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You should play some community maps
With casual I've locked myself into the few really good maps (Badwater, Upward) that are in the game. While it's not repetitive at all for me, new maps are always welcome. So I invite you guys to check out some of the newly released community maps.
And it might surprise you to hear that the TF2 mapping community is at it's very peak. A boatload of maps are coming out and guess what - they're also really good. There are super experimental and unique maps coming out along with some straight up solid maps. (not to mention vscript!)
By experimental, I mean maps that [are half submerged in water](https://tf2maps.net//downloads/pl_boatload.13076/). Or something like [ctf\_tailrace](https://tf2maps.net/threads/tailrace.48710/) (was actually fun!):
>A KOTH-inspired take on CTF where only one flag is in play. A team must capture the flag to start the countdown of their timer. Victory occurs when the timer reaches 0 and the flag is secured.
[Some](https://youtu.be/Jbn1Xtfr_LE?t=1428) [people](https://youtu.be/J59GKKIyAcI?t=775) might think that the majority of custom maps are bad. And yeah - it's kinda a mixed bag. It's hard making a map, and even harder to make it good. There are lots of reasons why people wouldn't like them. Being unoptimized, or not being TF2 styled, or being overscaled, too complex, too low, or too ugly - all super abundant issues. [But](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2579644293) [there](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2961457712&searchtext) [are](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2964421291&searchtext) [also](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1712845210) [a](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=619869471) [lot](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=888027758) [of](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2068252300) [good](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2878604990) [maps](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2807898013).
**Payload - Phoenix by** [Defcon](https://tf2maps.net/downloads/authors/defcon.27040/)
Phoenix has been sitting at the top of the workshop since it's been released, though it's mostly due to its looks. Maybe you've seen it before, but it also plays well.
This is a fun map. Take for example Frontier - it's a pretty solid and balanced map, but a bit limiting in how easy turtling and closed it is. Not choke-y by any means, just a bit limiting. I personally have always found it boring due to how effective turtling is. Phoenix is the opposite, especially with all the verticality and flanks. The geography it's built on keeps the game dynamic while not being tedious to navigate. It doesn't seem to me to have any gaping holes in its design either: sniper sightlines aren't too bad (except last) and it's pretty balanced on both sides.
But aside from just being a very solid and good looking map, its last point is pretty unique. It features a huge ass ramp, and somehow manages to direct players on the cart. Generally, for more balanced games, this wouldn't happen until a pub push. But since it's a ramp, pushing the cart is something that the whole team needs to actively do.
And one last thing: there are some unique announcer voicelines for the lift. Terrific map both visually and gameplay wise.
**Payload - Boatload by** [Tiftid](https://tf2maps.net/members/tiftid.24946/#resources)
Another favorite of mine is Boatload. I was going to write a bunch, but this [review](https://tf2maps.net/downloads/pl_boatload.13076/reviews) has most of what I was going to say:
>Boatload does what I thought was impossible, previously: The map makes water gameplay \*fun.\* With the combined power of genuinely just well-designed combat arenas, with the additional speed boost in the water which makes moving around feel SO much better, the Water gameplay feels just as tight the on-land gameplay too! And that's not even to say that the land gameplay is lacking; In fact, it's actually quite good! In particular I always think of A and D as the greatest bits of the land gameplay, it is always a lot of fun narrowly avoiding damage by moving fluidly (hehe) between the water and land, and counterattacking with my weapons. It is just SATISFYING, dude! All the classes except maybe(?) Demoman feel like they have a distinct purpose in Boatload, and it really shows when playing. The detailing looks absolutely great, too! The contrast between the generally yellowish industrial environment is perfectly complemented with the beautiful blue sky variant of sky\_goldrush, and it looks fantastic! I love all the little details within the industrial bits too; from the large pipes, to the shapes of buildings, it's really creative while also feeling realistic, which is quite the achievement! I would firmly recommend this map to any self-respecting server, as Boatload is a treat that should be enjoyed! And I would also recommend our fellow mappers analyze the map as well; There's a lot to be learned! Boatload is, without a doubt, a 10 out of 10 map.
I have my own fair share of criticisms: there's a bit too much underutilized area underwater. It's also [basically oil on low settings](https://imgur.com/a/TVIGN2j). Even then - these maps are still being updated and playtested, and little problems will be fixed over time.
​
There are a few servers that do run custom maps. Here are all the ones I know:
[End Of The Line Gaming](https://www.endofthelinegaming.com/) (32 players I think?)
[Uncletopia - Community](https://uncletopia.com/servers)
[TF2Maps](https://tf2maps.net/servers) (join the discord or steam group, they do organized playsessions)
[FITH](http://fithstats.gameme.com/) (32 players)
[Skial - Payload+](https://www.skial.com/servers/) (32 players)
​
There's also a great [video by UEAKCrash](https://youtu.be/ISrx2Uri1s0) (an actual mapper) on the Summer update candidates. I'd love to hear your guys' comments on community maps as well.
