DM-Reliquiary
Map Info
	File Name dm-reliquiary.zip Author EvilVey Gametype UT2k3 Deathmatch Date Added 12-20-2002 File Version 1.00 File Size 3.74 mb Player Count 6-10 Map Description DM-Reliquiary is my take on the 'old school' maps of UT with UT2K3 technology and takes place in part of a haunted monestary. Parts of this map are modeled after the burial crypt of a medevial monestary in England, and then I took some artistic licence to get some z-axis action. I tried to keep the atmosphere creepy while at the same time trying to make a good original map that can contain many close quarter skirmishes comfortably. Includes new sounds, a few new stained glass textures and a hidden area. Review Rating 3.5 User Rating 7 Overall Rating 4.5
Review
Reviewer Twrecks Awe Score:  1.5/3 Date 12-26-2002 Build Score:  1.5/3 Review Schema Cast Score:  1.0/3 User Point:  +1 Overall Score:  4.5/10 A Dark and gloomy with a medieval flare, the tight confines will make you work to save your own jewels or become a relic in this modest monestary. The chanting monk sound file does contribute to the ambiance along with the chosen music track. The water in the lower reaches needed some triggered splashing soundFX to be more convincing. The real death blow here will be the lighting, even when presented with obvious sourcing (like the custom candle mesh) the author fails us. What we are left with is a garish map whose potential is still not realized. Well zoned and pathed, Geometry is mainly BSP non-deintersected subtract-a-brush decorated with thematically correct meshes. No movers are present, not that this map would benifit from them, a few particle effects add some atmosphere. A custom texture package contains many of the the stained glass windows used in the map. The delapitated interior is compised of interlocking rooms and connecting corridors, what is known typically as C-R-C style mapping. A tip: Because BSP geometry nolonger occludes, use of anti-portals would have helped the FPS by hiding the extra mesh triangles and so would using the invisibility brush on non-visible terrain. Luckily the zoning clips the BSP toll and FPS remain decent through out. A deathmatch map having very little z-axis and clostraphobic architecture. Item placement is average with cluster goups of a weapon with its accompying ammo. An attempt to place the choice pick-ups out of the way was made, but becasue of the R-C-R flow no real risk incentive is achieved and most items easily gathered as you frag from room to room. The author recommends 6-10 players, with 16 player starts and enough inventory to go around could support a larger player load. After a few rounds, I found 6 or less better suited to the cat and mouse combat mode this map promotes. Not the best of gothic levels, DM-Reliquiary falls short of besting UT maps of the similar air. Perhaps what is needed is a Shane's Church static mesh set to relaunch UT2003 into 1337 A.D. hmm?
Map Comments
GrouseRouse 12-22-2002 02:11 PM MST Rating: 9   Damn nice creation here. A little dark, just turn up yer brightness. Nice AI. The more bots, the better. Excellent use of all the UT2003 has to offer for mapbuilders. Imported textures, sounds and atmosphere make for a map you can lose yourself in. Plays very well on my machine. No lag. I await more from this guy. Burner 12-22-2002 03:39 PM MST Rating: 8   Nice use of the theme on the architecture and the sounds, they really give the map more atmosphere. I would liked to have seen a more open area somewhere in the map, all those corridors and close quarters fights make the lightening gun tricky to use and the flak cannon and rocket launcher a liability. SirTahngarth 12-28-2002 01:22 PM MST Rating: 5   Mostly i agree with the review, but i think it should have scored somewhat higher. Kee-Runch!!! 12-29-2002 02:42 PM MST Rating: 5   I really enjoy this map...the ambient sounds were simply great! Gameplay is pretty fun too, IMHO. Good job!