Difference between revisions of "Ghost Fort"

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{{Maps that formerly had Haunted Halloween Gift Pickups}}
 
{{Map infobox
 
{{Map infobox
| game-type = King of the Hill
+
  | map-status                  = official
 +
  | map-game-type               = King of the Hill
 +
  | map-file-name              = koth_lakeside_event
 +
  | map-image                  = Ghost_Fort.png
 +
  | map-released                = {{Patch name|10|26|2012}}
 +
  | map-released-major          = Spectral Halloween Special
 +
  | map-environment            = Halloween
 +
  | map-setting                = Nighttime, overcast
 +
  | map-hazards                = [[Pumpkin bomb]]s,<br/>[[Environmental death#Pitfalls|Bottomless pit]],<br/>[[Merasmus]],<br/>[[Environmental death#Bomb Head|Bomb Head]],<br/>[[Ghosts]]
 +
  | map-hazards-underworld      = [[Environmental death#Deadly waters|Stygian waters]],<br/>[[Environmental death#Area Explosion|Area Explosion]]
 +
  | map-pickups-special-sgg    = yes
 +
  | map-pickups-special-pumpkin = yes
 +
  | map-pickups-health-small    = 8
 +
  | map-pickups-health-medium  = 2
 +
  | map-pickups-health-large    = 1
 +
  | map-pickups-ammo-small      = 5
 +
  | map-pickups-ammo-medium    = 2
 +
  | map-pickups-ammo-large      = 1
 +
  | map-has-bots                = yes
 +
}}
  
| file-name = koth_lakeside_event
+
{{Quotation|'''Ghost Fort''' publicity blurb|Enter a haunted King of the Hill map to battle a bomb-spewing, fate-spinning spectral magician! And if that isn't scary enough for you, how about he's also a good damn cop pushed too damn far! What's that? It was scary enough? Okay, we'll save that last part for next year. AWOOOOOOOOOO!}}
| map-image = GhostFortIsland.jpg
 
| map-environment = Halloween
 
| map-setting = Nighttime, overcast
 
| map-hazards = [[Pumpkin bomb]]s,<br/>[[Merasmus]],<br/>Pit
 
| map-special-pickups-hhgift  = yes
 
| map-special-pickups-pumpkin = yes
 
}}  
 
  
'''Ghost Fort''' is a Valve-made [[King of the Hill]] map, released as part of the [[Spectral Halloween Special]] on October 26, 2012. It is a "haunted" version of [[Lakeside]].
+
'''Ghost Fort''' is an official [[King of the Hill]] map, released as part of the [[Spectral Halloween Special]] on October 26, 2012. One key deviation from all other King of the Hill maps is the round length. To win Ghost Fort, a team must have controlled the point for at least seven minutes, versus the usual three.
  
Similar to [[Eyeaduct]] and [[Mann Manor]], Ghost Fort has spawning [[Haunted Halloween Gift|prizes]], [[pumpkin bombs]], and a [[Merasmus|boss]].
+
Similar to [[Eyeaduct]], [[Mann Manor]], and other [[Halloween map]]s, Ghost Fort has spawning Soul Gargoyles, [[pumpkin bomb]]s, and a [[Merasmus|boss]].
  
Whenever the control point is captured, one of ten cards will be randomly chosen, and its effect bestowed upon all players.
+
== Features ==
 +
At the center of the map is a giant wheel, known as the Wheel of Fate. Whenever the control point is captured, the Wheel of Fate will spin, and one of nine cards will be randomly chosen. Its effect is bestowed upon all players for a short time.
  
During certain intervals, [[Merasmus]] will appear near the control point and roam around the map, teleporting around and killing players. When Merasmus is on the field, the Bombinomicon will choose two players to turn into a bomb. The goal for those players is to run the bomb back to Merasmus to stun him.
+
Another feature is a bottomless, "toothed" pit located where the water pool would be in Lakeside. It kills all players who are unfortunate enough to fall in and catapults their ragdoll onto the Control Point.
  
There is a bottomless, "toothed" pit where there was water in Lakeside, which kills all players who fall in and catapults their ragdoll onto the control point.
+
During certain intervals, [[Merasmus]] will appear near the Control Point and roam around the map, teleporting around and attacking players. When Merasmus is on the field, the Bombinomicon will choose two players to turn into a bomb, and tells those players to run the bomb back to Merasmus to stun him. The Control Point cannot be captured until Merasmus leaves or is defeated.
  
