de_meuse [MapINK x Lenmo Greybox Contest]

A map set in the dutch city of Rotterdam.

Setting

Rotterdam is a city that’s perpetually under construction and currently, just like any other day, again the streets of Rotterdam are broken open for repairs, improvements and redesign.

Currently the municipality is improving the infrastructure around the Meuse Port Centre: the headquarters for maritime security on and around the waters of the Meuse and the Rotterdam harbour. Important streets are blocked and broken open, making the MPC hard to get to.

It just so happens that Terrorists see this as a perfect time to strike. The street blockades will make it difficult for emergency services to reach the MPC and its surrounding area. They aim to either wreak havoc on Rotterdam’s industry by blowing up the lobby of the MPC, or to break the city’s heart by blowing up the Old Port, one of the few standing heritage sites from Rotterdam’s past.

Luckily the dutch Maritime counter-terrorism division, M-Squadron, has just arrived by boat. They have just set foot on the quay right next to the MPC. Their task is to secure the sites and avoid national heartbreak, though they are unsure which sites the terrorists aim to attack.

Will the M-Squadron succesfully protect Rotterdam? Or was the city doomed from the moment the terrorists entered the city? Only time will tell, and the clock has already started ticking…

Gameplay

de_meuse features an asymmetrical layout inspired by maps like Overpass, Inferno and Train. It features a layered design, where the primary A route sits above the underground middle section. The A route features ventilation shafts where players can support their teammates in middle.

The map allows for dynamic CT positioning around the middle section; defenders can decide to agressively play forward creating a more 3-lane map feel, or decide to play passively and give T’s more space in return for more favourable angles and fights.

Though the map is asymmetrical its design aims to avoid excessive connectors and alternative routes, creating a map where aim and positioning should shine alongside creative and thought-out gameplans from both sides.

Many thanks to nomnomnom AKA cake for feedback and playtesting.