WIP Teaser - DM_CHEMS_CASTLE !!!!!!

WTF is Chems_Castle?

It's a dm map doh!!!??!!??!!!

Okay...this is starting to take shape and look like something playable.

What???!!!!

History and Facts

This was a request made by my good friend and brother {EE}ζђΞMìζλ|ßůЯИ» to make him a Castle map.
The project prolonged and stretched for ages on eons for many reasons but come now, having a life and artistic qualms aside, it's back under my Hammer and soon we shall have some betas up and running. Wo0t!

Some screens for your anticipating pleasure in the meantime:











<3 u chem


val

oh man, love you too bro. looks great.

cool!

wow, that's some real love right there. nice castle!!

Looks like great 2 v 2 map

/drools

moar!

You need to find a happy medium with custom and stock textures lol. I love custom textures as much as the next guy, but noobs dont like downloading 30 mb bz2 files off the server haha. Good looking castle though. How does your wife allow you to map so much. I can get away with a couple hours a day sometimes while she is home, but she lays down the hammer most of the time.

Oh, I can't wait for this!!! Woot! I love Castle maps! Also, don't mind the large map files either in support of the textures!

Sacrifist wrote:You need to find a happy medium with custom and stock textures lol. I love custom textures as much as the next guy, but noobs dont like downloading 30 mb bz2 files off the server haha. Good looking castle though. How does your wife allow you to map so much. I can get away with a couple hours a day sometimes while she is home, but she lays down the hammer most of the time.

who cares what nOObs like. this is a beautiful map, worthy of every MB downloaded!!!!

Sacrifist wrote:How does your wife allow you to map so much. I can get away with a couple hours a day sometimes while she is home, but she lays down the hammer most of the time.

same here only i work 16:00 to 1:00am (i'm not in the US) so i'm a night owl and most of my time at home is basically when everyone's asleep .
i map at work as well when things are quiet. its a lappy and DM won't run properly but Hammer sure does pound you bet your knuckles it does lol.

val

[EYE] Valar wrote:

Sacrifist wrote:How does your wife allow you to map so much. I can get away with a couple hours a day sometimes while she is home, but she lays down the hammer most of the time.

same here only i work 16:00 to 1:00am (i'm not in the US) so i'm a night owl and most of my time at home is basically when everyone's asleep .
i map at work as well when things are quiet. its a lappy and DM won't run properly but Hammer sure does pound you bet your knuckles it does lol.

val

Sounds about right. I get mine in when she is at work or asleep also lol. If I try to push it while she is home I usually get yelled at a few times. It sucks when Im in the middle of some cool idea lol.

"but she lays down the hammer most of the time."

Pun Intended?

The Argumentalizer wrote:"but she lays down the hammer most of the time."

Pun Intended?

lmao!

Beautiful.

Did you think of the surroundings so far? This would deserve some nice green hills in the horizon.

Looks great, I like the screen where the spiral stair core has a hole to the next area. Lighting is superb as well!

For some reason i can't help thinking of Monty Python and the Holy Grail looking at this

haymaker wrote:For some reason i can't help thinking of Monty Python and the Holy Grail looking at this

HEH, the castle in that isn't too far away from me

this is just the castle itself on the ss. there is yet to do:

ditch around it and a grand gate with a wooden ramp supported by iron chains running from the castle outer walls. ditch will have slime and water, greens around and of course a skybox showing a greater view of the surrounding area / valley / hills / bla bla...as reaper noted.
erm, did i mention the castle itself has additional sections not showing here?
mummy this gonna be a long haul . bhhhhh. i need more coffee. /me gulp.

[EYE] Valar wrote:this is just the castle itself on the ss. there is yet to do:

ditch around it and a grand gate with a wooden ramp supported by iron chains running from the castle outer walls. ditch will have slime and water, greens around and of course a skybox showing a greater view of the surrounding area / valley / hills / bla bla...as reaper noted.
erm, did i mention the castle itself has additional sections not showing here?
mummy this gonna be a long haul . bhhhhh. i need more coffee. /me gulp.

so thats why there is no download link keep us posted bro its very cool!!

(on a side note i was making a castle map for EE and got stumped a little,
a clan mate of mine was helping me with it but unfortunately hes is very
notorious about not finishing a map and stumped me further .......so in short
i failed you guys and im sorry).

