[SP] Chapter 1: The Escape
I like the idea of an escape map, the title alone drew me in. As everyone has said already however, the puzzles are simple and the rooms are ridiculously huge.
The first thing I noticed about the map was the toxin timer. I was off at breakneck speed to 'escape', but then I had to walk about 4 miles. In a chase situation you want the player to feel under pressure, struggling to complete actions as fast as they can. Walking up a huge corridor is not very exciting.
The huge turret death pit was cool though, just seeing it below added a good level of atmosphere and I was interested again. The middle section wasn't too bad, and I like the huge flings, but then I got stuck under the stairs at the faith plate section, and when I reloaded I kept losing the cube.
The faith plate section is pitch black for me, is it supposed to be that way?
After spawning a cube I realised the neurotoxin must be way over the 4 minutes by now, and I wasn't dead or had any indication i'd 'defeated it', so that was a bit disappointing.
I hope this helps with your next map. if you want to see some cool examples of 'chase' chambers take a look at the end of NYS-4 and 5, they are insanely tense 
Yeah, sorry about the turn down Varakir. After making the map I realized, hey the trigger for the nerotoxin only kills the players if they are in the room or if the step in the room when the timer runs out where the nerotoxin is being dispensed at. But I really didn't want to change it because I the end, I felt this map was going to be a complete failure, 'for some reason it is not lol' but I was going to put in a message in the nerotoxin room stating that, "This room will be blocked off in 4 minutes by the nerotoxin halting your escape", but I felt this would be (1). Way to long of a message to have on the screen 'floating around', and (2) players would take to long to read this message warning them to not waste time, but at the same time wasting time reading a message telling them to not waste time. ~.~
[I really appreciate that comment tho.. I have learned that triggers should be spread out through the whole region of the map and not just one, so thanks for that]
Map in Progress:
[spoiler]The Story of The Untold Truth
Chapter 1: The Escape
Chapter 2: The Question[/spoiler]
Maps Made:
[spoiler]"TheOldVersion" Chapter 1: The Escape Over 1000 Downloads!
"TheOldVersion" Chapter 2: The Catacombs Over 500 Downloads![/spoiler]
When did lights go out of style? Sorry, that just kind of killed it for me. Just some simple lighting would've made it so much better. Straining my eyes to try and find a portalable surface doesn't make it a harder puzzle.
Dear Vixul,
Lights went out of style since the 1820's, were now into candles... You better get with your time period there buddy
[Just Kidding]
When I made this map Vixul, I used my 'Super Computer' aka My Toster Oven of a Laptop... When I ran the map I was in full contrast because I always have my charger plugged in when I get home, which is the only time I have to test the map out and see problems and issues. I say 'full contrast' because when it is off the charger it is set for 'lowest setting' contrast, so I have a longer battery life when not plugged in. Never took into effect that you guys ran your big boxed computers to play this game
It is not like I skipped out on the lights, when I first made that long run way when you get past that long opening that leads down into that pit of turrets... I used to have literally 30 lights hanging on that wall, took them off later because it was to excessive and it made compiling the map much longer... Do understand: I warned you from the first few sentences stating that... "This is my FIRST MAP!!!" I don't think I need say anymore.
Another thing... where did I say that straining your eyes counts as making the puzzle seem harder? If you can give me an exact quote out of my description, you and your friends will earn a 1st class trip to "Perfect Ville", bad news... no such place exists...
But I must thank you though, now when another person fails to read my descriptions, while at the same time saying stuff that was never said, they will be able to look at this post and clearly realize that, I will spend 5 minuites of my life to comment on a message that really has no effect towards me...
But, thank you for that comment, I hope you still play through my map, my lighting has gotten "a bit" better, I'm still learning... I don't spend my life doing this you know... but yes, I do spend my life commenting on meaningless comments.
[Also, if your comment was meant to just inform me in a nice way that I need better lighting skills, then please disregard this whole statement... can't tell if what you wrote was to be informable or 'sassy'. I jump the gun a lot but I love that about myself]
Map in Progress:
[spoiler]The Story of The Untold Truth
Chapter 1: The Escape
Chapter 2: The Question[/spoiler]
Maps Made:
[spoiler]"TheOldVersion" Chapter 1: The Escape Over 1000 Downloads!
"TheOldVersion" Chapter 2: The Catacombs Over 500 Downloads![/spoiler]
Sorry, it was definitely just informative, I was afraid of that. Tone doesn't carry over text. 
I completely understand what with this being your first map and all. I just finished my first map a few days ago and it has it's fair share of flaws as well.
Anyways, keep up the good work.
looking forward to your next map.
