CTF map rotation: post your opinions

Hello Kaggots,

theres has been made a decision that vanilla map pool for CTF gamemode needs a new look. We're aiming to change some maps, scrap some and introduce some new.

Step 1 of this plan is to get the community's feedback on all the maps we currently have.

So here is where you step in. We currently have 16 maps. They are:

Spoiler: 16 images be careful

Snatchmark.png;
NewTortuga.png;

Skinney_Typhoon.png;
Skinney_Crypt.png;

MonsteriCTF1.png;
MonsteriCTF2.png;

Fellere_FourRivers.png;

JTG_Aqueduct.png;
JTG_FirstBadlands.png;
JTG_NewGetisburgMines.png;
JTG_BoulderLake.png;

EjMap.png;

Rayne_KingArthursPond.png;
Rayne_NerysRidge.png;

TresFlags.png;
MillenniumBell.png;

what I'm asking you to do is review each one of those maps in the following format:
mapname: Good/Bad
pros:
===
cons:


example:

Spoiler

Ejmap: Good
pros:
-dynamic gameplay
-rewards being mobile as archers
-different to other maps which makes it interesting
===
cons:
-sky islands stall A LOT
-way too easy to camp on the last flag
-awkward horizontal movement

if you don't have anything to say about a map, just skip it.
we're looking forward not only to opinions regarding possible balance or stallines of the maps but also if they are fun to play or not.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR SUGGESTIONS AWAY FROM THIS THREAD

the thread is sticked for now, i might move it to announcements later on

 

Fellere FourRivers: Bad (most of the time)

pros: -encourages use of stragetic tunnels
-builders have more open time to work up and secure ground
-archers get to have a more fighting chance
===
cons: -unless teams are decent, stalemates to all hell
-huge for some maps to traverse
-stalemate king #2014

 

JTG BoulderLake: Bad

Pros:

• It's fun the first few times around (screwing around with boulders)
• Ends quickly, due to the stupid tunnel system + boulder spam
• Rarely stalemates (in my experience)
• Only map in rotation w/ death pit

Cons:

• Gimmicky, the boulder ninja fight that ensues at the start of the game starts to feel old very fast
• Encourages OP boulder drilling (Doors & trap blocks are invalid, at least until all boulders are out of mid)
• Due to boulder drilling, sometimes ends too quickly
• Tunnels mean buildermole hell

TresFlags: Good

Pros:

• Islands allow for interesting archer tactics
• Becomes a rush to see who can control mid (set up a tunnel) first
• Fun map all around, always enjoy seeing this one pop up
• A good amount of water, not enough to be super annoying

Cons:

• Islands can be removed completely by OCD builders, makes the map much less enjoyable
• Occasionally stalemates (there are much worse offenders)
• Easy for a skilled knight to spawncamp if they sit on the hill at the back of the map

 

NewTortuga.png: Bad
Pros:

• Good for all classes.
• certain parts on the map have its weakness for each class so its pretty fair.
• It's great for people who love water fights and knight.
• Can encourage tunnels

Cons:

• mfw stalemates way to often.
• Boring last stand flags.
• Camping happens a lot, and without good builders who know how to use tunnels, no one seems to push up and try to take control over each others territory, and if they do its just 24/7 knight slashing in the middle of the map in the water for the whole game.
• I dislike this map because of its large terrain of water and fights can get very stale and too repetitive.

 

^This... Maps that consist of as much water as NewTortuga are just. plain. bad.

Water fights are some of the most boring/frustrating things in this game, and since boats are so bad (and often, gold is so hard to find), nobody will make a boatshop/make boats.

Sure the map has a top route, but it's only accessible to archers initially. Knights have to bomb jump/use chickens to reach the middle island.

Either way, this map will turn into a boring water slog (for at least one team) 10/10 times.

I think maps that are mostly water should be done away with, for the time being..

 

FirstBadlands: good.

Pros:
1. Encourages making forward bases.
2. Makes for very long and detailed matches.
3. Has lots of space for traps.

Cons:
1. A bit stalemate prone.
------------------------

Fellere FourRivers: good.

