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[TF2]

UEAKCrashUEAKCrash hehRegistered User regular
edited March 2011 in Games and Technology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A5ezhGbTxs
tumblr_leij4vSi181qz8z2ro1_500.png

Like Mapping? Get involved with Hey You's awesome PA community map project (Like the Artpass Contest)

PMAvers compiled a small sample of artpass maps.

New to TF2?
Read the manual.

So, you want to play competitive TF2?
This guide will set up you up with the basics on how to get in on some quick 6v6 competitive play without having to commit to a clan, schedule, practice, etc. This is purely for 6v6 and not Highlander (9v9 with a class limit of 1 for each class) because I do not believe highlander has their own pug gather system yet.

PUG stands for Pick Up Group, which is what it sounds like; A group of players interested in playing a tight 6v6 game. The 'gather' system is a system built into the #tf2.pug IRC channel that automatically assembles players who've opted in into teams and provides a server with league rules to play on.

This is done through 2 programs:

-Mumble, for voice chat
-IRC, for the gather system.

Personally, I love getting in a few 6v6 matches here and there, especially when the PA servers are empty. It's active at all times of the day, and you'll be set against players of a wide range of skill, ranging from merely interested folk like maybe yourself, to ESEA and CEVO level players.

As well, I think the gather system is a great way for people who knock 6v6 or have the wrong impressions about it to try it out for themselves and see what people like myself mean when we described it as just another level of play.

IRC
Open up your preferred IRC client it, be it something like mibbit.com or mIRC.

You need to connect to the irc.gamesurge.net server, and go into channel #tf2.pug

There is also a #tf2.pug.na channel, but its regulars are a bit more advanced, most coming from the top place teams, so #tf2.pug is much more entry level, which is what you'll want if you're looking to get into 6v6. Being immediately put up against slardel when you're a scout isn't going to do much good for your skills or your love of the game.

Mumble
Mumble is a third party voice chat software similar to Ventrilo and is used for communicating with your teammates during the match. Every team, clan, what have you uses a third party voice chat program instead of the in-game voice because it allows you to communicate when you are dead in-game.

Mumble is preferred over Ventrilo because of its ease of use and it provides several nifty features like an in-game overlay and pop-up messages telling you who's coming and going.

Download Mumble Here

Once installed it just needs some basic set up, and will ask you to create a certificate. Just enter in a name and an email, and then save it on your Desktop or any other place you keep misc. files.

Once you have Mumble set up, you will want to hit 'Add New' and enter in the relevant information. The tf2pug mumble server is:

Voice server IP : mumble.tf2pug.org:64738
Password : tf2pug

You'll want to keep the user-name you use in mumble and the server the same as the one you use in-game and in the tf2pug IRC channel so you can be easily identified. You will also want to stay in the 'Root' channel until you are assigned a game. Each of the respective channels (Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta) are server locations and each have a Red and Blue channel which you'll use during the matches

It may ask you if you want to run Mumble in compatibility mode when entering the server, just say yes to that.

First thing you'll want to do is make sure your Mumble is set to 'Push to Talk' instead of 'Voice Activity'. If you have it set to 'Voice Activity', your mic will turn on whenever you say anything without having to press a button, which can be annoying for your teammates.

Just go to Configure > Settings
settiings.jpg

and under Audio Input changed the Transmit drop down box to Push to Talk. Hit Apply.
settings2.jpg

Then go to Shortcuts along the left side, and hit add. It will add a new field into the white box. Double click on the 'Unassigned' and change it to Push to Talk, then double click the blank field under shortcut and select what button you want to use with the voice activation.
settings3.jpg

And that's it!


***

Getting into a match
So now that that is all set up, you're ready to look for a game.