A Haunted Halloween Gift will spawn on the map for each player individually. Several notifications will appear until the player grabs the gift or it disappears.
+
Ghost Fort features a second location, called '''Skull Island'''. When Merasmus is killed, he is replaced by a swirling Bombinomicon portal, which players can use to transport to the island. Players can fight their way up to the skull on the top of the hill, where survivors are greeted by a chatty [[Bombinomicon (character)|Bombinomicon]], congratulating them on defeating Merasmus and inviting them to poke around and take his skull hat (see [[Halloween Boss voice responses#Bombinomicon|Bombinomicon's responses]]). The [[Skull Island Topper]] floats in a cage that eventually opens. Players can enter the opened cage and obtain the achievement ''A Lovely Vacation Spot'', and the Skull Island Topper, if they haven't already received it. The opened cage also teleports players back into the main field, with [[ÜberCharge|invulnerability]], 200% [[overheal]], a [[Disciplinary Action|speed boost]], and a [[critical hits|Crit boost]] for a limited time. After the cage has been opened for a time, the cage closes and demonic laughter is heard before an explosion kills all players still on Skull Island.  
  
==Strategy==
+
[[Soul Gargoyle]]s spawn on the map for each player individually during Halloween events. The first notification of the Soul Gargoyle is vocally announced to the player by [[Merasmus]], and repeated notifications may appear until the player grabs the Pickup or it disappears. Only the player for which the Soul Gargoyle has spawned sees the notifications or the Pickup.
{{main|Community Ghost Fort strategy}}
 
{{main|Merasmus match-ups}}
 
  
== Control Point Timing ==
+
== Locations ==
 +
{{HelpfulOverviewNote}}<br>
 +
 
 +
:''Also Note: {{RB|Left|right}} or {{RB|right|left}} options show the positions from both sides. The first options apply when on the RED Team, and the second options apply when on the BLU Team.
 +
* '''Spawn Rooms''': The area where each team spawns has one [[Respawn|Resupply Locker]], located inside a fairly large room. At the front of the room, two doors, leading left and right, lead to the '''Team Courtyard'''.
 +
* '''Team Courtyards''': Each team has an area immediately outside of their '''Spawn Room''', that is blocked off into three [[Chokepoint]]s, an entrance through a small wooden structure ({{RB|left|right}}), an entrance under an '''overhanging catwalk''' (middle), and a long, winding tunnel through a natural rocky formation ({{RB|right|left}}). Each team's tunnel Chokepoint has two [[Health|Small Health Pickups]] in it.
 +
* '''Forts''': Outside the wooden and catlwalk Chokepoints, each team has a large area that again, leads to more Chokepoints, but only two. On the {{RB|right|left}}, there is another Chokepoint running through a wooden structure, which leads to the '''Towers'''. Meanwhile, on the {{RB|left|right}}, there is a small wooden ramp that leads to an elevated area, which contains a small wooden deck, and a room to the {{RB|right|left}}, both of which are partially shielded from the '''Tower'''. On the deck, there are two [[Ammo|Small Ammo Pickups]] and a Small Health Pickup. Underneath the '''Fort''' is a small ground-level exit, which forms the second Chokepoint. This area leads to the '''Health Room''', which is shielded from the '''Tower''' by a wall. From the room at the top of the forts, a bridge runs along the top of the second wooden Chokepoint, which leads to the '''Ammunition Room'''.
 +
* '''Ammunition Rooms''': Each Ammunition room is accessible directly from each '''Fort''' and from each tunnel Chokepoint leading from the '''Team Courtyard'''. It is a small tower to the {{RB|right|left}}, with a Medium Ammo Pickup. To its {{RB|left|right}}, there is a large, flat, elevated area made out of sandstone that connects seamlessly with the '''Fort''' and the tunnel, and leads into the '''Pit Temple'''.
 +
* '''Health Rooms''': The '''Health Room''' is a small tower located to the far {{RB|left|right}}, just below and to the {{RB|left|right}} of the deck, which contains a Medium Health Pickup. There is one for both teams.
 +
* '''Pit Temple''':The '''Pit Temple''', which can be accessed immediately from both '''Ammunition Rooms''', is a large temple with a small pit  in the middle of the room. The pit is situated below floor level, and there is a small podium in the middle with a Large Health Pack on top of it. There is only one '''Pit Temple''', which is used by both teams. The '''Pit Temple''' leads directly to the {{RB|left|right}}, to the '''Towers'''.
 +
* '''Tower (Control Point)''': This is another large, elevated, flat area made out of wood, with a Control Point in the middle and two large '''Towers''' pointing towards the sky, one for each team. The two '''Towers''' shield the Control Point from the '''Forts''', with the '''Towers''' being situated towards each respective '''Fort'''. Being elevated, any direction of attack towards the '''Towers''' tends to be from below, with the lengths of ground between each lower level of the '''Forts''' acting like a ditch. The '''Pit Temple''' faces the '''Towers''', from the same elevation, and the whole stretch leading between the '''Towers''' and the '''Pit Temples''' effectively creates another Chokepoint. As such, there is a small barricade within the the '''Pit Temple''' that faces the '''Towers''' directly, which serves purely as a [[Sniper]] spot.
 +
* '''Ammunition Archway''': This is a very small area that directly faces the '''Pit Temple'', but lies on the other side of the '''Towers'''. It doesn't lead anywhere, as the rest of the area is blocked off by a fence. However, under the '''Ammunition Archway''' there lies a Large Ammo Pickup. There is only one '''Ammunition Archway'''.
 +
 
