Chaotic Dreams

Some of you may remember the alternate node layouts we had available to us in UT2004. It was neat, because it allowed for variety of play options on the same map. Well, Xyx has shown how to create custom node layouts for Warfare maps, and has released a pack of 'TwoPath' node layouts for some stock maps to get things rolling.

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=589277

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=594706&

To see if this works, I have already added a TwoPaths node layout option onto the Chaos server. But this is done by adding an INI file - Not a new map. So there is no new Torlan for you to download. But there Is a new Torlan to pick from in the map voting. It's called Torlan TwoPaths.

For folks who plan on playing a lot of Warfare, having this kind of variety available is a wonderful thing. And on some maps... it's even possible to come up with new layouts that are better than what we have now.

And if you'll read his tutorial, you'll see that we now have many more options than simply reconnecting the dots. Like no-orb versions..., or changing around Necris/Axon vehicles... and so on.

Here are examples of Torlan mini-maps to show you what I mean - keep in mind... these are how the nodes look right when the game starts (sometimes nodes are already 'captured' at start of game):

These are in the game already:

Torlan



Torlan Classic



Torlan Short



Torlan Double Prime



Torlan Necris (same node layout as Torlan Short, but with Necris vehicles/theme)



And this next one is the new custom layout

Torlan TwoPaths



So as you can see, there's only one map, but many different ways to play it. And there could be more, the TwoPaths layout is one option. And of course this can be done to all Warfare maps, not just Torlan.

So if you end up playing a lot of Warfare, and want to see different node layouts - there is a way.

Well, issues.

For now it seems that Torlan is the only one I can get to show up correctly in the vote menu list. Well, not 'correctly', but close. At least you can tell which one you are voting for.

With the other custom node layouts, they are showing up in the list with the exact same name as the original. So they work, you just can't tell which one you're voting for. It looks like

Avalanche
Avalanche

So for now, I guess we'll hold off on this idea. Until we can figure out how to get them listed correctly - or until Epic fixes whatever is causing this. Which is a bummer too, cause custom layouts bring a lot of variety.

I figured out the map vote issues. So there are now several stock maps on our server that have a 'TwoPaths' custom node layout to vote for if you want. Thanks again to Xyx for making them.

Turns out if you have the INI files for custom node layouts in your local Config folder, and on the server, the names show up just as duplicates, and you can't tell which ones your voting for. But if you don't install the INI files on your machine, just have them on the server, then they show up with a label that identifies them.

As I mentioned before, for now at least, custom node layouts will appear like this in the map voting menu:

Powersurge?LinkSetup=TwoPaths

And again, the TwoPaths layouts is just an example of what we have now. Hopefully we'll see more neat ones in the future as well. Variety is nice.

And if anyone is interested in creating more INI files with custom node layouts that they'd like to play on our server, just go ahead and create them, then post a pic of the mini-map here for us to see, and the INI file. If it's cool, maybe we'll use it.

Remember, the neat part about this is that you get to play the same map in a new way, but without being required to download a new copy of the map. Neat stuff.