Yay, my first map! (Or the first I’ve posted anyway)

Update: New pics are up. Hopefully they're a little easier to see.
Update2: Lights On now available!! Don't like darkness? Play in the light!

Download Map – Lights Out v4
Download Map - Lights On (Lights Out without FX)
Download Gametype – Outbr8kProtocol

History
I’m a big fan of infection (no, don’t go, please), but I’m also aware of some of the problems that arise from a bad Infection map (boredom, death threats etc.), especially those that are imbalanced. Nobody wants to stand around wasting feeble zombies, and nor do they want to be cut down instantly by super-fast, invulnerable zombies. So I’ve always tried to make my maps fair (usually by blocking off camping spots).

But during my run through of Blackout, swapping weapons for their human counterparts, I decided that I could do better than this. With the scope and scale available due to forge, simple weapon swaps seemed somewhat beneath me, so I decided to try something different and make an entirely new map for Infection. Of course, this was easier said than done. The only ideas I had were that the zombies would be contained, and after 30 seconds, the power would fail and release them.

Obviously, that left me with rather little to work with. But, being stubborn, rather than backing off and planning it, I just made the containment cell. From there, in that one forging session, I designed the whole map, the aim, the premise, everything.

One of my key goals was to eliminate the standard “kill stuff for points” gameplay. Zombies aren’t targets, they’re scary. But I also didn’t want a super-zombie. So I introduced a new villain to instil fear in the Humans: Their ammo counters. By limiting ammunition (not an original idea by any account), but promising more if they should continue through the level as dictated by me, I essentially force the Humans to do things my way, without requiring honour rules (Nothing special, but a key part in the design process). From there, I just had to create the map itself.

In the end, the map became essentially a long, winding path, leading eventually to a “safehouse” and Evac point. Fear not though, it may be the most easily defended spot in the map, but it’s anything but safe, and the Infected will not have their enjoyment of the game hampered. The map uses almost the entirety of Blackout, with the only sections off limits being the corridors between Bottom Middle, S1 and Bottom Lift. Regardless of this fact, it is possible to traverse the majority of the level and reach the Evac point within just under 3 minutes.

Anyway, with the history and boring stuff out of the way, on with the map!

Premise
The premise is simple, although not exactly original I must admit. Facility 04-662 was originally commissioned by the government to carry out illegal genetic experiments upon convicts (“after all, no-one’s going to miss them”). But they were rumbled and had to pull funding, leaving the large floating facility to die. But reluctant to leave their experiments, a number of scientists opted to stay, along with a number of mercenaries who had been promised a cut in any profit that may arise.

However, without power and no maintenance, things begin to go wrong. Large sections of the structure have been damaged in storms, and scaffolding is now the prevalent feature. Finally, the power gives out, and the Experiments (for all intents and purposes, zombies) escape. Of course, the facility is not entirely without defenses, and goes into lockdown. Unfortunately, there is clearly something wring with the system, and a number of areas are left open. Including the corridor between the labs and the barracks.

Game and gameplay
At the beginning of the round, the Infected spawn inside the laboratory, secure and unable to leave. There is a proportionate number of Infected to the number of Humans (25%). The Humans spawn in the Barracks, with a minor weapon load-out (see below for more details), along with starting weapons of Assault Rifle and Magnum. (There are also two Fusion Coils).

A zombie lurking in the sealed-off lab

30 seconds into the game, the power cuts (Juicy and Gloomy FX) and Fusion Coils drop from the sky and allow the Infected to escape. The Humans must hold fast against the attack whilst “Jones” attempts to activate a “ladder” (grav lift) allowing escape into the “maintenance tunnels” between floors. This appears at 45 seconds into the game.

At this point is a major opportunity for some easy kills as an infected player, especially if everyone attempts to escape at once. They will be distracted and less likely to be firing at you.

Once down the hatch to Sword Spawn, the Humans will find that the only available route takes them into Bottom Middle, right past the door to the lower labs. Fortunately, there are no zombies in there. Yet.

But at the 1 minute mark, the box blocking their access is moved by a mancannon (please note that a player will have to touch the crate before it will actually move) and the zombies have a shortcut to the lower levels.

The Humans proceed through the “tunnels” into Bottom Middle, and from there drop down to the next floor (Red Room and Bottom Lift). Once again, they find their path blocked by a door and a feature I like to call the “Great Badly Interlocked Wall of Random Shit”. This forces them to continue up into the lift and up to Top Lift. It is in this room that the Humans must make another stand, as all exits are blocked until another “ladder” can be raised.

There are two shotguns in this room, both with a spare clip, but other than that, very little. Once the 2 minute mark has been reached, another “ladder” will appear, and the humans are able to escape through Bottom Lift onto the Elbow and into S1.

The Humans will once again find that doors block the conventional exits (and it is impossible to jump to S1 ramp, as it has been blocked off). After some bumping around in the dark, they will find some crates and boxes forming stairs up to S2 (through the hatch in the ceiling). Be careful, if you’ve taken a particularly long time to get here, there may be a zombie lying in wait.

It's harder than it looks

From S2, the humans have a fair degree of freedom, and are able to access much of the exterior of the facility (as well as admire some of the scaffolding on Top BR). This is their destination, and it is accessed by a set of stairs running up the front of the base.. Once there, they will find another weapon load-out, and that they are now at a dead-end.

Of course, with the Infected spawning at the other side of the level (although technically, just one floor beneath the humans), running through the level to get to the Humans, only to be shot down as they come up the single, predictable access route, is not fun. Not at all.

So to counter this? Super-jumping zombie insanity bought on by mutation caused by exposure to the outside air (as opposed to the whatever-the-hell-it-was in the lab). This takes the form of mancannons and a grav lift, which allow alternate routes into the Evac site, as well as a faster method of travel to the front of the site.

The first is to be found directly outside of the laboratory, on the first floor. It will take the infected up and over the right wall of the Evac site, providing death from above. But once this is realised, there will inevitable be someone with a shotgun lying in wait for your ascent.

The second is to be found on the walkways that make up the maintenance tunnels, and will propel the Infected player onto the Helipad to the front of the “base”. This provides long lines of sight for the Humans, but prevents them from wiping you out with a sneaky shotgun blast.

The final route is found to the right of the lower door (as you leave through it), and will take the Infected player over a wall and to the side ramp leading from Bottom BR to Top BR. The walk is longer than the others, especially as the player will wish to remain crouched so as to avoid detection as they come up behind the humans, but their superior jumping ability and the element of surprise may net the player some easy kills.

Photobucket made it go all turquoise :S

Weapon Load-out

Barracks
1 x Battle Rifle (2 clip)
1 x Grenade (Frag)
1 x SMG (2 clips)
1 x Magnum (1 clips)
2 x Assault Rifle (1 clips)

Evac Site
1 x Battle Rifle (2 clips)
1 x Shotgun (2 clips)
2 x SMG (2 clips)
1 x Grenade (Frag)

Hidden Throughout Level (Some more-so than others)
3 x Shotgun (1 clip)
1 x Shotgun (0 clips)
3 x Trip Mine
2 x Grenade (Frag)
4x Magnum (1 clip)
1 x SMG(1 Clip)
1x SMG (0 clips)
2 x Assault Rifle (1 clip)
1 x Sniper Rifle (2 clips)

None of the weapons respawn. At all. So try not to waste ammo, eh?

More Screenshots - Later

Download Map – Lights Out v4
Download Map - Lights On (Lights Out without FX)
Download Gametype – Outbr8kProtocol

Any feedback would be appreciated, thanks in advance.