Author: largebiagdewe
http://www.reddit.com/r/truetf2/comments/144lxd8/you_should_play_some_community_maps/
With casual I've locked myself into the few really good maps (Badwater, Upward) that are in the game. While it's not repetitive at all for me, new maps are always welcome. So I invite you guys to check out some of the newly released community maps.
And it might surprise you to hear that the TF2 mapping community is at it's very peak. A boatload of maps are coming out and guess what - they're also really good. There are super experimental and unique maps coming out along with some straight up solid maps. (not to mention vscript!)
By experimental, I mean maps that [are half submerged in water](https://tf2maps.net//downloads/pl_boatload.13076/). Or something like [ctf\_tailrace](https://tf2maps.net/threads/tailrace.48710/) (was actually fun!):
>A KOTH-inspired take on CTF where only one flag is in play. A team must capture the flag to start the countdown of their timer. Victory occurs when the timer reaches 0 and the flag is secured.
[Some](https://youtu.be/Jbn1Xtfr_LE?t=1428) [people](https://youtu.be/J59GKKIyAcI?t=775) might think that the majority of custom maps are bad. And yeah - it's kinda a mixed bag. It's hard making a map, and even harder to make it good. There are lots of reasons why people wouldn't like them. Being unoptimized, or not being TF2 styled, or being overscaled, too complex, too low, or too ugly - all super abundant issues. [But](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2579644293) [there](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2961457712&searchtext) [are](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2964421291&searchtext) [also](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1712845210) [a](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=619869471) [lot](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=888027758) [of](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2068252300) [good](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2878604990) [maps](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2807898013).
**Payload - Phoenix by** [Defcon](https://tf2maps.net/downloads/authors/defcon.27040/)
Phoenix has been sitting at the top of the workshop since it's been released, though it's mostly due to its looks. Maybe you've seen it before, but it also plays well.
This is a fun map. Take for example Frontier - it's a pretty solid and balanced map, but a bit limiting in how easy turtling and closed it is. Not choke-y by any means, just a bit limiting. I personally have always found it boring due to how effective turtling is. Phoenix is the opposite, especially with all the verticality and flanks. The geography it's built on keeps the game dynamic while not being tedious to navigate. It doesn't seem to me to have any gaping holes in its design either: sniper sightlines aren't too bad (except last) and it's pretty balanced on both sides.
But aside from just being a very solid and good looking map, its last point is pretty unique. It features a huge ass ramp, and somehow manages to direct players on the cart. Generally, for more balanced games, this wouldn't happen until a pub push. But since it's a ramp, pushing the cart is something that the whole team needs to actively do.
And one last thing: there are some unique announcer voicelines for the lift. Terrific map both visually and gameplay wise.
**Payload - Boatload by** [Tiftid](https://tf2maps.net/members/tiftid.24946/#resources)
Another favorite of mine is Boatload. I was going to write a bunch, but this [review](https://tf2maps.net/downloads/pl_boatload.13076/reviews) has most of what I was going to say:
>Boatload does what I thought was impossible, previously: The map makes water gameplay \*fun.\* With the combined power of genuinely just well-designed combat arenas, with the additional speed boost in the water which makes moving around feel SO much better, the Water gameplay feels just as tight the on-land gameplay too! And that's not even to say that the land gameplay is lacking; In fact, it's actually quite good! In particular I always think of A and D as the greatest bits of the land gameplay, it is always a lot of fun narrowly avoiding damage by moving fluidly (hehe) between the water and land, and counterattacking with my weapons. It is just SATISFYING, dude! All the classes except maybe(?) Demoman feel like they have a distinct purpose in Boatload, and it really shows when playing. The detailing looks absolutely great, too! The contrast between the generally yellowish industrial environment is perfectly complemented with the beautiful blue sky variant of sky\_goldrush, and it looks fantastic! I love all the little details within the industrial bits too; from the large pipes, to the shapes of buildings, it's really creative while also feeling realistic, which is quite the achievement! I would firmly recommend this map to any self-respecting server, as Boatload is a treat that should be enjoyed! And I would also recommend our fellow mappers analyze the map as well; There's a lot to be learned! Boatload is, without a doubt, a 10 out of 10 map.
I have my own fair share of criticisms: there's a bit too much underutilized area underwater. It's also [basically oil on low settings](https://imgur.com/a/TVIGN2j). Even then - these maps are still being updated and playtested, and little problems will be fixed over time.
​
There are a few servers that do run custom maps. Here are all the ones I know:
[End Of The Line Gaming](https://www.endofthelinegaming.com/) (32 players I think?)
[Uncletopia - Community](https://uncletopia.com/servers)
[TF2Maps](https://tf2maps.net/servers) (join the discord or steam group, they do organized playsessions)
[FITH](http://fithstats.gameme.com/) (32 players)
[Skial - Payload+](https://www.skial.com/servers/) (32 players)
​
There's also a great [video by UEAKCrash](https://youtu.be/ISrx2Uri1s0) (an actual mapper) on the Summer update candidates. I'd love to hear your guys' comments on community maps as well.
Author: largebiagdewe
http://www.reddit.com/r/truetf2/comments/144lxd8/you_should_play_some_community_maps/
