Difference between revisions of "DeGroot Keep"

DeGroot Keep
Basic Information
Map type:	Medieval Mode
File name:	cp_degrootkeep
Released:	December 17, 2010 Patch; (Australian Christmas)
Variants:	Sandcastle
Developer(s):	Valve
Map Info
Environment:	Alpine, Medieval
Setting:	Daylight, Sunny
Hazards:	Castle gate, Pitfall
Map Items
Health Kits:	×2
Ammo Boxes:	×4
Map Photos
Map Overview

Latest revision as of 18:11, 12 September 2024

“

How did the manly men of Team Fortress appear at a tenth-century battlement? Simple. The Soldier angered a magician.

— Medieval Mode publicity blurb

”

DeGroot Keep is an official Medieval Mode Attack/Defend Control Point map that was released with the Australian Christmas update as a part of the December 17, 2010 Patch.

DeGroot Keep is a fairly small Attack/Defend map, featuring DeGroot Keep, the namesake of the map. The buildings and fortifications on the map are medieval-style, and Health pickups inside the keep appear as medieval-style roast meat. DeGroot Keep is supposedly a 10th-century European manor set among forested hills, but there are several hints scattered throughout the map that suggest that the team is merely in some kind of medieval simulation.

DeGroot Keep has three Control Points. Point A and Point B are located outside of the keep, while Point C is located in the courtyard of the keep. The only entrance into the keep is the castle gate, initially closed and impassible until BLU captures Points A and B. This forces RED to mount a defense from the top of the castle. RED can fire projectiles from above or leap off the walls to engage BLU directly.

Players can also shoot projectiles through the grills of the castle gate or arrow slits in the towers. Braziers and torchers are located near the team bases and can be used to set arrows on fire for additional damage and afterburn.

After BLU captures Points A and B, the castle gate rises and allows access to Point C. BLU is given 60 seconds to capture Point C. After the 60 seconds expires and capture progress is entirely reverted, the gate closes again. BLU then needs to recapture Points A and B before another attempt can be made on Point C. This repeats until the round ends.

The actual environment of DeGroot Keep is an Alpine cliffside, with several mountains and forests scattered in the distance.

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.

Battlefield

BLU Camp: The BLU Camp serves as their spawn, and features their resupply closet. It is a small camp surrounded by palisade walls. Behind the camp is an archery range and a path leading into the forest behind it, both inaccessible. There are two exits, or entrances in which one leads to the left side of the keep, and the other leads to the main battlefields.
Battlefield: Between DeGroot Keep and the BLU camp is the battlefield where the majority of combat takes place. The battlefield is a large hill, with Degroot Keep and the BLU camp both on lower ground. A tree, fence, and a large rock at the brow of the hill can be used as cover against fired projectile weapons from RED players or cover for BLU players firing them.
Braziers: Along the hill are two flaming braziers which can be used to light Sniper arrows on fire.
Rock: A large rock at the top of the hill can be charged at by Demomen using the Chargin' Targe, Splendid Screen, or Tide Turner to propel them to the top of Degroot Keep, bypassing the gate. Behind the rock, a health kit can be found.

The fort that serves as BLU's base.
The battlefield that lies between the castle and fort.

Outside Capture Points

Town (Point A): Point A is located to the left of DeGroot Keep, between the keep wall and a few ornamental buildings. A hole in the castle wall allows RED to jump onto the point or attack from atop the keep. It is possible for BLU players to enter DeGroot Keep from here.
Cliffside (Point B): Point B is located to the right of the keep, between the keep wall and the cliff-edge of the map. RED can also drop down to this point from the castle wall. There is also a small rock pathway to the cliffside next to the normal entrance and is useful for ambushing.

Point A, The Town.
Point B, The Cliffside.

DeGroot Keep

Courtyard (Point C): The Courtyard is the main area of the castle located between RED's spawn and the gate entrance, and is accessed after entering the castle through the gate. The Control Point is located in an enclosed area at the back of the Courtyard. There are a set of stairs that lead to the Castle Halls. To the right of the Courtyard near the stairs, a health kit can be found.
Gate: The gate is the main entrance, and the only entrance to the castle for most players. It is a large metal gate located at the center of the castle walls. The gate opens after Point A and B are captured, where it proceeds to close after 60 seconds. When the gate closes, any players standing directly beneath the gate are crushed.
Castle Halls: The Halls are located below the Battlements and above the Courtyard, where they can be entered to the right of RED's spawn. They can be accessed through staircases in the courtyard and the spawn room. The Hall also contains the only stairs to the Battlements, as well as the walls of the keep.
Battlements: The top floor and walls of the castle. Players standing here have a clear view of the Battlefield. On both sides of the walls, a break in the walls allows castle defenders to drop directly onto Control Points A and B. The Battlements also have braziers that can be used to light arrows on fire. The height advantage makes the Battlements an ideal spot for users of projectile weapons to fire from. A Demoman with any shield can access this area by Rampsliding up the big rock on the top of the Battlefield.
The Keep: The keep serves as RED's spawn for the map. It can be found and accessed behind the Courtyard. Inside, it features RED's resupply closet, as well as a dark, poorly lit room.

