After weeks of learning how to map and several more weeks of mapping this one, I finally have something to show for all my effort!

The map was originally an effort to deviate from the tight, small maps that we're used to seeing yet still being revelant to DoD's style of gameplay, leaning toward rifle based combat yet still being fairly generous to the other classes assuming they adapt well to the cover made available to them. Finding a way to make this happen and prevent an all out sniper/mg dominated map has been the most challenging part of the process, but I believe that overall it's pretty fair for all classes assuming you play your cards right. Anothing thing I felt the need to explore was a different sort of theme with weather, so I've made this map take place during a thunderstorm. :)

I could ramble on about this and that for a while but I'd prefer to let the map speak for itself. It's my first map, and despite my strive for perfection I find that there will be things here and there that may need to be addressed, so I'm looking forward to some good feedback from you all.

Screenshots here (some very minor changes have been added since these were taken):

The bridge over the creek (http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/4834/dodharvest00222dk.jpg)
The wheelhouse (http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/118/dodharvest00247dw.jpg)
The chateau (http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/3876/dodharvest00252yb.jpg)
The barn and the stables (http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/6848/dodharvest00264ie.jpg)
barn (interior) (http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7493/dodharvest00279xk.jpg)

You can download the map here:

http://www.dod-federation.com/luc/dod_harvest_b1.rar - (thank you very much CoolHand and the DoD Federation!)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LEB70LBX

:( I'm afraid I should have it hosted on more sites, and at the moment I'm looking into getting it hosted on my clan's website, but if anyone else has a suggestion or is willing to host, I'd be incredibly grateful for it.

looks very good, but ill just wait for another host, megaupload sux, its gives me like 10 porn popups. and its really slow.

Check out the DoD:Federation for hosting. They'll hook you up and get this map into the hands of even more custom map-loving servers, without the pop-up issue.

Ok I just contacted them on their site so we'll see about that.

Looks great, how many spawn points does this map have?


I have already uploaded this map to our 32 player server and will run it as soon as I know ;)

It has 16 each, so it's very much compatible with 32 player servers :)

:D


Got this map booked in for approx 10:30 pm tonight then :P



195.20.109.87:27015 Band-Of-Beavers -64bit [DoD:Source]


UK server, 32 players, everyone welcome ;)

No way I will waste my time to get a file from there. Got much better thing to do. PM me and I will give you a e-mail to upload the file to me and will install it on a better host. Also DOD-Federation give free webspace to mapper so they stop using those horrible free host. ;)

CHL

http://www.dod-federation.com/luc/dod_harvest_b1.rar

Get the downloading going :)

I'll edit the original post for the sake of convenience. Thanks a ton!

Download (http://www.sunlitgames.net/dods_mapgallery.php#H) a dod_harvest_b1 self installer .
A very nice looking effort
Playing on SunLit Futurama this evening

I agree, it's a very nice map, ok comp, Here's another link for ya.


Download mirror: http://landofozz.net/pafiledb/pafiledb.php?action=download&id=318



THANKS!!

I really enjoyed this map. Great first effort! In our cycle, too.

Great Map!!!

Added to our Servers & DODCC Site..

http://www.oneworldsyndicate.com/owsdownloads/index.php?act=view&id=124

kick butt map

Great map! Thanks alot! ;)

Very good map, had a blast playing this last night, and it was very evenly balanced for both Allies and Axis:)

It's a big map, 6flags, but it's a great one ! Very good ideas (secrets paths). Very good work ! Thx :)

Is well played and received on our server, with the only complaint being that there is no overview. Players find some of the flags hard to find due to the great open play on the map.

Thanks everyone for the compliments/suggestions/constructive criticism! I'm eager to let it saturate and gather a little more imput from the community before I begin on beta 2... that and I have a lot of exams/finals in these next few weeks so there's a bit much on my plate to focus on mapping... :o

However, this is what you can look forward to for the beta 2 version:

-Optimization (some people are reporting good framerates but on lower end rigs it's a killer, especially on crowded servers). Thanks to the help of otF yetihw, I've been directed to some of the most likely solutions to my performance woes, but due to the open nature of the map it may be a bit of a struggle.
-A Map Overview. This was a half victory when I first attempted it but somehow I managed to mess up the alignment of the coordinate system with the targa file... my biggest regret with the map was not releasing it with a minimap in the first place. You can expect to see a working version in the next one.
-Miscellaneous... I've been told that the map is balanced for both teams, but in my experiences it's equally difficult for one team to cap out the other... an easy fix is to implement a point system, something I generally overlook personally but something other people use to gauge which team is winning in that respect. After releasing the map I'm highly reluctant to do any major layout changes, but I'm definitely interested in the possibility of expanding the tunnel system underground... the one that's there is somewhat gimmicky in my opinion. If it's fleshed out better I feel it can add a bit more depth to the map and help breakup the long round times.

