There are truly countless Quake III Arena maps out there, going all the way back to the game’s early days, so it’s natural that some maps may remind us of others — just as many maps resemble many more maps. 🙂
Crypta Tenebrarum is my own idea and personal interpretation.
I didn’t consciously take inspiration from specific maps (I honestly wouldn’t even have the time to browse through hundreds of them), but I can understand the comparison, especially considering the macabre theme, the brownish palette and the vertical gameplay.
Those who know my “hand” already know what to expect: environments that are sometimes a bit tight and not always perfectly tuned for pure competitive play. However, I always put a lot of care into atmosphere, visual impact and fun, and that is what I enjoy the most.
Knowing that this approach is appreciated by players who love the classic Quake III Arena experience truly makes me happy. Thank you for the kind words!

This map reminds me a lot of Eraser's Bones' Basement with both its theme and atmosphere — the brownish color palette, occasional tightness of ceilings and verticality in gameplay. Even the custom bot for this level is a skeleton as well, and I think all together it is great! Maybe JonnYReds even took some inspiration from that level :)