Once you enter the #tf2.pug channel, the first thing you typically do is type !players
playersn.jpg

This will show you everyone who is queued up to play and what as. Because this is basic 6v6, the class layout that is supported in the pug channel is:
2 Scouts
2 Soldiers
1 Demo
1 Medic

Once there are enough of the above for two teams, the game will start. To add yourself to the queue, just type !add [yourclass]
addm.jpg

I am now added to the match queue.

Now you simply wait. The queue will fill up with 12 players, and the following message will appear
38862784.jpg

It will then sort you into teams
teamso.jpg

You may sometimes get a message similar to this:
readyl.jpg

All you have to do is type !ready into the #tf2.pug channel and it will leave you in the match

Your final message will be:
22648206.jpg

This provides the ip and password of the server you will be playing on, but as well as the mumble room you will be using. In this instance, I will be using the Atlanta 1 room, under Red team. Connect to the ip, get on your assigned team, and wait for everyone else to get ready


The Game
So as we know, the standard class make up is as follows:
2 Scouts
2 Soldiers
1 Demo
1 Medic

Demo and medic are limited to 1 per team, and everything else is limited to 2, but you won't see much deviation from this. The most common change is one scout switching to sniper on maps like badlands, gravelpit, or well. Heavies and engies are rare but still appear when some last ditch defense is needed
on gravelpit or badlands, typically when you're down to your last point. Pyros and spies are sometimes used to try and kill the opposing team's medic quickly in a clutch play situation.

The maps you will be playing on mostly are:
cp_badlands
cp_granary
cp_follower
cp_well
cp_gravelpit
sometimes cp_yukon

These are the maps that have just been found to be the most balanced and enjoyable, offering some great back and forth play over the center and second to last points. cp_follower is a custom map that combines the spawn areas of granary with a middle area similar to badlands. It is very fun and worth having in your maps folder.

In terms of gameplay, no matter what class you are, conservation is the key. The only outright battles you'll be fighting are in the opening minutes on the middle point and in pushes (either uber, counter, or when opposing team's medic is down). With everything else, you should be holding back, building uber, sticking with teammates and trying to pick off a few members of the enemy team. Never try to engage alone unless you're a decent scout. Attempting to jump into a group of opposing players alone will only get you killed again and again.

Hit and run strategies are never frowned upon, and knowing when to fight and when to fall back is a key skill you'll need to learn quickly.

As well, the opening moments of the game, where each team are heading to the middle, are critical. You'll soon pick up on the paths each class takes for each map, but generally scouts and demos should arrive first, with soldiers and medic not far behind, with medic sitting at about 50-60% uber. As a soldier/demo, you really should only be walking the last few bits of the map towards the center, the rest should consist of rocket/sticky jumping. The medic will heal you as you go down.

The following are some general strategies and expectations from the standard classes:

Scout
-Typically, unless stated otherwise, the two scouts are supposed to act as 'roamers': They move away from the rest of the team and work in tandem to try and take out the enemy medic or pick off fleeing soldiers/demos.
-They also play a crucial role in the opening of the game, as they will, along with the demo, be the first people to get to the middle point, where they will engage the opposing scouts/demo for about ten to twenty seconds. Any kills or damage that can be done during this time is integral for your team's position post-mid-fight.
-Do not try to engage a combo (soldier + medic) alone
-Engage demo + medic combos, try to get into close and try to take out the medic or jump around him and peck off the medic if you can
-When all else fails, just kill the medic. You are expected to die much more than anyone else, but if you get this one job done, it is worth it in spades.