 +
== Helpful overview ==
 +
[[File:Ghost Fort overview with lines.png|left|500px|Ghost Fort's locations]]
 +
1. Team Courtyards
 +
2. Small Wooden Structure chokepoint
 +
3. Catwalks chokepoint
 +
4. Winding Tunnel chokepoint
 +
5. Forts
 +
6. Health Room
 +
7. Ammunition Archway
 +
8. Tower
 +
9. Pit Temple
 +
 
 +
Red diagonal lines: RED spawnroom
 +
Blue diagonal lines: BLU spawnroom
 +
 
 +
{{clr}}
 +
 
 +
== Strategy ==
 +
{{map strategy link|Ghost Fort|main=yes|stub=yes}}
 +
 
 +
== Control Point timing ==
 
{{Control Point Timing/Official Map}}
 
{{Control Point Timing/Official Map}}
  
== List of Card Effects ==
+
== Wheel of Fate ==
 +
Since Merasmus booby-trapped the Control Point, a "Wheel of Fate" is spun whenever the Control Point is captured. Its effect will be bestowed upon all players of both teams and will be displayed on each player's [[HUD]] next to their health, as well as announced by Merasmus. The effect will expire after a short period of time or when a rapid changeover of the Control Point occurs and causes the new effect to replace it. The list of possible effects are as follows:
  
When the point is captured, a wheel is spun and its effect will be bestowed upon all players. Here a list of possible effects:
+
{| class="wikitable grid"
 +
! class="header" | Card
 +
! class="header" | Description
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card highjump.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Super Jump''' makes every player jump much higher. In compensation, players do not receive [[fall damage]].
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card shrunkenhead.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Small Head''' will shrink the players' heads. This increases their vocal pitching. This does not affect the [[hitbox]] of the head.
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card superspeed.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Super Speed''' makes every player run faster.
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card lowgravity.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Zero Gravity''' lowers the map gravity, making higher areas accessible. Also allows the players to jump farther.
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card bighead.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Big Head''' will cause the players' heads to grow larger. This lowers their vocal pitching. This does not affect the hitbox of the head.
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card ubercharge.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''ÜberCharge''' makes every player invulnerable. Because of this, the point cannot be captured for a short time. Merasmus will question why he has such an option on the Wheel of Fate. This effect is far shorter in length than others. If Merasmus appears while players have been bestowed with this fate, it will immediately end.
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card critboost.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Critical Hits''' grants 100% critical chance on each player. This effect is shorter in length than others.
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card dance.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Dance Off''' teleports every player to the non-Wheel side of the control point and aligns them into two parallel rows, the RED team in one line and BLU in the other, while they all stop and do the [[Taunts#Thriller taunt|Thriller taunt]] with Merasmus, who teleports to either end of the rows. After two rounds of taunts, players regain control and will be able to attack the enemies now directly in front of them.
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card skull.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Whammy''' has negative effects and will either [[Fire|ignite]] every player, bestow [[bleed]]ing effects on every player, rain [[Jarate]] on players, or spawn [[Ghost]]s that encircle the area around the Control Point.
 +
|}
  
