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At some point over the weekend (maybe Friday night, maybe Saturday night, maybe both, maybe neither), I TheChrisD will be holding Fireworks playtests. These playtests are mainly for testing out the map and gametype, seeing how well they work, whether there are any balance issues, and whether anything needs to be changed. If you want to help out with the playtests, just go look for me online and join my party somehow.

Just don’t clog up my message inbox asking for an invite.

The current versions of the map and gametype will be uploaded to my File Share at some point, hopefully tonight. From the looks of open spots, it’ll probably be Slots 6 and 7.

The Fireworks map for Friday week’s Independence Day blowout made some good progress yesterday. While still not complete, here’s a quick run-down on the map.

• Spawn points are located inside the bases - 8 on each side. The front entrances are blocked off with crates and barricades, while the centre ramp is blocked off with radio antennae. Although the antennae could possibly be moved by heavy explosions, they are on a reset timer of 10 seconds, as with all other scenery.
• Inside the spawn points are a Spartan Laser, Bubble Shield, Power Drain and Flare, all on a 20 second respawn. 4 firebomb grenades as well as plenty of stickies (both kinds) are on a 10 second timer.
• There is a teleporter on either side of the spawn point, in the corridors to the front entrances. These teleporters are linked to the 8 receiver nodes placed around the map. 2 nodes drop you outside the bases, 2 to the left of the bases, 2 to the right, and 2 nodes drop you right in the centre of the map.
• Behind each base is a Scorpion and 2 Ghosts on a 20 second timer. Also featured is a Missile Pod with 2 spare clips, also on a 20 second timer.
• To the left of each base is another node near a re-stocking station with more grenades and a Trip Mine. To the right of each base another node near a Deployable Cover.
• Near each side reciever node are 2 rockets on a 10 second reset, as well as a 20 second Banshee and Active Camo.
• In the middle of the map at the very edges lies a Chopper. A turret is also nearby.
• 4 Overshields are dotted around the map. 2 under some cliffs near the centre of the map, and 2 others out in front of the bases.
• Near each man-cannon landing zone are a turret case with a Sniper Rifle, Gravity Hammer and a Regenarator.
• In the centre of the map is a zone holding a 10 second Spartan Laser. Surrounding the Laser are fusion coils and Grav Lifts designate the corners of the zone. Blowing up the coils will blow up the entire area (the main Firework), as well as sending the Laser flying off.
• Near the centre Firework are 2 more Missile Pods.

If I’ve forgotten anything, I’ll be sure to add it in as soon as possible. Forging will continue until the map looks right, is slightly balanced, and plays out well. Playtests will be held on off days if people are available.

As for the gametype, all settings are default, with the exception of:

• Starting Weapons: Rocket Launcher/Random
• Respawn Traits: Invulnerable, infinite ammo, Black colour for 5 seconds.

The main reason for the repspawn traits is to give people the ability to get out of the spawn point without being killed by campers either in the spawn or outside the receiver nodes. Infinite ammo allows the players to kill any such campers “for free”.

Any suggestions for the map or the game settings should be posted in a reply!

On the 4th July this year, the RPWS will be holding a special FFA match to celebrate (among other things) Independence Day (For a full list of occasions, see the end of this post). And what better way to celebrate it than with fireworks? And what better to use as fireworks than rockets, Spartan lasers, missiles, and other heavy weaponry?

This July 4th at 8pm EST, a special 1-hour free-for-all match will be held on a heavily forged Valhalla, filled with heavy vehicles, lasers, rockets and other big beefy items. To make things more fun, each player spawns with a rocket launcher and another random weapon, and spawns in a sealed location filled with goodies on a quick respawn timer, before venturing out into the open to celebrate with mindless carnage!

And to aid in the celebrations - the winner will win a 12-month XBL subscription card (to be purchased after the match, since I’m not entirely sure whether European codes will work on US accounts and vice versa) - so there’s even more reason to celebrate! More prizes will be made available if there is enough demand and if there is room on my credit card!

If you wish to take part, simple reply to this post with your Gamertag. First 15 to reply (obviously I’m in spot 16) get first invites on the night, and then the party gets opened for anyone else to join. The winner is the player with the most points at the end of the hour.

Gameweek 5, taking place the weekend of 5th-6th July on Foundry will still go ahead as planned!

Gametype and map forging updates will be posted between now and Independence Day. Have fun, and hopefully this will be a great 4th July! More »