Presenting the Usual Suspects series (Cops N Robbers)

[Majkeswe]

The Usual Suspects series

The Usual Suspects maps are Cops and Robbers maps where you as a Suspect need to make it to the hideout while avoiding the Law represented by the San Andreas Police Force. Due to the use of checkpoints the Suspects now have a goal, and due to the placement of the checkpoints, that denies the Police from reaching them, it's still a Cops and Robbers map, and not a race. The layout of the maps encourages teamwork, but do not demand it. Enjoy!

Links to where you can download the maps:

Usual Suspects1:

The first version of Usual Suspects1

The second version of Usual Suspects1

The third version of Usual Suspects1

(Note: All versions work. The description for the second and third version is a bit down in the thread.

Usual Suspects2:

The first version of Usual Suspects2

A short description is a bit down in this thread

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About Usual Suspects1 (a 24 player action packed Cops and Robbers map; the first one in the series)

The purpose of this map:

Hi! There have been numerous of CnR (Cops N Robbers) maps ever since MTA:SA was launched. I've played many of them, and after many hours I came to some conclusions. Most of them are more or less fun, but there are key elements that prevent them from being perfect in my eyes.

I don't like the fact that the robbers have no objective. They are just to roam the streets avoiding the police, or killing the police, but to have that as an objective as a robber in a CnR map seems strange to me. The police are suppose to eliminate the robbers, not the other way around.

Another thing that many CnR maps feature is vehicle pickups. Now this might be a good idea from the start, but unfortunately there is nothing that prevents robbers becoming polices, or the other way around, in the middle of a race.

What defines Usual Suspects1?

In the creation I had some targets. Suspects must have a way to win and the teams (who's Cop and who's Robber) must be consistent throughout a race. And of course it needs to be fun and intense.

First of all I chose Las Venturas as the scene for this map. I blocked all the exists, making sure that all the racing and hunting takes place inside of Las Venturas. This is necessary, otherwise some players might feel like taking a trip to the country, and all of a sudden the map takes 30 minutes to complete, and all the spectators leave the server...

No vehicle pickups. I chose to not put any of these in the map since they can be reached by anyone and therefore might ruin a race if someone suddenly change side.

I have put checkpoints in the race. Many might think that this destroys a CnR map, but believe me, it doesn't. I placed only a few checkpoints around Las Venturas and with enough road between them to ensure that the suspects are as free as possible. The suspects are the only ones who can take the checkpoints, the police can't reach them. And an important note on the checkpoints: They come in two colors, blue and green. If you take a blue, then go for a green and then for a blue again.

Using checkpoints and the blocked off city makes this map intense and since the police (after you've played the map a few times) know where the suspects are going to pass through, they can set up efficient road blocks. If the police cooperates and communicate, the suspects are in for a hard race. Cooperation is not necessary, but adds a great deal to this race type.

Hard facts about Usual Suspects1

24 player map

Suspects objective: Reach the hideout and avoid the law

Police obejctive: Prevent the suspects from reaching their hideout

7 checkpoints, suspects only (two colors, take every other blue, and every other green)

Located in Las Venturas

The cops are always bigger in numbers

Final notes:

This map has been tested for a week now on a great server that I'd like to recommend: mta.mictech.org (join directly here mtasa://[email protected]:22003/

If you want to try the map out, stop by, it is played alot there. The map itself has had many changes before I and the others finally was satisfied. This map may not be liked by everyone, but that's ok, this is just my humble opinion about how a great CnR map should look like. Maybe you share my view?

Creator: [FP]MAN[swe]

Co-creators: [FP]TheGandro[swe] and [LRS]Strepto

(apologies for any spelling mistakes)

Edited March 25, 2006 by Guest

[Ransom]

Sounds nice.. this is how I would have done it as well. Though, the objective of the cps would be to force the robbers into playing, else the cops can get cps and complete the game (you could accomplish this by putting one cp where robbers start, to give them a head start).

I would make the cop:robber ratio much greater though.

[UK Red]

Just had a look, and that's what he's done with the cp Ransom. 6 suspects to 18 police too.

Looks like a good fun map, even though I've only looked at it in editor. I might come along to the server some time to see it running.

Only crit is that more of the cops aren't just cops cars. Personally I think there's too many variations of vehicles. Having the slow army truck or the Rhino would suck.

[Majkeswe]

I'm sure I missed a bunch in the description. But yes, it's only the robbers that can take checkpoints (the first one is only accessable by the robbers). And the ratio is such as it is always more cops than robbers, 6 to 18 on a full server is correct.

As far as the different vehicles in the game being boring, alot of thought has gone into that too. For instance, the barracks and rhino will only spawn if there are 23 respective 24 players on the server. The whole police spawning routine is inspired by the game's star levels. If there are few suspects, then there are only cruisers, and if there are many suspects, the police gets better material.

The thing about the slower vehicles is that they can withstand more damage. Once you know the maps CPs, you can also set up more effective road blocks. The barracks skipping every other CP in order to get ahead of the suspects is one way to make the barracks an advantage, instead of something that never really catches up on the highways.

The police maverick is for scouting purpose mainly. It is fast and agile and if the pilot is a team player, he will update the ground units continuously on the whereabouts of the suspects.