Soldier
-You and the other soldier are the blunt force of the team. You deal the damage, jump the jumps, and protect the medic.
-The soldiers are typically designated as pocket and roamer.
-Pocket soldier stays with the medic and protects him from everybody. He is not expected to go rocket jumping onto points or pushing the objective (unless the medic has an uber)
-The Roamer is exactly that, he has some leeway to rocket jump onto points and push without a medic, but typically, unless he wants to get screwed over, he will stay close to the pocket combo or the team demo
-Pockets should always use the normal rocket launcher and shotgun as it is the best to counter to scouts
-Roamers can use the DH if they're good but it's not expected.
-You should know how to rocket jump everywhere. This takes practice.
-Airshots are balla and will look nice in your frag videos

Demo
-You got to know the sticky jumps. For pretty much all the maps listed above, you must be able to sticky jump decently enough to get to the middle point at the same time the scouts would, or just behind them. This is particularly critical on badlands and granary, where a good few stickies set up at where the enemy team are coming out could decide who gets mid.
-You're a bigger damage dealer than the soldiers, and can fire more indirect. But you're all alone, so you dieing is kind of a big deal. Hang back and spam pipes into the middle point, and sticky up essential choke-points.
-This pretty much applies for both attack and defense.
-Stickying up choke-points is particularly essential when you're getting pushed back. A sticky trap on the gates on cp_well can practically turn the game to your favor.
-Personally not a big demo, so can't say much either way, but you have to be fairly competent in sticky usage and knowing when and where to fight, but also how to use your regular pipes to smack down scouts and soldiers

Medic
-You're the key to a lot of what goes on. Your uber and kritz are essential, and your death means your team is unsupported and will probably get pushed in on.
-That said, hang back. Stick with your pocket soldier at all times, don't try to advance ahead of him
-Scream ungodly sounds into the mic when being attacked
-Don't pull out your needlegun or saw unless you are completely and utterly alone and there is nowhere to run to. You will have people defending you, your job is to keep them up and to build the uber/kritz
-Jump a lot
-You can pop your uber if you're in trouble, no one will blame you, just stay alive.


That just about covers the basics of it.

GotFrag has a great page that goes a little more in depth not just into general strategy, but particular strategies for specific maps and such

Click here for GotFrag's Tips & Tricks section

Of particular interest should be Jaeger's general tips and tricks videos. There's only 5 so far, but they look at some specifics that are definitely worth knowing if you're looking to pursue this type of game-play a bit further

Tips & Tricks Volume 1 - Scout Energy Drink
- A few points about the Bonk, although the recent Valve fix made the first-person tip impossible :(
Tips & Tricks Volume 2 - Soldier Jumps on cp_gravelpit, point C
- Examples of how to quickly get up the C tower on cp_gravelpit out the left and ride side of spawn.
Tips & Tricks Volume 3 - Spamming Through Doors on cp_freight
- This is technically a glitch, and is not allowed by ESEA.
Tips & Tricks Volume 4 - Pre-firing Rockets
- Some safety tips for soldiers about spamming around corners.
Tips & Tricks Volume 5 - Medic Healing
- A little love for our healers as guest star creepin outlines the basic healing order, and why.


Now it's time for....


!!!PRO VIDEOS!!!


Post with any questions for clarifications.

Hey You's
TF2PRO.COM / TEAM ZISSOU SERVER Donate!
Come test custom PA made maps and mods for the PAMTU (Contact an admin to join).
Server IP: 208.167.242.188:27015
Password: wang

Job's
Hyperbolic Drama Chamber Donate!
Normal server with SourceMod.
Server IP: 216.155.146.69:27015
Password: wang

PMAvers'
House of Non-Conformity Donate!
Custom map server.
Server IP: 208.167.243.68:27015
Stats page
Download the Map Pack. 412 MB download.
Contents of the map pack (updated: March 2nd):
p_gullywash_imp3
cp_obscure_final
cp_redfort_b5
cp_science
ctf_landfall_rc
koth_moonshine_rc
pl_boundary_rc4
Extract to: Steam\steamapps\<your account>\team fortress 2\tf\maps
Public

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Want to chat about TF2 or other inane bullshit? Join the IRC channel!
irc.slashnet.org #paforums_tf2

UEAKCrash on
«13456761

Posts

  • Options
    citizen059citizen059 hello my name is citizen I'm from the InternetRegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    I love the smell of burning spies in the morning.
    I also love the smell of sandvich.

