Call of Duty 4: Gameplay standards

Gameplay Standards are extremely important when mapping a level as they determine how the player will see the world but also how the gameplay will be affected. Building a doorway to small or a ledge too high might result in poor game flow...

Doorways and windows

Doorways = 56 units wide/96 units high

For high traffic areas it is sometime best to make it a double door.

Double door = 128 units wide/96 units high

Window Height = 32 units from floor to the bottom of the window frame.

Window Frame = minimum of 46 units wide 72 units high. (Inside diameter)

Stairways

Interior = 8 high / 10 deep 64 unit min. width

Mantles (Climbing)

The tallest distance a player will climb automatically is 18 units. However, while 18 is the limit, stairs and curbs should be around 8 units high.

The highest a player can mantle ("climb") is eye level (approx. 64 units). Of course, if the player jumps, their eye level goes higher and they can climb higher things - but they player won't see the mantle icon if their eye isn't above the ledge.

Hallways

Hallways = 489 units wide

Walls

Building wall/One story high = 128 units high

Wall thickness = 8 units

Columns = 32-48 units wide

A 32 unit wide column is barely enough to still offer valid cover for the player. And after the column_cover node animations have been added 32-48 units will also provide valid cover and firing angles from both sides of the column for AI as well.

Streets

Large - Four car width = 600 units

Small - Two Tank width = 300 units

Alleyway – small street = 300 units wide

Sidewalk

Small = 128 units wide

Medium = 192 units wide

Large = 256 units wide (this is more for Singleplayer levels)

Cover

Standing cover height = 48 units high

Crouching = 32 units

Prone cover height = 16 units high

Prone crawling height clearance = 32 units high

Engagement ranges

These would be the range at which a firefight takes place. These ranges make sure the player is shooting at a target that is a good size to hit and interact with. This will help keep the levels from getting too big and having pixel shooting distances.

There is a model in the game called mw_scale_soldier. It has two rings around him, one at 600 and one at 1024. Based off of COD2’s weapons settings, 512 was a good distance to shoot an SMG at a target and 1024 was a good distance for a rifle. These can be adjusted if the new weapons get changed drastically. You can drop the model in your level to make sure your geo is not getting too big.

Player Models

Standing = 72 units

Crouch = 36 units

Sources

IW Wiki