Possible new MS:S map

[Danforth]

Hello everyone, I'm a new contributor to MS:S and want to show off a map that I hope we can use in the mod. You can download it here and check it out for yourselves. Just unzip the .bsp into your steamapps\<username>\half-life2\hl2\ folder and run it through the console in vanilla HL2.

Note that the map is far from finished and is mostly a proof of concept for the time being. The Combine soldiers are merely there as a way to gauge framerate (runs at solid 85fps on my machine but it's fairly powerful) and to test some of the pathing.

Most of the architectural arches in the level are pretty blocky (created from two lowest-resolution displacement faces). At one point in time they were much nicer but I got donkeypunched by MAX_MAP_DISPINFO fairly quickly because they were too complex. If anyone knows of any nice prefab displacement arches please let me know because trying to create them myself is turning out to be one hell of an ordeal.

As far as lore goes, I haven't decided on anything yet. Not even the map name ("zonor" is just a filler). Feel free to suggest whatever you want, I'm all ears. Just don't call it "arcane sanctuary" or I'll bodyslam you with my ass.

Once again keep in mind this is in no way an official MS:S level and I'm still waiting to be assigned work. This is merely a side project to keep my mind sharp while I wait. Maybe I'll be able to sneak it into the game but I'm not the one who decides that.

So give it a whirl and let me know what you think!

Here are some screenies for those too lazy to playtest the map (pretend the Combine soldiers are evil fire breathing fairies or something):
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edit: new version

 

[The Man In Black]

Looks great

 

[WeissberV]

Is it meant to be some kind of void level?

 

[Danforth]

Is it meant to be some kind of void level?

Yup. It was inspired by the Oneiros levels from Clive Barker's Undying. Of course, it doesn't look nearly as awesome as the levels in Undying but I hope to change that in the near future

 

[Danforth]

Here are some more screenshots for those who care (which is probably nobody :|)


Nice view of most of the level


Gateway to creepyland


Creepyland (not all that creepy really)


Or is it? (turn up your monitor's brightness if you can't see anything)

Let me know what you think!

 

[WeissberV]

Tbh, I think the reason that no-one is intrested, is because it just doesn't feel or look like a medival style. For example, those tiles you used for the floor look too modern. It isn't just the materials of the map, it just doesn't suit MasterSword. You need to think more on the lines of portals teleporting u to individual platforms. It might sound hard to do, but I don't think anyone here is bothered about this. So you can split the areas apart and make it have more surface areas and you've got to plan out where you're monsters would go or you'll have a problem when it comes to them, an example this is you're corridor with the combine guys standing in, it doesn't look neat in the way you've places them. You've also placed too many npc's in one area. My main advice to you is for you to try to start again, but plan out what you're going to do. Practice makes perfect.

 

[Danforth]

Tbh, I think the reason that no-one is intrested, is because it just doesn't feel or look like a medival style. For example, those tiles you used for the floor look too modern. It isn't just the materials of the map, it just doesn't suit MasterSword. You need to think more on the lines of portals teleporting u to individual platforms. It might sound hard to do, but I don't think anyone here is bothered about this. So you can split the areas apart and make it have more surface areas and you've got to plan out where you're monsters would go or you'll have a problem when it comes to them, an example this is you're corridor with the combine guys standing in, it doesn't look neat in the way you've places them. You've also placed too many npc's in one area. My main advice to you is for you to try to start again, but plan out what you're going to do. Practice makes perfect.

Well I'm kind of stuck with stock Half-Life 2 textures so the tiles won't be changing anytime soon unless I can get a better one. The Combine guys aren't placeholders, they're just there to gauge how the map would be with monsters all over the place.

Also, the problem with teleporters is it would make it easy for players to escape losing fights. There will be teleporters to other areas (like Creepyland) but those will be well guarded.

I agree the main area is kind of crowded but I plan on expanding it a bit as the framerate allows. However, I'm on a fairly potent computer so I get a solid 85 fps even with all the Combine attacking me (vsync on).

Pathing is another issue I'm looking into but so far I've run into few problems. The only major problem I'm concerned with now is making sure players won't fall into the void after merely stepping in the wrong direction.

Finally, from a lore perspective, the idea (for now) is that this is a world which is ripping apart at the seams (hence everything floating and broken). It doesn't exactly have a medieval look to it since it's an entirely different dimension. I'm making sure, however, that this looks fantasy-ish instead of OH NO ROBOTS EVERYWHERE but Half-Life 2's textures don't exactly contribute to that :|

Thank you for the critique though, I hope I addressed your concerns pretty well. The map is far from perfect or finished but it's always good to get some advice early on so I don't have to deal with it once the map is near complete. Please reply with your two cents, I'm always all ears for any concerns anyone might have!

 

[tehrilez]

This is actually an AWESOME looking idea. Most of the maps I see on MS are all caves/ice/grass land maps. It's good to see a change, especially a void kind of map. I know you're stuck with the stock textures but the layout looks cool.

I think MS needs some space/void maps. :|

People always say "Well space/void = future" but if you can pull it off correctly you can fit it into a story of some kind, or you could try something like Oblivion's Shivering Isles kind of land (make one map a normal map, with some enemies to kill that opens some portal leading here)

 

[Danforth]

People always say "Well space/void = future" but if you can pull it off correctly you can fit it into a story of some kind, or you could try something like Oblivion's Shivering Isles kind of land (make one map a normal map, with some enemies to kill that opens some portal leading here)

Yeah I've been trying to keep it as fantasy-like as I can. Obviously there won't be any Combine soldiers in the final version. My major concern about pulling it off correctly is framerate; not everyone's computers are powerful and since most of the map is wide open we could have some problems. I'm on a Core 2 Duo E6750, 2gb RAM, and a GeForce 8800 GTS. While far from the best computers around, it's still ahead of most people. That's why I'm splitting it up into different areas so it doesn't get too cluttered.

 

[Danforth]

Alright, I've uploaded the latest version to here. Just unzip it to your steamapps\<username>\half-life 2\hl2\ folder.

To access Creepyland just look for a smoky fountain.

Lemme know your two cents!

 

[Jelly]

This is going to be very interesting I think.

 

[Dejiko]

looks a little small tbh

 

[WeissberV]

looks a little small tbh

It looks small, but in game it is quite a big bigger,but still, is quite small. H'es working on it though.

 

[Danforth]

looks a little small tbh

Yeah, that's just one small part of the level, there'll be teleporters to other areas.
I'm also working on improving those arches a bit since they really don't look all that great.
They won't be getting much better for a while as making higher resolution arches is about as fun as bees building a hive in your intestines.

edit: new screenshot of "nightmareland"

 

[Jelly]

It looks good, I like it.

 

[Mikkel]

I like how you let us see what you make, unlike others (WEISSBERV)

 

[WeissberV]

I've been busy recently.

Besides, why should I show what I have done?

 

[Tentadrilus]

To let people know you're doing something, you slacker. :roll:

 

[WeissberV]

I don't care if you know i'm doing anything or not, so stfu and gtfo.

 

[Mikkel]

I don't care if you know i'm doing anything or not, so stfu and gtfo.

SHOW US DA GOODIES