Capture the Flag
Capture the Flag is a popular modification developed by David "Zoid" Kirsch. The most popular type of ctf in qw is Threewave CTF.
History
In late 1996, Zoid setup the first Threewave CTF server. It was imediatly accepted by the community then, since it was the first goal oriented teamplay mod. CTF had its own community, where most ctf players didn't played dm and focused only on CTF. CTF still is a much loved mod today, especially for those who lived intensely ctf lans and inet mixes/matches.
Concept
There's 2 teams, blue and red. Each team has a base on the map. In the base there's the Flag. Besides regular Quake weapons and powerups, there are special powerups called runes (see below) and a moving device, called grappling hook or simply hook (see below).
Objectives
CTF is a goal oriented teamplay mod. The goal of the game is to capture the enemy flag. To score, one team (a specific player - the flag carrier) has to bring the enemys flag to their own flag stand. You can not score if your own flag is not on the stand.
If the flag carrier is killed the flag holds still until someone picks it up. If it is picked by a flag carriers teammate, he now carries the flag. If picked by an enemy of flag carrier, his flag returns automatically to the base.
Captures count 20 points. One frag counts 1 point. Flag returns counts ??? points. The team with the most points wins the match.
Strategy
Strategy depends on the map. Generically, your team struggles to get the flag in your base. Hence, the base must be protected against attacks from the enemy team. At the same time, your team needs to attack the enemy base to try to steal their flag.
- If your team gets the enemy flag and your flag is at base, you got to cover the flag carrier AND protect the base.
- If your team gets the enemy flag and your flag has been stolen, you got to kill the enemy frag carrier to return your flag to base AND protect your flag carrier.
(...)
In some maps (usually episode ones), it is better to chose a given base (red or blue), as it has advantages (closer to items/easier to protect, etc) while classic ctf maps are usually mirrored (equal for red and blue).
The Grappling Hook
Capture the Flag is unique in that it has its own special mode of transporation, the grappling hook. It takes time and effort to master. Good hookers always have advantage. There are versions of CTF without hook, but those aren't popular in Quakeworld. In other fps games, ctf hook versions are known as "classic ctf" or "pure ctf".
David "Zoid" Kirsch: ...As for the grapple, after seeing how it was being used so effectively in CTF, I felt it was too fast. A player could be gone before you had a chance to even blink and that made it too powerful. But, it became part of the game and players worked to accommodate it."
Runes
It is also unique in that it is one of the only gametypes that has its own special powerups, called Runes.
David "Zoid" Kirsch: "The runes are all about control, control the runes and you can take control of the level. Good CTF teams take great care in protecting their rune bearers and placing them in strategic positions."
There are 4 runes:
- Haste: Doubles your movement speed and firing speed
- Regeneration: Slowly boosts your armor (if u have it) and health to 150
- Strength: Doubles your damage towards enemys
- Resistance: Cuts by half the damage you receive
Maps
Capture the Flag can be played on normal maps as long as they have flag spawn information. There are also maps built specially for Capture the Flag.
Loved maps include e2m2, ctf8, (...)
Tournaments
Through the years there has been numerous tournaments.
- Quakeworld Capture League (2006)
(...)
Compatibility
Capture the Flag can be played with the original Threewave CTF serverside modification, however recent versions of KTX support CTF out of the box.
Famous Clans
- Da Quaking Manjakks
- Clan Cute
- (...)
Other Types of CTF
The most popular one is Threewave. There are others though: All-star ctf, Thunderwalker ctf, Star wars ctf...
Links
- Movie: quakeworld ctf in 2005
- Movie: North America qw CTF
- Bash ctf page (with server stats)
- Bluesnews CTF guide
- (...)