The battlements of the castle.
The courtyard of the castle.
The interior of the castle that serves as RED's spawn area.
The gate guarding the entrance to the castle.

Helpful overview

1.Rock
2.Main battlefield
3.Battlements
4.Castle Halls

Strategy

Main article: Community DeGroot Keep strategy

Control Point timing

Control Point A

×1

8

.000

×2

5

.333

×3

4

.364

×4

3

.840

Control Point B

×1

8

.000

×2

5

.333

×3

4

.364

×4

3

.840

Control Point C

×1

10

.000

×2

6

.667

×3

5

.455

×4

4

.800

Update history

December 17, 2010 Patch (Australian Christmas)

Added DeGroot Keep to the game.

December 22, 2010 Patch

Improved performance on DeGroot Keep.

January 3, 2011 Patch

Updated DeGroot Keep to fix a problem with missing models.

January 19, 2011 Patch

Added a timer to indicate how much time is left before the gate closes in DeGroot Keep.
[Undocumented] Fixed players being able to clip through the barrels on the shelves above the BLU spawn area in DeGroot Keep.

Bugs

One of the gates in BLU's spawn area can become stuck and not open at the beginning of the round using the Sandman's ball.
- It is possible to temporarily block the gates with the Sandman's ball or the Flying Guillotine.^[1]^[2]
The keep gate may improperly appear open or closed. Players still interact with it as they should, being unable to pass if it should be closed or passing through if it should be open.
Players can stand on the ledge under a tree on the cliffside.
A Scout can get stuck in the roof of control point C using Double Jump. However, the game counts the Scout as standing on the point. If it is a RED Scout, then he is still able to defend the point, making BLU unable to capture it until he dies.^[3]
If RED wins, the MVP list says that they have captured all of the points and displays the names of people who captured the last point for BLU under "Winning capture".
It is possible to get outside the hurtbox of the cliff and back using Demoman by using explosive jumps (such as the Ullapool Caber) or a mobility item (such as the B.A.S.E. Jumper or one of the Demoman's shields).

Trivia

Despite the Demoman's Scottish origins, DeGroot or de Groot is a surname of Dutch origin literally translating to "the big".
According to the official Australian Christmas event page, the map is supposed to be set during the 10th century. However, a number of anachronisms can be seen, such as various computer terminals hidden across the map (such as in a corridor with the door closed near the gate), tire tracks leading up to BLU camp as well as an unused ticket booth model within the game files, suggesting that the castle is, in fact, nothing more than a tourist attraction or simulation of some kind.
The bagpipe music heard whenever the castle door opens is a reuse of the Day of Defeat anthem, used when a round is won by the British team.^[4]
There is an unused scroll model in the game files. Its intended use is unknown besides that it was to be a pickup.
This map's design was inspired by the Team Fortress map Storm1 by John Cook and Robin Walker.^[5]

Gallery

The wooden medieval-style resupply locker.
The wooden medieval resupply locker, opened.
The Health pickup, a generic mutton-like cartoon meat.
The unused scroll model.
The unused ticket booth model.

References

↑ Video demonstrating Sandman Ball gate block
↑ Video demonstrating Flying Guillotine gate block
↑ Video demonstrating Scout capture point block
↑ Day of Defeat British victory music.
↑ E-mail confirming the Storm1 reference.

[1] Video demonstrating Sandman Ball gate block

[2] Video demonstrating Flying Guillotine gate block

[3] Video demonstrating Scout capture point block

[4] Day of Defeat British victory music.

