View source for Deathmatch Map Design Theory

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:''This page is for the cross-game deathmatch gamemode in general.''
{{for|the deathmatch gamemode in CSGO specifically|[[Counter-Strike:_Global_Offensive/Game_Modes/Deathmatch]]}}
{{for|specifics about deathmatch mode in other games|[[:Category:Level_Design|their applicable level design category page]]}}
'''Deathmatch''' is a game mode found in many games, from {{quake|4.1}}, to {{hl2dm|4.1}}, and even {{cs2|4.1}}. Conceptually, the game mode isn't very different from game to game. Indeed, from a player's point of view, the objective is quite simple: ''frag or get fragged''. From a map design perspective, however, much more needs to be considered, so to prevent a map from feeling unfair, and instead feel "fun". Nonetheless, many base level design concepts remain a staple across all the games the mode is found in.

== Player spawns ==
* '''Deathmatch spawnpoints should be reasonably spread apart, unless they share the same team'''.
: Players shouldn't spawn within line of sight of each other, but they also shouldn't spawn so far apart that they will take forever to find each other.
: For ''team deathmatch'', multiples of the same team's spawnpoints ''should'' be clustered, but these clusters should still be a reasonable distance away from other teams' spawnpoints.
* '''Discourage spawn camping'''.
: There are many ways to tackle this, and there's no one catch-all solution. Be creative; deathmatch games are most exciting when everyone is constantly moving!
* '''Spawn points shouldn't be too far away from weapon drops'''.
: In {{hl|2}}'s multiplayer, for example, the player starts with the [[weapon_glock (GoldSrc)|glock]] and the [[weapon_crowbar (GoldSrc)|crowbar]]. These are both low-tier "last resort" weapons; a mid tier weapon should be nearby when a player spawns, stripped of his or her weapon (such as a [[weapon_357 (GoldSrc)|revolver]], [[weapon_9mmar (GoldSrc)|MP5]], or [[weapon_shotgun (GoldSrc)|shotgun]]).