51 replies to this topic

[TLBFestus]

Hands down the worst map remake PGI has done.

Whomever was primarily responsible for this one, "Sorry, but it sucks">

[M T]

Yeah, nascar hasnt been fixed, same old crap. just more blocky and rocky.

Im not particularly fond of the new map, might has well bring the old one back.

[TheArisen]

New caustic is okay, I liked the old one better though.
I think it'd have been better to use that time & effort to have just made a new map.

[FuzzyNova]

Mister D, on 20 October 2015 - 06:07 PM, said:

New Caustic plays like an uglier and even more cramped version of Terra Therma.

The terrain is just so frustrating, I feel like I'm fighting it more than the enemy most times with as often as I get stuck on random jaggy rocks and ramps.

Yes!!! This is spot on!

[Chados]

I actually like the new Caustic Valley in the daytime. At night, not so much-night vision isn't real fun to play. But the day map, I like very much, the visibility issues cut down on sniping and force brawling, and in capture games I've been in several knock-down drag-out slugging matches around the refinery where one of the bases spawns. Good times.

[Mazzyplz]

i am doing far better in the new caustic and i find out you can finally stay entirely away from the middle - it encourages new tactics

the visibility is pretty bad most of the time though, i could do without that - and it looks like therma a lot

[MischiefSC]

Water Bear, on 21 October 2015 - 07:15 AM, said:

I don't understand all the complaints.

Is it possible that when they redesigned Caustic they had certain design goals in mind that perhaps you who hate the new version aren't considering?

The taller rocks provide better cover for LRMs and provide more LOS blocking (the number 2 complaint about the map). The broken terrain, which is harder to navigate, and the wider rim impede or at least slow down Nascar strategies (the number 1 complaint about the map). Almost every other feature of the map is basically the same as it was before, it's just more of a neon-yellow color now.

What exactly is your complaint about the current map that the old one did better, now that we have those design goals in mind?

It's slowed my NASCAR lap time. Too much clutter, sometimes when running fast and turning to the left I can't see around a corner before I run into someone. It's a safety hazard.

[sycocys]

MischiefSC, on 21 October 2015 - 06:52 PM, said:

It's slowed my NASCAR lap time. Too much clutter, sometimes when running fast and turning to the left I can't see around a corner before I run into someone. It's a safety hazard.

They just need to put up some caution signs then. Problem solved.

[KrazedOmega]

Water Bear, on 21 October 2015 - 07:15 AM, said:

I don't understand all the complaints.

Is it possible that when they redesigned Caustic they had certain design goals in mind that perhaps you who hate the new version aren't considering?

The taller rocks provide better cover for LRMs and provide more LOS blocking (the number 2 complaint about the map). The broken terrain, which is harder to navigate, and the wider rim impede or at least slow down Nascar strategies (the number 1 complaint about the map). Almost every other feature of the map is basically the same as it was before, it's just more of a neon-yellow color now.

What exactly is your complaint about the current map that the old one did better, now that we have those design goals in mind?

1. Horrible visibility with all the fog/smoke/dust. I know it's there to block LOS of your opponent but it just makes it frustrating. How about some clear maps with cover instead of fogpocalypse.

2. Bad coloring that makes everything blend together especially at night.

3. Too much cover that makes it unnecessarily difficult to maneuver. I rarely had issues with LRMs on old Caustic. Maybe one out of ten games I'd be LRM'd to death. Remove a quarter or even half of the rocks and there would still be more than enough cover.

4. NASCAR still happens, just lower down at the base of the caldera now.

Bottom line is I'm tired of getting stuck on stuff and tired of squinting to see the enemy, and every new map is turning into the same thing.

Edit: I just though of a way to fix half of the issues with the map. Have it set to day only, no night.

Edited by KrazedOmega, 21 October 2015 - 07:47 PM.

[crashlogic]

For me its not so much that the new caustic is bad, its just that it has a completely different play feel than the old map. The new River city and Forest colony basically play the same as the older maps, that is they had lots of cover and promoted close-to medium range fights. The old caustic, Nasca idiocy aside, was an open map that favored long range fights. There was a lot of open ground that needed to be crossed, and that map approaching the crater difficult. The new one really does feel like terra therma. My point is, different maps should reward different kinds of mech builds. Otherwise game play never changes across the maps.
The new caustic is an example of a map designer in love with what they can do, without thinking about how the added cover affects play.
And yes, the day/night cylce is also pretty stupid for the same reason. As it was we effectively had two different maps. River city night was dark, it forced you into night vision or thermal mode. That was the uniqueness of it. Now we have continual twilight, and all we can do is wait for our mechs to sparkle and rename red and blue teams to Jacob and Edward.

For me its not so much that the new caustic is bad, its just that it has a completely different play feel than the old map. The new River city and Forest colony basically play the same as the older maps, that is they had lots of cover and promoted close-to medium range fights. The old caustic, Nasca idiocy aside, was an open map that favored long range fights. There was a lot of open ground that needed to be crossed, and that map approaching the crater difficult. The new one really does feel like terra therma. My point is, different maps should reward different kinds of mech builds. Otherwise game play never changes across the maps.
The new caustic is an example of a map designer in love with what they can do, without thinking about how the added cover affects play.
And yes, the day/night cylce is also pretty stupid for the same reason. As it was we effectively had two different maps. River city night was dark, it forced you into night vision or thermal mode. That was the uniqueness of it. Now we have continual twilight, and all we can do is wait for our mechs to sparkle and rename red and blue teams to Jacob and Edward.

[Summon3r]

agree OP, though ill never in a million years understand why on earth PGI would decide to completely remove map from the game. i mean more options and diversity is terrible right

[Joseph Mallan]

Funkin Disher, on 20 October 2015 - 07:04 PM, said:

Worst part is the visibility. PGI goes out of its way to make these awesome, big new maps then covers them in this film that makes me think my monitor has died a little.

It is a polluted environment much like Pittsburgh once was!