[5] E-mail confirming the Storm1 reference.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{recent addition}}
 {{Map infobox
-| game-type = Control Point
+  | map-status                = official
-| file-name = cp_degrootkeep
+  | map-game-type             = Control Point (medieval mode)
-| map-image = Degrootkeep.jpg
+  | map-file-name             = cp_degrootkeep
+  | map-image                 = Degroot Keep Castle.png
+  | map-released              = {{Patch name|12|17|2010}}
+  | map-released-major        = Australian Christmas
+  | map-environment           = Alpine, Medieval
+  | map-setting               = Daylight, Sunny
+  | map-hazards               = [[Environmental death#Crushing|Castle gate]], [[Environmental_death#Pitfalls|Pitfall]]
+  | map-pickups-health-medium = 2
+  | map-pickups-ammo-medium   = 4
 }}
-'''Degroot Keep''' is a new map that was released during the [[Australian Christmas]] Update on December 17, 2010.
+{{Quotation|'''Medieval Mode''' publicity blurb|How did the manly men of Team Fortress appear at a tenth-century battlement? Simple. The Soldier angered a magician.}}
-The map features 3 Control points in which 2 on the sides of the castle must be captured first before being able to advance to the final control point which is blocked off by a traditional castle gate.
-Once Points A and B have been captured, the castle gate rises and allows access to the central Point C. However, if Point C is not captured within a certain amount of time, both Points A and B will reset along with the gate closing once more. Thus, the BLU team will be forced to recapture A and B again.
+'''DeGroot Keep''' is an official [[Medieval Mode]] [[Attack/Defend|Attack/Defend Control Point]] map that was released with the [[Australian Christmas]] update as a part of the {{Patch name|12|17|2010}}.
+DeGroot Keep is a fairly small Attack/Defend map, featuring DeGroot Keep, the namesake of the map. The buildings and fortifications on the map are medieval-style, and [[Health]] pickups inside the keep appear as medieval-style roast meat. DeGroot Keep is supposedly a 10th-century European manor set among forested hills, but there are several hints scattered throughout the map that suggest that the team is merely in some kind of medieval simulation.
-You can shoot projectiles through the holes in the castle gate and windows of the towers.
+DeGroot Keep has three Control Points. Point A and Point B are located outside of the keep, while Point C is located in the courtyard of the keep. The only entrance into the keep is the castle gate, initially closed and impassible until [[BLU]] captures Points A and B. This forces [[RED]] to mount a defense from the top of the castle. RED can fire projectiles from above or leap off the walls to engage BLU directly.
-Braziers can be found throughout the map and can light Huntsman arrows on fire.
+Players can also shoot projectiles through the grills of the castle gate or arrow slits in the towers. Braziers and torchers are located near the team bases and can be used to set arrows on fire for additional damage and afterburn.
+After BLU captures Points A and B, the castle gate rises and allows access to Point C. BLU is given 60 seconds to capture Point C. After the 60 seconds expires and capture progress is entirely reverted, the gate closes again. BLU then needs to recapture Points A and B before another attempt can be made on Point C. This repeats until the round ends.
+The actual environment of DeGroot Keep is an Alpine cliffside, with several mountains and forests scattered in the distance.
+== Locations ==
+{{HelpfulOverviewNote}}
+=== Battlefield ===
+* '''BLU Camp''': The BLU Camp serves as their spawn, and features their resupply closet. It is a small camp surrounded by palisade walls. Behind the camp is an archery range and a path leading into the forest behind it, both inaccessible. There are two exits, or entrances in which one leads to the left side of the keep, and the other leads to the main battlefields.
+* '''Battlefield''': Between DeGroot Keep and the BLU camp is the battlefield where the majority of combat takes place. The battlefield is a large hill, with Degroot Keep and the BLU camp both on lower ground. A tree, fence, and a large rock at the brow of the hill can be used as cover against fired projectile weapons from RED players or cover for BLU players firing them.
+* '''Braziers''': Along the hill are two flaming braziers which can be used to light [[Sniper]] arrows on fire.
+* '''Rock''': A large rock at the top of the hill can be charged at by Demomen using the [[Chargin' Targe]], [[Splendid Screen]], or [[Tide Turner]] to propel them to the top of Degroot Keep, bypassing the gate. Behind the rock, a health kit can be found.
+<gallery widths=140px heights=80px>
