Just wondering what do you look for in a custom map?
Good layout?
Lots of training areas?
Cool camos?
Ported weapons?
Difficulty?
Easter Eggs?
Custom features/textures?
Storyline?
And which is more important to you?

The most important thing for me is a good, well balanced layout and heavy detail. The more custom content the better also, as long as it works well.

Custom maps that rival Treyarch maps are what everyone should be looking for really. That is the reason we play customs in the first place, so for me it has to be a map that has the feel of a professional map. One window maps, box maps and poorly detailed maps are not for me.

The most important thing for me is a good, well balanced layout and heavy detail. The more custom content the better also, as long as it works well.

Custom maps that rival Treyarch maps are what everyone should be looking for really. That is the reason we play customs in the first place, so for me it has to be a map that has the feel of a professional map. One window maps, box maps and poorly detailed maps are not for me.

Nice totally agree !

the less detail the better also boxes or box shaped maps and only waw weapons

the less detail the better also boxes or box shaped maps and only waw weapons

Lol I sense the sarcasm from here.
 

i think a map that has been thoroughly researched ( from layout of the time/place to weapons used ). Also non cubical designs and detail help out a whole lot. The better maps tend to "new" features that attract the players. Also the map should be difficult so that people would like to play it again. Last thing is the removal of waw feeling. That is the worst part of maps. They all feel like were playing waw. You should be able to make it feel like were playing a whole new game. This is because we are. We are playint YOUR game and such it should feel like that.

i think a map that has been thoroughly researched ( from layout of the time/place to weapons used ). Also non cubical designs and detail help out a whole lot. The better maps tend to "new" features that attract the players. Also the map should be difficult so that people would like to play it again. Last thing is the removal of waw feeling. That is the worst part of maps. They all feel like were playing waw. You should be able to make it feel like were playing a whole new game. This is because we are. We are playint YOUR game and such it should feel like that.

I see I don't know about the whole WAW feeling to be honest kinda lost me there.

BTW I know this isn't a help topic but does anyone know if it's possible to change the round number I'm testing my map a bit but want to test it at later rounds like 15 instead of 1 right off the bat?

Personally, I like when a mapper does he research beforehand. For example, it really shows when you prewrote a story, and instead of explicitly stating it, describe it using the objects in the room. Think of the zombies storyline, even without the radios we'd still know a lot of the story because of things like Peter's corpse and the hand on the power switch.

Detail key to me. not good looking maps distant me. But i also love custom proper working features .

Attention to detail. I love when a mapper takes the time to fill every nook and cranny in a level with models, patches, brushwork, etc. I like to feel like I'm actually in the map, and very few maps have ever given me that feeling.

Pre-planned layout. I like when a mapper draws out his layout beforehand and considers all of the possible paths that the players can take. This almost always results in the best map layouts because when the mapper takes into consideration all of the ways the players have to navigate the levels it makes running through the map all the more enjoyable.

Custom features done right. I don't care how MANY custom features are in a map, all I care about is if they are done right and they serve a purpose. If there's custom weapons in the map they better have reload sounds and proper damage/ammo amounts. If there are custom elevators or moving platforms they better have failsafes to keep me from getting stuck.

Bugtesting. Nothing pleases me more than seeing someone do private betas of their map weeks or even months before release to make sure the map plays right, is fun, and doesn't crash or glitch out. That really tells me that the mapper cares about releasing a quality product for us to enjoy.

Custom maps that rival Treyarch maps are what everyone should be looking for really. That is the reason we play customs in the first place, so for me it has to be a map that has the feel of a professional map. One window maps, box maps and poorly detailed maps are not for me.

literally the most amazing paragraph i have ever read in relation to custom zombies

Replayability. I want to be able to still enjoy a map after dozens of games on it.

Attention to detail. I love when a mapper takes the time to fill every nook and cranny in a level with models, patches, brushwork, etc. I like to feel like I'm actually in the map, and very few maps have ever given me that feeling.

Pre-planned layout. I like when a mapper draws out his layout beforehand and considers all of the possible paths that the players can take. This almost always results in the best map layouts because when the mapper takes into consideration all of the ways the players have to navigate the levels it makes running through the map all the more enjoyable.

Custom features done right. I don't care how MANY custom features are in a map, all I care about is if they are done right and they serve a purpose. If there's custom weapons in the map they better have reload sounds and proper damage/ammo amounts. If there are custom elevators or moving platforms they better have failsafes to keep me from getting stuck.

Bugtesting. Nothing pleases me more than seeing someone do private betas of their map weeks or even months before release to make sure the map plays right, is fun, and doesn't crash or glitch out. That really tells me that the mapper cares about releasing a quality product for us to enjoy.

^Great point

Also:

"If there's custom weapons in the map they better have reload sounds and proper damage/ammo amounts"

This is also something that I heavily agree on as well...if people are going to put custom weapons in their map they should at least try to make it as close as possible to their original counterparts

What I find odd though is how there are plenty of people in the zombie community who don't care about broken custom zombies...

Attention to detail. I love when a mapper takes the time to fill every nook and cranny in a level with models, patches, brushwork, etc. I like to feel like I'm actually in the map, and very few maps have ever given me that feeling.

Pre-planned layout. I like when a mapper draws out his layout beforehand and considers all of the possible paths that the players can take. This almost always results in the best map layouts because when the mapper takes into consideration all of the ways the players have to navigate the levels it makes running through the map all the more enjoyable.

Custom features done right. I don't care how MANY custom features are in a map, all I care about is if they are done right and they serve a purpose. If there's custom weapons in the map they better have reload sounds and proper damage/ammo amounts. If there are custom elevators or moving platforms they better have failsafes to keep me from getting stuck.

Bugtesting. Nothing pleases me more than seeing someone do private betas of their map weeks or even months before release to make sure the map plays right, is fun, and doesn't crash or glitch out. That really tells me that the mapper cares about releasing a quality product for us to enjoy.

I never really thought about pre planned layouts to be honest but I love drawning, writing and some zombies might have to think more about this next time.
^_^

Also @Cyberman the reason people don't care that a weapon is broken is because some people see something from BO2 for example and go apeshit over it. They get a MSMC and they flip bannanas with joy even though it's broken.

I never really thought about pre planned layouts to be honest but I love drawning, writing and some zombies might have to think more about this next time.
^_^

Also @Cyberman the reason people don't care that a weapon is broken is because some people see something from BO2 for example and go apeshit over it. They get a MSMC and they flip bannanas with joy even though it's broken.

Are there really people like that?