Problem: You play a map with special materials or models and after a map change your objective icons (the icons for the flag caps) or materials like small bushes, flowers and even some models are now changed.

Then you shut down, the problem goes away.

What happened?

You came across a map that has the default file names for materials and models but the actual files embedded in the .bsp file are not the same materials and models as the default files.

The client PC when opening that map, the default material files were pre-cached on the first load and carried on until the game was shut down.

The mapper likely made a honest mistake and they need to correct the embedded file names and you should (as a server owner) have that map in circulation as it will cause complaints.

Some mappers cannot be found. You love that map and want to fix it.

I got involved in fault finding and fixing that issue with various server owners and a couple of mappers who made some really cool maps then... disappeared, did make this mistake.

We couldn't find or contact the mapper/s (“Hero” and “Alex-Road” could be the same person with a group of maps prefixed with "ar" the initials of the mappers name) so the only solution was to make a new version... that is de-compile the map and correct the issues, them pack the map again naming the map as different.

Those maps mostly had flag icons changed to another country, different materials like bushes and flowers, it was annoying and players got upset. You could also imagine the "That server hacked me" complaints that may occur, its just that the files are pre-cached on the first map load.

Is it right to do this to another persons map?

Well not normally but seeing the maps were removed from the various download sites as "faulty" and... the mapper did not respond to any contact then you should make another version and try to embed a map description or a readme why it was remade.

But the intent here is for a method for new mappers to correct this issue and explore why you should be careful when embedding files in a .bsp, you can have your map removed from servers and download lists.

This method produced a download and a PDF guide you can download that here.

Here is the PDF embedded in this page to describe the process before you download.