[KBH]Tazzer wrote:
(on a side note i was making a castle map for EE and got stumped a little,
a clan mate of mine was helping me with it but unfortunately hes is very
notorious about not finishing a map and stumped me further .......so in short
i failed you guys and im sorry).

ah ha!! the plot thickens!! well ho hmm, chem.

[EYE] Valar wrote:

[KBH]Tazzer wrote:
(on a side note i was making a castle map for EE and got stumped a little,
a clan mate of mine was helping me with it but unfortunately hes is very
notorious about not finishing a map and stumped me further .......so in short
i failed you guys and im sorry).

ah ha!! the plot thickens!! well ho hmm, chem.

I swear on our friendship this was not for me, nor did i know anything about it. this must have been b4 my time.

Jelly Fox wrote:

haymaker wrote:For some reason i can't help thinking of Monty Python and the Holy Grail looking at this

HEH, the castle in that isn't too far away from me

aye edinburgh or stirling mr. highlander? (there can be only 1?)

..i dont know...ahhi i just need some time to think..

nah it was long ago and for Joey mainly lol "the plot thickens" lol!!

lead wrote:

Jelly Fox wrote:

haymaker wrote:For some reason i can't help thinking of Monty Python and the Holy Grail looking at this

HEH, the castle in that isn't too far away from me

aye edinburgh or stirling mr. highlander? (there can be only 1?)

Doune Castle near Sterling is where they filmed Monty Pythons holy grail.

oh man oh man this is gonna be hot!

some more screenies of the developing castle



NOTE: the weird ballon-like formations running down the left outer wall are the beginning of what will be a series of rocks curling up the castle wall. another way in/out of the castle.


































val

this is so far beyond what imagined you were going to do with my original idea. i know im bias here, but that is the nicest HL2dm map i've ever seen.

WOW

{EE}chEmicalBurn wrote:this is so far beyond what imagined you were going to do with my original idea. i know im bias here, but that is the nicest HL2dm map i've ever seen.

speaking of which...this is the pic you sent me lol

BTW, check out the artist's page for more OMG AMAZING images of his creations

http://www.kostaatanasov.com/pop_load_i ... d=5&mode=3

seriously, this guy is just so talented. my jaw fell. imo go pick it up. ttyl.

looks amazing :O

Care to post a link to the sky you are using? I really like it's mountain region. It's probably the best sky I've seen with terrain in it for source stuff. All the hl1 terrain skies look pretty bad in source maps lol.

yeah that sky tex is win. very nice.

there's a few other castle themed maps out there but this looks far and away superior! Has the most sense of "place" of your recent work

those screens look beautiful

Sacrifist wrote:Care to post a link to the sky you are using? I really like it's mountain region. It's probably the best sky I've seen with terrain in it for source stuff. All the hl1 terrain skies look pretty bad in source maps lol.

check your PMs man

.

omg thats allmost makes me cry.aswem bro

OK so we have been gawking at this masterpiece for some time now.

When are we gona get to play it?!

pfffft ask chem not me. he's the one keeps adding stuff, delaying release.

[EYE] Valar wrote:pfffft ask chem not me. he's the one keeps adding stuff, delaying release.

LMAO. I know, im such a tease.

Looks very nice!

The only possible problem with visuals may be that the map could be easy to get lost in for first-timers. Perhaps adding a few medieval-style banners, posters, and whatevers could help new players identify what part of the map they're in? Maybe add like a cauldron and some cleavers to specify a dungeon-like area as the "kitchen", while another place has some jail bars and cobwebs?

Just a bit of a far-fetched idea that may not be worth it if the map is simple enough in structure to memorize/the little tidbits add too much FPS/megabytes, but hey, just something I wanted to throw out there!

Charles wrote:Looks very nice!

The only possible problem with visuals may be that the map could be easy to get lost in for first-timers. Perhaps adding a few medieval-style banners, posters, and whatevers could help new players identify what part of the map they're in? Maybe add like a cauldron and some cleavers to specify a dungeon-like area as the "kitchen", while another place has some jail bars and cobwebs?

