Comments on: Steel Yourself

By: Mr. Brit

Mr. Brit — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:55:16 +0000

arena mode revealed on official heavy website!!!!!!11!!!!!

By: Shadowmancer

Shadowmancer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:43:01 +0000

I still dont know why people are confused with this map there are big arrows pointing to where people have to go.

By: Koslov

Koslov — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:55:48 +0000

I run one of the 24/7 cp_steel servers and I find it to be a pretty even map. There have been times when one side will totally dominate the other but that comes down to either luck or superb teamwork.

I am actually extremly happy that its going to become a standard rotation map. Its too good not to give to the masses.

By: littleedge

littleedge — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:54:33 +0000

Ever since I started reaidn 1Fort and saw the cp_steel review, and the interview with the maker, I started looking for servers with it playing. I’ve played it enough, and it’s pretty even. E is the perfect size, so no one sentry reaches everywhere, and the other points are perfect, having good defense and offense positions. It may tend to go on BLU’s side a bit, but it’s nothing like Goldrush’s RED/BLU win ratio. cp_steel is agreat map. I’ve played it 4 times, and I now know most of the routes, so playing it a coupe times lets you have fun.

By: Pentadact

Pentadact — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:34:19 +0000

Well put.

By: Tux

Tux — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:05:21 +0000

The majority of TF2’ers play the official Valve maps, and Steel is a damn sight more complex in comparison to 2Fort, Well or Dustbowl which typically have clusters of complexity around points with multiple but strictly linear routes between them. As for game mechanics, what other popular map has the same cap order as Steel?

I would guess that most people (including me, and I don’t have Down’s) find Steel ‘difficult’ to navigate at first and that is where most impressions come from. It’s not a question of being 1337 but of recognising the difficultly curve associated with breaking old norms and establishing new rules of play – something Valve has done only very carefully.

By: Pentadact

Pentadact — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:01:16 +0000

That’s a little harsh. I don’t find it as hard to navigate as some, but there are moments when, defending your last point E, there are no signs from your spawn indicating which way E is. TF2 is unusual in having no map, so its levels need to be extra careful to explain themselves well. You have to learn every map, sure, but that takes longer when the thing keeps changing up on you.

Like I say, it’s no less confusing than Hydro, which is TF2’s least intuitive map.

I’m not surprised to hear it’s usually more defense-friendly than my experience: when my team lost, it was because they all defended E until the attackers were capping D, whereupon they rushed to D just in time to let E get capped. THANKS TEAM. I’ll defend the control points they’re actually going for alone, shall I?

By: Sentry Gun

Sentry Gun — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:03:03 +0000

Anyone who thinks cp_steel is difficult to navigate is likely to be afflicted with downs syndrome. Granted, the map takes a bit of getting used to, but that’s the same for all maps, and cp_steel is hardly more complex.

Also, the main reason the map seems offensive friendly is because tons of people don’t know how to defend the map. The main thing people don’t seem to get is that every area of the map is accessible to both teams at all times, only shortcuts and blockades appear.

By: roburky

roburky — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:51:26 +0000

I don’t think I’ve been in a game of Steel that’s gone beyond point B yet.

By: Suraj

Suraj — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:26:50 +0000

I have played this map quite a bit. One excellent strategy for BLU team is to set up a sentry at B at the very beginning. Most of the bog downs occur at point B as it is the easiest to defend. If you can secure it, rest of the game becomes easier.