Map: Black Mesa

There are two things I remember best about my first time on the Black Mesa map:

1) there were so many points, and I never seemed to know which one to go to

2) spies! there were spies everywhere!

I've been playing on the excellent =(eGO)= Black Mesa server (72.233.91.126:27015). Highly recommend it. The first couple of times I visited, it was jam packed with players, and the action never stopped.

Not having any clue about the map, I just followed other players out into the fray and medic'd as best I could, dying often. The enclosed spaces (corridors, vents, small rooms) take some getting used to, and pyros especially seem to mop up on this map.

There are many clever hiding places for spies -- even things as simple as hugging the wall on the same side that the enemy usually barrells through from their spawn point (who ever looks behind them when running through an "obviously" empty room on their way to the front line?).

There are fun places that demos can camp and lob grenades (ledges around the top of rooms, catwalks, vents). A scout in an enclosed space is always difficult to target, so they might have fun -- though I wouldn't call the map scout-friendly per se. Snipers can shoot down looooong corridors at enemies rounding the corner at the far end, or camp out in the basement catwalk areas and pick enemies off cap point A.

There's definitely a little something for everyone, no matter what class you like to play.

The other night I experienced Black Mesa for the first time with relatively few players: 5 vs. 5. Given that there are five capture points (I think -- sorry, but I don't feel like logging in to double-check the map for accuracy at the moment, so I'm just writing this from memory), trying to win with 5 players is a whole new dynamic.

When we played with a full server of good players, I don't recall any actual wins when I was there -- just stalemate after stalemate.

But with the smaller number, every decision made a difference, and our team pulled it together into a WIN, at least once, maybe twice! (You know how it is, the last match is the most memorable, and I remember winning that one!)

Some tips for playing with just a few teammates on this map:

• Even when numbers are low, medics are still important! I tried going attack class with the idea that medics aren't needed with so few, but ended up switching back. As a medic, I found myself both busy and useful. There were times that I could capture or defend a c.p. by myself, and there were lots of chances to partner with teammates to take well-defended points together.
  


• Engineers are important, too! I think we had a medic, an engineer, and then a mix of attack guys who switched as needed between pyro, demo, soldier, heavy, etc. An engi with a sentry gun can sit and lock a key point while the rest of the team takes the others.
  


• You gotta communicate, people! I loved my team, because the chatter was friendly, cooperative and focused. When the engi's sentry was under attack and he couldn't reach the enemy in the vents above him, he'd call for assistance. When we were losing point A and needed to get it back, we dispatched someone without losing focus on whatever other targets we were pounding. This coordination was the key to our win, imho.
  


• Know the map! It was maybe my third time on the map, and I was still learning the details, but overall it was a HUGE help that I understood where to go when the call went out for everyone to gather at a particular capture point. All you really have to do is look up on the walls and read the signs to get the basic idea. And guys, don't be afraid to ask for directions. I found the others very helpful when I did get lost (thanks, guys!).
  
  
• Watch your HUD for cap point info! There's a very handy HUD indicator at the bottom of your screen that shows which cap points are held by which team. Use this! You can see which c.p.'s are under attack and need defense, even if you don't have anyone stationed there.

I'm looking forward to my next visit to eGO's Black Mesa server. Maybe you can meet me there and we'll secure some B-L-A-C-K points together!

Meanwhile, what's YOUR favorite map right now, and why?