Just a bit of a far-fetched idea that may not be worth it if the map is simple enough in structure to memorize/the little tidbits add too much FPS/megabytes, but hey, just something I wanted to throw out there!

from the SS's i can see why you might think that, but its not like that at all. calls out will be easy for this map, its big but each room is distinct

yea man, once you're ingame you'll see it's super easy to find your way around this map.
. . . .only have to get past the ugliness then ure good.

It actually looks pretty sweet. On top of that, I like how it's like you're fighting on a real high castle, rather than on a killbox. Perhaps falling out of the castle = fall death?

The only problem I can see relating to visuals and not how pretty it is is the silhouettes. On the second picture, the stairs seem to blend in with the walls, which may be a strainer for some of the older players here. However, the lighting and shadowing seem to define the architecture in the other screenshots well enough.

Some ambient sounds would be killer for this map. Perhaps like a bell that periodically rings or sounds out whenever a certain weapon/door/item/whatever respawns.

Once you get to play chems_castle you will realize that the screen shots pale in comparison to the awesome-ness of this map. Trust me, you won't have a problem. At least, I hope not.


The sky is hot. Very hot. Much love to you, sir Val.

I am OMGWTF'ing this masterpiece of excellence

I wanna pway it.

- added a balcony in the center of the castle. see 1st pic.

- added a second main gate on the other side of the castle. see 2nd pic
(this is the best pic i found that shows the area, though not an outside view)

- added a rooftop sentinel room on the second most highest tower so it's not sniper alley anymore.

- changed all the gates and doors with more authentic ones.

hopefully i'm starting to get the flow work nicely having added the above so things should move faster from hereon.

P.S. sry i didn't bother with screens this time lol.


val

I dont know why, but that second pic looks way to orange. I dont think torches would emit that color of light. Maybe it's something you are doing with photochop to give it more pizazz or something, maybe color correction? Either way, it looks weird. The outside lighting looks much more realistic.

nah don't be like that. give me a chance. my first map. i promise it looks good ingame. i swear.

[EYE] Valar wrote:nah don't be like that. give me a chance. my first map. i promise it looks good ingame. i swear.

LIES, blatent LIES!!!!

Sacrifist wrote:I dont know why, but that second pic looks way to orange. I dont think torches would emit that color of light. Maybe it's something you are doing with photochop to give it more pizazz or something, maybe color correction? Either way, it looks weird. The outside lighting looks much more realistic.

its just the pic. TRUST me. this is the most amazing map i've ever seen.

THIS MAP SUX!!!

jk val i love u and ur maps are too awesome, seriously i love ur maps

{EE}chEmicalBurn wrote:

Sacrifist wrote:I dont know why, but that second pic looks way to orange. I dont think torches would emit that color of light. Maybe it's something you are doing with photochop to give it more pizazz or something, maybe color correction? Either way, it looks weird. The outside lighting looks much more realistic.

its just the pic. TRUST me. this is the most amazing map i've ever seen.

Then I shall reserve judgement



ps, you are so biased lol

Man, I'm never online to help Val with his maps anymore. : (

Sacrifist wrote:

{EE}chEmicalBurn wrote:

Sacrifist wrote:I dont know why, but that second pic looks way to orange. I dont think torches would emit that color of light. Maybe it's something you are doing with photochop to give it more pizazz or something, maybe color correction? Either way, it looks weird. The outside lighting looks much more realistic.

its just the pic. TRUST me. this is the most amazing map i've ever seen.

Then I shall reserve judgement



ps, you are so biased lol

you are 100% correct about the biased comment my friend, no arguement there. but i really think you will hold the same oppinion of it.

can this look more awsome than now?

Yes it can

Ma god, Val you sure have outdone yourself this time man!

I can't wait to see more screen shots of this bad boy!

OK, I refuse to get involved in all of this buildup simply because I cannot handle the tension!!! I need to keep my distance in order to stay sane and when it is ready, I'm sure I'll find out then!

P.S. I really can't wait either, especially since you gave me that early teaser!

how do you think i feel?

Got to play test this yesterday and its just !

..just....what?