+File:Degrootkeep bluespawn.png|The fort that serves as [[BLU]]'s base.
+File:Degrootkeep battlefield.png|The battlefield that lies between the castle and fort.
+</gallery>
+=== Outside Capture Points ===
+* '''Town (Point A)''': Point A is located to the left of DeGroot Keep, between the keep wall and a few ornamental buildings. A hole in the castle wall allows RED to jump onto the point or attack from atop the keep. It is possible for BLU players to enter DeGroot Keep from here.
+* '''Cliffside (Point B)''': Point B is located to the right of the keep, between the keep wall and the cliff-edge of the map. RED can also drop down to this point from the castle wall. There is also a small rock pathway to the cliffside next to the normal entrance and is useful for ambushing.
+<gallery widths=140px heights=80px>
+File:Degroot Keep Point A.png|Point A, The Town.
+File:Degrootkeep point B.png|Point B, The Cliffside.
+</gallery>
+=== DeGroot Keep ===
+* '''Courtyard (Point C)''': The Courtyard is the main area of the castle located between RED's spawn and the gate entrance, and is accessed after entering the castle through the gate. The Control Point is located in an enclosed area at the back of the Courtyard. There are a set of stairs that lead to the Castle Halls. To the right of the Courtyard near the stairs, a health kit can be found.
+* '''Gate''': The gate is the main entrance, and the only entrance to the castle for most players. It is a large metal gate located at the center of the castle walls. The gate opens after Point A and B are captured, where it proceeds to close after 60 seconds. When the gate closes, any players standing directly beneath the gate are [[Environmental death|crushed]].
+* '''Castle Halls''': The Halls are located below the Battlements and above the Courtyard, where they can be entered to the right of RED's spawn. They can be accessed through staircases in the courtyard and the spawn room. The Hall also contains the only stairs to the Battlements, as well as the walls of the keep.
+* '''Battlements''': The top floor and walls of the castle. Players standing here have a clear view of the Battlefield. On both sides of the walls, a break in the walls allows castle defenders to drop directly onto Control Points A and B. The Battlements also have braziers that can be used to light arrows on fire. The height advantage makes the Battlements an ideal spot for users of projectile weapons to fire from. A [[Demoman]] with any shield can access this area by [[Jumping#Rampsliding|Rampsliding]] up the big rock on the top of the Battlefield.
+* '''The Keep''': The keep serves as RED's spawn for the map. It can be found and accessed behind the Courtyard. Inside, it features RED's resupply closet, as well as a dark, poorly lit room.
+<gallery widths=140px heights=80px>
+File:Degrootkeep battlements.png|The battlements of the castle.
+File:Degrootkeep courtyard.png|The courtyard of the castle.
+File:Degrootkeep redspawn.png|The interior of the castle that serves as [[RED]]'s spawn area.
+File:Enviromental death gate.png|The gate guarding the entrance to the castle.
+</gallery>
+== Helpful overview ==
+[[File:DeGroot Keep overview with lines.png|left|DeGroot Keep's locations|600px]]
+ <big>1.Rock
+.Main battlefield
+.Battlements
+.Castle Halls</big>
+{{clr}}
+== Strategy ==
+{{map strategy link|DeGroot Keep|main=yes|stub=yes}}
+== Control Point timing ==
+{{Control Point Timing/Official Map}}
+== Update history ==
+'''{{Patch name|12|17|2010}}''' ([[Australian Christmas]])
+* Added DeGroot Keep to the game.
+'''{{Patch name|12|22|2010}}'''
+* Improved performance on DeGroot Keep.
+'''{{Patch name|1|3|2011}}'''
+* Updated DeGroot Keep to fix a problem with missing models.
+'''{{Patch name|1|19|2011}}'''
+* Added a timer to indicate how much time is left before the gate closes in DeGroot Keep.
+* {{Undocumented}} Fixed players being able to clip through the barrels on the shelves above the BLU spawn area in DeGroot Keep.
+== Bugs ==
+* One of the gates in BLU's spawn area can become stuck and not open at the beginning of the round using the [[Sandman]]'s ball.
+** It is possible to temporarily block the gates with the Sandman's ball or the [[Flying Guillotine]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR3Liblb0Vo Video] demonstrating Sandman Ball gate block</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzXEKVetlRI Video] demonstrating Flying Guillotine gate block</ref>
+* The keep gate may improperly appear open or closed. Players still interact with it as they should, being unable to pass if it should be closed or passing through if it should be open.
+* Players can stand on the ledge under a tree on the cliffside.
