Greek

The pillars look amazing...from the screenshot, I haven't downloaded it yet.

I really like this map, it has great atmosphere and looks really good, nice work.
Suggestions? As a multiplayer it is really going to suffer in the main pillared area because of the visible textured brushes (r_speeds suffer). But by noclipping around, I found that you had already done some work to reduce them. I wonder if bringing the sky down a bit and sectionalising it might reduce them, or wether you would have to use Hint brushes?.
As far as the map goes, a couple of greek god statues (models) might set of the already wonderful eye candy?

Oh, sorry... forgot to mention the SKY. I would have a look around for something more in tune with the theme. A SKY texture that better defines the architecture.

I just tried sectionalizing and lowering the sky to no effect I've never used hint brushes and have no idea what they are or how they work.

As I promised, I'm just trying it - beautiful screenie, good first impression!

UPDATE: lower w_poly's, new cave area (for better flow in deathmatch), more ambient sounds, and fixed a couple of env_sound transitions.

Statues would be really cool, but they seem hard to make in Hammer.

Wow! Really really nice! Definitely could do with statues and other decoration, that's all methinks. I'll look at the updated version when I remember to - what about the ladders underground? They were all fullbright, which looked very odd.

At one point I tried adding some pottery that could be broken. When I copied and pasted the pottery I started getting coplanar errors on them. Being too lazy to fix them, I deleted them and gave up on the idea for a while.

UPDATE: lower w_poly's, fixed texture alignment, fixed a couple of env_sound problems, and fixed the lighting on the ladders (thank you SlayerA).

/me downloads it

Even better! Two things: maybe slightly less squared-off bushes? Also, a few env_sound's'd make the cave bits feel more, uh, cavey with echoes etc.

Try the pottery again

There are env_sounds for the caves.

If I add the curved bushes it will increase my r_speeds which are already pretty high in a couple places. I might try it though, maybe it won't increase the r_speeds too much.

Why don't you try creating statues using MilkShape 3D, and put them into the map as monster_generic or monster_furniture?

I've never used MilkShape 3D and I'm trying to use the standard models and graphics that came with Half Life.

and you have to pay for milkshape!!! i hate it there anre no free tolls for hl modeling any more

I tried "pottery" again. This time using a prefab plant pot that comes with Hammer. They randomly disappear in the map and then reappear, depending on the angles that you look at them. Another pottery failure, this time will be the last.

UPDATE: lower w_poly's, new shrub style tried, added ambient_generics, moved a couple items, and a few slight architectural changes.

cool looking map. Seems to need a bit more, like maybe some more detail in the rock work but in general well done.

UPDATE: expanded the use of new shrubs, moved a couple items, added a reflective floor to the "temple", added splashes around the upper waterfall, made the sewer more interesting, fixed a couple of brush problems, improved rock formations, and added some trim work around doorways.

Could anyone give me any feedback on the semi-reflective floor in the "temple"?

k loved the waterfall falling in the cave thats awesome
the walls inside greek temples need somthing to plain but still looked good i fu could maybe make a texture with greek scripts or some greek tapastries that would lok coool some stone inscribing thats just some ideas and the earth terrain i dont know about uguys but i hate that terrain if u could find a earth terrain texture hasnt been used yet that would make your awesome map look much better and as for the sky texture get one with the athens in the background somthing custom good job man its dope
did i mentionm the water fall going into the cave dope
keep up the good work man

+Superb stuff. Architecture is simple yet elegant in most places--the under parts were rather square.

+Superb Texturing an lighting!

+Superb use of ambients and use of env_sounds!

+Great performance, though I think you had wpolys to spare for more detail in spots.

+Interesting layout.

Superb work!

5 stars

A nice little map you've got going on here! You've made nice details using just default HL textures. Quality improvisation! There's the odd strange choice, like that giant rock pillar, the (frankly pretty good looking) broken pillar path underground that is seemingly unnecessary, and the path leading up above the maps walls. All in all, though, this map had potential. Polished up, could be a goer.