I've played each map for maybe 10 minutes each getting to grips with them. Here's my opinions so far:
Rook:
No matter what Phil says about "straight brush copies" I think it
looks just fine. If it doesn't tax the engine too hard, this will only be good when in 12 player matches, with the usual spam and rockets flying everywhere, and will no doubt please those with less powerfull PC's.
The problem is with the
scaling - the map is far too small - I get the feeling that I'm playing the UT map with a UT2003 player - i.e. The player character is far too big in relation to the size of the map features - doorways, corridors etc. If all corridors/walkways/doorways were increased in size by 100% it would be much better.
As others have pointed out, having to hold still over objectives is
not a good idea.
Frigate:
1. Scaling is
much better here, although some areas still feel a bit small. My opinion is that a 10% overall size increase to everything (doorways, corridors etc) would be about right to make the map perfect scale-wise.
2. Just a suggestion, but ditch the bannisters on the stairways inside the ship. They give it a "cluttered" feel and will only help spammers.
Icefieldz:
Other than the fact that it looks like a straight port of one of the BR maps, it could actually be a nice change in matches. A nice, free-form open level, with two highly visible objectives. It would probably appeal more to players who value DM skills in the game, rather than the launch boys. In other words, Konan and McNeil should love it. It would probably also make a great insta map if the objectives weren't timed.
Launching:
Ignore humphro, the cock obviously didn't bother to read the readme file. Otherwise, he'd have realised that by enabling the "boost and damage control" mutator you can hammer/rocketlaunch just fine.
BUT, the problem is that it is currently
way too powerful. On a fully charged shield gun, you can backhammer right across the entire map on Frigate.
My suggestion here would be: As far as hammerlaunching is concerned, tone it down so that a fully charged impact hammer is enough to get you from the back pier to the stern of the ship, but no more. Or enough to get you up over the ship side from the gangplank leading into the ship.
Without the mutator, the shieldgun won't even get you halfway from back pier to ship.
Need to try the rocketlaunching some more before I would want to comment on it...
To all the moaners, this is just a beta release, so its obvious it has several revisions left to go. Constructive criticism will help, not "this is teh suxX0r" type stuff.
Overall, good coding work, and Frigate is definitely the best map of the three with the beta release.
Now, if only epic would release a
legitimate patch to disable the fecking CD check bullshit so you can play the game without needing the CD in the drive!
No offence to Phear, but my worry is that U:C is going to end up being just another TAC-OPS style game, which isn't what I personally really want to see.
to the timed thingy as much as it is cool and could work on some maps rook is definitely not one of them i play in a div 1 team and all we would do tactics wise is chuck bio slime on it constantly makin it near impossible to get library door open let alone anythin else.
), since as you know I've always thought that the idea of UT2003 assault isn't a good one 
