Is the starting view for dod maps (like how charlie starts off looking down along the beachline, or jagd looks at the church, or kalt looks at the house infront of the hill) used by info_player_start? because when I use it, my map still starts off at the center point. Is there something else I must use instead?

Info_player_observer.
Tweak the angles to make it look in the direction you want.