The state of WT map design

Game Discussion Realistic Battle
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1

You probably already know that the map design in war thunder especially for mid-top tier is, well…. pretty shit. The community have been saying this for a long time, although I think they are not very articulate with their messaging since “maps are too small” dose not describe the issue accurately. The issue is (in my opinion) not the small, physical size, but that the maps are boring and stupid aka.: feel small.

This is very important difference since Gaijin tried to fix this size problem, resulting in absolute trash abominations like extended Tunisia/Sinai/Eastern Europe/Red Desert etc. These “extended” maps are horrendous. They basically just added an extra 1.5 km of empty, open death-field to the map, where you are going to be annihilated and violated by the 10 tanks that are spawn camping you. This is not fun. These empty, one-dimensional maps are bad. Once again, it’s not the size that is the problem. Red Dessert is a big map but it’s a boring open, camp fest, where everybody gets into position behind a ridgeline and just lobs ATGMs and APFSDSs from 4 km ranges, maybe its personal taste but I find this bush camping laser rangefinder point and click adventure gameplay boring. Sure, have some long angles and dangerous crossing, but gigantic open and empty maps where everybody is sitting behind a rock, waiting for some idiot to move out from cover so that they can insta kill him with two button presses is not fun.

Solutions: buildable/destructible bridges/tunnels and other “interactive” map elements like breakable ice on winter maps. More interesting geography like islands that are only accessible via bridges or amphibious vehicles, mountain maps, mine fields. Vertically multilayered maps with under/above ground structures. Environmental effects rainstorms, blizzards. More objectives like destroy/capture building or convoy or recon plane.
Summary: I think that the current maps a too static and boring and one-dimensional and, in the future, I would like to see not bigger but more interesting and engaging maps.

6 Likes
2

What you are proposing sounds very close to some proposals/requests of Ground EC.

3 Likes
3

This is particularly true. For example Sinai gives the feeling of being slightly bigger in relation to its actual size, and that is in my opinion the peak of layout design. The map feels reasonably the same from 1.0+ up to top tier.

If Gaijin is not going to deliver big maps for GRB at top tier (which is again in my opinion the ultimate solution), they should really look out why Sinai feels a big enough map despite having a max of 1.5-2 km engagements.

2 Likes
4

I would perfer maps that allow a longer engagement range (800m+) while still preventing spawn camping.

2 Likes
5

There should be FOB defendable locations in spawn or in front of it, and on the cap points, and you should have a timer in spawn so you can’t sit there idle. Like 30 seconds so you have to leave the red zone or else your vehicle is destroyed

6

Issue with maps is, Gaijin can’t make good big maps. Most of the big maps are awful garbage, with poor overall designs that make them massively prone to one death leavers.

7

When you go into a jet in GRB and can see the playable part of the map was just pushed down in a big square to create borders, it’s really bad

8

I haven’t seen those proposals, but I 100% support a longer, more interesting, more objective option game mode