Loki's Minions Capture the Flag
| Company type | Video game modification |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Mike "Jormungard" Scandizzo |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Mod for Quake II |
Loki's Minions Capture the Flag (LMCTF) holds the distinction of being one of the earliest mods for Quake II, as well as the first capture the flag modification for the title. Developed by Mike "Jormungard" Scandizzo from Clan Loki's Minions, it was released shortly after the Quake II source code became available and rapidly attracted a dedicated player base. A standout feature was its innovative off-hand grappling hook, allowing players to swing through the air while engaging opponents.
Gameplay
In LMCTF, players join either Red or Blue teams in a multiplayer setting where the objective is to seize the enemy’s flag and bring it back to their own base. Victory is awarded to the team that secures the highest number of flag captures.
Features
This mod enhanced the original Quake II experience by introducing several new elements, such as an off-hand grappling hook, various power-up runes including Haste, Strength, Resist, and Regeneration, a plasma rifle weapon, team-based radio and voice communication sounds, unique character models and skins, custom-designed maps, a tournament mode, and options for observer cameras.
History
LMCTF was initially launched by Jormungard representing Clan LM and later expanded with a broader development team comprising additional programmers, modelers, and mappers. By version 3.0 in April 1998, key programmers included Jormungard and Surt, while lead mappers were John "Mr. White" Keffer, John "Der Kommissar" Staats, and Keith "Vampire" Mercer. The programming team grew with Hati joining for release 4.0 in July 1998, followed by Dan "Batstone" Markham for version 5.0 after some developers transitioned to Blizzard; Der Kommissar also eventually joined Blizzard. By its fifth release, LMCTF featured roughly 30 community-contributed maps.
The mod supported numerous clan-based competitions such as Ragnarok, Ascension, Narf!, Wargrounds, Online Gaming League (OGL), and Free Agent Fest. The Ragnarok tournament series was particularly prominent during 1998 and 1999, featuring round-robin format seasons culminating in playoffs. Season one was won by Harbingers of Despair, while Pathetic Totally Harmless claimed victory in season two.
A resurgence occurred in August 2011 within U.S. and European LMCTF communities through organized competitive matches. This revival resulted in six smaller tournaments vying for the 'Beatdown' championship title. Another wave of activity began in May 2020 with the continuation of the 'Beatdown' competition into its seventh season.
Maps
The final iteration of the mod contained 30 original maps supplemented by numerous community map collections including XMaps2, Lockheed's Tombs, Nachos Map Pack, and the Kiukku Pack. These additions contributed approximately 50 extra maps that broadened gameplay options and increased appeal.