Pros:
1. Long and extremely strategic gameplay.
2. Tons of building possibilities.
3. Great for really filled servers.

Cons:
1. Matches can last annoyingly long.
2. Until near the end of a match, it is usually a constant battle for the middle.
-------------------------

NewTortuga: good.

Pros:
1. Amazing, amazing building oppurtunities.
2. Taking and holding the center really feels like an accomplishment. Not just race to get their first.
3. Long and rewarding gameplay.

Cons: cant think of any.
-------------------------

 

Four Rivers: BAD
pros:
-tunnels more effective due to massive length of map
-can make for long/rewarding games
-largest map I can think of played regularly
===
cons:
-LONG fucking games with massive stagnation
-Too big, too water, much grief
-too much middle ground, you end up forgetting there are flags to get



Boulder Lake: Good
pros:
-good amount of water
-distance between land in mid makes for a lot of fun chaos
-existing boulders make for strategic builds
===
cons:
-I personally hate the drain in the middle of the map
-bottom tunnel section of the map feels ignored most games
-too easy to claim the drain. hole section could be wider to prevent one builder spamming a million wood doors



Aqueduct: Shit
pros:
-unique vertical scale
-major love for archers
===
cons:
-(personal opinion)worst map in the game
-impossible to defend first flag
-why is there so much chicken and grain? why is the first flag made impossible to defend? you cant even fortify the first flag during build time. center area should be made more porous so its less easy to claim. It also needs to be set lower than the defending mountains. iirc chickens exist from the start of the map which is just terrible. archers have a shot at everything from mid. before you know it knights are flying onto your tent because its so easy to jump over the whole map.



Millennium Bell: Great
pros:
-dynamic gameplay
-lots of different pathing options allowing for strategic map control
-positioning of land makes for strong builds which tend to end in exciting wins
===
cons:
-center tunnel is a little awkward. it tends not to help your team much because having control of the top lane is much more powerful perhaps due to....
-very low sky ceiling. limits building height too much imo. Its not all too hard to bomb jump over the top while the bottom can be impenetrable.
-perhaps too hard to win matches/stalemates

 

Snatchmark: Good


Pros:
- getting mid is rewarding
- not too big, so you get right back to the action when you die
- normally one good push can win, so it rarely stalemates
- good for knight fights (not so much based on terrain, room to fight)

Cons:
- sometimes the outcome of the game depends on who wins the initial fight over the center
- promotes archers spamming from towers/ middle island

 

Skinney Typhoon: Bad

Pros:
-Different to other maps
-Smaller play area encourages a faster match

Cons:
-Preset landscaping & pre-buried flag doesn't allow for much useful base building
-Bottom middle is way too easy to lock down
-Small map size and low, forward flag location render base defences irrelevant.
-There is precisely one effective strategy on this map: dig into the flag room from the exposed side. All other sides are heavily protected by terrain, and access to the exposed side is woefully easy having (also easily) locked down the bottom middle cavern. When both sides are aware of this strategy all that happens is builders continue to slapfight and dig/place walls in a dull subterranean slog.
-Because maps are won based on the builder struggle below, the knight and archer fights on top tend not to really have any influence on match results.

----------------------------------------------
JTG New Getisburg Mines: Bad

Pros:
-Two avenues of conflict (surface and tunnel)
-Relatively blank canvas for base building

Cons:
-Obnoxious tree placement; several trees always need to be moved at the start of every round to get flags covered properly (its not the only map with this issue).
-Pre-dug tunnels promote "cheap" victories, regardless of the conflict status above ground, without anyone having to think for themselves or work for it.
-Tunnel entrances behind team defences are nearly always poison.
-Regularly suffers from floating flagroom magic.

----------------------------------------------
Rayne King Arthur's Pond: Good

Pros:
-Every attack strategy catered for, encourages creativity and variety.
-Building defences also requires thought and imagination given the equal viability of aerial, surface, and subterranean attacks.
-Central focus on the pond close to defensive lines gives knights and archers alike equal opportunity to exert influence.

Cons:
-Small width and high elevation makes siege weapons unusually powerful.