* ÜberCharges makes every player invulnerable. Because of this, the point cannot be captured for a short time.
+
=== Other Cards ===
 +
These cards also appear on the Wheel of Fate while it is spinning, but they do not have any effects and cannot be picked.
 +
 +
{| class="wikitable grid"
 +
! class="header" | Card
 +
! class="header" | Name
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card fishtroll.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Fish Troll'''
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card decapitated.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Decapitated'''
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card hellsbells.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Hells Bells'''
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card cherrybomb.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Cherry Bomb'''
 +
|-
 +
| [[File:Fate card luckyyou.png|x70px]]
 +
| '''Lucky You'''
 +
|}
  
* Critboosts grants 100% critical chance on each player.
+
== Related achievements ==
 +
{{see also|Obtaining Halloween achievements}}
  
* Low Gravity lowers the map gravity, making higher areas accessible.
+
=== {{Achiev type link|scarechievements}} ===
 +
{{Achievement table
 +
| 1 = {{Show achievement|Halloween|Attack o' Lantern}}
 +
      {{Show achievement|Halloween|Scared Stiff}}
 +
| 2 = {{Show achievement|Halloween|Candy Coroner}}
 +
}}
  
* High Jumps makes every player jump much higher. This does not affect fall damage.
 
  
* Bigger Heads will cause every players' heads to grow larger. This makes them easy targets for Snipers. Their vocals will be low pitched as well.
+
=== {{Achiev type link|ghostchievements}} ===
 +
{{Achievement table
 +
| 1 = {{Show achievement|Halloween|Masked Mann}}
 +
}}
  
* Smaller Heads will shrink every players' heads. This increases their vocal pitching and will make them harder to headshot.
 
  
* Skulls are negative effects and will either ignite every player, bestow bleeding effects on every player, rains Jarate on players, or spawn ghosts that encircle the area around the control point.
+
=== {{Achiev type link|necromannchievements}} ===
 +
{{Halloween 2012 achievement list}}
  
* Super Speed makes every player run faster.
+
== Update history ==
 +
'''{{Patch name|10|26|2012}}''' ([[Spectral Halloween Special]])
 +
* Added Ghost Fort to the game.
  
* Dance teleports every player to the control point and aligns them into two vertical rows, while they all stop and do the Thriller taunt with Merasmus.
+
'''{{Patch name|11|7|2014}}'''
 +
* Updated koth_lakeside_event
 +
** Fixed missing collision on a barrel near the capture point.
  
== Related achievements ==
+
'''{{Patch name|11|3|2015}}'''
=== [[File:Achieved.png|20px|link=Achievements{{if lang}}]] [[achievements|General]] ===
+
* Updated the Merasmus battle on Ghost Fort to call a temporary truce between the teams while fighting the boss.
'''TEMPORARY:'''
+
 
*Wizards Never Prosper - ''Kill Merasmus!''
+
== Bugs ==
*A Lovely Vacation Spot - ''Get to Skull Island and claim your reward!''
+
* If the Wheel of Fate is spun and a card chosen while the player is respawning, the effect will be bestowed upon the player, though the icon will be missing from the bottom left side of the HUD.
 +
* If the "Whammy" fate is selected and players are set on fire, the Pyro will take damage from the initial attack, but remain visually on fire for the duration of the afterburn. The afterburn deals no damage, however the Pyro is susceptible to damage increases from the Flare Gun and Axtingusher.
 +
* Rolling the "Big Head" or "Small Head" fate can cause some [[cosmetic items]], such as the [[MONOCULUS!]] or various [[Pocket Buddy|pocket buddies]], to flicker very quickly between the scaled size and their normal size.
 +
* Bots do not react to the "Dance Off" effect properly. They are unable to fire their weapons and still play the taunt animation, but they can still move around during the effect.
 +
* If several players fall through the bottomless pit at the same time, players may get stuck.
 +
* The player can avoid being killed in Skull Island by deploying an [[ÜberCharge]] or being the recipient of one as the time-limited explosion occurs. The same can be done by drinking [[Bonk! Atomic Punch]] or having a deployed [[Dead Ringer]].
 +
* Backing far enough into the [[RED]] spawn will cause one of the [[Resupply cabinets]] to disappear until you move forward again.
 +
* During a Truce, [[Spies]] can sap buildings but [[Engineers]] cannot remove them.
 +
 
