Video update:
Seems the guys at Machinima have created the video for Narrow Extent that I've been too lazy to do myself. I would've focused on some different things, but I appreciate the video none the less.

YouTube - Machinima Features Narrow Extent

Welcome to Narrow Extent

Narrow Extent is somewhere between a small and medium-sized competitive map that supports all game types except for Race and Invasion. The map is perfectly symmetrical about its center point with a base on each end, a column-filled hall at the center and several figure-eight pathways moving through the map from end to end and vertically through the three levels.

Narrow Extent plays best with two to eight players or 1v1 through 4v4 team games. While the Spawning is set up to support 16 FFA players or two teams of eight, the map is really too small to provide tactically competitive game play with that many players. If you enjoy crazy action with a lot of players, however, feel free to fill it up.

I spent quite a bit of time working on a proper weapon set and came up with a relatively conservative collection due to the smaller size of the map and its layout. Initially, I placed a single sniper on the map with 2 spare clips and a 180 second respawn at the center of the main level (level 2). I thought it would be a good way to get traffic through the map center. I finally ended up settling on removing the single sniper rifle at that location and providing one sniper rifle on each team’s end of the map. I didn’t want to have a sniper rifle showing up at the center where neutral objectives were for fear that players would have a hard time picking up the objective or the rifle. During play tests I found that the majority of the traffic moved through the center of the map due to the layout of the paths without needing a power weapon to encourage it.

Weapons:

(2) plasma pistol, 30 second respawn

(2) needle rifle, 2 spare clips, 45 second respawn

(2) DMR, 1 spare clips, 45 second respawn

(2) DMR, 2 spare clips, 60 second respawn

(1) shotgun, 1 spare clips, 180 second respawn

(2) sniper rifle, 1 spare clip, 150 second respawn

Below are accurate floor plans of the map showing only the weapon and basic objective layouts. As you can see, Level 3 consists simply of elevated pathways moving from the base ends of the map to the center. Be sure to click the bar at the top of each floor plan to see it more clearly.

The most distinguishing aspect of Narrow Extent is the spiraling pathways moving from the base ends to the map’s center. I think they provide visual interest to the map and are a nice contrast to the darker interior areas. Movement can be slightly restricted along the paths due to irregularities in the floor surface, but after a few times through, it is easy to find the smoothest path. I usually end up doing a single small jump about halfway through to speed up travel from one end to the other.

Blue Spiral

Red Spiral

View just before entering the blue spiral from the center area of the map.

Spartan thrown in for scale

View that is never seen by the players. Sad but true. Maybe in a different map.

Though not quite as pretty as the spirals, the most prominent path through Narrow Extent is the long hall moving from end to end of the map on the main level. At the hall’s center, where the primary neutral objectives are located, is a large room with four columns creating multiple paths. If you look up from the objective, you’ll see the small, lonely skylight.

View down main hall

Looking down on the center of Narrow Extent where all primary neutral objectives are located

Looking up from the map's center to see the sky

Looking across Narrow Extent's center from one spiral entry/exit to the other.

Below are some important areas of Narrow Extent you'll want to be familiar with.

Red base (Blue base is the same)

Shotgun Spawn at the center of Level 1

Sniper spawn on Level 2 near the observation window under the spiral

Strategic jump for access to level 3 spirals from the map's center. There are a few other strategic jumps in the map, placed......strategically.

I have already constructed a condensed version of this map. It lacks the exterior bases, and I think it would work better with the Forge Hub 2v2 Throwdown. Check out the floor plans below and let me know what you think about it and if you have any suggestions for making it a better map for the contest. I will most definitely be losing at least two of the DMRs due to the Forge Hub 2v2 Throwdown game type, but any other weapon suggestions would be welcome. The name for this map will most likely change from what is shown on the plans below.

Thanks for checking out Narrow Extent and thanks to those who checked the map out while I was creating it and offered helpful suggestions and feedback. I hope you all enjoy playing on it.