Insights Here you'll find our resident map maker, and all around server monger, Wedge. From time to time, he'll be providing you with his own unique perspective on a variety of areas, dealing with the gaming community. He'll also be bringing you behind the scenes looks at the latest custom maps in development, and sharing some pictures of them right here! Just scroll on down to the lower part of the page to see what it's all about. If you've got a beef, a comment, or maybe just some good times to share, feel free to e-mail him, or make a post in his discussion forum.

Views From the wEDGE

by Wedge

The Sniper!|December 27, 1999

You gotta love the sniper… but then, you really gotta hate ‘em, too.

I still remember one of my first experiences in a semi-organized match on 2fort4. My brother and I were assaulting across the bridge (me a medic, him a soldier), when this heavy stepped out of the door and started raining bullets in our direction. He was concentrating on my bro, so I thought I’d go for the quick infection before we were both dead meat. When a red dot appeared on his forehead and suddenly the air was filled with giblets… awww yeah! You gotta love them snipers.

Of course, then there’s public play. Where half of any given team is filled with snipers who don’t communicate and simply sit around looking through their scopes trying to get the slim pickings created by 6 snipers in the loft. This is one of those things that made me stop playing on public servers.

Nothing irritates me more than joining the losing team (lower cap score) but when I come out of the base for the first time I see 7 red dots scanning over the enemy fortress…all killers, no cappers… /disconnect.

Some maps are very well designed for snipers. But when too many get in the game, it tends to get boring.  Hunted-style maps are another story, however. A way for us non-sniper players to compete on an equal footing against the sniper lovers of the world. Alas, if only communications between players on the bodyguards was better… It’s a real kick at a LAN party, but then, the snipers are way more accurate at a LAN party.

Then there are sniper-only maps... What a crock! I’ve never seen a bigger waste of a mappers time. Imagine taking a team game and limiting it to one tiny aspect of the game. Talk about twisted and perverted! We hates ‘em… hates ‘em forever!

A good sniper is great to have on your team. Several good snipers who talk? That’s awesome. 6 mediocre snipers that sit around drinking beer and plunking headlights? This is why I have my own server and never play common maps (like Valve maps) as it cuts down on this type of game play tremendously.

Snipers! You gotta love or hate them. I really don’t think there’s an in-between. What do you think?

This is the second in a series of editorials about each class in TFC.  The opinions expressed here are my opinion alone. I didn’t consult with anyone when I wrote this.  I hope you disagree or have an opinion yourself, that’s what it’s all about.  Post your responses in the Views from the WEDGE forum.

Wedge

The Author has been active in the Team Fortress community for 2 years now.  He released his first TF map to the public in November of 1997, and has been a server administrator for QWTF and Linux TFC almost that entire time. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of The Team Fortress Collective or Planet Fortress.  But then, they should rethink their positions anyway.

Looking for Older Editorials? Find them here.

Sneak-a-Peek

Here's where selected screenshots from maps in development, or games that may tweak your future gaming interest will be shown. Just little windows into the future...

Deep!	Deep!	Deep!
Its dark down in the lower connecting room.....help..mummy.!	Your Gonna need to raise this shield before you can grab that key.	Heres a handy drop chute - into the enemy base.
Deep!
This is where the chute takes you..

Game: Team-Fortress Classic
Author: [WTF?]Un_ethical
Status: On Hold. Locating Build Errors and putting in finishing touches.
Release Date: Probably Early September
Download: Not Available Yet.
Reviews: None
Description: My first attempt at a TFC map.....using the CTF theme with key usage to unlock the flags. Main Gameplay is held underground.

Looking for Older Pics? They're stored here.

If you've got a map in development that you'd like to tease us all with, send your screenshots here.
All other Team Fortress related screenies can also be sent to us.