ONS-Ascendancy

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Ascendancy
An Onslaught map for Unreal Tournament 2004
Author	Robert 'Nathillien Thilsa' Horvat
Music	"Onslaught 1" by Will Nevins
Comes with	UT2004 XP Bonus Maps
Arena info
Player count	16-22
Arena type	Open

"Battle over Tarydium crystal mines on the Second Moon of Kaldor Prime."

– Map description

Ascendancy is an Onslaught map from Unreal Tournament 2004. It comes with the XP Bonus Maps addon.

Map description

Keyguide by KurlonT.

Default link setup.

Air Domination link setup.

Morning Star link setup.

Aldebaran link setup.

Crown of Thorns link setup.

The map takes place in a big canyon on a moon.

The map has the following zones:

• Red Base: Contains the Red Power Core.
• Southeast Wing: Contains the Southeast Node (2).
• Red Prime Base: Located southwest of the Red Base. Contains the Red Prime Node (3).
• Center Base: Contains the Center Node (5).
• Hub: Contains the Hub Node (1).
• Blue Prime Base: Located southwest of the Blue Base. Contains the Blue Prime Node (4).
• Northwest Wing: Contains the Northwest Node (6).
• Blue Base: Contains the Blue Power Core.

Link Setups

• Default: Blue Power Core ➡ (Northwest Node (6) ➡) Blue Prime Node (4) ➡ Center Node (5) OR Hub Node (1) ➡ Red Prime Node (3) ➡ (Southeast Node (2) ➡) Red Power Core. Additionally: Hub Node (1) ➡ Center Node (5).
• Air Domination:
  • Path 1: Blue Power Core ➡ Northwest Node (6) ➡ Southeast Node (2) ➡ Red Power Core.
  • Path 2: Blue Power Core ➡ Blue Prime Node (4) ➡ Center Node (5) OR Hub Node (1) ➡ Red Prime Node (3) ➡ Red Power Core. Additionally: Hub Node (1) ➡ Center Node (5).
• Morning Star:
  • Path 1: Blue Power Core ➡ Northwest Node (6) ➡ Hub Node (1) ➡ Southeast Node (2) ➡ Red Power Core.
  • Path 2: Blue Power Core ➡ Blue Prime Node (4) ➡ Center Node (5) OR Hub Node (1) ➡ Red Prime Node (3) ➡ Red Power Core.
• Aldebaran:
  • Path 1: Blue Power Core ➡ Northwest Node (6) ➡ Hub Node (1) ➡ Southeast Node (2) ➡ Red Power Core.
  • Path 2: Blue Power Core ➡ Northwest Node (6) ➡ Blue Prime Node (4) ➡ (Hub Node (1) ➡) Red Prime Node (3) ➡ Southeast Node (2) ➡ Red Power Core.
  • Additional for both: Hub Node (1) ➡ Center Node (5).
• Crown of Ascendancy: Blue Power Core ➡ Northwest Node (6) ➡ Hub Node (1) OR Red Prime Node (3) OR Blue Prime Node (4) ➡ Southeast Node (2) ➡ Red Power Core. Additionally: Hub Node (1) ➡ Center Node (5).

Weapons and pickups

Weapons

Weapon	Count	Location
Mine Layer	W: - A: 4	Weapon: - Ammo: 1x Red Base. 1x Blue Base. 1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node.
Shock Rifle	W: - A: 2	Weapon: - Ammo: 1x Red Base. 1x Blue Base.
Flak Cannon	W: - A: 2	Weapon: - Ammo: 1x Blue Base, near northwest entrance. 1x Red Base, near southeast entrance.
Grenade Launcher	W: - A: 4	Weapon: - Ammo: 1x Blue Base, near northwest entrance. 1x Red Base, near southeast entrance. 1x Northwest Area, near the Turret. 1x Southeast Area, near the Turret.
Rocket Launcher	W: - A: 2	Weapon: - Ammo: 1x Red Base. 1x Blue Base.
AVRiL	W: - A: 8	Weapon: - Ammo: 2x Blue Base, near Wall Entrance. 2x Red Base, near Wall Entrance. 1x Blue Base, overlooking Blue Prime Node. 1x Red Base, overlooking Red Prime Node. 1x Northwest Area, near the Turret. 1x Southeast Area, near the Turret.
Sniper Rifle	W: 3 A: 6	Weapon: 1x Red Base, ledge near wall entrance. 1x Blue Base, ledge near wall entrance. 1x Hub Node, near the Raptor. Ammo: 2x Near the Red Base weapon. 2x Near the Blue Base weapon. 2x Hub Area, near the Raptor.
Redeemer	W: 2	Weapon: 1x South of the Red Base, at a hill, near the Red Prime Node. 1x West of the Blue Base, at a hill, near the Blue Prime Node.
Target Painter	W: 1	Weapon: Above the entrance to the Hub Node.
Weapon Locker	W: 16	Weapon: [See below]

Weapon Lockers

Items	Count	Location
	4	1x Red Base. 1x Blue Base. 2x Hub Area.
	2	1x Red Base. 1x Blue Base.
	3	1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node. 1x Center Node.
	3	1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node. 1x Center Node.
	2	1x Blue Prime Node. 1x Red Prime Node.
	2	1x Blue Prime Node. 1x Red Prime Node.

