El_Exodus

5 year old thread? No worries, i got this.

There are currently 2 merch stores:

The old one: https://shop.spreadshirt.co.uk/mapcore/
and the new one: https://teespring.com/stores/mapcore

1. The old one should be nuked to avoid confusion. Also: Old logo.

2. The new one got cut down for some reason. Can't buy a mug no more? GUYS! MURGS - WE NEED THEM MURGS!!

3. The store isn't really linked to around here. Gotta fix that.

Edit: Tagging some cause otherwise nobody will find this comment ever. @FMPONE @Thrik @Yanzl

Dang, time to warm up the DoI Hammer again. Let's see if i'm able to get something playable done. Good luck and lots of fun for every participant!

Awesome stuff!

Good points so far in this discussion.

I continued thinking about possible solutions and one idea came to my mind. Taking the hypothetical approach of my first comment using Dust2 (for example) converted to a cs_ map i extended my thoughts:

Since the cs_ gamemode is split in 2 "moving" stages (reaching hostages->reaching rescue zone in contrast to de_: reaching bombsite->staying on bombsite) why not simply splitting the map in 2 stages? Just extending the map without taking care of the rescue-zone camping problem wouldn't help though since this is one of the main flaws on current cs_ maps.

In order to avoid this flaw the map has to become somewhat dynamic. Stage 2 in the round is starting when one of the hostage is being picked up. If you'd link now the hostages to possible gates(blue lines in the image below) seperating the stage 1 and stage 2 gameplay area, the gates could open as soon as one hostage is picked up. Maybe even with a delay timer of 5-10 seconds so the CT with the hostage is not able to rush to the rescue zone without allowing Ts to interrupt it.

This might even out the odds between Ts and CTs in the second stage of a round, but i'm not sure if long-term CS players would enjoy such a semi-dynamic map layout. I don't even know if it could work in the first place. Could there be a more elegant solution than adding triggered gates? What do you think in general about this idea?

I had thought about some of this as well, awesome to see your thoughts about it. Treating hostages like bombsites is probably the key solution which could save this game mode. What i still don't like about the current cs_ map situation is the fact that Terrorist always have the advantage of having the hostages way behind them. Actually like on your map. The meeting points are probably around the center of the map and therefore there won't be such thing as a "hostage room take strat" with proper smokes and flashes.

I'm curious how maps like Cache and Dust2 would play if you simply swap the spawns and place hostages on the bombsites.

But there will still be a problem. After taking a "hostage site" CTs still have to move back on the map in order to win the round. Taking the same way back feels restricted and boring imho. Also rushing Ts have the opportunity to camp in the opponent spawn and simply wait until the time ran out. Like you mentioned in your article. But what can be done about it? From time to time i am still thinking about it, but i can't really find a proper solution which makes me throw away any plans of a future cs_ map by myself.

Lovely article

I'll probably join the contest in the next few days, but i think i won't be able to make it to the end. My exams are starting in the beginning of August and i have to learn lots of stuff before them