 +
== Trivia ==
 +
* When Merasmus spins the Wheel of Fate and forces the players to dance, his narration references ''[[w:Michael Jackson's Thriller|Michael Jackson's Thriller]]''.
 +
* Merasmus' narration when bestowing a Crit boost, "It is the Crit boostening!" is a reference to the Quickening from ''[[w:Highlander (franchise)|Highlander]]''.
 +
* When Merasmus flies in the air and throws bombs, sometimes he will say "Everything's coming up Merasmus!' This is a reference to the play ''[[w:Gypsy: A Musical Fable|Gypsy: A Musical Fable]]''.
 +
* The bottomless pit that replaces the water in Lakeside resembles the mouth and teeth on the cover of the [[Bombinomicon]].
 +
* The bottomless pit doesn't actually kill the player by itself. It actually teleports the player to a window on the mansion which deals lethal damage to anybody inside it, it can be tested by using {{code|noclip}}.
 +
* Seven [[Ghost]]s, including one wearing a [[Ghastly Gibus]], reside in the bottomless pit.
  
 
== Gallery ==
 
== Gallery ==
 +
=== Overviews ===
 +
[[File:Ghost Fort overview gifts.png|thumb|top|[[Soul Gargoyle]] spawn locations]]
 +
[[File:Ghost Fort Skull Island Overview.jpg|thumb|top|Overview of the Skull Island part of map]]
 +
 +
=== BLU side ===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 +
File:Ghost Fort Blu Spawn.png|BLU spawn from the inside
 +
File:Ghost Fort Blu Spawn Outside.png|BLU spawn from the outside
 +
File:Ghost Fort BLU Spawn Extended.png|The area outside of BLU spawn
 +
File:Ghost Fort Blu Pumpkin.png|A pumpkin overlooking the BLU side
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
== Update history ==
+
=== RED side ===
'''{{Patch name|10|26|2012}} ([[Spectral Halloween Special]])
+
<gallery>
* Added Ghost Fort.
+
File:Ghost Fort Red Spawn.png|RED spawn from the inside
 +
File:Ghost Fort Red Spawn Outside.png|RED spawn from the outside
 +
File:Ghost Fort Red Spawn Extended.png|The area outside of RED spawn
 +
File:Ghost Fort Red Pumpkin.png|A pumpkin overlooking the RED side
 +
</gallery>
  
== Trivia ==
+
=== Middle ===
* When Merasmus spins the wheel of fate and forces the players to dance, the dance and Merasmus' narration are references to the Michael Jackson music video for "Thriller".
+
<gallery>
* Merasmus' narration when bestowing a crit boost, "It is the crit boostening!" is a reference to the Quickening from ''{{w|Highlander (franchise)|Highlander}}''.
+
File:Ghost Fort Middle Point.png|The control point
* When Merasmus flies in the air and throws bombs, sometimes he will say "Everything's coming up Merasmus!' This is a reference to a scene in The Simpsons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7z192I-mQM
+
File:Ghost Fort Mansion.png|The exterior of the main building
 +
File:Ghost Fort Mansion Inside.png|Inside of the main building
 +
File:Ghost Fort Pit.png|The top of the bottomless pit
 +
File:Ghost Fort Pit Ghosts.png|Some ghosts in the bottomless pit
 +
File:Wheel of Fate Spinning.png|The Wheel of Fate mid-spin
 +
File:Wheel of Fate.png|The Wheel of Fate when it's done spinning
 +
</gallery>
  
 +
=== Skull Island ===
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:GhostFortIsland.png|Skull Island
 +
File:Ghost Fort Map From Island.png|The map as seen from Skull Island
 +
File:Skull Topper on Island.png|The [[Skull Island Topper]] on Skull Island
 +
File:Bombinomicon_(Skull_Island).png|The [[Bombinomicon]] on Skull Island
 +
</gallery>
  
{{SpectralHalloweenSpecialNav}}{{Maps nav}}
+
{{Spectral Halloween Special Nav}}
[[Category:King of the Hill maps]]
+
{{Halloween Map Nav}}
 +
{{Maps Nav}}

