Deathmatch Map Design Theory

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Deathmatch is a game mode found in many games, from Quake, to Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, and even Counter-Strike 2. 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".

Player spawns

• Deathmatch spawnpoints should be reasonably spread apart.

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.

• Discourage spawn camping^[How?].
• Spawn points shouldn't be too far away from weapon drops.

In Half-Life's multiplayer, for example, the player starts with the glock and the 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 revolver, MP5, or shotgun).