by esc?nebuLa » Sep 4th, '13, 11:23 am
I'll add to this.
I'd really like to see a DFWC where there aren't any hidden routes in which only a select group of people know about, or secrets that require you to open radiant to reveal. I'm unsure whether it ultimately came down to the map testers, or bad communication with mappers, etc. Here are some clear examples from the most recent cup.
DFWC2012-0 - The unclipped rocks at the end were probably an honest mistake, but should have been patched before the final release.
DFWC2012-1 - Now, this map I did not notice any intentional or unintentional advantageous flaws. I can't recall if the end trigger could have been bypassed from the top without dying, but other than that, really solid map.
DFWC2012-2 - Same story with 1.
DFWC2012-3 - Trigger protection failure. This is the one that hurt me the most, because I would have placed first without the trigger skip.
DFWC2012-4 - Intentionally placed hook, however it was a relief to see that Golem performed the hardest shortcut and won in the end. (I overheard a discussion where zerg was going to block the plasma-rl shortcut from being possible, but I'm kind of glad he didn't, due to the end result.) I still like the routes this map creates with hook (HOX and Nightmare), however it was kind of silly to include it for a major competition like DFWC.
DFWC2012-5 - The beginning cpm battlesuit kill trigger skip was perhaps an honest mistake, but who knows. The second cpm shortcut utilizing the megahealth wall with bfg was a clever skip and probably unintentional. There was also a very hard bfg end shortcut using 3 shots directly to the finish, but I can't remember if a player could survive with enough health to make it through the hurt trigger and ample speed to strafe to end. The map was unique in that it provided demos with battlesuit and non-battlesuit routes.
DFWC2012-6 - Keeping plasma through bypassing a remove-guns function using only the right side of one teleporter was obviously intentional. If it wasn't, then I'm surprised. May have been a fluke when it was discovered, but again, who knows. Being the final map of the cup, it was a disappointment to see it being abused.
I don't necessarily blame the runners who abused the shortcuts/exploits, because that's what would give them the time advantage. I would be concerned with the mappers and testers who would include subtle secrets on purpose to provide a clan/country dominance in the dfwc tables.
It's just that runners who excel and place highly in competitions should not be doing so due to a mapper's mistake, but rather clever methods of utilizing map architecture, weapons, and strafing. All this should be happening within the parameters of an ideal unflawed map. The main problem is that these flaws were allowed to make it into the final release of the maps.
Hopefully in future DFWCs, there will be strict map testing/verification and clear communication between the organization and mappers/testers.
P.S. - I am also aware that quake 3 is built around unintended "bugs" and "flaws" and without them, defrag would not be as unique and exciting as it is.