Thats what. Its beyond mere words so its just

OooO

i've probably read/seen a bunch of cool stuff in the university, but this is beyond the coolest thing ever! great job on it valar!

ya...are we ever gonna get to play it though

Magic 8 ball says Future Uncertain

Author says he's got an unexplained urge for appreciation for his time and effort. when those are non-existent, author moves on seeking an alive and mature community who is accepting new work.
My L4D Survival map - "Ravenholm" has been downloaded 1515 TIMES since July 12. that's, what...10 days ago? do the math.
having said that - Chems castle is a major project and has been for well over a year. this is mainly a pub (FFA) map and as such it will be released. no ETA. but release it shall because i love the map, i really love chem and i'm a HL2DM diehard for life.

Read this as you may. i'm just being "uncool" and honest.
And big thanks for the props guys.

Nope you're not, I get it. The l4d crowd recognizes and appreciates your efforts whereas here, you have spent a TON of time making awsome, fresh, beautiful maps only to have them largely tossed aside because people can't get off their addiction for the old, glitchy, drab, boring fucking crap they have been playing over and over for fucking years and accept something new.

So now we pretty much have lost our most prolific and dynamic mapper. We totally deserve it but SHAME on us.

GLHF with your new endevor to be a L4D mapper. I hope they sincerely do appreciate you more than we did.

[EYE] Valar wrote:Read this as you may. i'm just being "uncool" and honest.
And big thanks for the props guys.

I understand what you're saying, Val. We have plenty of good maps by you and others that have been recently released and what ends up in tournaments? The same old maps. It's one of the things that pushed me to quti playing. People are so damn afraid to step out of what they feel comfortable playing that this game will never progress into anything more than a lovable turd. It's a shame all the time you and others spend making, testing, re-working, re-testing to put out such nice maps and it ends up going to waste.
So if I were you, I wouldn't feel the slightest bit of remorse. If L4D is providing the appreciation you need, then go for it and don't look back.

part of the problem, or possibly the whole problem is, nobody is playing for fun or for the enjoyment of a really nice map. it just to win, then post the SS's on the U and talk shit about it. i honestly cant believe warzone(and ive personally said this to dallas, im not just backstabbing on the forum) has a rotation of old maps. it just blows me away that we a ton of sick valar maps, and a 5 month long mapping contest only to have old stock maps being played. its so fucking boring FFS.

just look at what happened to dm_jeager. i mean ffs...if this is not one of the most pristine looking, immaculately constructed, to-die-for sharp, GODly map i've seen and what did it this amazing mapper get from this so called "competitive community"? CRAP: the l33tards, instead of giving him direct and precise feedback on how to better his wep placement or wtf have you there that needed to be improved, have all but trashed this fine artwork like it was a piece of junk on the wayside and tramped all over it.
how disgusting.
and then, you got DM PRO. hahahah what a fucking joke. this mod has been around since before mud. the coder who is top notch, worked on numerous bug fix, updated and perfected the game by religiously and constantly receiving feedback from the community and took this forgotten, b0rked ass game and created a vanilla mod for it, which is unarguably superior than the stock game in every single way. what does it get? not even a side note.
oh, but wait....what goes there?....lo and behold, someone else is working on a OB mod for dm and everyone are licking it from all sides and holes like it was a super model.
i'm not putting down what this HL2DM::OB guy's done but you look at this community from the outside and you go WTF are these people on?

tell you what. Thank god for groups like TSGK, S-UK, KBH, TKO and EYE for REALLY keeping this game alive and if anybody has a problem with this statement they can go look for more cowbell and deal with it.

val
"Beautiful maps - just not that great"

[EYE] Valar wrote:just look at what happened to dm_jeager. i mean ffs...if this is not one of the most pristine looking, immaculately constructed, to-die-for sharp, GODly map i've seen and what did it this amazing mapper get from this so called "competitive community"? CRAP: the l33tards, instead of giving him direct and precise feedback on how to better his wep placement or wtf have you there that needed to be improved, have all but trashed this fine artwork like it was a piece of junk on the wayside and tramped all over it.
how disgusting.
and then, you got DM PRO. hahahah what a fucking joke. this mod has been around since before mud. the coder who is top notch, worked on numerous bug fix, updated and perfected the game by religiously and constantly receiving feedback from the community and took this forgotten, b0rked ass game and created a vanilla mod for it, which is unarguably superior than the stock game in every single way. what does it get? not even a side note.
oh, but wait....what goes there?....lo and behold, someone else is working on a OB mod for dm and everyone are licking it from all sides and holes like it was a super model.
i'm not putting down what this HL2DM::OB guy's done but you look at this community from the outside and you go WTF are these people on?