    Much fun had last night on a pub server. Playing gunslinger engineer, moving my mini-sentry around to support the other engineer, my teleporter racking up the points, and having an all around good time...then an uber heavy/medic combo rounds the corner, heading toward the other engineer's L3 sentry.

    I drop a mini sentry and throw myself in front of the heavy's gun, lasting just long enough for the uber to wear off and the combined sentries to kill them both, saving the other engineer and his gun who were just about to die.

    At which point the other engineer comes over voice chat and says "can someone else go engineer? this other engi is totally incompetent".

    HAHA YEAH THAT'S GREAT ungrateful bastard.

    So I went back to pyro, which is of course all happiness and flames.

    citizen059 on
  • Options
    IgortIgort Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Worst thread title.

    Really need to start playing with you guys more.

    Igort on
  • Options
    Pablo the PenguinPablo the Penguin Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    citizen059 wrote: »
    So I went back to pyro, which is of course all happiness and flames.
    Why would you ever leave?

    Pablo the Penguin on
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    citizen059citizen059 hello my name is citizen I'm from the InternetRegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    citizen059 wrote: »
    So I went back to pyro, which is of course all happiness and flames.
    Why would you ever leave?

    Sometimes I give up having the funniest fun that ever was to help the team where they need it.

    And sometimes I just like going completely insane as a Bonk/Fish scout, flying into their base and fish-slapping as many people as I can before they take me down even if it doesn't benefit my team at all. At least the other teams' faces all smell like fish now.

    citizen059 on
  • Options
    L|amaL|ama Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    gimme hats

    L|ama on
  • Options
    ShadowofVTShadowofVT Robot Overlord Boston, MARegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    That video in the op is just....just....I don't know.

    ShadowofVT on
  • Options
    devericdeveric MinneapolisRegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    I need to play more often, but I feel like I'm in a gaming funk still, don't really feel like playing much of anything.

    deveric on
  • Options
    Roland_tHTGRoland_tHTG Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    All that spying you do has sapped the fun out of games?

    Roland_tHTG on
  • Options
    citizen059citizen059 hello my name is citizen I'm from the InternetRegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    All that spying you do has sapped the fun out of games?

    I see what you did there.

    citizen059 on
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    DrakeDrake Edgelord Trash Below the ecliptic plane.Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    I have been playing this again. It has been a while.

    What the fuck is all of this stuff?

    Drake on
  • Options
    AdusAdus Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    hey guys

    guys



    butts

    Adus on
  • Options
    savooipeerdsavooipeerd Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    the heavy should get the rocket slide from vanquish

    savooipeerd on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Options
    tofutofu Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    This game is poo

    tofu on
  • Options
    RiokennRiokenn Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    *CONTINUING LAST THREADS DISCUSSION*

    So yeah after dropping 20 bucks on keys since the manncon update I think I am done on opening crates.

    As for 2-3 scrap metal for a crate....come to papa.....

    Riokenn on
    OmSUg.pngrs3ua.pngvVAdv.png
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    LorahaloLorahalo Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Keys must make one hell of a profit.

    Lorahalo on
    I have a podcast about Digimon called the Digital Moncast, on Audio Entropy.
  • Options
    MrDelishMrDelish Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    where is the flippy being burned image

    least good OP ever

    MrDelish on
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    UEAKCrashUEAKCrash heh Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    MrDelish wrote: »
    where is the flippy being burned image

    least good OP ever

    That's the one I was going to put, as per tradition, but our web server is all wonky right now. Plus I ran out of time before work to rehost it on photobucket.

    This will be done later on when I get out.

    To you I promise this.

    UEAKCrash on
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    devericdeveric MinneapolisRegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    All that spying you do has sapped the fun out of games?

