Map Focus: Casa

Map Focus: Casa

Today at DailyNade’ we are kicking off a new regular feature: “Map Focus.” Every few weeks a pro will detail your favorite map, including locations, strategy, movement tips and effective pre-grenade spots! Without further ado, here’s the first map selected: Casa.

Pleased to Meet You, My Name is Casa

Back when I first started playing I recognized Casa as the Spanish word for “home” and have since considered it my “home” map. Recently, however, I’ve been told by other players that Casa is modeled after the city “Casablanca” in Morocco or based on the old movie “Casablanca.” I know I am not alone in considering Casa a “home” map though, as it is one of the most beloved maps in the Urban Terror Community.

Originally this article was only going to focus on Team Survivor for the sake of simplicity (and because I don’t often play bomb or CTF). However, after doing some “research” (playing the game!), I decided that it would be a travesty to not include at least some information about CTF and Bomb mode in this article, such as flag locations and bomb sites. For the most part, though, this guide will be from a Team Survivor Perspective. Below I will outline Spawn Areas, the different areas of the map, movement around the map, sniper areas and pre-nade spots. I’ll also throw in some fun tips (like spots that glitch) and strategies.

Prepare Yourself

First of all, Casa is a map that doesn’t especially lend itself to using any particular weapon. This is in contrast to other maps such as Riyadh (where SR-8 rules). Therefore my recommendation for gear/load-out is simple: a Kevlar, Helmet, and whatever you feel the most comfortable with as your primary weapon. Secondly, a good player will usually make it a priority to know the different areas of a map. Casa is no exception, and since it is a map commonly in rotation in nearly all servers there is no excuse not to learn the locations. There is no better place to start than spawn locations.

When looking at the Casa Spawn diagram (below), you will notice that almost half of the map is out of play during a Team Survivor match. This makes the map considerably smaller and cuts down on hiding spots for a faster game. You may also notice that it is possible for a Red player to spawn all the way near the trees at Patio Courtyard and a Blue player can spawn all the way at the end of the Covered Passage.

Ok, Show me the Locations Already!

Before writing this article Casa seemed like a small map to me. After I started writing, however, I realized that Casa is huge! I’ve split the map into two parts to make referring to the picture easier. Below are some general notes about some of the areas of the map.

1. Old Alley: Old Alley (also sometimes called Red Spawn) is usually where Red players will start on the map. This area is generally “safe” for Red, as it takes a lot of effort for the Blue team to push up Ally Timbers or through the Patio Courtyard.
2. Patio Courtyard: Patio courtyard is one of the best defensible positions for the Red team. This is because players can “cover” one another from several angles (for example: a player at narrow can be covered by a second man on the patio by the trees, and the bridge can be covered from narrow). If this area is rushed by an opposing team, however, the only exits are to Fountain Courtyard or back to Old Alley (this is only true in Team Survivor as in CTF or Bomb one can exit by Wood Piles or 27’s Tunnel).
3. Alley Timbers: Alley Timbers is one of the least defensible locations on the map, and is a deathtrap. It is not wise to linger in this area too long because a player can be killed from Market and from Old Alley (Red Spawn), with no place to escape.
   
4. Bridge: Technically called “Main Alley Square, I named this “Bridge” to fit on the diagram. Bridge is another deathtrap, similar to Alley Timbers because hanging out in the middle leaves a player open to attack from above, behind (via Fountain Courtyard), and from the front. That is not to say “don’t go through Bridge,” because if done correctly, one can travel unharmed through this area and surprise the enemy. One can sometimes also effectively hide in the corner underneath the bridge. Typically, however, it is wise not to linger in this area too long.
5. Patio Courtyard (Middle): This is still technically part of Patio Courtyard, but deserves a section on its own because it is a deathtrap. Middle can be a throughway to rush, but what usually happens is that it funnels slow players to snipers at either end (from Covered Passage or from Patio Courtyard). Note that if done correctly one can surprise rushing enemies by hiding around the corner on either side of Middle.
6. Narrow Hallway: Narrow hallway is another deathtrap. This is because on both sides one is likely to encounter a sniper. Take notice of the balcony overlooking the Fountain Courtyard, as this is a good place to take aim towards Market and Bridge (assuming you pay attention and avoid being flanked from behind). This is also good place to pull the pin on a grenade, and throw towards the Patio Courtyard.
   
