Swiftwater

Swiftwater
Basic Information
Developer(s):	Unknown
Map Info
Environment:	Alpine
Setting:	Daylight, sunny
Map Overview

Swiftwater is a single-stage Payload map. The Alpine-styled map features 4 control points and encourages continuous pushing from BLU while trying to break RED's defenses.

According to the map's backstory (as displayed on a film projected inside BLU's spawn), BLU has been bottling water to make a quick profit. However, RED has caught onto this tactic and is poisoning BLU's water reserves from within the RED base, under the guise of its Red Planet Chemicals operation. Thus, BLU's objective is to push the bomb cart to RED's base, where it will detonate, destroying the base and ending their water poisoning plans.

Swiftwater is not an official map released in the game, but is often used in the competitive Highlander game mode.

Locations

Overview of the map.(Large file)

Capture Point 1

Capture Point 1 is located just outside of BLU's spawn across a small wooden bridge crossing a large ditch. To reach the point, the cart is pushed from BLU's spawn across the ditch a first time, then around a large rock in the way and up a steep incline. The cart then passes past a large holding tank and a building on the left-hand side of the path before crossing back over the ditch via the wooden bridge.

The point itself is located just before the entrance to a small cave section. A small ridge sits between BLU spawn and the point, with a small wooden shack on one side of the ridge. Further back is a large, two-story building, commonly used as a Sniper perch by RED, that later provides BLU with direct access to capture points 2 and 3. A medium health kit and large ammo kit are located right next to the capture point.

Capture Point 2

Capture Point 2 is located at the bottom of a small incline just before a bend in the cart path to the left. Preceding the point along the cart path is a brief cave section, with an elevated area to the right of the path as it winds back and forth. It then makes a left turn and begins heading downhill soon after toward the point.

Above the point is a high wooden bridge/catwalk connecting buildings on the left and right side of the area. To the immediate right of the cart path are rocks that can be climbed up on. Opposite the cave area exit is an entrance from RED's central spawn, along with a large open area and a dump truck that provides cover. Small health kits are on a wooden pallet next to the point and on the bridge above the point.

Capture Point 3

Capture Point 3 is located after the "chicane" section of the cart path outside of an entrance to RED's spawn. Following Capture Point 2, the cart path swings to the left, passing between two buildings. It then reaches the "chicane" section, where the path winds to the right and then the left around two team-colored silos in the middle of the path. Around the opposite side of the silos is a path that BLU can take. Just above this path is an entrance that BLU can access from the two-story building near Capture Point 1. A large entrance to RED's spawn, protected by mesh fence, sits along the "chicane." A medium health kit sits on the deck over the entrance to RED's spawn.

Capture Point 4

Capture Point 4 is located in a large, lowered area following a second small downhill area just outside of RED's spawn. After Capture Point 3, the cart path curves to the right and heads up an incline toward a rock wall. Reaching the wall, the cart makes a hairpin turn back toward the previous capture point. Partially shielding BLU as they push the cart are large rocks, though RED can build on a small plateau section overlooking the incline. A building just past Capture Point 3 offers a continuation of the path from BLU's spawn.

Following the first hairpin turn, the cart path makes a second hairpin turn around a tree stump in the middle of the open area. It then rises up a slight incline before making one final turn to the right toward the final capture point. A building sits at the bend.

The final section of the cart's path takes it down a wide, steep slope and right to the final capture point. In doing so, it passes underneath a large covered bridge/building hybrid. There are two main entrances for BLU to the bridge/building: one outside entrance leading right to the bridge, which has a small health kit near it; and a second entrance leading downstairs through the building to the area directly in front of the capture point. RED has two additional entrances, both near RED spawn.

The final point itself is located in a deep pit-like structure with high walls, giving RED a major advantage. However, via the covered bridge and an entrance located near the capture point, BLU can reach the area above the capture point and attack any RED forces massed there. There are also windows on the covered bridge which BLU may attack through.

Strategy

• Three wide, open areas on this map and long sightlines offer Snipers good opportunities for racking up kills and headshots. Prime sniping points for RED include:
  • The large, two-story building that serves as a shortcut to capture points 2 and 3
  • The entrance from RED's spawn to Capture Point 2
  • The walkways above the final downhill section of the map
• Platforms and areas of varying height throughout the map offer Pyros a perfect opportunity to ambush BLU as they try to push the cart. These areas include:
  • The ditch between BLU spawn and Capture Point 1, specifically near the small bridge the cart crosses;
  • The tower in the same area, which allows Pyros to drop directly onto or behind the cart if timed properly;
  • On the walkway directly above Capture Point 2, though the height of the drop may be counter-effective;
  • In between Capture Points 2 and 3 in an area accessible via a shortcut.
• Swiftwater is full of nooks, crannies and small, out of the way rooms, offering Spies places to disguise away from the fight or recharge their Cloak.
• The finishing point of Swiftwater is located in a depressed bowl-like area, giving a major advantage to RED Engineers and their Sentry Guns. Because of the high walls surrounding the point, ÜberCharged Demomen with the Stickybomb Launcher may provide the best means of destroying any large Sentry Gun nests above the last point.

Screenshots

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  BLU's initial spawn

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  BLU spawn

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  RED spawn interior

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  Area surrounding Capture Point 1 and BLU's initial spawn

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  Area surrounding Capture Point 2

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  "Chicane" just before Capture Point 3

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  Area outside RED spawn near Capture Point 3

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  Area between Control Point 3 and finishing point

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  Buildings/bridge above finishing point

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  Interior of covered bridge building at finishing point

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  Interior of entrance near finishing point

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  Finishing point (left) and areas above it

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  Custom RedEx parcel found in several locations

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  Billboard featuring Red Planet Chemicals, RED's cover for their operation

Changelog

Changelog:

Build 12 Changes

• Bug fixes
• Removed Rollback (from build 11)

Build 11 Changes

• Stage 1 layout significantly changed
• Added a CP before the final CP. More fighting takes place in courtyard now.
• Reduced amount of time awarded for CPs.

Build 7 Changes

Tons of changes. Most important:

• Blue Spawn remade - doors not stay open on map start
• CP4 tweaked to give red an advantage again. Buildings in upper area have a sniper vantage and a good shortcut behind blue.
• Fixed getting stuck in red spawning areas.
• Red can exit spawn anywhere after round starts.

Old Fixes

• Fixed Engy exploit at CP2
• New Red Spawn layout - more straightforward and should be less campable at cp3 and cp4. Shortened spawn times to compensate for slightly longer travel. (The changes should improve gameplay on insta spawn servers as well)
• New spawn exit from CP2 to prevent camping.
• Vastly increased frame rate.

Trivia

• The custom RedEx mail parcel is a parody of real life delivery service Template:W. The parcel has the words "CAUTION: ANTHRAX" written on it. This is a reference to the Template:W.

Additional links

• Development thread