    Think it was just too much gaming in general. Plus, this is the time of year for console gaming (read: AC:B/SWTFU2/GT5/RB3/etc etc)

    deveric on
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    .Tripwire..Tripwire. Firman Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Max's severed head just looks so good on the Medic.

    .Tripwire. on
    sigi_moe.pngsigi_deviantart.pngsigi_twitter.pngsigi_steam.pngsigi_tumblr.png
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    CorehealerCorehealer The Apothecary The softer edge of the universe.Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    .Tripwire. wrote: »
    Max's severed head just looks so good on the Medic.

    Limed for truth.

    Corehealer on
    488W936.png
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    ButtcleftButtcleft Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    i got 15/15 on the hat quiz

    i am so pro

    Buttcleft on
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    ebotasticebotastic Going Gonzo In People's HeartsRegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Replying to Mavers' post in the last thread.
    PMAvers wrote: »
    You could always make people spawn in a room with a giant freaking sign in it, telling them what to do, and to leave the spawn they have to bind +use to a button and push a button and it shoots them out of a cannon into the actual map.

    Or you could always just go "fuck it", and go all cpltf_bestlevelever and make people's heads explode.

    I mean, there is literally every game mode in there except TC, and TC really is just fancy CP's.

    I don't know how to create textures!!! :cry:

    But that does look like the best level ever. That map should be on HoNC.

    ebotastic on
    Please, call me ebo.
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    CommunistCowCommunistCow Abstract Metal ThingyRegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Crash you need to put [tf2] in the title :P
    We need consistency people!

    Ebo: The second map we played with the tug of war cart needs to have the spawns moved so you are pushing the cart towards the enemy spawn. So when you are losing you get the advantage of having the cart out your front door.

    CommunistCow on
    No, I am not really communist. Yes, it is weird that I use this name.
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    UEAKCrashUEAKCrash heh Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Crash you need to put [tf2] in the title :P
    We need consistency people!

    http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=129924
    :P

    UEAKCrash on
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    ebotasticebotastic Going Gonzo In People's HeartsRegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Crash you need to put [tf2] in the title :P
    We need consistency people!

    Ebo: The second map we played with the tug of war cart needs to have the spawns moved so you are pushing the cart towards the enemy spawn. So when you are losing you get the advantage of having the cart out your front door.

    You're referring to pl_kotow_gimme. I'll have to do it in a way that discourages spawn camping. I also need to open up the indoor parts a bit. I got a bit of conflicting feedback where the terminus for either side was both too hard to defend because it's so open and too easy to defend.

    ebotastic on
    Please, call me ebo.
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    davinciedavincie Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Poo pun?

    edit: noo my masuka avatar animation does not work

    davincie on
    20qx2bp.jpg
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    .Tripwire..Tripwire. Firman Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    As much as I've bought into the hat craze, I very much dislike painted and unusual hats. Non-default appearances just look so garish, which is maybe hypocritical of me to observe since that's the general purpose of hats messing with the default appearance of the classes anyways.

    But your yellow fedora with sprinkles coming out of it looks retarded.

    .Tripwire. on
    sigi_moe.pngsigi_deviantart.pngsigi_twitter.pngsigi_steam.pngsigi_tumblr.png
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    undeinPiratundeinPirat Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Adus wrote: »
    hey guys

    guys



    butts

    this is the most littleboots post

    edit: like if i tried hard enough i could probably find a littleboots post that is word for word this post

    post post psot

    undeinPirat on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] steam: undeinpirat
  • Options
    ebotasticebotastic Going Gonzo In People's HeartsRegistered User regular
    edited November 2010
    .Tripwire. wrote: »
    As much as I've bought into the hat craze, I very much dislike painted and unusual hats. Non-default appearances just look so garish, which is maybe hypocritical of me to observe since that's the general purpose of hats messing with the default appearance of the classes anyways.