Latest revision as of 21:48, 21 August 2024

Note: ​This map was originally released with Haunted Halloween Gifts spawning on the map during Halloween Events; this feature was replaced with Soul Gargoyles in Scream Fortress 2015.
Ghost Fort
Ghost Fort.png
Basic Information
Map type: King of the Hill
File name: koth_lakeside_event
Released: October 26, 2012 Patch
(Spectral Halloween Special)
Variants: Lakeside
Developer(s): Valve
Map Info
Environment: Halloween
Setting: Nighttime, overcast
Hazards: Pumpkin bombs,
Bottomless pit,
Merasmus,
Bomb Head,
Ghosts
Hazards (Underworld): Stygian waters,
Area Explosion
Bot support: Yes
Map Items
Healthico.png Health Kits: Healthbar.png ×8  •  Healthpie.png ×2  •  
Health Cauldron.png ×1
Ammoico.png Ammo Boxes: Smallammo.png ×5   •   Mediumammo.png ×2   •  
Largeammo.png ×1
TF2 crosshair.png Special: Gargoyle Ghost.png   •   Pumpkin.png
Map Photos
Loading screen photos.
Map Overview
Ghost Fort overview.png
Enter a haunted King of the Hill map to battle a bomb-spewing, fate-spinning spectral magician! And if that isn't scary enough for you, how about he's also a good damn cop pushed too damn far! What's that? It was scary enough? Okay, we'll save that last part for next year. AWOOOOOOOOOO!
Ghost Fort publicity blurb

Ghost Fort is an official King of the Hill map, released as part of the Spectral Halloween Special on October 26, 2012. One key deviation from all other King of the Hill maps is the round length. To win Ghost Fort, a team must have controlled the point for at least seven minutes, versus the usual three.

Similar to Eyeaduct, Mann Manor, and other Halloween maps, Ghost Fort has spawning Soul Gargoyles, pumpkin bombs, and a boss.

Features

At the center of the map is a giant wheel, known as the Wheel of Fate. Whenever the control point is captured, the Wheel of Fate will spin, and one of nine cards will be randomly chosen. Its effect is bestowed upon all players for a short time.

Another feature is a bottomless, "toothed" pit located where the water pool would be in Lakeside. It kills all players who are unfortunate enough to fall in and catapults their ragdoll onto the Control Point.

During certain intervals, Merasmus will appear near the Control Point and roam around the map, teleporting around and attacking players. When Merasmus is on the field, the Bombinomicon will choose two players to turn into a bomb, and tells those players to run the bomb back to Merasmus to stun him. The Control Point cannot be captured until Merasmus leaves or is defeated.

Ghost Fort features a second location, called Skull Island. When Merasmus is killed, he is replaced by a swirling Bombinomicon portal, which players can use to transport to the island. Players can fight their way up to the skull on the top of the hill, where survivors are greeted by a chatty Bombinomicon, congratulating them on defeating Merasmus and inviting them to poke around and take his skull hat (see Bombinomicon's responses). The Skull Island Topper floats in a cage that eventually opens. Players can enter the opened cage and obtain the achievement A Lovely Vacation Spot, and the Skull Island Topper, if they haven't already received it. The opened cage also teleports players back into the main field, with invulnerability, 200% overheal, a speed boost, and a Crit boost for a limited time. After the cage has been opened for a time, the cage closes and demonic laughter is heard before an explosion kills all players still on Skull Island.

Soul Gargoyles spawn on the map for each player individually during Halloween events. The first notification of the Soul Gargoyle is vocally announced to the player by Merasmus, and repeated notifications may appear until the player grabs the Pickup or it disappears. Only the player for which the Soul Gargoyle has spawned sees the notifications or the Pickup.

Locations

Note: If you are having trouble with finding the locations listed here, see the Helpful overview section to see their exact position marked on the map.

