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Ben's small bible of realistic multiplayer leveldesign
by Benjamin Bauer
"an article describing how
to make a multiplayer level
from scratch to the end for a realistic setting"
go to 'page 8 of the article "Ben's small bible of realistic multiplayer leveldesign"
Navigation/ Orientation in the Levels - Introduction
I think it's nothing new for level designers that they have great concepts for a really complex and cool map but as soon as they release it, nobody is playing it on the servers. Especially big maps are simply too large and misleading. Of course, the designer knows the map inside out but people playing it the first time get lost, are frustrated and will never give the map the chance it might deserve. Not without a reason, small levels with very simple design are often the most successful ones. This is the reason why it is very important to give the player a lot of guidance and landmarks which helps them to orientate. Of course, if the game you create the level for supports big open fields, maps in his HUD, or compass with waypoints, it's less important. But even here you should never neglect adding navigation spots and to split the level into recognizable parts. Never forget that, if the player gets lost in your map the first time, it doesn't matter how great your gameplay ideas are because he will never experience it and will switch the map/server in frustration. Orientation and navigation are very important for the success of your map, I can tell you this from my own personal experience.
Navigation/ Orientation in the Levels - Eye Catcher/ Special Areas
As I have already mentioned above, one of the best
ways to help the player orientate in more complex levels are special eye-catchers
or special areas which the player will remember. If you remember the last
examples for the BOMB and CTF modes, I split the level into different,
very unique parts which gives the player the first basic understanding
of where he is. As soon as he knows that he is around the harbor area
and not in the backyard he might remember what to do if he comes here
again. Especially for team communication, it's a great help. After a few
minutes or rounds, there will be a simple pattern of different areas in
the mind of the player and he will start to use this for tactics and he
can choose his route with purpose. For example, he knows that the harbor
area is more medium and long range but after it there are the warehouses
which will lead directly to the mission objective. He knows it is short
range and CQB so he should be careful and take the right equipment. If
the whole map looks very similar, it doesn't really matter if the designers
have placed a few more rockets here and a few more plants there. For the
first impression of the player, everything will look the same and the
map will become uninteresting or at least frustrating. Light settings,
architecture, vegetation, styles, textures, furniture, visual range, and
sound should vary as much as possible in your map but should also be consistent
in the different areas! On the other hand, don't make it too extreme because
if the player has to remember too many different areas or styles it becomes
confusing and the result would be the same if everything looked the same.
There have to be just a few easily memorable and very distinguishable
landmarks.
This is the first step for the player to get a very rough understanding.
It is similar to your strategic planning, but now the player needs help
to orientate himself in more detail. In the end, it doesn't really matters
if the player knows he is on the beach or in the jungle if he doesn't
know where to go. What is the right direction or where might the enemy
come from? Now you should add some special objects or elements which help
the player to navigate in detail. For example; the player runs into a
house and around some corners and as soon as he comes out he already lost
orientation. If he then sees a nice looking red car at the right side
and cool graffiti on the wall on the left side, he might remember. The
next time he might choose the left side because the way passing the red
car only leads back around the house. Of course, this only works if you
only have one nice looking red car and one such special graffiti in your
level. Other objects can show the direction: if the blue player runs out
of the jungle on the beach and he sees a boat wreck he might remember
that the nose of the sailboat leads to the red base and he had better
use the other direction. Such small clues and unique elements can be extremely
helpful. Things which the player can already see from a long distance
or things that are visible the whole time are even better. A big crane
which is visible and always points in the same direction, a skybox with
a sunrise on the right side, or a big tower with several bright lights
in the middle of the maps are other examples. At least at every cross
or on every big area you should have such elements.
Navigation/ Orientation in the Levels - Overview/ Understanding of the Level
Such hints mentioned above might help the player
remember the map quicker but the very first time he still doesn't know
exactly where to go. That's why overview and quick understanding of the
map is even more important. Try to think about that when you make your
strategy plans.
First of all, when the player starts he should already spawn in the right
direction so he only has to go straight. Around the spawn points the layout
should be quite simple and absolutely not complex! Really try to strongly
guide the player in the first seconds or let the player see several exits/entrances
which he can choose from but then no more cross-routes before he comes
to the first battle areas. A good, recognizable part of the level at the
beginning without any conflict with the gameplay also helps a lot.
The main routes should be very obvious. If you play the map for the first
time, the chance that you first follow the bright bigger hallway is much
higher then if you choose the darker, smaller alternative route into the
battle area. At the beginning, the player should be guided by easily recognizable
routes and, as soon as he knows the map a bit better, he will start to
try the other ways and with the elements in the previous topic he will
quickly be able to connect the different ways. This is the reason why
you should split your levels with urban settings in battle areas and have
connections between them. The player will go into the area and the only
exits are easily visible. Logically, a level with just a mass of small
rooms and hallways is much harder to learn than a well structured one.
go to 'page 10 of the article "Ben's small bible of realistic multiplayer leveldesign"
