Seems I couldn’t find the appropriate topic for Synapse feedback unless someone wants to link me then I will request for the topic to be locked/merged if any feedback is given.
Synapse was originally located within the Colloseum but has now been moved & remade on another area of Forge World with drast improvements.
Leave all feedback regarding Synapse here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h90xu_V0z1U&list=UU08qq5DzAx8qCzCoYKbVkTQ&index=1&feature=plcp
Hiding Tactics Synapse.
Took awhile to find this thread, but now that I’m here I have two questions:
#1 why was the rocket launcher removed? It’s been so long since its removal that I don’t even remember it being on this map anymore, but I’m always reminded by my teammates of it’s default state when we play.
#2 Why was the roof removed? The newer version seems much brighter but I honestly preferred the old design.
@The Little Moa: I hope you aren’t the creator of the map, because my feedback may seem harsh.
Let me start by saying that this map has the same formula as Midship, and every difference from Midship results in gameplay suffering.
The sides about the same height as the bases, which puts less incentive on central map control (which is a solid 2 base formula. Ex: The Pit, Sanctuary, Midship, Beaver Creek, Narrows are all 2 base maps that revolve around central map control.) The two sides on Midship counter eachoher through LoS, while the center dividing wall blocks LoS, causing imbalance.
The central platform is the same height as the sides, with no advantageous LoS worth risking the exposure of holding the position. The only purpose the center has is to block LoS.
Midship’s outer ring was fairly separated from the central area. In order to have LoS to the center, you would have to risk exposing yourself. In Synapsis, the area in front of the bases are open, purposeless, deathtraps.
The transparent glass, in almost every situation, discourages movement (and causes framerate lag) because the player using it as cover is control of deciding when they will enter battle (due to being able to see the opponent without being shot). This makes the bases even more powerful, taking power away from the center even more so. The perimeter of the map is essentially equally balanced, which may sound good, but it actually cripples the flow of the map. Midship’s bases are clearly designed to designate safe spawns, and encourage the player to move forward because the bases are low, but covered.
And I strongly oppose using power weapons on open single atrium maps, or “donut maps”, because the power positions are supposed to give the player enough incentive to push forward in order to control the map. On this map, I feel like the power weapons were a lazy method of forcing movement because the geometry wasn’t designed well.
EDIT: Saw hiding video. Did not know that the map has been updated. Numerous fixes. Still has some problems listed above. Essentially, you made the map more like Midship.
Looking at the new version makes me question why Onslaught isn’t in matchmaking. It doesn’t have any of the problems listed above. A more solid take on the 2 base layout. I suppose it’s because the creator isn’t a well known waypoint member.
Just so you know, I have nothing against you. I just have seen thousands upon thousands of maps with this same tried and true formula. What risk is involved in forging a design that is already proven to be solid? I promote taking design to the next level, and attempting your own unique map. If you ever decide to take a step out of your comfort zone, I would be willing to help you out.
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Synapse was created by HWM BlacKnight (formerly known as x black kn1ght). The modified version was made in consultation with MLG community members (though don’t quote me on that).
> Looking at the new version makes me question why Onslaught isn’t in matchmaking. It doesn’t have any of the problems listed above. A more solid take on the 2 base layout. I suppose it’s because the creator isn’t a well known waypoint member.
Onslaught was designed/created by Salot (primarily) and NeXn, if I remember correctly, though the version that was in MLG towards the end of H3 was NeXn’s version. Them not being Waypoint members had nothing to do with any of this. (Salot and NeXn were more frequently found on the MLG forums, during Reach’s lifespan.)
Synapse most likely made its way into Matchmaking via the Community Cartographers. It may have been via Satyros (the now defunct Halocharts group that was run by one Community Cartographer), though I’m not entirely sure. In any case, all of this was pretty much outside the existence of these forums, with the exception being that the new version of Synapse may have made it in just after 343i took over playlist management.
Just thought I’d clear that up.
You make some good points though. Why not send HWM BlacKnight a message and talk to him about some of them?
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> Synapse was created by HWM BlacKnight (formerly known as x black kn1ght). The modified version was made in consultation with MLG community members (though don’t quote me on that).
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> > Looking at the new version makes me question why Onslaught isn’t in matchmaking. It doesn’t have any of the problems listed above. A more solid take on the 2 base layout. I suppose it’s because the creator isn’t a well known waypoint member.