Also Note: Left/right or right/left options show the positions from both sides. The first options apply when on the RED Team, and the second options apply when on the BLU Team.
  • Spawn Rooms: The area where each team spawns has one Resupply Locker, located inside a fairly large room. At the front of the room, two doors, leading left and right, lead to the Team Courtyard.
  • Team Courtyards: Each team has an area immediately outside of their Spawn Room, that is blocked off into three Chokepoints, an entrance through a small wooden structure (left/right), an entrance under an overhanging catwalk (middle), and a long, winding tunnel through a natural rocky formation (right/left). Each team's tunnel Chokepoint has two Small Health Pickups in it.
  • Forts: Outside the wooden and catlwalk Chokepoints, each team has a large area that again, leads to more Chokepoints, but only two. On the right/left, there is another Chokepoint running through a wooden structure, which leads to the Towers. Meanwhile, on the left/right, there is a small wooden ramp that leads to an elevated area, which contains a small wooden deck, and a room to the right/left, both of which are partially shielded from the Tower. On the deck, there are two Small Ammo Pickups and a Small Health Pickup. Underneath the Fort is a small ground-level exit, which forms the second Chokepoint. This area leads to the Health Room, which is shielded from the Tower by a wall. From the room at the top of the forts, a bridge runs along the top of the second wooden Chokepoint, which leads to the Ammunition Room.
  • Ammunition Rooms: Each Ammunition room is accessible directly from each Fort and from each tunnel Chokepoint leading from the Team Courtyard. It is a small tower to the right/left, with a Medium Ammo Pickup. To its left/right, there is a large, flat, elevated area made out of sandstone that connects seamlessly with the Fort and the tunnel, and leads into the Pit Temple.
  • Health Rooms: The Health Room is a small tower located to the far left/right, just below and to the left/right of the deck, which contains a Medium Health Pickup. There is one for both teams.
  • Pit Temple:The Pit Temple, which can be accessed immediately from both Ammunition Rooms, is a large temple with a small pit in the middle of the room. The pit is situated below floor level, and there is a small podium in the middle with a Large Health Pack on top of it. There is only one Pit Temple, which is used by both teams. The Pit Temple leads directly to the left/right, to the Towers.
  • Tower (Control Point): This is another large, elevated, flat area made out of wood, with a Control Point in the middle and two large Towers pointing towards the sky, one for each team. The two Towers shield the Control Point from the Forts, with the Towers being situated towards each respective Fort. Being elevated, any direction of attack towards the Towers tends to be from below, with the lengths of ground between each lower level of the Forts acting like a ditch. The Pit Temple faces the Towers, from the same elevation, and the whole stretch leading between the Towers and the Pit Temples effectively creates another Chokepoint. As such, there is a small barricade within the the Pit Temple that faces the Towers directly, which serves purely as a Sniper spot.
  • Ammunition Archway': This is a very small area that directly faces the Pit Temple, but lies on the other side of the Towers. It doesn't lead anywhere, as the rest of the area is blocked off by a fence. However, under the Ammunition Archway there lies a Large Ammo Pickup. There is only one Ammunition Archway.

Helpful overview

Ghost Fort's locations
1. Team Courtyards
2. Small Wooden Structure chokepoint
3. Catwalks chokepoint
4. Winding Tunnel chokepoint
5. Forts
6. Health Room
7. Ammunition Archway
8. Tower
9. Pit Temple
Red diagonal lines: RED spawnroom
Blue diagonal lines: BLU spawnroom

Strategy

Main article: Community Ghost Fort strategy

Control Point timing

Control Point Multiplier Seconds
Control Point ×1
14 .000
×2
9 .333
×3
7 .636
×4
6 .720


Wheel of Fate

Since Merasmus booby-trapped the Control Point, a "Wheel of Fate" is spun whenever the Control Point is captured. Its effect will be bestowed upon all players of both teams and will be displayed on each player's HUD next to their health, as well as announced by Merasmus. The effect will expire after a short period of time or when a rapid changeover of the Control Point occurs and causes the new effect to replace it. The list of possible effects are as follows:

Card Description
Fate card highjump.png Super Jump makes every player jump much higher. In compensation, players do not receive fall damage.
Fate card shrunkenhead.png Small Head will shrink the players' heads. This increases their vocal pitching. This does not affect the hitbox of the head.
Fate card superspeed.png Super Speed makes every player run faster.
Fate card lowgravity.png Zero Gravity lowers the map gravity, making higher areas accessible. Also allows the players to jump farther.
Fate card bighead.png Big Head will cause the players' heads to grow larger. This lowers their vocal pitching. This does not affect the hitbox of the head.
Fate card ubercharge.png ÜberCharge makes every player invulnerable. Because of this, the point cannot be captured for a short time. Merasmus will question why he has such an option on the Wheel of Fate. This effect is far shorter in length than others. If Merasmus appears while players have been bestowed with this fate, it will immediately end.
Fate card critboost.png Critical Hits grants 100% critical chance on each player. This effect is shorter in length than others.
Fate card dance.png Dance Off teleports every player to the non-Wheel side of the control point and aligns them into two parallel rows, the RED team in one line and BLU in the other, while they all stop and do the Thriller taunt with Merasmus, who teleports to either end of the rows. After two rounds of taunts, players regain control and will be able to attack the enemies now directly in front of them.
Fate card skull.png Whammy has negative effects and will either ignite every player, bestow bleeding effects on every player, rain Jarate on players, or spawn Ghosts that encircle the area around the Control Point.

