silverty

Now that CS2 is out and so has the tools (for months at this point!), I really took it on myself to really learn how the tools work and make a map doing so. I had messed around with the porting tools which was fun but didn't allow me to actually adapt as a mapper and even I knew this would lead to me not properly learning how to move on from the brush-based mapping of Hammer 4, compared to the mesh-based mapping of Hammer 5. This lead to me creating my first proper map for the game, Firestrike.

Firestrike was mainly just a test for learning what I could do with the new tools, from lighting to manipulating the meshes and so on. The fact that I was able to run around on it gave me a sense of joy, and even though I know the map is extremely flawed - from strange geometry, to bad pacing and even terrible bombsites - I still learnt from my mistakes and went on with remaking a map that I earlier in 2023 wanted to make for CS2 whenever it released.

Bringing me to - Borlange.

From the ground up, I remade Borlange. WIth the help of various MapInk members playtesting my maps and giving critical but constructive feedback, I was able to properly remake the map with those intentions in mind - making a fun map to play (even from the first version of this remake!) while adding a unique twist - that being that CT's going mid can be more aggressive which allows them to gather information at the cost that they might get caught out and shot and/or being spotted and giving their location away for free. Remaking this map from the top down allowed me to focus on making changes for the benefit of the map without being hindered by the detail already being added into the map while also trying some new ideas that I had going into this map (such as swapping out the apartments for a more-Mirage styled palace, Green house being replaced by a wall and a cubby, Yellow house having a connection from short and to the A site, the T side pathing (shown below) to list a few).

Again, the theming for the map will be a snowy theme with a temple with a big ice wall on one side and a snowy-cliff near T spawn with a frozen lake with the Facility making up the B portion of the map.

Generally, the future for this remake is looking bright as I look forward to learning more with the tools and improving on what I currently have already.