Awesometown!
Created by Ladnil

Recommended Gametypes: All Competitive Gametypes, All MLG Gametypes
Recommended Players: 6-8

Ladnil will tell you that any successful map starts with 'One Big Idea,' a common term often applied to many creative applications, but with map designs it can be loosely described as the basic gameplay principle that the creator is aiming for with their design. With Awesometown!, Ladnil's One Big Idea was to recapture that opening Sniper duel which characterised maps like Narrows and The Pit, an experience which he has nailed perfectly. What sets maps like The Pit, Narrows, and now Awesometown! apart from other maps with opening Sniper duels (such as the somewhat unwelcome changes made to the Sanctuary design in Asylum) is ensuring that the position of this key weapon facilitates the initial battle without becoming overbearing for the opening paths taken by other players. Though don't be fooled in to thinking that Ladnil's latest creation is a one trick pony focused solely around this initial power weapon rush, the diversity it offers for in depth team play extends its similarity to one of the examples given above: The Pit.

Those of you with a keen memory may recall one of the first MLG maps I ever featured back in the days of Halo 3, Omni by Baron. A re-imagination of The Pit, Omni attempted to combat the main design issue with this Halo 3 classic: it's central wall which often left gameplay stagnant, especially in high level Slayer games. By making this central space playable, offering access from one end of the map to the other, Baron ensured that the middle ground served not only to divide the two sides but also offered a valuable control point in itself, pulling gameplay out of the bases to speed things up a little. With Awesometown!, Ladnil takes this principle a few steps further. Many of the key elements from designs like The Pit are left in tact; there is no sweeping, open line of sight between the two initial spawns, green side offers a semi-enclosed side path holding Rockets, and of course the opposing Snipers also remain. However, The Pit's central wall and Omni's middle canyon are replaced with a fully fledged arena housing an Active Camo, and turning this central divide in to a full area in its own right maintains the sense of separation without encouraging an element of stagnation when things get tense. Ladnil's drastic rethink of this design principle utilisises the premise of a central divide to actually increase and diversify the playspace rather than simply divide and restrict it.

We recommend Awesometown! for MLG CTF and Assault gametypes in particular, and whilst Slayer games will seem a little slower at first, as players become more familiar with the map they will become more aware of exactly how to utilise a more aggressive, coordinated approach and just how beneficial it can prove to be.

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