BTW, the first time you're in the gold gate room and press the 3rd switch, the game crashes on Hard skill - no free edicts. Doh.

Other than that, this map grew on me overall. The starting gameplay is horrible, really boring. Once you get past the main lift, it's a lot more fun. Even so, it's pretty hard and some bits could be frustrating, generally I tended to run around like a loon rather than play properly. I like the way the layout comes together later on too, it all starts to make sense. However the design, like the gameplay, is a mixed bag. Some of it is good, like some designs in the larger rooms, and the curvy corridors. The occasional bit is great - the mad arches in the power room. Conversely, quite a lot of it is bland, and despite the layout it still feels like a collection of vaguely impressive rooms linked by distinctly unimpressive corridors.

Having said that, I think you could do very well with your mapping - the ideas are there, the talent is there, some good gameplay is there, and the build quality is there. You just need to refine it and increase the coherence, and I think some serious beta testing would help too. 

In the readme

Then load the map by typing "map hellchepsout". 

I see the same mistakes as your first map, JPL. Incoherent designs, inconsistent designs, inconsistent lighting. Like Shambler said, some areas looked really good, others were very bland. Similarly, some areas were lit well others seemed fullbright. Also, overall theme was not implemented well, the designs didnt seem to fit together as a whole.

Gameplay wise, I really didnt like it at all. I was playing this like a DM game rather an sp game, which is fine for an area or two but this whole map seemed like that.

Despite all of that, I have to agree with Shambler's conclusion. You have the talent, but it just needs to be put to a more coherent and refined approach. 

Shambler/nitin: Thousands apologizes, aguirRe found this big issue as well on the map in Hard skill (I see a mail from him this morning...), so please guys, don't try it or your engine will unfortunatly crash (fitzquake does...). I will try to update the map to avoid this fucking error ASAP... Otherwize even if you seemed to be bored by the map, I'm glad to hear you think I have some kind of "talent" for maps... I take this as a compliment... Thanks...

VoreLord: Sorry, It comes from a copy paste... I will correct it later, with the hard skill error update... ;) 

While I think that Shambler and Nitin both have valid points, you certainly have gone forward from your first release, so your heading in the right direction. I had fun playing the map. Thanks, and keep going. 

I played on normal and had no crashes. 

...Nice piece of work indeeed! My two cents: I found the overall layout of the map very nice, with good backtracking and generally good brushwork (ideas are here, for sure!), a nice feeling of interactivity (as far as Quake allows). I agree with Shamb about the mgameplay flow that's quite unbalanced and rather easy overall. I only played normal so far to avoid crashes addressed in the previous posts and I gotta say that 2 quads near the end would deserve an harder fight to be had... I found all secrets, little more variety here wouldn't hurt... Texturing left me an odd feeling... maybe a different, maybe darker, light placement would have worked better with them...
Anyway.... an above average map for sure and a great way to start a Sunday morning, thanks. Keep them coming. 

...waiting for the fixed version for Hard 'n Nightmare.... 

Architecture at first glance seems to be a lot reminiscent of many old Q1 base maps, but when looking closer, there are in fact a lot of curves and unusual designs that are interesting. Texturing is also similar, a mix between the old idbase and other more HL inspired themes.

Lighting is IMO the main problem; all the flashing and either underlit or overlit rooms make the visuals flat and this also hides the more interesting designs. I'm not a fan of coloured lighting, but it's actually applied rather cautiously here and definitely better than the earlier Hellchepsout.

Gameplay is mainly good, although the initial rooms are pretty tough in an unfair way, the grunts and enforcers from all directions really wear down health quickly. Ammo/weapon/health balance is overall good on Normal; no axing here. Maybe a bit more shells and less rockets. Gameflow is sometimes a bit confusing but not a big issue.

Although I liked Hellchepsout better for its theme, it's good to see that you're trying out different things. Keep it up! 

I really liked the overall 'shape' of the map, at first I thought it was going to be a 'go get key, head back, go through door, repeat' kinda slog but it wasn't and the way it which is wasn't was pretty neat.

Lighting is definitely a bit odd. There were a number of glitches, at least in MacGLQuake.

Didn't actually play the map, 'cause I'm stuck with a trackpad for the moment. 

this map is much better!
good job :) 

Well, I thought it was excellent. :)

Strangely it's similar to a map I've kind of started. I thought the textures and architecture were really well done. Managed to get around the faults with the hard level by using Tomaz Quake. This map on level 3 is a total bitch, but then that's what it should be.

Nice one! 

this map definitely shows a lot of potential, keep at it JPL. I wouldn't take a lot of work to make this map look excellent. It needs a coherent scheme of lighting, with a few different types of lights that are repeated throughout. Maybe some spotlights for the walls would have been good, as well as more subtlety, and toning down the brightness a bit.

Brushwork is very good, interesting in general, but quite often one or two of the walls will be completely boring, with everything else being nicely detailed. I especially noticed that in the bit where there's 2 screens and a button on a platform... its all uberdetailed but the outside walls of the big room are completely flat and the textures stand out.

Gameplay was alright, a bit of fighting shamblers with rockets for me though, didnt like that. Looking forward to your next release though, it wouldn't take much to make this a great map.