Other Cards

These cards also appear on the Wheel of Fate while it is spinning, but they do not have any effects and cannot be picked.

Card Name
Fate card fishtroll.png Fish Troll
Fate card decapitated.png Decapitated
Fate card hellsbells.png Hells Bells
Fate card cherrybomb.png Cherry Bomb
Fate card luckyyou.png Lucky You

Related achievements

See also: Obtaining Halloween achievements

Pumpkin.png Scarechievements

Attack o' Lantern
Attack o' Lantern
Cause the deaths of 5 players by exploding nearby pumpkin bombs.


Scared Stiff
Scared Stiff
Kill a player scared by a ghost.
Candy Coroner
Candy Coroner
Collect 20 Halloween pumpkins from dead players to unlock a hat.

Reward: Mildly Disturbing Halloween Mask


Ghostchievements icon.png Ghostchievements

Masked Mann
Masked Mann
Collect a Soul Gargoyle in Mann Manor.


Backpack Skull Island Topper.png Necromannchievements

A Lovely Vacation Spot
A Lovely Vacation Spot
Get to Skull Island and claim your reward!

Reward: Skull Island Topper

Wizards Never Prosper
Wizards Never Prosper
Kill MERASMUS!

Update history

October 26, 2012 Patch (Spectral Halloween Special)

  • Added Ghost Fort to the game.

November 7, 2014 Patch

  • Updated koth_lakeside_event
    • Fixed missing collision on a barrel near the capture point.

November 3, 2015 Patch

  • Updated the Merasmus battle on Ghost Fort to call a temporary truce between the teams while fighting the boss.

Bugs

  • If the Wheel of Fate is spun and a card chosen while the player is respawning, the effect will be bestowed upon the player, though the icon will be missing from the bottom left side of the HUD.
  • If the "Whammy" fate is selected and players are set on fire, the Pyro will take damage from the initial attack, but remain visually on fire for the duration of the afterburn. The afterburn deals no damage, however the Pyro is susceptible to damage increases from the Flare Gun and Axtingusher.
  • Rolling the "Big Head" or "Small Head" fate can cause some cosmetic items, such as the MONOCULUS! or various pocket buddies, to flicker very quickly between the scaled size and their normal size.
  • Bots do not react to the "Dance Off" effect properly. They are unable to fire their weapons and still play the taunt animation, but they can still move around during the effect.
  • If several players fall through the bottomless pit at the same time, players may get stuck.
  • The player can avoid being killed in Skull Island by deploying an ÜberCharge or being the recipient of one as the time-limited explosion occurs. The same can be done by drinking Bonk! Atomic Punch or having a deployed Dead Ringer.
  • Backing far enough into the RED spawn will cause one of the Resupply cabinets to disappear until you move forward again.
  • During a Truce, Spies can sap buildings but Engineers cannot remove them.

Trivia

  • When Merasmus spins the Wheel of Fate and forces the players to dance, his narration references Michael Jackson's Thriller.
  • Merasmus' narration when bestowing a Crit boost, "It is the Crit boostening!" is a reference to the Quickening from Highlander.
  • When Merasmus flies in the air and throws bombs, sometimes he will say "Everything's coming up Merasmus!' This is a reference to the play Gypsy: A Musical Fable.
  • The bottomless pit that replaces the water in Lakeside resembles the mouth and teeth on the cover of the Bombinomicon.
  • The bottomless pit doesn't actually kill the player by itself. It actually teleports the player to a window on the mansion which deals lethal damage to anybody inside it, it can be tested by using noclip.
  • Seven Ghosts, including one wearing a Ghastly Gibus, reside in the bottomless pit.

Gallery

Overviews

Soul Gargoyle spawn locations
Overview of the Skull Island part of map

BLU side

RED side

Middle

Skull Island