The seasparrow has been a debated element of the map due to it's machine gun. But in the end I decided to keep it. Know that any suspect vehicle should be able to outrun it on a straight. I kept it because over the week many suspects have still been able to beat the cops, even though the sparrow is active. And I think it adds another dimension that you need to keep track of as a suspect. Every time you see a marker on the mini map that indicates a vehicle that is higher than you, get out of there at all cost. There should never be a dull moment.

[driver2]

Looks like great fun. I like that idea of putting the first cp out of the reach for the cops. The spawnorder seems well thought-out.

[Strepto]

Great description

There's actually a lot of tactics involved when you have a server full of experienced players that know the map. And since the checkpoints are placed at locations that are easily identified (i.e The Four Dragons, Baseball Stadium, Girlfriends house (the kinky one)) it makes it much easier to inform other police units of a suspects progress.

Let me explain what I mean when I say tactics.

The usual course of action when we played this as police, is to rush to The Four Dragons casino, and set up a roadblock around the entrance. This is fairly simple, since three skilled players kan block of one of the three available angles of approach. And if you're a suspect and can't take the first checkpoint fast enough, chances are the Sea Sparrow will come kill you.

But you have a choice! There are many suspects, and the police tend to break up the roadblock in order to pursue a suspect that has taken the checkpoint. And if you time it just right, you can elude the remaining police and get some distance on the police. And since you maintain your speed when taking the checkpoints, it will be easier to outrun the sea sparrow.

At any rate, this map is best enjoyed on lan's, or when using programs like teamspeak and ventrilo. Even if the players that are suspects can hear what the police are planning, it won't help him much when they catch up, spin him off the road and box him in. Only to await the final crushing blow from the sea sparrow.

[bloodeye]

I'm sure I missed a bunch in the description. But yes, it's only the robbers that can take checkpoints (the first one is only accessable by the robbers)

very nice il play it when i finish work, i like the checkpoint idea very much

[driver2]

I placed your map on my server, though its not very populated..

[Majkeswe]

Thanks for the great response and like Strepto said, playing this map over LAN or over Ventrilo/TS makes for a greater experience. Nevertheless I hope that you have had some fun with it. I am currently working on Usual Suspects2 and it is coming along nicely. The concept is the same but the location has changed and new tactics by the police may be needed. If you liked the first one, you will like Usual Suspects2 aswell. In any case, that is the target.

[Majkeswe]

Version 2 of Usual Suspects1

I have released a second version of Usual Suspects1 (link at the top of this thread). I have made two changes.

There is now a vehicle change pickup at the roof just in front of where the Maverick spawns. This pickup is only accessable by the helicopters. I added it since some people have felt they can't contribute as much as they want to in a Maverick. Therefore they can now choose if they want to be the "all seeing eye" as the Maverick, or assist as a Police Car on the road.

The second change I have made has to do with the checklpoints. Now there is only one checkpoint showing up in the minimap at the time, instead of the usual two. Therefore the problem of suspects going to the wrong checkpoint has been eliminated.

I accomplished this by putting two checkpoints at every checkpoint location. They are placed on the exact same place, so you take them both when you drive through. Therefore the number of checkpoints has now increased, but you will not notice it when you are driving. No checkpoint location has been moved an inch, they are all where they used to be.

Usual Suspects2 Beta

The second map in the series is soon completed. It's being tried out atm at mta.mictech.com and will be released after a few more days of testing. That's all for now. Thanks for reading.

[UK Red]

What's mictechs IP? Sounds like some decent CnR maps and would like to join in

Edit: Found it, 213.112.30.140

[Majkeswe]

Usual Suspects2 released.

The Usual Suspects2 has been released and you'll find the link to it at the very top of this thread. I've used the same concept as I used when I made Usual Suspects1. US2 also features 24 spawnpoints, but this time it's located in Los Santos. The whole region has been carefully blocked off and the Suspects have got some new cars to master. The spawn order is identical to US1 and all the changes that were made in US1 version 2 has been implemented in US2.

Time to put the pedal to the metal and see if you got the skills you need to evade the cops. Or if you got the wits to be one step ahead and capture the Suspects. Enjoy!

This map has been tested for a week now on a great server that I'd like to recommend: mta.mictech.org/22003 (join directly here mtasa://[email protected]:22003/

What's mictechs IP? Sounds like some decent CnR maps and would like to join in

Edit: Found it, 213.112.30.140

That's the one. You can also just type mta.mictech.org/22003 , easier to remember.

[Sodisna]

That places sucks. They kicked me because my ping was too high. Bitches.

[Majkeswe]

That places sucks. They kicked me because my ping was too high. Bitches.

I'm sorry to hear that. It's a very strict and exclusive server, but if you (are able to) follow the rules, it's one of the best you can find. Read all of the rules here: http://mta.mictech.org/server_rules.php

See you there.

EDIT: Usual Suspects1 has been updated. Here's what's changed:

Updated to work with MTA:SA 1.1. No respawns. Fixed the garage where suspects spawn since a Police managed to get in there. The checkpoints now point to the next checkpoint.

Download the new version here.