    But your yellow fedora with sprinkles coming out of it looks fabulous!

    ebotastic on
    Please, call me ebo.
  • Options
    CorehealerCorehealer The Apothecary The softer edge of the universe.Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Adus wrote: »
    hey guys

    guys



    butts

    this is the most littleboots post

    edit: like if i tried hard enough i could probably find a littleboots post that is word for word this post

    post post psot

    Post-Grape-Nuts-Cereal-16_3DFEDB62.jpg

    Corehealer on
    488W936.png
  • Options
    UEAKCrashUEAKCrash heh Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    davincie wrote: »
    Poo pun?

    edit: noo my masuka avatar animation does not work

    fix it fix it fix it fix it fix it!

    You will be my favorite nerd if you get that avatar working.

    UEAKCrash on
  • Options
    That_GuyThat_Guy I don't wanna be that guy Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    I like posting in this thread so I can find it next time.

    That_Guy on
  • Options
    UEAKCrashUEAKCrash heh Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    That_Guy wrote: »
    Blue dot.

    UEAKCrash on
  • Options
    ButtcleftButtcleft Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    You are gonna get our TF2 thread privileges taken away again!

    We should instead bitch about shortstop scouts and how they are, unlike Heavy, worth bitching about

    Buttcleft on
  • Options
    UEAKCrashUEAKCrash heh Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Current annoyance is OP.

    UEAKCrash on
  • Options
    .Tripwire..Tripwire. Firman Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Anything anti-scout is always a valid complaint.

    .Tripwire. on
    sigi_moe.pngsigi_deviantart.pngsigi_twitter.pngsigi_steam.pngsigi_tumblr.png
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    KupiKupi Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Okay, so, I am campaigning to get hats I like in pink. This requires hats I like, and pink paint, and more specifically hats I like when they are pink. After perusing the wiki's list of painted hat images, I found that I prefer hats which either change subtly with color or are hair. To that end, I have the capacity to offer either of the following:

    Mining Light
    Vintage Backbiter's Billycock
    (neither colored)

    For any of the following:

    Soldier's Stash
    Demoman's Fro
    Glengarry Bonnet
    Hound Dog
    Tough Guy's Toque
    Magistrate's Mullet

    I would prefer to trade Vintage items for Vintage items.

    We now return you to your regularly scheduled bickering over which gameplay elements are least balanced.

    EDIT: I suppose there is a spreadsheet for it, but who uses that thing anyhow

    Kupi on
    My favorite musical instrument is the air-raid siren.
  • Options
    Pablo the PenguinPablo the Penguin Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    This is too good to be true, it must be shopped..... but it's still AWESOME
    halolz-dot-com-teamfortress2-irl-demoman.jpg
    Also, sorry if this has been posted before.

    Pablo the Penguin on
  • Options
    DeMoNDeMoN twitch.tv/toxic_cizzle Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    Its cool it's only as old as the game is.

    DeMoN on
    Steam id : Toxic Cizzle
    *TyCart*_banner.jpg
  • Options
    PMAversPMAvers Registered User regular
    edited November 2010
    ebotastic wrote: »
    Replying to Mavers' post in the last thread.
    PMAvers wrote: »
    You could always make people spawn in a room with a giant freaking sign in it, telling them what to do, and to leave the spawn they have to bind +use to a button and push a button and it shoots them out of a cannon into the actual map.

    Or you could always just go "fuck it", and go all cpltf_bestlevelever and make people's heads explode.

    I mean, there is literally every game mode in there except TC, and TC really is just fancy CP's.

    I don't know how to create textures!!! :cry:

    But that does look like the best level ever. That map should be on HoNC.

    I actually have it uploaded, it's just not in the normal rotations. Figure I'd bust it out for "special" occasions (like, for instance, there's actually people on).

    ...granted, now that I've mentioned it, Ginger will probably change the map to it every other round. <_<

    PMAvers on
    persona4celestia.jpg
    COME FORTH, AMATERASU! - Switch Friend Code SW-5465-2458-5696 - Twitch
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