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> Onslaught was designed/created by Salot (primarily) and NeXn, if I remember correctly, though the version that was in MLG towards the end of H3 was NeXn’s version. Them not being Waypoint members had nothing to do with any of this. (Salot and NeXn were more frequently found on the MLG forums, during Reach’s lifespan.)
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> Synapse most likely made its way into Matchmaking via the Community Cartographers. It may have been via Satyros (the now defunct Halocharts group that was run by one Community Cartographer), though I’m not entirely sure. In any case, all of this was pretty much outside the existence of these forums, with the exception being that the new version of Synapse may have made it in just after 343i took over playlist management.
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> Just thought I’d clear that up.
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> You make some good points though. Why not send HWM BlacKnight a message and talk to him about some of them?
Actually SaLoT and Fritzster were making a map together titled “Safeguard”. They bumped heads when deciding what direction to go with the middle with the map, and ultimately split up taking the map for them self. Nexn came late into Onslaught’s build, and helped SaLoT finish what would be the first map to ever make it to matchmaking and the circuit.
Fritzster, together with Zakboo, finished Amplified. Which would become the second map to be installed in matchmaking and onto the circuit.
So both of these maps actually came from the same map variant.
Yes Nexn and SaLoT were both once members of MLG. My point is that Onslaught (or Nexus) use the same formula as Synapsis (Midship), but they both have less fundamental issues.
I know that it was selected into matchmaking by the community cartographers (along with many unqualified maps at the time).
Just to hop in and say, I didn’t make this map.
> Just to hop in and say, I didn’t make this map.
Yeah, I know this now.
Good to see you know more about Onslaught than me. 
To reiterate, my main point (obscured in all that) was that being a Waypoint member had nothing to do with Synapse’s submission. I personally tried to push Nexn to submit some of his maps to the CCs a few months ago (via a group on Bungie.net - again, nothing to do with Waypoint), but after exchanging a few emails, nothing really happened. If anything, there seems to have been something of a disconnect between some of the forgers over at the MLG forums and the CCs, during Reach’s lifespan (with a few exceptions). This is something I’ve been slightly disappointed about, considering the quality of map designers over there.
> Good to see you know more about Onslaught than me. To reiterate, my main point (obscured in all that) was that being a Waypoint member had nothing to do with Synapse’s submission. I personally tried to push Nexn to submit some of his maps to the CCs a few months ago (via a group on Bungie.net - again, nothing to do with Waypoint), but after exchanging a few emails, nothing really happened. If anything, there seems to have been something of a disconnect between some of the forgers over at the MLG forums and the CCs, during Reach’s lifespan (with a few exceptions). This is something I’ve been slightly disappointed about, considering the quality of map designers over there.
Don’t challenge me, I know SaLoT about Onslaught. Nexn only made 1 4v4 map, and it was a revision of Sanctuary. He made about 6 or 7 1v1 maps, but there is no 1v1 playlist. The MLG forge forum died slowly a while ago. I, personally, was sick of MLGs demented vision of what a competitive map has to be, so I moved to Forgehub. Most MLG forgers have moved to Halocouncil.com, but the forums are really slow at the moment. Hopefully it will pick up come H4s release.
Yes, there was a disconnection. Most MLG forgers were more concerned with getting a map on the circuit, rather than getting a map into matchmaking. And seeing the maps that were chosen for matchmaking was a deterrence.
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You have me mistaken. I wasn’t challenging you in the least. I was merely commenting on the fact that you obviously know more about the history of Onslaught than me and I’m grateful for the correction, I really am. Apologies if it came across as a challenge. It was not at all my intention.
As to Nexn’s 1v1 maps, it was a selection of those (at least Luca and Sequence) that I was attempting to get him to push towards CCs, as they played pretty well for 2v2. I only ever saw the initial stages of his Sanc revision over at halocouncil.com and that was the only 4v4 Reach map I ever saw him working on. So I agree with you here as well.
I am hoping (vainly?) for some unity amongst the various forging communities, come Halo 4. MLG was not the only community that suffered from the kind of elitism, favoritism and secrecy that contributed to a lack of cohesion and ultimately a somewhat failed submission process for community creations.
Anyway, we’re beginning to go off topic and the mods would probably rather we continue this discussion via PMs (if you feel there’s anything else that needs to be said).
I liked the darker version more.