YAY!! Adding mirror...

Hey ok comp
Nice to see you on the servers. Harvest has been well received and is a lot of fun :D
One observation:
the road on ally's left flank past the tank and at the start of the stone wall (http://www.sunlitgames.net/images/dod_harvest_b1_fps.jpg) . Fps drops from 80+ to 33. Movement stutters greater than would be expected with 33 fps as well.
Thats an unusual drop for specs
AMD Athlon 64 - 3400+
OCZ 1 GB DDR 400
BFG GeF 6800 Ultra OC (256 MB RAM)
Enermax 550Watt P/S
Can anything be done about this area?
Looking forward to your planned update
Cheers

That drop in framerate can be attributed primarily to poor level design on my part. That whole bend between the bridge and the stone wall to the farm gets hit hard because from that point of view there is a large amount of map being rendered. Thanks for bringing this to my attention because it was something that was bothering me earlier myself and I'd since forgotten about it... that would probably be the only other candidate for actual change in level design, because if it's hitting you hard with specs like that, it's most likely hitting everyone hard.

Yea, the middle of the map (length of the river on either side of the stonewall) is dropping people's framerates a lot. I go from about 75-50 to about 20, and I've heard other people going as low as 9.

Nice secret passage by the way.

We have been playing this map a lot but there is one problem/bug/exploit. The axis are able to get on the wall just to the right of the building straight ahead as you exit the allies spawn. A skilled sniper can easily cause a LOT of havoc and its really an unfair advantage. If you need to know the specifics we have a series of Screenies that show how to do it.

Any word on the next update with some FPS improvements hopefully? This is an awesome map otherwise =D

Yeah I'm having trouble visualizing what spot we're talking about... screens would be awesome.

I did a bit of updating a few weeks back but got caught up in exams and moving back from school and all that... things are starting to cool off though so I should have some time to update the map soon.

Ok here are the two ways you can go. Both same wall, but using the different sides of the bush.

http://charliemaurice.com/misc/pics/dod_harvest_b10002.jpg
http://charliemaurice.com/misc/pics/dod_harvest_b10003.jpg
http://charliemaurice.com/misc/pics/dod_harvest_b10004.jpg
http://charliemaurice.com/misc/pics/dod_harvest_b10005.jpg
http://charliemaurice.com/misc/pics/dod_harvest_b10006.jpg
http://charliemaurice.com/misc/pics/dod_harvest_b10007.jpg
http://charliemaurice.com/misc/pics/dod_harvest_b10008.jpg
http://charliemaurice.com/misc/pics/dod_harvest_b10009.jpg

Ohh... THAT bush. Yeah that's an easy fix. Thanks for bringing that to my attention!

Great map - we have it on all our servers, in autovote !

Looks very atmospheric, the barn etc kinda reminds me of that paratrooper map in America's Army.

:)

it's a pity that this map isn't played very often anymore. though it has some fps issues this is one of THE best dods maps out there imho.

a few days ago i played on a server which then changed to dod_harvest and it was such a blast.

though i don't believe we can expect any updated version i really would like to play it again sometime.

I play it constantly on the server I play on, fun map.

yes, it is a wonderful map...certainly has that ambiance...its a shame the maker doesnt step forward and optimize it....if the fps problems were fixed, it would be a great map

I agree, it is a good map, BUT, trooperc7, making a map means a lot of time, for free, optimising is a long thing too, so you can't say that's a shame.

I love it, higher fps or not.

FNF just cut a ton of maps out of our vote list, but Harvest remains. We don't play it as often as we used to, but still twice a week probably. Good fun.

i think the performance problem is a blemish on what is a near perfect map.

i think the performance problem is a blemish on what is a near perfect map.

To True
We at www.victoryineurope.net tournment wont play this map for the last 4 campaigns because of the low fps problems.

Just wanted to say that it was through the replies in this topic (both the praise and criticisms) that pushed me to return to mapping and complete this map. Thanks again, guys... I mean it. The new version should be coming along soon.

If you need help with the optim, feel free to ask :)