Survival guide to Black Mesa

Mathius

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Mesa is a hard map to navigate for alot of people, so here is a survival guide to Mesa​

1. The basics:Mesa is a control point map with 5 points(much like foundry). there are several ways to get to each of those points, but more of these will be talked about later. Each point is pretty obvious as to how to capture, but as you go closer to the middle point the easier it is to catch, point A being the easiest to capture(12-13 seconds).

-Also when you are in the point A room, you notice how big the room may be, but in truth there isnt far you can go in that room, since the water is poisionous and the room is pretty much set up like catwalks. In the poisionous water there are 2 creatures swimming around the elevators to get back up to the catwalks, Those creatures have been named Steve. Steve will kill you if you touch him, so try to avoid Steve if you want to.

-In addition to hazards there are Fans in room L and room C, which is a good way for pyros to harness the power of their airblast. Now onto vents

2.The vents:The vents are an amazing way to get around the map and escape certain doom at the hands of a certain pyro or heavy. The vents are the same for each side and start out in a room right by spawn.

-When you first enter the vent you have the option to go straight or up to some health packs and ammo. If you go straight you enter the A room. If you go up the vents you find another fork.

-In that fork there are some options. If you go right you are back in the room that leads to the vents. If you go left you will find another fork.

-In that new fork you have some options. If you go right you will find a path that leads to a spawn room that will be discussed later. About halfway to that spawn room you will see a breakable grate. If you break that grate you will be lead to either room L or room C, depending on team. If you went straight in the fork you would get to a point where you see a dead end vent.

-Past that there is one more fork in the vent. If you go right, you will be lead to the room that leads to room A. If you go left, you will end up in a room that will lead to the enemies final point and spawn. There is a third option for the final fork, if you break the grate in front of you,you will be on a little catwalk above the room leading to A.

3.The extra rooms: In mesa there are many misleading rooms that are both helpful and tidious to newcomers.

-One of those rooms is the second room leading from spawn to the second point(depending on team). That room is used to put a sentry in or set up a great gank.

-Another room is the room that leads from the second point to to room A. This room is used for setting up a gank or stopping a capture on a point.

-The next room is the room that you find yourself in if you pass your spawn or if you leave the end of the vent going to enemy spawn. This room is a great room for set up stabs and easy protection of your spawn.

-The final room is the room right across from the final point. This room is an amazing room for snipers to reach room A very fast and get ready for anyone looking to cap A. Time for spawn.

4. The spawn:The spawn is very small but can be confusing at times. It takes a bit of getting used to to understand spawn sometimes.

-The first point is where you spawn. This room is very obvious and needs no explaining.

-After you leave the spawn you are in a small room with the blackmesa syblow above you. This is the basic hangout room for spawn.

-To the right of the Blackmesa room there is a room with a health cabinet and some stairs. Those stairs lead to a spot where you can either fall down and get out, this is an amazing way to get past spawncampers, or go into a room that was talked about earlier.

-To the left of the Blackmesa room is another room that seems useless, but if you crouch-jump onto the crates you can reach the catwalks right above the room. On the catwalk is another Health cabinet and another exit to avoid spawncampers. This exit is also a good way to set up a sentry and prevent spawncampers.

And there you go, a basic survival to BlackMesa. Have fun out there you guys​
 
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Very nice thread, very helpful for people who are frustrated by mesa, also helpful for the newer mesa players on the scene, and please don't be one of those people who come by and saw "ewh mesa" or "mesa sucks" because you're not wanted here. :)
 
You're not, you haven't been in mesa for ages

Nice writeup for people who don't know mesa
 
tbcf - mesa is easy to navigate. tl;dr

Good guide, I guess. Still didn't read.
 
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Very nice thread, very helpful for people who are frustrated by mesa, also helpful for the newer mesa players on the scene, and please don't be one of those people who come by and saw "ewh mesa" or "mesa sucks" because you're not wanted here. :)

ewh mesa sucks


In all seriousness though, the guide isn't bad for those first time players.
 
The vents are great for the occasional sticky trap and taunt kill!
 
The guide looks good! My only suggestion would be to include an image of the whole map (I couldn't find one on google, but maybe noclip way above the map and take a screenshot?) and reference it throughout the guide. Good work Mathius
 
Good start Mathius, but it could use some work. I've edited for clarity and grammar and also expanded some sections. I also added a overview of the map from the top as elBradford suggested.

Here's what I have so far:
Mesa is a difficult map to navigate for many new players, so here is a survival guide to Black Mesa
View attachment 5458
(Click to expand)

Basics:
  • Mesa is a control point map with 5 points much like foundry. However, Mesa is different in the naming of the points which spell BLACK. There are several ways to get to each of those points and they will be covered later in this guide. Points closest to the center of the map are easier to capture with A being the easiest, L/C being in between, and B/K being the hardest. When a game starts B, A, and K are all locked. A is unlocked when either L or C is captured. A platform allowing easier access to A also lowers.
  • The point A room is quite large but there isn't far you can go as the water is poisonous and the room is set up like catwalks. In the poisonous water at both far ends there are two Ichthyosaurs swimming around the elevators which take you back to the catwalks. They have been nicknamed Steve and will kill you instantly upon contact.
  • Additional map hazards are the fans on the ceiling in room L and room C. When pushed too high from rocket jumping, Pyro airblasts, etc. the player gets sucked into the fan, resulting in instant death.
 
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