By: JJ3672

'Innovation and asymmetry together equal gaming paradise. Set up for ALL gametypes and 3-10 players. By JJ3672.'

Download!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3MObgyzdos&fmt=18

Much thanks to sdrakulich for the above Youtube vid.

The Youtube vid only seems to embed in normal quality, so follow this LINK if you want to view in high quality.

EDIT (10/8): Download links updated & Youtube issues fixed.

Video Walkthrough Link (courtesy of Gamevee)

Mini Caption Contest is back! Post your funniest caption for the last action shot for a chance at victory. Winner gets + rep and their quote inserted into this post. If yours is better than the current victor's, you become the new winner.

Brief Disclaimer

If you like Z3novation and didn't see my previous two maps, Enigma and Azure Warpath, now might be a good time to check 'em out.

Z3novation is the third and final incarnation of the Zeta series, following System Zeta 1 and System Zeta 2 respectively (no links to old versions). Just FYI, pronunciation is zee-no-va-shun or simply zee-three, and I'll be referring to the map as Z3 throughout the post.

Anyway, Z3 is a medium-ish sized competitive asymmetrical map that features a great deal of tunnels and outlandish structures. I like to call myself an innovator, so you'll probably see some parts of this map that don't resemble anything ever forged before (unless it was by myself in the previous versions).

True to the bungie.net description, it does work for all gametypes, but TS, Assault, One Flag CTF (lower flag return time), and FFA King play better than most other games. I'll consider the map tentatively inescapable, and any possible way of breaking the map won't be practical in a competitive environment.

Now on to the pics. Don't yell at me for not having whole map overviews or fancy little weapon design drawings, the walkthough video will quickly clear up any confusion...

Overview n' Description

Defenders' starting spawn area. An OS spawns in the small tunnel shown after 3 minutes. The mongoose is great for rushing sniper in TS and for grabbing flag/planting bomb in CTF/Assault. The Defenders' flag spawns near the geo-merged mongoose ramp.

The Defenders' "base", so titled as it is the most protected area on this side of the map. Defenders' flag return and bomb plant are here, so this tall structure will witness a lot of intense action.

Center of the map (turret side). Defenders' bomb spawn is on the fence wall platform at lower left, and neutral bomb spawns inside the Turret tunnel (along with a Power Drain).

Inside the Defenders' base. Beam Rifle spawns in the V-shaped interlocked staircases (in the background).

Center of the map (sniper side), with the Attackers' side shown in the background. The pallets can be destroyed to gain access to the main tunnel entrance. Powerups way on top of the map are aesthetic only and cannot be accessed.

Another pic of the center of the map, looking from sniper side through the Brute Shot alcove to the turret side. The fence wall dome below the Brute Shot houses the end of the main tunnel.

An inverse of the last pic. Looking from center of the map on turret side through the Brute Shot alcove to sniper side.

Looking from Attackers' side to center of the map (turret side). Attackers' bomb spawn is on the fence wall platform at right and the main tunnel exit is at far left (mostly off-screen).

A view of the Attackers' base and surrounding area. The base contains the Attackers' flag return and bomb plant, so it is an important area to control.

Looking from the Attackers' base to the Attackers' spawn area. Geo-merged mongoose ramp mirrors the ramp on the Defenders' side, and the Attackers' flag spawns near it.

One side of the geo-merged crouch tunnel on the Attackers' side. The tunnel is a great place to sneak around and steal the OS as it spawns (in front of the pictured pallet, but only after 3 minutes).

Main tunnel entrance. Openings on left and right are blocked off by pallets to begin the game. Try throwing the Trip Mine (spawns where this picture was taken from) into the drop-down entrance to kill anyone camping the shield door below.

Looking from the far end of the main tunnel up towards the main tunnel drop-down entrance. The Splazer spawns inside the fence wall dome that makes up the far end of the main tunnel.

Looking from the start of the main tunnel (by mancannon) through the far end and out. The pallet in the background is the other side of the Attackers' crouch tunnel. Camping the shield door that marks the main tunnel exit is also leaving oneself exposed to any grenades, mines, or spartans that may drop down from above.

Lists

Weapons:

1 Splazer, r=120
1 Beam Rifle, r=120
1 Brute Shot, r=90, c=2
2 Maulers, r=60, c=1
6 BR's, r=20, c=2
2 Carbines, r=30, c=2
2 SMG's, r=30, c=2
1 Plasma Pistol, r=30

Equipment:

1 Power Drain, r=60
1 Regenerator, r=90
1 Flare, r=90
1 Trip Mine, r=30

Grenades:

6 Frags, r=20
6 Plasmas, r=20
2 Firebombs, r=30

Powerups:

2 Overshields, r=180

Vehicles:

2 Mongeese, r=10

Action Shots

Ignore the two guys fighting above, my carcass is the highlight of this picture (damn trip mines)...

Maybe it would be easier if we just swapped flags and avoided all this conflict...

Hey, look what I found!

Me attempting to portray that I have some sort of skill with the sniper, when the truth is quite the opposite...

Posted by jakemadkronsomker - "Just a bit more duct tape and he'll never notice."

Download!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to check out Azure Warpath (150 DL's) and Enigma (250 DL's) if you haven't already seen them.