[SP] Anthill

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jot
5 Posts
Posted May 25, 2012
My first map, tell me what you think!
Lasers are the key!

Click here to download [PTI] Anthill

Click here to download [PTI] Anthill

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Shakky
228 Posts
Posted May 25, 2012
Replied 3 hours later
I've been playing it for a while but I'm very confused. What drops the ball from top? There is no symbol and no indicator lights going to it. And I'm sure you can't get further without the ball.

What's wrong?

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sicklebrick
876 Posts
Posted May 25, 2012
Replied 13 minutes later
Lol, yeah.. I ended up noclipping to find the button that drops the ball being behind an area that you need the ball to get to. (I.e. for the funnel!)
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Shakky
228 Posts
Posted May 25, 2012
Replied 1 minutes later
I did too but that button doesn't actually drop the ball. It just closes the star panel. This makes no sence to me.
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sicklebrick
876 Posts
Posted May 25, 2012
Replied 11 minutes later
Heheh, I bet we missed something super simples
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jot
5 Posts
Posted May 25, 2012
Replied 1 hour later
More "cones" you activate with laser more doors will be opened. 2 cones for having the ball, but which of the four?
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jot
5 Posts
Posted May 25, 2012
Replied 21 minutes later
Solution:

1: click the button hidden in one for the four hole with the deadly liquid. This will open the manhole in the center of the room.

2: bring the ball activating 2 cones (at the left and the right of the entrance), and put the ball in sphere button at the end of the hole in the center of the room (for the funnel).
3: come back up and activate the others 2 cones remaning then go inside the hole, now you can access the secret room.
4: click the button in the secret room and run to the point where there is the timer and jump in the hole before time expires.

5: the funnel (if you activate it with the ball or you will die in the acid, if you didn't put the ball on his button don't jump. Use the funnel at the right of the button to go up.) will bring you to a small "labyrinth" with the final button at the end.

6: press it and go up, now you have 2 cubes for the lasers. Activate all the cones and you can go out.

7: activate 3 cones with a cube and one with the other, this is the only way.

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sicklebrick
876 Posts
Posted May 25, 2012
Replied 29 minutes later
Haha, sneaky. I've never been a huge fan of the indicator lights, but since they're there, I think it would be better if every symbol actually pointed at something. I did try lighting up a few lights together, but there are so many combinations, and no reason to be looking at the manhole cover in the middle - which fizzles the ball if you're not watching anyway.
That aside, pretty cool puzzle; and it was nice to see one with lots of corridors that was nicely lit.
Cheers
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Shakky
228 Posts
Posted May 25, 2012
Replied 2 minutes later
Well that was confusing. I don't really enjoy bashing maps but I'm sorry but I feel I must do it. To say it nicely I didn't really like it.

Following will include my honest opinion of the map. Please don't be offended.
First of all I wouldn't say this is even close to medium/hard. The puzzle itself is really nonexistant. Hiding the first button was wierd and pretty pointless and at first I thought I got trapped down there because I couldn't see the portal surface. 4 laser arrays with different symbols can be pretty confusing but my biggest problem with the map was that you didn't use indicator lights to indicate how to trigger the ball dropper. Atleast I can't find any kind of indication and I didn't even try the arrays because everything else was nicely marked. After I finally found out how to get the sprehe the puzzle was really easy. There just isn't anything more than walking from one place to another. You don't even need the angled surface to get to square hall because you can easily just drop down there yourself. I don't see the point of the timed button either because you can just walk and make it on time. After walking through long curvy glass hallway we can get to the end of the puzzle. Last part with two cubes was pretty much only thing that can be considered as a puzzle.Odd start and end. It looks like its a part of a bigger map but if it isn't just add some elevators. Only thing I was completely fine with was the look of the map. Everything look nice and clean and apart from few lighting issues it was good.

For the future:
-Take all useless test elements and signs out. For example the triangle sign on the floor, X sign on the panel and the / sign right next to the button were completely pointless. I also didn't understand why did you add the start panel. I get that it blocks the ball from respawning but it just confused me because I thought that you would have to press a star button to drop the cube.
-Indicate what is important. You don't have to sign everything but it would be nice to know what do you have to do to get a sphere that is essential to the puzzle.
-Cut the pointless walking from point a to point b. Plan puzzles in advance. Try different ideas and see what is interesting.

There is alot of room for improvement and I'm sorry to say but right now I ain't much of a fan.
I can't give it more than 2/5.

Edit. I'm sorry if I sound harsh but don't worry. Atleast sicklebrick seemed to like it.

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jot
5 Posts
Posted May 25, 2012
Replied 13 minutes later
No problem! I am not offended. =)
Thanks for the tips Shakky!
I did this map with the workshop editor and not with hammer so I can't control the light and the symbols. I don't know how to eliminate the signs I don't want. =(
The start panel is, as you say only for the respaning of the ball but you are right it is confusing.

All the honest opinion are well accepted. =)
Thank you all!

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quatrus
1,047 Posts
Posted May 25, 2012
Replied 1 hour later
Well, I managed to get the ball and got down to the button in the lower level - getting back up was not obvious - there is a portalable surface but finding it was just shooting around - not the best idea...
I feel the pain of the other players, there is little direction or logic to getting around, you find things and then activate them - never sure that you have found them all. I solved the lasers kind of accidentally (had 2 cubes), typical for me and laser puzzles.
I got stuck once when I took the ball down the center shaft with the ~ sticking out and of course the ball got stuck (had 2 noclip it back up although I could have respawned it - too lazy).
Still, it is a decent map, just think about guidance and the puzzle in you next one. Look forward to it. Thanks for mapping.
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KennKong
942 Posts
Posted May 30, 2012
Replied 4 days later

A good puzzle map that illustrates the difficulty of creating complexity in PTI. This would have been much better if you had finished it off in Hammer. Could have been a 4, is as playable as a 2, so I give it a 3.

  1. Add a light panel by the "secret" button to illuminate the exit panel.
  2. Change the download link to the external one to the Workshop, and change the map title from [SP] to [PTI]
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jot
5 Posts
Posted Jun 01, 2012
Replied 1 day later
Thanks KennKong for the comment.
I added a light panel near the secret button and added [PTI] in the map's name and other little stuff, now you can see better how the map works.

I need help I don't know how to move this map on the right forum [PTI]