7. Market: In a Team Survivor match, Market is usually a safe area for Blue team to try and defend. In bomb and CTF, however, Blue has more effective defensible areas (for example, Orchard View). Market is defensible because Alley Timbers and Bridge funnel players into narrow doorways, and New Alley can easily be watched. There are also many angles that allow players to defend one another in a similar manner to Patio Courtyard.
8. Fountain Courtyard: Fountain courtyard is not an easily defensible location; it is, however, significantly safer than Narrow or Alley Timbers. Keep in mind when playing from here that Fountain Courtyard has the most number of entryways and exits of any location on the map.
9. New Alley and Covered Passage: These two locations are often combined because sometimes they are called simply “Blue Spawn.” Covered Passageway offers a good vantage point to snipe players approaching from the middle. There are also some very good places where players rarely look in this area, making it a fine place to camp (In Team Survivor) if low on life. It is harder to hold than Market, as there are fewer exits, but it may be safer than Fountain Courtyard.

Now, a full map for context:

So Many Deathtraps, What Will I Do?

As mentioned in the location section, in a Team Survivor game there are four deathtraps: Narrow, Middle, Bridge, and Alley Timbers. To avoid being killed in these places, one needs to focus on movement. Generally on Casa there are two strategies: “Hold and Exterminate Stragglers,” or “Rush and Flank”. In both cases knowing common routes is beneficial. Nearly all of the most common routes are to help a player navigate (or defend) a deathtrap.

I would bet that most deaths on Casa occur at a deathtrap. If true, then one can significantly improve his or her game by avoiding (or utilizing effective movement in) those sections. Below is a map with numbered routes that I will explain and consider. Note that the movement map in this article is focused on Team Survivor. For the record, I consider Blue to have a rushing advantage and Red to have a defense advantage. I’ve colorized the routes to indicate for which side they are best applied.

1. Blue Spawn to Fountain: This is the most common way players exit Blue spawn. As Tarquin explained in his article “Dominate the market with Your SR-8,” most of the time Market will be empty: “…there’s a good chance (on public servers) nobody’s playing in Market anyway…”. It is important to note that this route is the way most players will take upon spawning (especially players of lesser skill). Further, if this route is performed properly, a player can slide all the way to the middle (even with Kevlar) and surprise the enemy at Patio Courtyard. Good strategy is to syncronize a rush into Patio Courtyard from multiple angles (from narrow, bridge, or market). If Blue team can plan a syncronized attack, then this jump is dangerous to the Red team indeed (even if it’s a pretty standard route).
2. Back Jump to Middle of Narrow: This is a quick back jump and a slight turn to the right to arrive at Narrow Hallway without grabbing. It is a quick way to escape Fountain Courtyard, to prepare a pre-nade for Narrow, or to flank an enemy that you saw at Patio Courtyard.
3. Fountain Wall-Jump to Bridge: This is an effective jump as one can use it to retreat or attack. If done properly a player can continue this jump and slide all the way to the end of the Bridge and continue into Old Alley. A player can also shorten up this jump and go from Fountain Courtyard to Market without spending a significant amount of time at Bridge (one of the deathtraps).
4. The Famous Market Jump: Almost every player should know about this jump by now, even if he or she can’t perform it reliably. It bestows upon the player a significant advantage – that of being able to quickly travel from one end of the map to another (and a quick passage through Alley Timbers). The hardest part of this route is sliding from the end of market to the end of Ally Timbers. It is worth learning.
5. Narrow to Patio to Bridge: This is an effective jump when trying to retreat, flank, or when trying to help defend against an incoming attack at bridge. A player jumps from the edge of Narrow to Patio Courtyard and finishes by sliding towards Alley Timbers.
6. Simple Jump from Patio to Narrow: One can perform this jump to arrive at the Narrow stairs without grabbing. This jump provides an opportunity for an injured player to hide in the relatively safe covered area of the Patio Courtyard and still have an exit opportunity.
7. Bridge to Covered part of Patio Courtyard: Both jumps 7 and 8 start from the same place. This means that a player could end (very quickly) at the opposite ends of the map from the same starting point. One starts by doing three wall jumps in the walkway from Bridge to Patio Courtyard and a slide to the covered part of Patio. This is helpful when fleeing, or when first spawning as a way to arrive at Narrow faster.
8. Red Bridge Jump: This jump can be done with one wall-jump or two. It allows a player to sprint through the bridge “deathtrap” and flank an enemy at Fountain Courtyard.
9. Red Market Jump: This is likely the hardest (or second hardest) jump on the list. It takes a player from Alley Timbers to Blue Spawn in a very quick fashion. The quick travel, if done correctly, will help a player attack campers at Blue spawn. This jump also can help one flank enemies in Fountain Courtyard from behind.

That is all I can provide for tips about movement. These are usual jumps and routes, and even though a few were likely left out, knowing them (either from a rushing stand point, or a defensive stand point) will improve your game. Next I will outline some effective sniping positions, pre-nade spots and notable positions.

Fun Stuff: Glitches

There are a few glitches on Casa. Thanks to UrT player Cynicism, here’s a demo of some of them. In case you can’t tell, the first glitch is that you will lemming if you jump at the window the wrong way.