+* A [[Scout]] can get stuck in the roof of control point C using [[Jumping#Double Jump|Double Jump]]. However, the game counts the Scout as standing on the point. If it is a RED Scout, then he is still able to defend the point, making BLU unable to capture it until he dies.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tnslkHVZsY Video] demonstrating Scout capture point block</ref>
+* If RED wins, the MVP list says that they have captured all of the points and displays the names of people who captured the last point for BLU under "Winning capture".
+* It is possible to get outside the hurtbox of the cliff and back using Demoman by using explosive jumps (such as the [[Ullapool Caber]]) or a mobility item (such as the [[B.A.S.E. Jumper]] or one of the Demoman's shields).
 == Trivia ==
-* While playing on the map, the player's Text Chat is altered to be more Medieval after posting.  For example, all instance of the word "the" are changed to "ye".
+* Despite the Demoman's Scottish origins, ''DeGroot'' or ''de Groot'' is a surname of Dutch origin literally translating to "the big".
-* Like all maps, this may be a hidden base for RED/BLU. When entering the keep, there's a computer terminal hidden behind a wooden door to the left. There is a second terminal likewise partially hidden by a door in RED's spawn. However, according to the blog, it is supposed to be 10th century.
+* According to the official [[Australian Christmas]] event page, the map is supposed to be set during the 10th century. However, a number of anachronisms can be seen, such as various computer terminals hidden across the map (such as in a corridor with the door closed near the gate), tire tracks leading up to BLU camp as well as an unused ticket booth model within the game files, suggesting that the castle is, in fact, nothing more than a tourist attraction or simulation of some kind.
-** Similarly, the family portrait of the Degroot family that appears inside the castle is actually a portrait of the [[Demoman]] and his mother and father, as seen in a WAR! Update blog post. It is unknown why this portrait appears since the map takes place several hundred years before the [[Demoman]] is even born.
+* The bagpipe music heard whenever the castle door opens is a reuse of the ''[[w:Day of Defeat|Day of Defeat]]'' anthem, used when a round is won by the British team.<ref>[https://youtu.be/HzyHljGQmbU Day of Defeat British victory music].</ref>
-* The keep was likely owned by an ancestor of [[Demoman|Tavish Degroot]].  Combined with [[Prince Tavish's Crown]], the Demoman may be actual Scottish royalty.
+* There is an unused scroll model in the game files. Its intended use is unknown besides that it was to be a pickup.
-* There is a family portrait of the Degroot family inside the castle.
+* This map's design was inspired by the ''[[Team Fortress]]'' map Storm1<!-- add link once map page is created--> by [[John Cook]] and [[Robin Walker]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230125125538/https://i.imgur.com/XX47Ixf.png E-mail] confirming the Storm1 reference.</ref>
-* It is believed Degroot Keep is the first map to take place in Scotland, however the same mountain peak can be seen which features in most Alpine styled maps. This is most likely due to Valve re-using the same Skybox texture rather than creating a new one.
 == Gallery ==
+<gallery perrow=5>
+File:Medieval resupply locker closed.png|The wooden medieval-style resupply locker.
+File:Medieval resupply locker open.png|The wooden medieval resupply locker, opened.
+File:Medieval Meat.png|The Health pickup, a generic mutton-like cartoon meat.
+File:Medieval scroll.png|The unused scroll model.
+File:Tickets.png|The unused ticket booth model.
+</gallery>
-<gallery>
+== References ==
-File:degrootkeep battlements.jpg|Battlements of the castle.
+<references/>
-File:degrootkeep courtyard.jpg|Courtyard of the castle.
-File:degrootkeep battlefield.jpg|The battlefield that lays between the castle and fort.
+{{Australian Christmas Nav}}
-File:degrootkeep point A.jpg|Point A.
+{{Maps Nav}}
-File:degrootkeep point B.jpg|Point B.
-File:degrootkeep bluespawn.jpg|The fort that serves as [[BLU]]'s base.
-File:degrootkeep redspawn.jpg|The interior of the castle that serves as [[RED]]'s spawn.
-</gallery>
-{{Maps}}

Difference between revisions of "DeGroot Keep"

Latest revision as of 18:11, 12 September 2024

Contents

Locations

Battlefield

Outside Capture Points

DeGroot Keep

Helpful overview

Strategy

Control Point timing

Update history

Bugs

Trivia

Gallery

References

Navigation menu

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DeGroot Keep

Basic Information
Map type:	Medieval Mode
File name:	`cp_degrootkeep`
Released:	December 17, 2010 Patch (Australian Christmas)
Variants:	Sandcastle
Developer(s):	Valve
Map Info
Environment:	Alpine, Medieval
Setting:	Daylight, Sunny
Hazards:	Castle gate, Pitfall
Map Items
Health Kits:	×2
Ammo Boxes:	×4
Map Photos

Map Overview