I've got de_ambush up and running on a linux server (woo hoo!) It has some regular players and I've gotten some really good feedback from people. I'd love it if the mapper folks around here went and played some rounds

server: dingolicous

ip: 69.93.55.6:27015

the server is set up for fast download and runs very nicely. I've also got a map called cs_darkride that's alternating with de_ambush in the rotation. cs_darkride is still under construction but I wanted to make sure some of the stuff I was trying to do would work in a CS:S multiplayer map without getting really stupid.

You, sir, kick ass. I use google image search all the time but never crossed my mind to search mosque interior... show off

Looks pretty good for a first effort, though there are still a fair few tell tale signs that this is from a new mapper. Most obvious is the sparse area shown in the first screenshot, which may have an interesting ceiling hole but is otherwise very devoid of not only detail, but cover. Get something in there for players to hide behind - pillars, clutter, statues, planters, monuments, fountains, whatever you feel fits the setting provided it looks the part and keeps the gameplay interesting. The exterior area looks far more interesting from a gameplay perspective, and the second shot in particular makes it looks quite frenetic and atmospheric. Problems here? Well the crate nearest the camera is much too large for the texture used on it which makes it looks rather horrible. Now I mention it, it seems you have overly stretched textures left right an centre - 0.25 should be your default texture scale for most purposes. Besides that, you may want to try playing around with 3D skyboxes, as it lets you suggest a far greater sense of scale to the map than actually exists, and you seem to have ample opportunity to show one off with your exterior regions.

All these comments were based on the screenshots by the way, as I'm currently away from my own computer so can't test it in game.

Yak,

Quick newb question... So a prefab is just something built out of brushes? About the texture on the truck.. yeah that green metal is the best I could find. I've got a Canon Digital Rebel and I've been thinking about playing around with trying to make some custom textures, but I've never done that before. I've got experiance making repeating textures for use on webpages and such using the blend and rubberstamp tool in photoshop, Im guessing it's sorta the same process for making textures.

BioPulse,

I definately hear ya there. I've been play testing it with bots, which I know doesnt give you a real sense for balance, so human playtesting is something I'd really like to get done. Unfortunately I don't have access to a machine anymore with a fat outbound internet connection to set a server up on

I knew that creating an ambush scenario map was going to bring up the concern of balance so I tried to stay aware of the issue while creating the map. I currently have all the CTs spawning in the cabs of the trucks (4 spawns, 2 in each cab) or in the beds of the trucks (12 spawns). The T's start off either in their compound (8 spawns), on the roof of their compound (4 spawns), in the mosque across the street (2 spawns) or on the ground at the enterence to their compound (2 spawns). The intersting thing is that while it seems that the Terrors have the upper hand because of their positioning, unless they coordinate that with good teamwork the CT's win more bot-vs-bot battles because they start out together and tend to move in groups together, engaging and overpowering the more scattered Ts. I might still play with repositioning spawn points if I get some input.