SourceForts

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SourceForts
SourceForts logo
Developer(s)	SourceForts Mod Team
Designer(s)	Kaidus
Engine	Source engine
Version	1.9.3
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows client Windows and Linux server
Release date	February 25, 2005 (2005-02-25)
Latest release	1.9.3 / December 1, 2007 (2007-12-01)
Genre(s)	First-person shooter, Capture the flag
Mode(s)	Online multiplayer
Media	Internet download

SourceForts is a multiplayer capture the flag mod, for the computer game Half-Life 2. Two teams, red and blue, construct forts made from metal cubes and panels to protect their flag, and also attempt to break into their opponent's fort to steal the enemy flag. Then they must return the captured flag to their own fort to score. The mod was first released in 2005.

[edit] Gameplay

Screenshot showing a member of the red team capturing the blue flag, a wall construction next to the flag, a skyfort above it, and one end of the map sf_reservoir.

Players in SourceForts have the ability to spawn and manipulate blocks and panels, being able to freeze and unfreeze the spawned blocks and panels to create and modify the fort. A typical SourceForts match is played out in a series of Build and Combat rounds. During the Build round players construct forts, and during the Combat round players duel in a capture the flag match, using the forts as bases.

[edit] Build Phase

During the Build Phase the two teams are restricted to their own side of the map and cannot use any weapons. The only equipment is the Gravity Gun, used to freeze and unfreeze blocks, pick them up and move them. Each side has access to a limited number of blocks (default of 50, but can be set to any value), which can be spawned (using buttons in a spawn bay) and then picked up with the gravity gun and used.^[1] Blocks come in five different shapes (1x1x1 cube, 2x1x1 oblong, 5x1 panel, 3x2 panel, and 2x1 panel) which enable the players to create a wide variety of structures, which include crawl tunnels, sky forts, sprint ramps and walls.^[2]

[edit] Combat Phase

An in-game screenshot of SourceForts 1.9.2, on the map sf_conduit.

During the Combat Phase players are given weapons according to their chosen class and attempt to breach the enemy's constructions, ultimately capturing their flag. On most servers a successful capture and base return is worth 100 points and a capture without returning it is worth a single point. To win a map a team must achieve a total of 1000 points, or be the team with the most points at the end of a set number of build/combat rounds. This number is variable depending on the server set up and admins. SourceForts offers five player classes:^[3]

Scout

This is the fastest class, the main role of which is to dodge enemy fire and get the flag. With the unique ability to fire when sprinting, the Scout is a formidable class, albeit one that is difficult to master in a match situation. It is armed with the Submachine Gun (SMG), 9 mm pistol, grenades and the crowbar, and has 100 hit points (HP) and 15 armor points (AP).

Soldier

The slowest class but with most armor. Often used for shooting from barricades or leading an all out assault, the strong armor of the Soldier makes it an effective class and difficult to kill, but can be overcome by a quick opponent aiming for the head. It is armed with the Combine Overwatch Pulse Rifle, 9 mm pistol, a stunstick and grenades, and has 100 HP and 75 AP.

Engineer

The second-weakest and second-slowest of the classes, the Engineer makes up for the lack of health and armour with its abilities. Using the Gravity Gun (the only class which can use it in the Combat Phase), the Engineer can repair their own team's panels and blocks, unfreeze and modify blocks in combat, and unfreeze/steal enemy blocks to make holes for fellow teammates to enter. The Gravity Gun also has other combat uses, such as using panels as projectile weapons, as well as picking up armed grenades and lobbing them over walls and long distances. A little known (and useful) fact is that the Gravity Gun can heal friendly players, by left clicking on them. The Engineer is armed with the Gravity Gun, shotgun, 9 mm pistol, grenades and stunstick, and has 80 HP and 20 AP.

A screenshot showing a blue Combine Engineer equipped with the shotgun running in the foreground, and a red Rebel throwing a grenade in the background on the map sf_conduit.

Rocketeer

Perhaps the most potent class in the game in terms of sheer stopping power, the Rocketeer's main weapon is the rocket launcher (RPG), which shoots off dumb-fire rockets (the laser painter sight guidance system from Half-Life 2 removed). Often the choice of class by new players, leading to the term of being dubbed a 'rocket-whore', experienced players master the timing and ballistics of the RPG as a weapon, and use it to rocket jump over the highest walls, some able to predict the movement of other players and intercept with well-timed rockets. Rocket launching is also used in the game as a 'party trick' - firing a rocket at an enemy's feet will cause their ragdoll to fly sometimes hundreds of feet into the air and across the map. The Rocketeer is armed with the Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launcher (RPG), SLAM mines, grenades, 9 mm pistol and the stunstick, and has 100 HP and 40 AP.

Sniper

The weakest and slowest (along with the Soldier) class, the sniper is armed with the powerful crossbow. A difficult class to master due to often fast moving players, experienced and well dug-in snipers can be welcome assets on the battlefield. The class is armed with the crossbow, 9 mm pistol, grenades and stunstick, and has 75 HP with no armor.

[edit] Maps

Official maps for SourceForts, included in the 1.9.3 setup package:

A tunnel entrance on sf_conduit, guarded by two blue Combine armed with the RPG and the Gravity Gun.

