Hello, this is my first official release of two maps I call Impasse and Outland. They're both heavily terrain oriented and good for those looking for a slightly narrowed down map. Below are some features and a description of both maps. Oh and thank you to everyone who helped me playtest these over the past week!

Impasse: An island with two large vertical mountains with a pass in between. The top of the mountains make for great sniping venues, while the center pass can be easily littered with mountainside bunkers. The game tends to lead to a hectic bunker based sniping battle pushing back and forth between the bases on the top of the mountain.

Screens:
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8517/impasse4.png
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/253/impasse3.png
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/5283/impasse2.png
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/3841/impasse1.png

Outland: This map also has a center point focusing the gameplay. It consists of a large lake in a valley, surrounded by mountains. There is a large center spire coming off of the surrounding mountains that leads into the middle of the gateway between the bases. Gameplay typically involves lots of building from walls to close off the gateway to towers that have vantage points over oncoming troops.

Screens:
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/1892/outland4.png
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1755/outland3.png
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/2918/outland2.png
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/3965/outland1.png

DOWNLOAD LINK:

http://www.mediafire.com/?13e3vjebzv6b85p

Feel free to ask me questions! I also plan on revamping these from time to time as the community calls for improvements.

impasse i like for its more natural version of a Hallway type map. Reminds me of some quick and dirty Far Cry maps. I'd probably play there just for the twin peaks but the map feels a little cramped on the edges. Maybe adding some more beach to the height map? I dunno.
That is up to you, though.

I'm not usually a fan of this kind of map but It appeals to me in a few ways.

Outlands i don't even know what to make of that map. Its rather stripped of colour but i can't honestly imagine what it would play like as i walk around - it is all very gray and i catch my self wanting a little more contrast. the map its self feels more like a sandy-desert mountain oasis to me but the colours say gray moon landing.

I'd play on a server hosting this map to see how it unfolds, though.

I'm so glad you brought up Far Cry, I spent hours messing with Instincts Predator just for the map editor. Yeah I know what you mean about Outlands being a bit bland, if only there was a view distance option... I think it might help. I'm already changing Impasse based on just what you said though, you did mean the edges like the small amount of beach on the sides of the mountain?

Yes, i did. You kinda have to think of the way a island rises out of the ocean, and i picture that island have a more common shape. Let me draw a few lines over the pic here.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27472317/scap7.gif
This is total crap but the lines and white haze are just there to show some of the areas i thought could be changed. I think the grass should be a little bit higher up, and offer a bit more cover on the ground level. But the sand needs to have more area, and probably could stand to be up a little higher for a little longer.

Adding a few oddities and depth to the sand closest to the slopes will give players more options than just swimming for their lives to avoid the mountain tops once a team seizes the place. Just how i feel about it.

I see what you're saying, I do understand that the map isn't terrible realistic. If anyone knows of a good heightmap tool besides guessing and checking converted bmps from GIMP it would be very much appreciated. I'm also considering getting rid of those sides entirely and making it more like a large rock formation that's coming out of the ocean onto the island.

Here's a little mockup

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/83/islandtest.png

But this could be an entirely different map.

I think I kind of like the bland look of Outland. It makes it look a bit like a desolate wasteland, which is a nice effect. Maybe making it just a bit darker overall would be nice.

You could also add a few details to suggest how it got to BE a wasteland... a few random blackened craters and/or a few small remains of buildings to give it a bit of atmosphere. Possibly some blackened dead flora... twisty black trees could be cool.

I REALLY like how the second picture of Outland you provided looks. I can't quite figure out why, but I think it might be the nice contouring on the ground.

While i was away i got the idea to take a swing at the Impasse idea, hoping you don't mind i have the height map and colour map for the map all here.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27472317/redux.bmp <Hmap
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27472317/reduxc.bmp <Cmap
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27472317/REDUX.vxl <Resultmap (without watermark)

Its not so much about the realism but instead giving the game a little room to play naturally. Keeping the players a little further appart is better for an island scenario but i think the twin peaks will still filter most the action into the central avenue. This keeps your impression of sheer cliffs and long stretch of hills while offering a little more to hide behind.

Its not so great but you can keep them if you like, full credit to you.

And... here's what I was talking about, thanks for uploading that take on Impasse, I really like it. Anyway here's a newer map I'm calling Isle, as soon as I'm done with the texture I'm going to give it its own post, it's kind of like the bastard love child of all of my maps and has the best look about it.

http://www.mediafire.com/?vwmpw1lzjspv7bu

I'll post screens tomorrow

i love new custom maps :D

Impasse looks great- the mountains look just a bit too steep though.