tell you what. Thank god for groups like TSGK, S-UK, KBH, TKO and EYE for REALLY keeping this game alive and if anybody has a problem with this statement they can go look for more cowbell and deal with it.

val
"Beautiful maps - just not that great"

TRUE

[EYE] Valar wrote:just look at what happened to dm_jeager. i mean ffs...if this is not one of the most pristine looking, immaculately constructed, to-die-for sharp, GODly map i've seen and what did it this amazing mapper get from this so called "competitive community"? CRAP: the l33tards, instead of giving him direct and precise feedback on how to better his wep placement or wtf have you there that needed to be improved, have all but trashed this fine artwork like it was a piece of junk on the wayside and tramped all over it.
how disgusting.
and then, you got DM PRO. hahahah what a fucking joke. this mod has been around since before mud. the coder who is top notch, worked on numerous bug fix, updated and perfected the game by religiously and constantly receiving feedback from the community and took this forgotten, b0rked ass game and created a vanilla mod for it, which is unarguably superior than the stock game in every single way. what does it get? not even a side note.
oh, but wait....what goes there?....lo and behold, someone else is working on a OB mod for dm and everyone are licking it from all sides and holes like it was a super model.
i'm not putting down what this HL2DM::OB guy's done but you look at this community from the outside and you go WTF are these people on?

tell you what. Thank god for groups like TSGK, S-UK, KBH, TKO and EYE for REALLY keeping this game alive and if anybody has a problem with this statement they can go look for more cowbell and deal with it.

val
"Beautiful maps - just not that great"

DAMMNNNNNNNN, Valar came down with the motha fuckin thunda. you go boyyyeeeeeeeeeee

{EE}chEmicalBurn wrote: i honestly cant believe warzone(and ive personally said this to dallas, im not just backstabbing on the forum) has a rotation of old maps.

You mean you can't believe the competitive players who participate in warzone, because they were the ones who picked the maps.

As for keeping the game alive, yes a ton is credited to all of the big clans such as the ones you mentioned, don't forget [FF] as well with their 62 active members on consortium 0.o.... but if there were no competitive play half of this community would be gone.

There are a few people and groups that have tried to keep this game alive, but whatever they did just got beaten down. Eventually you get tired of banging your head against a brick wall and you give up.

dal, in actual fact the competitive portions is not even one 10th.
plus i love u.

I love Val. In a very manly way. <3

Da1 wrote:

{EE}chEmicalBurn wrote: i honestly cant believe warzone(and ive personally said this to dallas, im not just backstabbing on the forum) has a rotation of old maps.

You mean you can't believe the competitive players who participate in warzone, because they were the ones who picked the maps.

As for keeping the game alive, yes a ton is credited to all of the big clans such as the ones you mentioned, don't forget [FF] as well with their 62 active members on consortium 0.o.... but if there were no competitive play half of this community would be gone.

ya, i said warzone, not Dallas. im not blaming you bro. i give you a lot of credit putting this on and trying to make everybody happy.

Well, this is a very interesting thread!!

Thanks Chem for pointing out that [FF] is by far one of the most active clans in HLDM! 175 members, of which 62 are still very active in the HLDM game speaks for itself. I can't speak for other clans, but I can adamantly state that in [FF] our members truly appreciate and thrive on the new maps that are built, such as those that have been built and featured within this web site.

I also believe that sometimes we get caught up in over-analyzing map quality to be honest. Our criteria for a good to great map? Does it have good performance , good connectivity, decent weapon and health placement and above all else.......is it fun to play!! We continue to conduct monthly map tests, and we continue to have "fun" scrims with other clans. The work that Valer has done, as well as all other mappers is truly appreciated within the [FF] ranks. I personally try to rotate as many new maps in the [FF] map cycle every 4-6 weeks as possible. I rarely run the old default maps, unless it is by special request.

So, I guess what I am saying is that whereas you may not see the appreciation for all of you mapping time to the level that is justified, at [FF] we have 175 members who thank you from our hearts and hope that you still find HLDM mapping enjoyable enough to continue!

ty bro. FF are great peoples and very good friends to EYE. keep in mind my posts were not aimed at the alive part of HL2DM man.

