I think its needs a small team to be done properly since there are quite some tasks involved. 1) Search for new maps 2) Download and testdrive them 3) When approved they need to be bzipped, uploaded to the download and game server 4) Creating a custom maps vote/cycle and keeping an eye during the evening. So... volunteers?
finding maps can be done by the comunity so maybe make a public topic about custom mpas that people like and like khad said... volunteers?
Yeah but what do you mean when you're talking "Funday"? Disabled stats, fun plugins like a 1500 gravity etc?
I tried when i was in my italian community, to build up a custom map server, but it didn't take off. I can suggest some maps that were really good in my opinion. Cp_frost b6 Cp_Follower Cp_obscure Cp_glacier Cp_no mercy ( left 4 dead hospital map) Pl_waste Pl_swiftwater plr_nightfall b1 koth_persiab4 koth_dryway b3 koth_moonshine Ctf_aerospace b4 Ctf_deliverance This was the mapcycle of the server, i could be avaliable to take care of some things if u want,just let me know what do you need ^___^
After a long time of server emptying, pl_swiftwater appears to be an accepted map on the LZ servers. Perhaps we can do the same now with a new custom map?
I still generally leave when Swift comes on I really like waste - a tug of war PL map, but only regulars stay on and play it, which is really disappointing as i can imagine it be awesomesauce with a full server.
Well, i will never understand why the people quit for a custom map, often they don't even know the map so much. From the standard map i really hate dustbowl,hodoo,goldrush,steel. This because usually those are maps with a lot of spam, very few way to attack the points and often the game last a lot between the last point and the ways to attack it. But these maps seems to be very appreciated by a lot of people that play tf2. Now, i really consider a bunch of the map i nominated as very good,fun, balanced and interesting. Yeah, some of those got some defects (like dryway that is so large or moonshine that is a bit small)but the people usually just quit on custom maps and this really disappoint me. :/
Since most customs aren't balanced and you have to download the map. The stock maps are usually quality controlled so you know what you get and you don't have to wait. If you want to add another map to the cycle I would choose a map that's used by some TF2 league since those are balanced most of the time.
I can understand your reasons but, "you have to download the map", yeah okay, but you download the map once, not all the time you join a server with that map, i don't think it's an hard thing to do, wait for a download. And btw, i don't think most of the map i wrote in my last post, are so balanced, most in my opinion give advantage to the defending team.
I don't mind waiting for a download, it's only 5-10 secs in my case anyway. But those are the top 2 reasons most people dislike customs.
I think it's best to focus on 1 or 2 good custom maps that have had some attention already. perhaps coldfront and waste or something. Put them in vote more often and let them get played more often. This will make the map accepted if everything goes right, and it solves the goldwater problem
what about cp_glacier? it's a great map in my opinion, gravelpit style for the one that doesn't know it. Coldfront is not a custom map anymore, and i think (althought i played in the LZ for a short time) is already quite appreciated. I like waste too btw.
coldfront is loosing a lot of his fans, same as steel. in the beginning people wouldn't get enough and now they are complaining that it's a stupid map. we have cp_furnace (gravelpit style) and it's a decent map we also have cp_mainline (5cp) this is a former swamp theme map and now more of a dusty industry like map both play well but when you have players that know the map (or just know how to play 5cp maps) it's easy to steamroll i think the main reason is that people are just to lazy to realy get to know the map. now most maps are pretty balanced when they hit the RC status.