Open tuffstuffmuffy opened 1 week ago
CaptainGame17
commented
1 week ago misc could probably use the special delivery art so the arena art (the current misc art) can be used for player destruction
and as for VSH, perhaps an edit of this jungle inferno promo art could be used
edit: made a mockup of how VSH could look
condor00fr
commented
2 days ago Here's another change, instead of shoving the alternade gamemode category bellow the main core gamemode category, why not put both side by side instead? Thus allowing people to actually know the alternade modes actually exist cause right now If I start to ramble about Mannpower in a casual match people are gonna look at me like I just smoked the finest weed ever. This is unfortunate because Mannpower is pretty fun.
Now that we are seeing more community-made maps and game modes in the year-round casual map pool, I think it's time TF2 gets some new game mode categories. Some people find the staggering amount of maps in the casual rotation to be off putting and worrisome for the future of TF2, but I believe we should still account for what we have there instead of throwing any new game modes into the dreaded "miscellaneous" category.
The misc category is often referred to as the place maps go to die. Taking one look at the existing map pool easily shows why, as player numbers across all misc category maps are significantly lower than other, non-alternative game mode categories. Having one tab for jumbled groups of map types is frustrating to work with when trying to play very specific modes that can only be found there. Nobody is queueing for a game mode like VSH and hoping they get thrown into a Medieval Mode server afterwards. Not only is the current category frustrating to work with, but it can also be incredibly confusing without indication as to how each map plays and what game mode it falls under, especially for newer players who are exploring an already overwhelmingly large map pool; The only map to have a proper label as to what game mode it is, is Nucleus VSH, simply because it is an adaptation of an already existing map. Even if we ignore the very off-putting nature of the misc category, it is the third closest game mode category to the bottom of the list, only beat by Mannpower and Pass Time. As we had seen from the adjustment of 2Fort Invasion's placement to be removed from the misc category and instead paired with other Capture the Flag maps as of July of 2024, the map's player count has significantly increased and is almost on par with 2Fort's player count, simply because it was readily accessible to anybody viewing the casual map pool, and wasn't tucked away in the most confusing category in the game.
As of writing this, placed within the misc category are 12 different maps:
For the most part, yes, these maps can be considered miscellaneous.
...and, to my knowledge, despite being an Attack/Defend map, Snowplow is only placed within this category as it was deemed, by Valve, "too confusing and challenging for new players", according to its wiki page. I suppose I can understand that, as the map's gimmick is unlike traditional maps under the same game mode.
But these are just 3 of the 12 maps shoehorned into this category.
Medieval Mode
Medieval Mode was added to the game in December of 2010 with the introduction of DeGroot Keep. For about 13 years, this map was one-of-a-kind, this changing with the addition of Sandcastle in October of 2023, followed by the first non-event restricted alternative Medieval Mode map, Burghausen, in July of 2024, meaning that there are now two Medieval Mode maps that can be played year-round. We can presume that, with the addition of two new maps using this gameplay format two years in a row after almost 13 years without any alternatives, we will likely be seeing more Medieval Mode maps added in future updates. While I understand that the total amount of Medieval Mode maps playable year-round is still not enough to work in a standalone category given how the map vote functions, adding a unique Medieval Mode category in the Alternative Game Modes map pool could be something to consider in the future. As it stands right now, this is the only one of the non-one-of-a-kind misc game modes I understand not having a unique category, even if I think this should change given the opportunity to do so.
Player Destruction
Player Destruction is a game mode introduced with the release of Watergate in October of 2015. This was followed up by maps like Pit of Death, Cursed Cove, and SnowVille, all of which being locked behind limited time event categories. We didn't see the addition of a non-holiday PD map until the addition of Selbyen in July of 2023, and, over a year later, we have seen the addition of Atom Smash, with both of these being added to the misc category alongside Watergate, totaling 3 PD maps in the misc category. This number will likely grow in the future as we have seen a new PD map every seasonal update following Summer 2023. I believe that Player Destruction is most deserving out of all game modes in the misc category to have its own category outside of the alternative game modes tab considering its assumed growth in the future, but as it stands, I believe it at least deserves a standalone category regardless of whether it's considered a "core" or "alternative" game mode. Out of all of the non-standalone maps, it is the least to be considered a "spin-off" game mode, keeping in line with TF2's gameplay loop.
Versus Saxton Hale
Versus Saxton Hale is a community game mode that was introduced with the release of Distillery, Nucleus VSH, Skirmish, and Tiny Rock in July of 2023. As of writing this, the only additional map to be officially added to the VSH map pool is the holiday-restricted Outburst. This totals to 4 VSH maps in the year-round casual pool, all of which placed into the misc category. Offering, arguably, some of the most non-traditional TF2 gameplay, often being described as a "spin-off" game mode, and being launched with 4 maps at once, I would argue that VSH has deserved its own game mode category since its release. The game mode on day one released with more maps than Pass Time has as of writing this, and just as many as Mannpower and Payload Race had at the time of the game mode's release.
Somewhat related Payload Race tangent...
I don't know where else to put this, but I believe that Payload Race deserves to be put in the same core game modes category as modes like PL, CtF, and whatnot. PLR is, functionally, just PL but for both teams at once. There is nothing about this that screams "alternative" to me. Do people treat maps like Hightower and Banana Bay as DM playgrounds? Absolutely. But this is certainly no different than how CtF is handled, with its multi-hour long matches. I believe that the alternative game modes category should be dedicated to modes that stray too far from TF2's base gameplay formula, modes that could be considered spin-offs of the base game (Think of modes like Versus Saxton Hale and Zombie Infection). While I do not think this is the most vital change ever, I believe simply just moving it up to the core game modes category and replacing its former placement with VSH and PD (Even if I believe PD should be considered a core game mode), possibly allowing ZI to be playable year-round with its own category as well, then the existing map pool, as large as it would be, would be far easier to understand, and would encourage workshop creators to create more maps for these differing categories without the fear of it being locked away in the misc category of doom.
Quick mockup image based on proposed ideas
In Conclusion
As of writing this, TF2 has the ability to release a game mode category for both Versus Saxton Hale and Player Destruction without issue, with potential for a Medieval Mode category and adjustments to the Payload Race category made. VSH and PD have three or more maps, meaning that the current map voting system that casual relies on would function without any problems, and we can expect to see more maps under all of these game modes in the future. This would potentially require new artwork, yes, but if we ignore that, it is entirely within Valve's ability to create a handful of new map categories to easen up the load that is the misc category without much issue. On top of this, we have also seen the addition and recent expansion of Zombie Infection, totaling 6 maps as of Scream Fortress 2024, and the introduction of a standalone Tug of War game mode with the addition of Dynamite. It is clear that Valve will continue to add community made game modes to TF2 in the coming years, and, while I understand these are currently exclusive to the Scream Fortress event, I believe it is in their best interest to provide a much more accessible way to play any game modes they deem fit for the year-round casual experience.