• sf_abandon - An enclosed map in an abandoned warehouse, each team having control of one end. Flag on a platform at each end, with raised gantries running down the sides.
• sf_angular - A "Z" shaped map that is based on a street but there are also 2 areas above in which are in a "U" shape and both lead right above the enemy flag.
• sf_cargo - A large, dark map with a lot of boxcars in the middle
• sf_city - A city block, buildings and roads with a low area in the middle. Players can reach the roofs of most buildings, allowing for many sniper and rocketeer nests.
• sf_conduit - An L shaped map in a concrete environment, with two-level tunnels linking both ends.
• sf_deck
• sf_metalurgy - Two castle-style bases, a supply box in a tower between and deep channels crossing the map.
• sf_overload - A medium sized map, consisting of two concrete areas containing each team's flag, separated by a large slope in the middle of the map containing 'dragon teeth' concrete emplacements.
• sf_skywalk - Another platform based sky map.
• sf_tactical - An S shaped map, with button consoles in the center. A team must activate the buttons to enable them to gain control over more of the field during later build periods.
• sf_valley - A massive grassed area, for all-out battles with the Soldier class.
• sf_valley_200 - A new version of the classic map sf_valley.

[edit] History

SourceForts was originally created by Daniel "Knifa" Callander who at the time was a twelve-year-old from Scotland,^[6] with its first release on February 25, 2005.^[7] He was responsible for all versions up to 1.4.1, until he ceased development due to frustrations with an update released by Valve Software for its game Half-Life 2: Deathmatch.^[8] on which SourceForts is based. As of January 6, 2006 SourceForts is on its third lead programmer.^[9] Development crossed from Alpha into Beta on January 10, 2006.^[9]

A spin-off called NeoForts was created due to a conflict within the SourceForts development team.^[8]

[edit] Version 1.9.3, 2.0 and staffing adjustments

Following the cancellation of the new modification dubbed as SourceForts 2.0, the team fell into a decline. A parallel, secret project named 'Haven' was established by former coder JLF, along with many well known community members.^[10] After some private negotiations, it was announced that the Haven team would move in to take over development of SourceForts. This came to the surprise of staff members Will 'FicWill' Smith and KGtheway2B, who promptly resigned in protest.^[11]

The new team, lead by Kaidus, introduced a more structured, public design process and laid out planning for the future version 2.0 - a process omitted from the previous team. The team set out to complete version 1.9.3 and then move on to a more complete, original version 2.0, which is to be built from scratch. For 1.9.3, much of the old version 2.0 code and contents was ported down to make it available, such as new block models, maps and several new features for classes. Will 'FicWill' Smith did not approve of the new direction, and attempted to pull all his content from the modification, however after further negotiations he agreed to allow his work to be used on the condition that he was fully credited for their creation.^[12]

Version 1.9.3 was announced complete on 28 October 2007,^[13] however the release date was not be going announced until the latest version of the Source SDK is released and can be used to ensure a bug-free modification. On November 30, the development team announced they would release version 1.9.3 before 8pm GMT on Saturday, December 1.The proposed version 2.0 was designed by the Haven team as a more competitive building based game, with very few similarities between itself and previous SourceForts versions. This has caused some debate on the official forums, but overall the response from the community has been positive.

New features according to the design document include the removal of the build/combat phase system,^[14] replaced by building during combat using checkpoints. The team claim to have a playable concept modification, however the code from the concept will not be retained in the actual modification.

[edit] Version 2.0

A recently released media screenshot showing the previous 'version 2.0' development. Visible is the new engineer model, the new block skins and damage system, and a new head-up display.

v2.0.0 was originally to be released on May 1, 2005, but has suffered substantial setbacks. Due to these, the 1.9.X releases were released in order to sustain an active community and v2.0.0 is designated to become the first incarnation of the mod as a total conversion.

On April 27, 2007, an early build of SourceForts v2.0.0 was leaked to the public.^[15]

As of May 1, 2007, development work on v2.0.0 has been halted, due to concerns over the stability and gameplay of the current version. Although the developers intend to return to developing v2.0.0, they have decided to address the concerns by diverting their resources to developing and releasing v1.9.4 which will be purely a bugfix alteration of v1.9.3, rather than a total conversion which will be the main feature of v2.0.0.^[16] The most major change planned for version 2.0 is the removal of the build phase,^[17] which has caused some controversy within the community.

[edit] SourceForts in the media

On August 5, 2006, the SourceForts trailer movie was added to Steam.^[18] Over the following weeks, SourceForts rose in Steam's official game statistics, maintaining a consistent number of players since release.^[19] SourceForts has been featured on the Steam website since August 2006.^[20]

SourceForts was featured on Giga TV, a German television show, on August 10, 2006.^[21] SourceForts version 1.9.0 was included on the cover disc of PC Zone magazine issue #163, January 2006.^[22][23]

In January 2007, SourceForts was awarded 'Mod of the Year' by the French Steam gaming website Vossey. They praised the mod for 'its originality and gameplay'.^[24]

[edit] Requirements

To play SourceForts a copy of Half-Life 2: Deathmatch (free with Half-Life 2, but also included in a number of Steam game packages^[25]) must be installed along with the Source SDK Base (which is not available with any NVIDIA or ATI offer).

Although SourceForts users have previously encountered problems when attempting to install it with Half-Life 2: Deathmatch alone (i.e. those players who did not own the single-player Half-Life 2 game), this problem seems to have been resolved with a Steam software update; these users may install the mod in its default location.^[26]

[edit] See also

• Half-Life 2
• Valve Software
• List of Half-Life 2 mods

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official SourceForts website
• Official SourceForts wiki
• SourceForts at Mod DB