On a Snipe Hunt

Sniping on Casa is much more common than one would think. All three areas in the middle of the map (Market, Fountain, and Narrow) will be rife with sniper crossfire in a competitive match. Luckily, both red and blue have effective sniping positions.

Red:

1. Sniping Market from Alley Timbers: This was pretty well demonstrated by Tarquin in his article. One can Snipe through the fence at Old Alley all the way to Market. It is a good sniping position because a player can attack incoming enemies from head on and, if needed, escape well in advance to Patio Courtyard.

1. Patio Courtyard Sniper’s Nest: If done correctly, one can hide behind the tree in Patio Courtyard to effectively kill players exiting and entering from Narrow Hallway. This position is difficult to flank, but it is also difficult to retreat from the Sniper’s Nest.
2. Red Narrow Hallway: This is a standard spot. Usually at the beginning of a Team Survivor match there is a race between to secure this spot and Blue spot 3. A skilled player in this spot can effectively closing off a point of entry into Patio Courtyard.

Blue

1. Position at Spawn Corner: This position allows a Blue player to effectively eliminate any Red from entering through Patio Courtyard’s Middle. It also provides a good escape plan, via market. If a player is faced with a 1 vs. many situation, this position allows a player to “use the corner” to their advantage and hear oncoming enemies from behind while protecting the front.
2. New Alley Sniper’s Corner: This position provides some of the benefits of Blue 4, but with an easier escape route. One can defend most of the market from here, but cannot fully see enemies approaching from Alley Timbers.
3. Blue Narrow Hallway: This position allows a Blue player to protect the Narrow Hallway and to watch Bridge. It is similar to the Red Narrow Hallway position.
4. Market Sniper’s Nest: This area allows a sniper to attack all the way into Old Alley. Combined with jump number 4 this position can be very deadly.

Nade’ in Your Pocket, or are you Just Happy to See Me?

In this section, I have outlined four of the most effective pre-nade’ spots on Casa. You may have noticed that they are all on the Red side. This is because I find Blue side to be more spread out and harder to effectively pre-nade. If you haven’t done so, check out Engine’s how-to on using grenades, as most of his examples are on Casa. On the diagram below, grenade spots are defined by “G”, and notable spots are defined by “N.”

1. Alley Timbers Rushing Pre-Nade: This area is effective for a player who is rushing, or to prevent rushes. Also interesting to note is that one can bounce a grenade off of the wall from a relative safe spot within market, (without exposing himself to fire from old alley) and still get damage pretty far into Alley Timbers. Overall, this is one of the better places to send a pre-nade flying.
2. Market to Bridge Pre-Nade: This is a good place to send a pre-nade for both teams. Red would nade’ this position to slow an oncoming attack from Fountain or Market, and Blue could throw nades from this spot prior to rushing.
3. Narrow Hallway Hiding Place Pre-Nade: Blue can send a pre-nade flying at this location to injure or kill a Red sniper. This would allow the Blue team to rush in on Patio Courtyard.
4. Suicide Nade at Sniper’s nest: If a sniper is sitting behind the tree at Patio Courtyard, one can pre-nade this position from Alley Timbers/Bridge or from Middle (Suicide Nade’). That’ll take care of the sniper problem.
   

Notable Spots

1. Red Healing Corner: This is likely the safest place for Red players to heal each other so it is commonly used for that! Take advantage of the protection (Red team) or (Blue team) try to surprise distracted opponents. This can be done easily by listening for healing noises at Patio Courtyard.
2. Red Healing Corner 2: This position is not particularly safe for healing, but many players do so anyway after being shot from the bridge.
3. Covered Area of Patio Courtyard: This is a good hiding place, so always check it for enemies. If you do not, then expect to be unpleasantly surprised.
4. Patio Courtyard/Narrow Hallway Spot Check: Check out this area, as similar to N3, it is sometimes used to surprise enemies coming from Bridge.
5. Fountain Courtyard Bench: A good place to sip Espresso and enjoy a sunny afternoon. Also, to cover the Middle, watch the break in Narrow Hallway, and hear oncoming enemies from Bridge.
6. My Most Favorite Spot to Camp when Low on Health: No one checks these areas. Often you can watch an enemy run by, then head-shot them from behind. It’s my favorite thing to do when low on health.

Conclusion

So, that is it for the Map Focus for Casa. I hope none of you are disappointed that CTF and Bomb modes weren’t discussed in-depth for this article. However, Casa is a great map and I hope that those who read this article gained some new-found appreciation and learned some new tricks.

Finally, I’d like plug the opportunity to help the DailyNade’ in future Map Focus articles. You will get the opportunity to “research” and write about your favorite map.

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