) very important question: how can you do routes? If the bases are mooving all the time you can't do routes like on other maps. I think this map would be a heaven for llamas.

Yes, you can fly outside, that was one of the options I listed in the OP. You can go around the crater, but its obviously more direct to go through. At the same time, going around allows you to go axially through the ship when you get to it so you don't have to change directions if you don't want to.

And routes, would still work, but you'd have to be more flexible about what route you take since you are dealing with a moving target and are coming off a moving object.

Not so. Llamas wouldn't work as the flag is internal. If you can't keep someone that goes slowly out of a base with chokepoints, you probably deserve to have your flag stolen.

well the map is too simple to be huge.
i imagine it would be the size of nivosious or the map thats similar to bladerun, whats the name?

Simple in the general shape, but the whole thing would be more elaborate and would be for the map-makers to decide. I'm no expert on map curving, but you could expect smaller craters, various buildings, hills, and other features in it. The picture I drew was what I did on the back of my calculus test as I was waiting for the rest of the class to finish. Its not exactly professional or to scale.

I hope it will be a long way up so the map could be a little harder

Once again, its not to scale. I'd probably say that you'd need a substantial velocity, but the real trick is merging with a moving object. You need to be able to catch up to it somehow and adjust your capping accordingly.

If you think about it, when you leave your ship, you'll actually have a velocity to your right relative to the field and the ship you are going towards has one to your left. Just getting in will be the hard part.


That made me think of something though... Since we don't know the exact dimensions of say, Zenith Cauldron, how about we just say that the ships travel at around 20-30 and however long they take is however long they take?

 

[RedInk]

Overdrive will really come in handy when catching up to these ships.

 

[mausgang]

so they'd be going non-skiing pace more or less, that sounds good. Am I seeing entrances on the top of the ship? If so that makes it easier to get in. Perhaps not for capture. If you use that particular entrance, though, it would be hard to OD out. This is going to be an effective HoF map. LD will have a blast with the weapons tethers, though. I'd like that.

 

[Volt Cruelerz]

Basically... You can still catch up to them, but it is a relative velocity you have to account for.

And yes, there are two entrances on the top of the bow of the ship. The bridge area doesn't have one; however, there is an ammo station up there. The forward upper entrances would be for those who aren't particularly good with OD as going axially through the ship won't require OD, though its easier to be stopped.


HoF’s will work well as it is internal. Defense will definitely have that advantage, and yes LD will have a blast with the weapon tethers.

 

[Mhi200]

Looks great! One thing though, a 15 minute timer might be too long for a quick game, maybe the revolutions could be 7-8 mins? Just to make sure the bases get to see the whole map =)

 

[Volt Cruelerz]

Looks great! One thing though, a 15 minute timer might be too long for a quick game, maybe the revolutions could be 7-8 mins? Just to make sure the bases get to see the whole map =)

the ships travel at around 20-30 and however long they take is however long they take?