Update Jul-26/2004: Newest version has two possible approaches for the 'outbuildings' in the courtyard. I'd like folks opinions on which would be better, rubble, or intact. Either can be made out of wood or stone, so I built both possibilities regarding that choice as well. Opinions? =^.^=

And yes, the snowdrifts around the buildings don't clip movement or get marked by weapons. The former is intended, the latter I'm investigating a solution for. And yes, both snowdrifts are identical, I didn't bother building two seperate drift-banks until I've settled on which building style to use.

Level I'm working on. Rough layout is a 2:3 rectangular arena, with a high wall that can be walked on with cover, 6 towers (4 corners, 2 mid-point on the long edges) providing extra-high-angle attack and death-from-above chances, and a group of buildings in the middle of the courtyard area. The buildings will be one large keep, and two smaller out-buildings.

Level will be intended for 4-on-4 team or 6-way FFA at maximum, with CTF support in a later version via doubled keeps with terrain between them. It is currently approximately twice the size of Q3DM17 minus the railgun platform area.

Target hardware is medium-end by Generations Standards, as there is lots of detailing being added to the level where possible, such as hanging oil lamps (with smoke) for lighting, and similair. r_detailtextures will switch off anything inconsequential to gameplay, such as the smoke from the oil lamps as a straight-forward example.

Heavy emphasis is being placed on trying to theme the level with nods towards Wolfenstein 3D, while I'm actually trying to avoid making it look too much like Return to Castle Wolfenstein, more of Vadrigar work to recreate a suitable arena from the construction styles Sgt. Blaze remembers, since none of the castles he fought through so long ago were directly suitable themselves to be cloned.

Current Status:

• Courtyard walls complete, beginning construction on wooden buildings.
• Style defined and finished for:
  • Stone-work construction
  • Terrain
  • Lighting
• Still creating style for the wooden buildings, and still laying out floorplan for central keep.
• Still determining final terrain layout.
• Still experimenting with dynamic lighting effect placement.
• Still polishing hint-brushing regarding terrain visibility.

Latest Version - Jul 26rd, 2004 (Courtyard out-building style poll) - 3.2MB

3rd: You might try using an image editor to increase the brightness on those shots - I can't see much other than some torches :]

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Well, the map doesn't have to be functional & playable if you're testing its structural look. =]

I wouldn't do things like that for a very good reason: it can seriously tip the balance in favor of one class over the others.

For example: Doom gets a rocket launcher for the GL. Earth gets a mortar. Slipgate gets ammo for his rocket launcher. And you're talking about multiple spawns. Bad idea.

Think strategically. Where is the absolute best place for this grenade launcher? In the corner somewhere, or on a ledge above a powerup?

You also have to increase flow and limit camping. If a room has lots of health and a strong weapon and is in an active part of the map, someone could camp it indefinately.

Here's a thread that I just posted that you might be interested in.

http://forums.wireheadstudios.org/index.ph...&f=11&t=1849&s=

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I just had a walk around the place. Looking nice and RTCW for so far. I look forward to a playable version.

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I'd suggest an ambient purplish-blue light all over the outside of the map to give the area a midnight look to it.

As far as the structure goes... I hope there's a great deal of good stuff in the courtyard to make the gameplay interesting =]

Gen supports ladders. Talk to Reboot or Phoenix for details