New Skins For Old Maps?

Maps have always been one of the biggest complaints throughout the forums, and for an obvious reason... They all look the same! I'd like to humbly suggest a few alternatives to the current mission map designs:

1.
a) Nemesis Steampunk-skinned maps for other tech-based maps. The Prussian Prince of Automatons never struck me as being all that into the same Technology as Crey and the Sky Raiders are into. Give us some more clunky-looking bases (lots of spare parts laying around), with a brass coloration to it, and preferably a very 'bolted' look to everything.

b) Sky Raiders 'Dread Tech' maps. I use the term 'Dread Tech' to describe the 'dark side of techno'... half-dismantled robots lingering around, most things in a state of disrepair, and everything looking slightly dilapidated. As much as the Sky Raiders seem to act like a military organization, I think these maps would better suit them.

c) Vahzilok Mortuary-skinned maps for the early-on Vahz missions. Dr. Vahzilok would eventually have his henchmen caught in the act, so why not have something similar to Malaise's mission, but with lots of 'mysterious red fluids' splattered on the floors and walls? Perhaps abominations and cadavers laying around, even minions cut in half and sorta crawling/wailing their upper torsos about? That... Might be a bit much.

2. Map Redesigns
a) More realistic office maps. I don't know who designed these buildings, but had I been the proprietor, I would've slapped the architect with the heaviest objects I could find. Every last office looks like it was designed to fit several semi-trucks running through it, and while I can understand that it's meant for large teams, a massive lobby filled with absolutely NOTHING just looks silly... And unproductive.

b) More open maps. Give some open missions a THEME! I absolutely loved the destroyed version of Atlas Park and the occasional bought in Cap Au Diable during the Rikti arc, but I'd like to see a few more... Give Devouring Earth some time in the sun with some special 'devouring foliage' with lots of vines and a menacing look about them. Give the Hydra an erroding forest, considering they spit acid everywhere they go. There's a lot of room for expansion.

c) Make maps fit the mission. I realize that we work with a massive stockpile of maps that are generated for the missions, but I think that sometimes we just need maps that fit the situation; if you're supposed to be defending a museum, it makes sense to go to a building with things to defend, rather than peoples' charts, so we can all see how much better Karen is doing than Jeff in sales.

That's about all I've got, but this is still (obviously) open for suggestion, and disagreement. Had I had any artistic talent, I'd offer to draw up some skins, myself.

i agree, Op,while i have been surprised by some different maps lately, id love to see more variety.
how about an old BoB Kane,Dick Sprague(sp) museum map with a conservatory and giant typewritter?

I like it.

More skins available for already existing maps would be awesome.

I cite Lou's Garage as an example. It is much the same as a lot of the warehouse maps, but the different stuff in it makes it feel different. The map at the end of the Freaklympics arc is another one. It has all kinds of stuff laying around and looks like a different location, but it's still a warehouse map when you strip it all away.

More map skins would go a long way toward making the missions feel like they have more variety. Even if it's the exact same layout, if it feels different it's not quite so repetetive feeling.

I am hoping that they redo all the instanced maps since that's where we spend most of our time.

It'd be nice if they re-added the chop-shop maps to the Newspaper mission pool. They're perfect for villainside, but are incredibly rare, if not unavailable now.

/Signed
And simply get rid of the likes of the 'mine-shaft' tunnel/cave maps. Tight spaces are NOT fun, except in some cases solo.

And please tweak Oranbega so the paths are not so obnoxious to find.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

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Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

New skins would be a great way to spruce things up even if they maintained the same layouts.

I would like to give a way belated /signing on this, especially with Praetoria being slatted for EACH OF IT'S INSTANCED MISSION MAPS TO BE UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC TO THAT MISSION.
I remember one of the Devs commenting that older content will be revamped, so I hope that new map tile styles, texturing, and updated story will be used.

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Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow City of Heroes is a game about freedom of expression and variety of experiences far more so than it is about representing any one theme, topic or genre.

I agree with everything here. Especially Steampunky maps.

Looking at the architecture from an actual "Architect" (not the mission architect) standpoint though, there's a lot of faux pas going on outside as well as inside. Buildings with no windows on one side? Large buildings over a tunnel that's directly below them? Augh! IMO, they should've gotten some advice from a professional architect on things when they originally designed Paragon City. (It twigs me every once in a while.)

Labyrinth office spaces make zero sense from any standpoint. Game wise, maybe. But these zig zaggy round about ways to get to an elevator that goes up one single floor? Shoot the dude that thought that idea up.

Most office buildings are somewhat symmetrical instead of these wild mazes with a lot of dead space in them. It'd make more sense if you had to find an objective on each floor, or have to search each floor for the objective, which is randomly placed... be it rescue/kidnap, disarming/planting bombs, or the end boss.

___________ ___________ ___________

Some other ideas rattling in my noggin:

Maybe add actual apartment buildings, where you have to search for the right apartment?

Come up to a bad guy holding a gun to the hostage's head, while the mob is using them as a shield? Not that the game physics would support a body shield, but it'd be cool to come across. "Move and I'll shoot her!" *zap*

Some one shot newspaper/radio missions that are similar to the one room warehouse, where your stop the robbery that's taking place or rob the place blind. Of course, the XP for that would be a lot lower, but still.

Actual lobbies for these businesses. Where's the guard and/or receptionist at the door?

Villain Side, there are a few buildings that are like a TARDIS... Wayyy bigger on the inside. I know that the random generated locations for missions precludes customizing things as is, but at least make those doors off limits or something. That's just weird man.

About the only maps that make sense are the caves, even though I hate them. Especially that last huge cavern where you have to arrest/slaughter every single thing in there to finish the mission. Muy annoyink.

Oh, I still get bank missions that have the door being in the side of a mountain sometimes. That's insanely funny. LOL