Pickups

Pickup	Count	Location
Health Pack	41	10x Red Base, 10x Blue Base, 4x Northwest Node, 4x Southeast Node, 3x Center Area, 2x Blue Prime Node Area, 2x Red Prime Node Area, 6x Hub Area.
Big Keg O' Health	2	1x Blue Prime Node Area. 1x Red Prime Node Area.
Shield Pack	2	1x South of the Red Base, at a hill, near the Red Prime Node. 1x West of the Blue Base, at a hill, near the Blue Prime Node.
Super Shield Pack	3	1x Red Base. 1x Blue Base. 1x Outside the Center Node Area.
Double Damage	2	1x Red Base. 1x Blue Base.

Vehicles

• Default
• Bonus Vehicles

Vehicle	Count	Location
Manta	6	2x Red Base. 2x Blue Base. 1x Red Prime Node. 1x Blue Prime Node.
Raptor	3	1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node. 1x Hub Node.
Scorpion	10	1x Red Base. 1x Blue Base. 2x Northwest Node. 2x Southeast Node. 1x Blue Prime Node. 1x Red Prime Node. 2x Hub Area.
Hellbender	6	1x Red Base. 1x Blue Base. 1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node. 1x Red Prime Node. 1x Blue Prime Node.
Goliath	7	2x Red Base. 2x Blue Base. 1x Southeast Node. 1x Northwest Node. 1x Entrance to Hub Area.
Leviathan	1	Center Node.
Energy Turret	12	3x Red Base. 3x Blue Base. 1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node. 1x Red Prime Node. 1x Blue Prime Node. 2x Hub Node.

Vehicle	Count	Location
Manta	6	2x Red Base. 2x Blue Base. 1x Red Prime Node. 1x Blue Prime Node.
Raptor	3	1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node. 1x Hub Node.
Scorpion	8	1x Red Base. 1x Blue Base. 1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node. 1x Blue Prime Node. 1x Red Prime Node. 2x Hub Area.
Hellbender	4	1x Red Base. 1x Blue Base. 1x Red Prime Node. 1x Blue Prime Node.
Goliath	5	2x Red Base. 2x Blue Base. 1x Entrance to Hub Area.
Paladin	2	1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node.
Cicada	2	1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node.
SPMA	2	1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node.
Leviathan	1	Center Node.
Energy Turret	12	3x Red Base. 3x Blue Base. 1x Northwest Node. 1x Southeast Node. 1x Red Prime Node. 1x Blue Prime Node. 2x Hub Node.

Tips and tricks

Link setup-specific tips

• Default:
• Air Domination:
• Morning Star:
• Aldebaran:
• Crown of Ascendancy:

Trivia

Location bugs

• None of the areas of the map have a zone name. Fortunately, fixing this is simple: create a file named ONS-Ascendancy.int in the System folder of the game and add the following text:

[ZoneInfo0]
LocationName="Outdoors"

[Volume0]
LocationName="Red Base"

[Volume1]
LocationName="Blue Base"

[Volume2]
LocationName="Northwest Wing"

[Volume3]
LocationName="Blue Prime Base"

[Volume4]
LocationName="Center Base"

[Volume5]
LocationName="Hub"

[Volume6]
LocationName="Southeast Wing"

[Volume7]
LocationName="Red Prime Base"

Review Notes

• lophead of Insite gave the map a score of 8.5/10.

"This map is one of two ONS maps that were released exclusively for Windows XP shortly after the release of UT2004. Nathillien however also released the map in its own right that is compatible with all systems (which is the file we are hosting) as well as the XP version of the map. Just looking at the screenshots it's obvious this level has been constructed by a pro.

It's maps like this one that really set the standard for ONS maps. You just can't do a once over of a level like this and expect to have the full story. For one thing, it's big. The core bases each hold two goliaths, two mantas, a scorpion and a hellbender. There are six power-nodes, providing ample vehicles including a leviathan. So it does take a bit of time to learn the layout, but then so do most medium/large ONS levels.

Interesting looking blue crystals adorn the level and contrast against the fiery peaks atop the cliffs. For all aspiring terrain-loving mappers, this is an example of how to do it right. I'm guessing slower systems may struggle on this level, but I don't really have anything to base that on except that it's a big, good looking outdoor level (both my rigs handle it well though).

The indoor section that houses one of the nodes provides some change to the outdoor scenery. It does take some acute manoeuvring if you plan on taking a goliath through this room however. The walkways allow you to fit one through (just), but it's a little tricky to avoid getting snagged. Nathillien paid as much attention to the interior details as he did the outside terrain. This room is very professionally crafted, very polished.

After playing this level a number of times online now, it seems that it is one of those ONS maps where the first 2 minutes are absolutely critical. The team that powers up node 5 first (the one in the middle with the leviathan) is in a commanding position if they play their cards right. It's not game over when this happens; it's just a lot easier if you're on the team that got there first. Most of the action centres around the fight for the leviathan node at the start and then usually proceeds to a long tussle to knock over the core. These bases are heavily defended so don't think you're going to get far with your scorpion or manta alone.

On each side of the map there are two nodes near the core bases that don't really get used that much. They are a bit out of the way, and although they do contain a few more vehicles the other nodes have plenty. Perhaps another node somewhere near the centre of the map could have made the fight for the middle a bit more up for grabs. I know you can always do custom node link ups but really it's the default set up that gets played.

So Nathillien now you've whet my appetite, please sir, can I have some more?

Bottom Line: This map will set the standard for ONS maps. Mappers, I want more like this! (must download)"

– lophead

Gallery