[FF]FNDR.Jake_Brake wrote:Well, this is a very interesting thread!!

Thanks Chem for pointing out that [FF] is by far one of the most active clans in HLDM! 175 members, of which 62 are still very active in the HLDM game speaks for itself. I can't speak for other clans, but I can adamantly state that in [FF] our members truly appreciate and thrive on the new maps that are built, such as those that have been built and featured within this web site.

I also believe that sometimes we get caught up in over-analyzing map quality to be honest. Our criteria for a good to great map? Does it have good performance , good connectivity, decent weapon and health placement and above all else.......is it fun to play!! We continue to conduct monthly map tests, and we continue to have "fun" scrims with other clans. The work that Valer has done, as well as all other mappers is truly appreciated within the [FF] ranks. I personally try to rotate as many new maps in the [FF] map cycle every 4-6 weeks as possible. I rarely run the old default maps, unless it is by special request.

So, I guess what I am saying is that whereas you may not see the appreciation for all of you mapping time to the level that is justified, at [FF] we have 175 members who thank you from our hearts and hope that you still find HLDM mapping enjoyable enough to continue!

that was actually Dallas who said that, but i absolutely agree with him. FF hands down has the best variety of maps in any server. some IMO are too small for the 14 ppl allowed in, but for the most part, like 95% are great. great ppl too. i love playing there when i do.

Oops, sorry Dallas! Thank you very much my friend! And thanks Chem for your friendship!

Val, I know you were only speaking to the "dead" HL community but I just wanted you to know that there are still many of us who appreciate and rely on HLDM mapping! I truly do hope you continue to show an interest in this area!

Guy1: Howdy partner? What'll it be?
Guy2: What do you have? I wanna try something new.
Guy1: All we have is,
"DM is dead."
"I hate you. I hate you too. Let's start a flamewar on HL2DMU."
"Hacks are abundant in the 1337 community. He hacks, you hack."
Guy2: Nothing else?
Guy1: Those are all the arguments we have.
Guy2: *Goes to another forum to see different kinds of drama*

DM is not dead. some people see it as such. old story. let's move on lol.

it is dead lol, in australia its already dead atleast, other countries will soon follow

well, i think competitive hl2dm is 3/4 in the grave, but there are still some good pub servers with a lot of friendly ppl on them. FF and EYE for example. problem is a lot of the ppl in here are just so stuck on CAL settings/maps and hold the opinion that its the only way to play and pubbers suck. imo, saying we are killing hl2dm from the inside out is more appropriate then saying hl2dm is dead

get over yourselves. you think HL2DM is and was always about the competitive scene when it never was. you've always been but a small fraction of this community.
now, this is a map WIP thread in dept of architecture. not i <3 LD in Leage Talk. move on please to the caflamateria. thank you.

Blasphemy wrote:most of the old good players have moved on. the only relics left are sw and 911 and most of their members are more or less new blood.

well EE is still very much active, and has some very good players

{EE}chEmicalBurn wrote:

Blasphemy wrote:most of the old good players have moved on. the only relics left are sw and 911 and most of their members are more or less new blood.

well EE is still very much active, and has some very good players

pb and grain aren't that active.

lol take that stuff to the caf.....doesn't really wanna delete all these posts. Unlocking so Valar can talk about the OP. If you are talking about stuff not about the map don't baans may come! zomg bans!

thanks nino.

OKAY NOW...map's coming along so here's some sexual badness for yaz (this is BTW not photoshopped, what you're seeing is the color correction and high antialiasing)
click thumbnails to enlarge;

















Chem i'm so sorry this took so long to get out. i'm getting old bra

hooooooleeeeeeeee sheeeeeeeet

.

omfg

OMFG, HACK SOME MORE PLZ.

badinfluence wrote:.

i also came, twice. brb, need tissues

awesome m8 who is chem?:p

lead wrote:awesome m8 who is chem?:p

look above m8 lmao

dl link?

soon when ready sir

I has soggy trousers

Hogwarts lol. Love the potter font.

Sacrifist wrote:Hogwarts lol. Love the potter font.

to be technical the font is called Parry Hotter

Ok we need to get you a woman!