Ghost Fort

Ghost Fort
Basic Information
Variants:	Lakeside
Developer(s):	Unknown
Map Info
Environment:	Halloween
Setting:	Nighttime, overcast
Hazards:	Pumpkin bombs, Merasmus, Pit, Skull Island explosion
Map Photos
Map Overview

“

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 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.

Similar to Eyeaduct and Mann Manor, Ghost Fort has spawning prizes, pumpkin bombs, and a boss.

Whenever the control point is captured, one of ten cards will be randomly chosen, and its effect bestowed upon all players.

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, which tells those players to run the bomb back to Merasmus to stun him.

Ghost Fort features a second location, called Skull Island. When Merasmus is killed, he will be replaced by a Bombinomicon, which players can use to transport to the island. Atop the hill, players can enter a cage and obtain the achievement A Lovely Vacation Spot, and the Skull Island Topper, if they haven't already been obtained. Players are then teleported back into the main field, with invulnerability, 200% overheal, a speed boost, and a crit boost for a limited time.

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.

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. Only the player for which the gift has spawned will see the spawn and obtain notifications.

Strategy

Main article: Community Ghost Fort strategy

Main article: Merasmus match-ups

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 changes hands. Its effect will be bestowed upon all players. Here is a list of possible effects:

Card	Description
	Super Jump makes every player jump much higher. In compensation, the minimum height to receive fall damage is increased.
	Small Head will shrink every players' heads. This increases their vocal pitching. This does not affect the hitbox of the head.
	Super Speed makes every player run faster.
	Zero Gravity lowers the map gravity, making higher areas inaccessible.
	Big Head will cause every players' heads to grow larger. This lowers their vocal pitching. This does not affect the hitbox of the head.
	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.
	Critical Hits grants 100% critical chance on each player.
	Dance Off teleports every player to the non-Wheel side of the control point and aligns them into two parallel rows, while they all stop and do the Thriller taunt with Merasmus, who teleports to either end of the rows.
	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's spinning, but they do not have any effects and cannot be picked.

Card	Name
	Fish Troll
	Decapitated
	Hells Bells
	Cherry Bomb
	Lucky You

Related achievements

General

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

Wizards Never Prosper Kill MERASMUS!

Update history

October 26, 2012 Patch (Spectral Halloween Special)

• Added Ghost Fort.

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 you change your class (or die) while falling down the hole in the big building; you will see whiteness through the terrain at the bottom.

Trivia

• When Merasmus spins the Wheel of Fate and forces the players to dance, the dance and Merasmus' narration are references to Template:W.
• The tiny head effect makes the player voices similar to that of those heard in Pyroland.
• In addition to the effects listed above, several other images can be seen when the Wheel of Fate is spinning, such as "777" and "BAR". While the Wheel will never land on these images, they are a reference to traditional slot machines, which often include such symbols.
• Merasmus' narration when bestowing a crit boost, "It is the crit boostening!" is a reference to the Quickening from Template:W.
• 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 Template:W, which itself is a reference to the play Template:W.