47 replies to this topic

[martian]

1. The size and the shape of the map stays the same as with the Terra Therma Classic.




2. The periphery of the map is more or less unchanged.




3. The central area of the map has been completely flattened.

As you can see, there is absolutely no cover here.




4. The diameter of the central area is 800-900 metres, i.e. the optimal range of ER large lasers, ER PPCs and Gauss Rifles.




5A. The old "ground level" (Terra Therma Classic) used by brawlers to move under the enemy team and launch surprise attacks ...



5B. .... has been completely erased.




6. You can also visit some high ledges above the playing area with convenient ramps allowing for some easy access even for assault 'Mechs.




I do not understand one thing:

Some time ago PGI reworked the Caustic Valley map and removed the central caldera. The reworked Caustic was left with a large empty central space. The gameplay consisted mostly of sniping across the central area. Surely many of you remember it - ECM snipers camping around the edge of the map. Many players were disappointed with this map.

Eventually, PGI relented and added some cover in the central area, so the reworked Caustic sucks less now, even though it is far from optimal.

So why do we have another reworked map with the empty central area that is devoid of any cover?

What do you think about this reworked Terra Therma Crucible map?

Edited by martian, 22 November 2022 - 11:47 AM.

[Meep Meep]

Plenty of cover as long as you don't go center which of course is going to be impossible for domination or the theta capture area. Fast flankers will be the main tactic to get behind the caldera snipers just like it used to be. Basically this is going to be a nascar map by default as no one is going to be dumb enough to go center. All they needed to do was leave a few central pillars after removing the roof and it would have been fine. Well they do have a new map maker hired so lets see if they re-re-redo it.

[Tarteso]

Another BS rework meeting the "how this game is meant to be played" idea of someone, while they refuse to re-release the real classic maps. I'll skip this crap anytime it gets voted

[Blood Rose]

Great. As if sniping builds needed any more pandering too.

[1Exitar1]

Long range weapons are REQUIRED on this map! I generally play short range mechs. Just played my first bout on the map and it was a sniper fest! Cover? Only if you're on the slope of a hill or standing behind one of the pillars circling the center. No matter where I went, I was getting sniped from one direction or another and only got within range a few times before I was destroyed.

I didn't like the map before and now I HATE it! I, personally, would almost be tempted to quit the match if it were on this map, I hate it that much and this is before the LRM players get on it!

I appreciate the work you have done, but will vote against it every single time it comes up.

[TheCaptainJZ]

I thought the first reworked version was better than classic, but needed refined. The two floor idea I liked. It was too large across though. Needed to be about 25% smaller diameter above and below. And not as high of an elevation change between the two floors so the ramps are smaller and smoother. Ideally want to smooth out the chokepoints to improve movement and add more, smaller cover, along routes.

[VeeOt Dragon]

got to play the revised version yesterday (Domination) and it relieved a glaring flaw in that the cap circle is smaller than the central area so for any mech to hold it they have to be pretty much in the open. this is a bad idea.

even as a more mid-long range player i find myself not liking the latest revision. i enjoyed the two floors and with holes in the upper lvl you could still fire down at those beneath. it actually worked well gave some dynamics to the map. i enjoy a map that makes all play styles viable, from long range sniping to LRM to close range Brawl. the reworked "Classic" actually did that. now it is definitely a snipe fest map.

so yeah the revision gets a big thumbs down and a fat wet Raspberry from this old Mech Jockey.

(i mean i still don't hate it as much as i hate Solaris but its edging closer)

Edited by VeeOt Dragon, 23 November 2022 - 05:33 AM.

[Cherge]

Oh cool, I can see it already

1) Make a map that is a lava covered Dover Speedway
2) Everyone in game yell at team not to NASCAR
3) Only options are to NASCAR, counter NASCAR, or spend 8 minutes running around dead zones of the map

[LordNothing]

i dont know why they felt the need to redo it like this. i would have settled for some fixes to the hitboxes. especially in the floor of the basement. and perhaps poked a few more holes in the ceiling. maybe more cover in the basement as well as some central ramps to the top. pretty much the old caldera but bigger. i like maps that offer approaches for all play styles. camp above brawl below. i don't get the need to make it camp exclusive.

Edited by LordNothing, 23 November 2022 - 07:02 AM.

[Scout Derek]

Remove the center at this point, place a giant impassible mountain in the center. Done.

Getting tired of maps that require the focus to be the center of the entire place. Maps like Grim and Rube do a well enough job to not have the center be the main focus of the map.

[martian]

Ding Toast is Ready, on 23 November 2022 - 08:40 AM, said:

The previous iteration was flawed as hell, but could have been salvaged and riffed on to be better. This rework is not an improvement from what I have seen thus far. It's possible my opinion will improve as I figure out or observe good plays and counterplays but removing the aspect (however flawed in implementation) I liked about it, the opportunity for more vertical play and movement opportunities for brawly or even midrange stuff is not a positive change overall.

In my opinion, simply adding some cover on the upper level of Terra Therma Classic would have done wonders. Unfortunately, that map is gone now.

[feeWAIVER]

VeeOt Dragon, on 23 November 2022 - 05:33 AM, said:

got to play the revised version yesterday (Domination) and it relieved a glaring flaw in that the cap circle is smaller than the central area so for any mech to hold it they have to be pretty much in the open. this is a bad idea.

I wonder if this is intended, and that's why they named it Crucible.

[RickySpanish]

Scout Derek, on 23 November 2022 - 07:39 AM, said:

Remove the center at this point, place a giant impassible mountain in the center. Done.

Getting tired of maps that require the focus to be the center of the entire place. Maps like Grim and Rube do a well enough job to not have the center be the main focus of the map.

Absolutely agree, so many maps have hugely interesting areas near their periphary that absolutely never see any use because fighting always moves to and then revolves around some central landmark. Rubellite is my favourite map precisely because there are several areas where fights can occur in QP.

[Vonbach]

The terra therma rework is literally the worst map I've ever played. Its got all sorts of little ankle traps to slow you down a wide and a open sniper field in the center. Its dark and hard to see with almost no cover and for some stupid reason the domination
circle is inside the stonehenge with no cover at all. It's simply bad.

[RockmachinE]

No one wants to vote for it, I still didn't get to play it!

[Meep Meep]

Well that is the definite plus of our pre drop map picks. If a map really is doody no one will vote for it.

[RockmachinE]

Lets hope so.

[Meep Meep]

Mechanically its a fairly simple fix. Copy paste in some rocks and pillars in the center and other than the traps and pits most of the issue with the caldera is fixed.

[PocketYoda]

I don't vote for anything but city maps anyway so it doesn't really bother me.. I might play it a few times when some Lurmer has 11x...

[chaosshade2638]

PGI, when we say we hate a map, that doesn't mean "change it to make it worse"