DeGroot Keep

DeGroot Keep
Basic Information
Variants:	Sandcastle
Developer(s):	Unknown
Map Info
Environment:	Medieval
Setting:	Daylight, sunny
Hazards:	Castle gate, Pit
Map Photos
Map Overview

“

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 a map for the Medieval mode that was released during the Australian Christmas event with the December 17, 2010 update. It is currently the only official map designed for this mode. The Health pickups inside the keep appear as medieval-style roast meat.

The map is a relatively small capture and defend stage. At the beginning of the round, BLU must capture the town (Point A) and cliffside (Point B) located at ground level to the sides of the castle. Because the castle gate is initially closed and impassable, RED must mount a defense from the top of the castle. Defenders can fire projectiles from above or leap off the walls to engage BLU directly.

Once the first two points have been captured, the castle gate will rise and allow access to RED's keep (Point C) located at the end of the castle courtyard. BLU will then have a certain amount of time (60 seconds by default) to capture Point C, indicated by an on-screen timer. The gate will only close once the timer expires and Point C is clear of any capture progress. Once the gate closes, Points A and B will need to be recaptured.

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

Locations

Overview of the map. (Large file)

DeGroot Keep is a small single stage map containing three control points and two bases in a similar fashion to Gravel Pit and Junction.

Battlefield

• BLU camp: The BLU team starts in 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).
• Battlefield: Between DeGroot Keep and the BLU camp is the battlefield where most of the action takes place. The field is a hill which peaks in the center. There is a tree which can be used as cover for the Huntsman or the Crusader's Crossbow arrows. Along the hill are two flaming braziers which can be used to light the Huntsman arrows on fire. There is also a rock that can be used as cover for the Snipers attacking the the opposite team's Medics, but also can be charged at by the Demoman to propel them to the top of the keep.[1][2]
• Town (Point A): Point A is located in-between the castle wall and a blacksmith. From the castle wall defenders can drop down onto the point.
• Cliffside (Point B): Point B is located next to the other castle wall and next to the cliff of the map. Defenders can also drop down onto this point from the castle wall.

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  The battlefield that lays between the castle and fort.

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  Point A, The town.

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  Point B, the cliffside.

• 

  The fort that serves as BLU's base.

DeGroot Keep

• Gate: The only entrance to the castle is a large metal gate located right at the center of the castle walls. If the gate closes, any players standing directly beneath the gate will be crushed and consequently die.
• Courtyard (Point C): The courtyard is the main stage of the castle located outside RED spawn and the gate entrance. It contains Point C and a set of stairs to the battlements.
• Castle Halls: The halls are located below the battlements but above the courtyard and spawn. They can be accessed through a staircase in the courtyard and the staircase in the spawn room. They also contain a staircase which leads to the battlements.
• Battlements: The top floor of the castle which shows an entire view of the battlefield. From both sides of the castle defenders can drop directly onto the points. The front of the battlements has braziers which can be used to light Huntsman arrows. The height advantage makes the battlements an ideal spot for Huntsman Snipers to attack from.

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  The battlements of the castle.

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  The courtyard of the castle.

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  The interior of the castle that serves as RED's spawn area.

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  The gate guarding the entrance to the castle.

Strategy

See Community DeGroot Keep strategy

Control Point Timing

Control Point	Multiplier	Seconds
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

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.
• The keep gate may improperly appear stuck open or closed. Players will still interact with it as they should, getting stuck if it should be closed or passing through if it should be open.
• Players can stand right at the edge of the tree spot at the cliff to the left.
• If players fall far enough over the cliff edge, they will clip through the rocks surrounding the waterfall.
• Thunder ambience noise can occasionally be heard despite there being no thunder clouds visible in the skybox.
• The Demoman on the BLU team is equipped with the Chargin' Targe or the Splendid Screen and can use the charge on the rock as a ramp to reach the battlements of the castle, seen 'here'.

Trivia

The DeGroot family portrait.

• DeGroot or de Groot is a surname of Dutch origin meaning "the big" or "the great". It is also the Demoman's surname.
• 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:
  • The 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 the WAR! Update comic.
  • When entering the keep, a computer terminal can be seen hidden behind a wooden door to the left.
  • A second computer terminal can be seen through the sewer grate in the keep's courtyard.
  • A third computer is hidden behind a wooden door in RED's spawn area.
  • Despite the filter in chat, the signs blocking an exit in the BLU and RED spawn area are in modern English.
  • When a round begins sirens wail like any other map in the game.
  • There is an unused ticket booth model within the game files, suggesting that the castle is, in fact, nothing more than a tourist attraction. The modern signs and hidden computer terminals seem to support this theory.
• On certain events, like win/lose or final point access, bagpipes play in the background.
  • The bagpipe music is a re-use of the Template:W anthem used when a round is won by the British team.
• There is an unused scroll model in the game files. Its intended use is unknown besides that it was to be a pickup.
• There are ways to get around the text translation currently used in the map:
  • One of the ways the player can get around the translation is by putting a "!" or "/" at the beginning of their message.
  • Another is by using the "say" command in the console.
• Despite having capture progress when the map's timer runs out, Overtime will only occur if the keep gate is open, and the round will remain in Overtime until the gate closes.
• The wooden resupply cabinets have the Eyelander, the Tyrant's Helm, the Huntsman, and three arrows inside.

Misc. images

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  The wooden medieval-style resupply locker.

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  The wooden medieval resupply locker, opened.

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  The Health pickup.

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  The unused scroll model.

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  The unused ticket booth model.