Autumn Grove

[Sir Shazmanoid]

http://i.imgur.com/a4Y8n.jpg
Download Autumn Grove (http://www.bungie.net/stats/reach/filedetails.aspx?fid=10950576&player=DIRT+JOCKEY) | View Original Thread (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12368)

Basic InformationCreator(s): DIRT JOCKEY
Category: Conventional
Canvas: Forge World
Size: Medium
Recommended Party Size: 4-12
Overview
Hello and welcome to another weekly feature here at XForgery! This week, we're showcasing Autumn Grove by DIRT JOCKEY. Often times when a lot of hard work is put into a map by a competent forger, it truly shows in the final product. There's no better example of how hard work can pay off then in a map like Autumn Grove. It turns out that DIRT JOCKEY was actually forced to make Autumn Grove twice! After working a long time to make the original version, he had started the testing process of the map when he was the victim of a Forge error that caused him to lose all of his map data. But rather then giving up, DIRT JOCKEY decided to remake the map. Since he already knew exactly what he was building, he was able to spend all of his time thinking about how he could improve the map. By the time he had finished making the map for the second time, he had made significant improvements to the overall design and layout. Losing all of his progress on this map seemed like a terrible disappointment at first, however with the ability to rebuild and rethink the map as a whole, he was able to turn a good map... into a great map.

Autumn Grove is a medium sized asymmetrical conventional map. The layout of the map is comprised almost entirely out of rocks, grass, and trees, both natural and forge-made. Because of this, Autumn Grove is one of the only maps you'll play on where you really feel as though you're out in the wilderness. This gives the map a very peaceful, tranquil like feeling. Which is quite the contradiction considering how action packed this map truly is. At first glance, it's easy to be drawn to Autumn Grove. The map as a whole is beautiful, and there's aesthetic pieces strewn all about. You'll be raving about the map even more once you figure out the aesthetics go as far as a campfire that actually kills you when stood directly upon, and a waterfall that really can use it's powerful water flow to suck you into a watery grave. However what you'll really be surprised about, is that Autumn Grove truly is an insanely fun map to play on! It's layout seems to make it be best suited for Slayer games, which is good if you want to play in a big party; making for an action-packed fast-paced free for all, or even if you just want something to do when you're bored with a few friends. However if you're looking for a more competitive game, Autumn Grove also supports games like Team Slayer, Capture the Flag, Oddball, and more! I also find that games like Team SWAT can be incredibly fun on this map as well.

The intriguing design of Autumn Grove adds a whole new spin on competitive play. It's rather difficult to pinpoint exactly where each team's 'bases' are, and there's no real preferred high-traffic areas on the map. Because of this interesting design you may be a bit worried about falling victim to some poor spawns, but for the most part because of all the large rocks, trees, hills, and small caves scattered throughout the map, there's not as many open lines of sight as you might think. This not only allows for usually safe spawning, but also makes the map seem a lot less 'open' then it really is. Needless to say, Autumn Grove provides a very unique gameplay experience that no other map I've played on thus far in Reach has matched. It's truly astounding how a map with such an unusual concept can hold its own in both competitive and casual play. Don't forget to download, and enjoy the pictures.

Pictures
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/6217/96702912.png

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/4396/37706439.png

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/1907/30156529.png

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9516/overheadlayout.png

In Closing...
In case you missed it, here's the download link to the map again:

Download Autumn Grove (http://www.bungie.net/Stats/Reach/FileDetails.aspx?fid=10950576&player=DIRT%20JOCKEY)

Thank you for reading, that concludes this weeks feature. Don't forget to nominate (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1000) and vote (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2000) for your favorite maps to keep this process going. Oh, and if you have any suggestions about how we can improve these threads, post them here (http://www.xforgery.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4532).
:flyingzero:

[Cerity Insighed]

Needs more metal 2/5

But really Dirt, this map is very, very impressive. Everything looks amazing, and each area gets all the flow it needs. Congrats, broski.

[cory21]

I might be one of the few people who think this, but the gameplay felt kind of underwhelming. The pictures make it look really good and creative, but once I got a game going, the gameplay just felt... random. And the aesthetics lost their luster real fast, since its generally the same throughout the map with the exception of a few decorative parts and lights.

However, it does have some strong parts, like the spawning. A layer never really managed to spawn kill, or even get above a killing spree, since there was always someone there to challenge him.

'grats on the feature though, you should be proud.

[Tim]

I had a gut feeling this map would get an instantaneous feature the moment you posted it here. Very interesting to look at and it plays well. This map has really gone a long way from the first version that ended up being corrupt, but as Shaz stated, that made the map even better when you redid it. For all the people that want to make a natural map on Reach, this should be the first reference they look to.

Congrats on the feature. This was well deserved.

[Alzarahn]

I remember playing through this once with a group of about 8, FFA Slayer, and it was pretty fun. I passed on my usual Sprint and AR combo for Jetpack and Magnum, which seemed to work better on this map. Also, it was much easier to finish other people's fights than to start my own... Vulture tactics. If you can get a high vantage point and a DMR, you can also get some kills that way, but not nearly as many... People will see you, hide, then attack.

[DIEabolical]

I would have to say that the sprint worked best for me, in fact this map is the only one i have ever beat SOG grim on , HA HAXD

[Joseph]

I FOUND THE SWORD!!!!!!!

[Son of Scot]

I just played this today with prod and friends, I gotta say that it works well for a FFA slayer. This is just my opinion but I had a great time playing this, not perfect but i'd give it a 4/5. Just sayin :D

[Scobra]

I might be one of the few people who think this, but the gameplay felt kind of underwhelming. The pictures make it look really good and creative, but once I got a game going, the gameplay just felt... random. And the aesthetics lost their luster real fast, since its generally the same throughout the map with the exception of a few decorative parts and lights.

You're not alone. I really feel like this wasn't worth a feature from a gameplay standpoint. In terms of aesthetics and originality, sure but the way the map plays out is really lackluster. It's not terrible but just very average compared to other maps I've played in Reach. The fact that navigating the map felt like a chore at times because of the lack of any differing aesthetic pieces or geometry aside from rocks didn't help either. I understand it goes with the theme but it just ended bogging down the gameplay in the end.

I also got a lot of framerate issues near the edges of the map, which is a huge issue for me because it hurts my eyes the same way it hurts my balls when being twisted with a monkey wrench and punched by Hulk Hands™ but that's only my opinion which is fact because I am perfect.