Thanks to Irate's tutorial on giving players filterable names (which helped kickstart the whole process I have been doing), I have been working on a test map for altering player aspects. The current list is 3 subclasses.

Strong
400 health
75% speed
50% jump

Fast
25 health
200% speed
Normal Jump

Light
75 health
normal speed
400% jump (when jumping speed jumps to 4x until landing)

Tests with the classes has been enjoyable and I'm actively developing it as much as I can. Yeah it's kind of a dumb project with limited potential uses, but I'm a sucker for seeing what I can get away with in a limited environment.

I've run into an issue though, I have been trying to figure out how to set a players alpha, as a "Stealth" class might be a neat addition to the 3 already provided. I am capable of setting a players color (or at least a mask over the player skin, not sure how it works, all I know is that I can color players), but can't seem to make them transparent. I have tried "renderamt" which seems to do nothing. Not sure what else to shoot for.

Also I'm pretty sure altering the player is something that hasn't been worked on much, if at all until recently, so I have no idea what you actually can or can not do to a player, especially if it has to be consistent to all players. Any other player classes would be neat, but I might be stuck to just the 3.

In the end once this project reaches it's limitational end, I'll release any notes I have and so anyone can use them if they so wish. It's not great for serious maps, but fun arena style maps it can be a neat addition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkn0htk5yUU

There's a video showing the 3 classes in action. Kinda neat I think. Been getting good responses in an orange server, which I know attracts a different crowd, but hey someone likes it. I think I did a decent job balancing everything, and usually you'll have all 3 subclasses represented about equally.

It's on an orange map left over from another map I did. I'll be making a cheesy factory map and then see about making more depending on how that goes.

As a note, the fast class has an error, they have 40 health as opposed to 25.

How are you getting them to choose classes? Just a door to walk through for each one? Sounds quite cool. Though would be more appropriate in HL2:DM or something. You would get a lot more attention in a deathmatch mod..

Yeah, there's a not so glamorous subclass selection area where you initially spawn.

I might actually check out HLDM might not be a bad idea. I don't know much about it though. I like the more goal orientated interactions that DoD has. Worth checking out though, thanks for the idea.

Respect - as you said, the practical use might be limited, but I'm certain there can be map designs that could bring those fast, light and strong classes to use.

Interesting ideas like those keep us mappers going :).

Cheers,

Albatros