Map Hazards in TF2

Map hazards are a staple of TF2 maps, but they are noticeably absent from competitive maps. Why is this and how would 6s be played with map hazards?

[@Wild_Rumpus]

This is what the anti-fun 6s cartel wants to take from you: www.twitch.tv/rglgg/clip/FantasticBitterStaplePraiseIt-PuW1cSsurY12AuOv

[@Hennns]

Been doing that for years............. 6s CHUMPS just cannot FATHOM this level of intellect.

[@damianateiro]

lmao never even casually fall into the well like that to anyone xdddd

[@random8780]

"Hello everyone" *Clicks play* MEDIIIC!

[@youngthinker1]

The 6s scout missing all of his shots to protect his medic at 2:45 to 2:50 makes me feel like I am not alone in my terrible aim.

[@moosedog___6372]

He just like me

[@dabmasterars]

on some maps with trains you can ride on empty wagons, being handy for slow classes, which is especially relevant in highlander.

[@just_call_me_joe]

"not a single [6s map] has any map hazards." erm actually clearcut has a saw in spawn 🤓

[@SiggyTundra]

frankly trainsawlaser just needs to be added to the competitive map pool

[@SiggyTundra]

im not kidding if there was a charity tournament that exclusively took place on trainsawlaser (not trainsawlaser pro) and every time someone died to a hazard they had to donate 20 bucks to something id watch that shit

[@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413]

ueakcrash only somewhat fun map

[@oskaripeurala2612]

@@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413 He made probed as well.

[@itchylol742]

can we get a video about the meta of no restriction competitive? i would love to hear about the insanity of 3x kritz medic + 3 demoman or 6 wrangler engineers or whatever they do there

[@michaeljonathan9715]

6 snipers with Machina / Sydney Sleep and Jarate & Bushwacka would be most annoying team to fight against.

[@JSmith213]

Interesting that maps with hazards were completely phased out. In the earlier seasons Freight was a frequent 6s map, and very early seasons had Well (more due to lack of other options than a love of the map to be fair) though these are both train maps not death pit maps. I'd assume the trains were at least part of the reason Freight fell out of popularity, but having a pretty unexciting mid probably doesn't help.

[@-AAA-147]

A map hazard I'd argue that makes the game more interesting in potentially even a comp setting are the saws on koth_sawmill. The fact that they can also be used to block sightlines that watch the point and force you to consider them in team fights for the point make them so much more versatile than a death pit or trains imo.

[@redstonewarrior0152]

You should also note that Sinshine bumps the small pack under mid to a full pack. With the addition of the pit and the large pack, routing under mid becomes even riskier but even more rewarding. Map hazards can certainly encourage players to take risks in order to reap a few buffs. A hazard can also provide risk and reward in the form of a quick flank you might die taking.

[@twpsyn]

airblast stun going from half a second to lasting forever until you touch the ground has felt like such an oversight since jungle inferno, really unfun to play against. I much preferred pre JI airblast at least for players. now that we have the cone hitbox back i would love to see the 0.5 sec stun return too

[@muti7632]

Back in the day cp_freight was a thing on comp. I wish some maps tried to add subtle hazards like a pit or a train or even play around with water again

[@puzzlepuddles6712]

the 2pm upload again

[@master-pz5ed]

hey wana spice up comp meta? PLAY GOD DAM TRAISAWLAZER AND SEE HOW THAT GOES

[@oiytd5wugho]

1:50 I hate this bug 🤢 Wouldn't environmental hazards and pyro work kinda like a sniper? You're not guaranteed to die, but the class standing at a certain spot means you're just not risking taking certain paths. Also, it's interesting how hazards weren't much of a thing in TF2 initially. I think on launch you only had cp_well and it's trains (there might be a hazard on tc_hydro somewhere, idk) and then cp_steel a year later and after that I think they added a bunch of arena maps with insta death stuff on them. It seems like there was a lot less of that kinda stuff.

[@dabmasterars]

in hydro, you can fall from the top cliff path (that connects plant and dish) to the bottom path (dam and warehouse). the kill trigger is only active when you're on a cliff path.

[@oiytd5wugho]

@@dabmasterars oh, yeah, it's this weird one that turns on and off!

[@ethandavis7310]

Yeah I don't think pyro would be played any more if hazards were a thing. Sure he gets an insta-kill if the stars align, but at too great a cost to really try for. If your gameplan involves praying the combo will feed by standing too close to a cliff, why not pray instead that they'll feed into a sticky trap? Same outcome.

[@jecksfoxofficial]

A little script related footage would be nice to keep audience

[@puzzlepuddles6712]

1:50 why does spectating someone sometimes tilt your camera? shounic needs to get on this

[@mrstudent9125]

6s train saw laser when?

[@no_special_person]

Marijuana gaming

[@oskaripeurala2612]

Solution to people avoiding areas with map hazards: Place map hazards everywhere a la Trainsawlazer. jk. Another thing I see a lack of in 6's maps is water. I see neither shallow or swimmable water. There are of course gameplay implications to even the most shallow of puddles, but its curious that there is NO water at all in official 5cp maps. Is it really that bad for gameplay?

[@oskaripeurala2612]

Correction: Freight has water and so does Well. But I dont see these maps too much in community 6's.

[@Wild_Rumpus]

what a coincidence i recorded a video about that today

[@oskaripeurala2612]

@@Wild_Rumpus :o

[@DucktorHeyDucktor]

Im willing to let it slide that my best boy engineer is designated last point defence bot, but 6s players have gone too far. Give me back my cliffs. For real though cliffs can be interesting map design when done right, why we gotta be salty about falling off a cliff? Seems like you made a routing desicion as a player and got punished, nothing non competitive about that. Yeah its gonna make players avoid that part of the map at times but that feels like its part of the design of the map, after all the mapper did put a cliff there.

[@Das_Psycho]

Look at Upward. Staple HL map. 3rd is notorious for ubered pyro to deny blue ubers and cart pushers. I think if implemented into the map well, it enhances and adds depth. IMO, most 6s maps are boring since there is no "uniqueness/story" to them. Another example is Steel. Last is surrounded by a hazard and it's my 3rd favorite map to play competitive on due to the depth that map has. Compared to sunshine which, again IMO, is boring due to lack of "story" or character/charm

[@wgetJane]

"map hazards = story, no map hazards = no story" lmao this is what anti-6s brainrot does to u

[@Das_Psycho]

@@wgetJane ... I'm not anti-6s.. in fact I like 6s. But the maps themselves are boring...

[@wgetJane]

@@Das_Psycho upward and steel ARE one of the older maps, they do fit the tf2 theme better i wouldn't say newer maps have no personality though, like process and sunshine have cool themes imo