Lights went out of style since the 1820's, were now into candles... You better get with your time period there buddy
[Just Kidding]
When I made this map Vixul, I used my 'Super Computer' aka My Toster Oven of a Laptop... When I ran the map I was in full contrast because I always have my charger plugged in when I get home, which is the only time I have to test the map out and see problems and issues. I say 'full contrast' because when it is off the charger it is set for 'lowest setting' contrast, so I have a longer battery life when not plugged in. Never took into effect that you guys ran your big boxed computers to play this game
It is not like I skipped out on the lights, when I first made that long run way when you get past that long opening that leads down into that pit of turrets... I used to have literally 30 lights hanging on that wall, took them off later because it was to excessive and it made compiling the map much longer... Do understand: I warned you from the first few sentences stating that... "This is my FIRST MAP!!!" I don't think I need say anymore.
Another thing... where did I say that straining your eyes counts as making the puzzle seem harder? If you can give me an exact quote out of my description, you and your friends will earn a 1st class trip to "Perfect Ville", bad news... no such place exists...
But I must thank you though, now when another person fails to read my descriptions, while at the same time saying stuff that was never said, they will be able to look at this post and clearly realize that, I will spend 5 minuites of my life to comment on a message that really has no effect towards me...
But, thank you for that comment, I hope you still play through my map, my lighting has gotten "a bit" better, I'm still learning... I don't spend my life doing this you know... but yes, I do spend my life commenting on meaningless comments.
[Also, if your comment was meant to just inform me in a nice way that I need better lighting skills, then please disregard this whole statement... can't tell if what you wrote was to be informable or 'sassy'. I jump the gun a lot but I love that about myself]
You didn't jump the gun, you jumped a freakin' rocket launcher. 
I had trouble with my first map too (misaligned textures and light emitting from nowhere). It is hard to tell when someone's being sincere or not. But if light is the only serious issue with the map, then I got some good advice: make a prop_static with the glass_light model and stick it 1 unit away from the ceiling (or wall depending on the circumstance) and stick a light entity 16 units from the glass_light. Then just copy and paste the two (glass_light & light) wherever you need more light.
Edit: After reading one of your other comments (the one about 30 lights) I have one more piece of advice. I think the light entity can have the radius of light emitted changed. That way you can make more light emit without having several light entities.
My Work
[spoiler]Maps:
Revenge of the Angry Turrets
Capture the Cube [Co-op]
Capture the Cube 2 [Co-op]
TPWEGTH Sample Map
Aperture Aquatic Testing Center
Aperture Aquatic Testing Center 2
Aperture Time Testing Center
ML's Halloween Trick - 1000 downloads!
ML's Halloween Treat
ML's Combination - 1000 downloads!
ML's Jailbreak Labyrinth
ML's Tricky Teamwork [Co-op]
WIP:
"Capture the Cube 3"
Workshop Maps Link: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198008890579/myworkshopfiles/[/spoiler]
Thanks MasterLagger,
For reposting my whole chapter 1 book 
It took up half the page already lol.
I think I have found a better way to improve the light structure of my maps,
I won't need to use 30 lights anymore, now... I'LL USE 1700!!! j/k
We will see if my next map deals with the issue you guys are getting with the lights.
Chapter 2: Is on its way, I got a lot of it done last night... bad news is, I'm probably going to have to stop because I have to finish my College Course within December, so unless I have free time, I won't be able to work on it as much. Sorry if you guys were ready to order some hot wings in celebration of the next map release to be able to eat while playing. 
Map in Progress:
[spoiler]The Story of The Untold Truth
Chapter 1: The Escape
Chapter 2: The Question[/spoiler]
Maps Made:
[spoiler]"TheOldVersion" Chapter 1: The Escape Over 1000 Downloads!
"TheOldVersion" Chapter 2: The Catacombs Over 500 Downloads![/spoiler]
I'm playing custom maps and record my first time of playing them. So the run is not perfect and may not use only intended ways, but maybe it can let you see how other people may understand the map or you could just enjoy someone playing this map for entertainment.
Anyways, here is the recording:
rPzybbYO6rY
(Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPzybbYO6rY)
Also note the video description for more feedback and my signature for additional project information.
Portal 2 Playlists: videos 1-200 | videos 201-400 | videos 401-600 | videos 601-800 | videos 801-1000 | videos 1001-1200
I LOVED IT ! ! 4 of 5
And to Djinndrache - thanks for all your great play-throughs.
Not sure why some people hate huge rooms. To me the large football-stadium-sized rooms and the half-mile shafts added character and a great "feel" to the map. It was an advanture with a lot of movement. Not very hard - so that is one area you could increase on.
The other problem has been mentioned - the faith plates shaft. It was way too dark. I am sure you did that on purpose but you need to see what you are doing to avoid losing the cube as you catapult up. I simply used mat_fulbright 1 for that section, so it was not much of an issue.
I look forward to Chapter 2 - thanks for this.
PCdoc