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Title : Caldera ... 6 level adventure for Hexen
Filename : CALDERA.WAD version 1.0
Author : Chet Walters / WizWorks!
Email Address : mtz@cris.com (write if you like it)
WWW Address : http://www.cris.com/~mtz
Game : Hexen (1.1 update recommended)
Base : From scratch by yours truly
Level #'s : Map 08 thru Map 13 cluster 2
Single Player : Yes
Cooperative 2-4 Player : Yes
Deathmatch 2-8 Player : Yes (untested but 8 starts/map)
Difficulty Settings : Yes (many - adjustments in scripts too)
New Sounds : yes
New Graphics : Yes (flats & textures & title)
New Music : yes
Demos Replaced : Yes (3)
System Required : Computer years are like dog years
so get yourself up to speed if you've
been resting on your 486/33 laurels
for the last 14.
Base Machine : Developed on a p90 with 32 meg. Run
thru Win 95 to simulate slower machine
(seems to work but see notes)
Scripts & Sectors : 306 scripts, 4137 sectors, 4664 things
(see notes at the end of this file)
Description : Vaults was only a test. Now for the
real thing. When you killed D'Sparil
in Heretic, you upset the balance of power among the serpent riders.
Korax gained too much power indeed. He has frozen D'Sparil's
world. The Caldera is locked up tight, the power grid crystals
are frozen and unreachable. Your mission: should you decide to
accept it, is to restore D'Sparil's heart to its proper place,
reawaken the mountain, set the machinery in working order by
retrieving the banished parts from other worlds and replacing the
power crystals into the power grid. Only then can you face and
defeat Korax for real.
(see notes at the end of this file for more)
Utilities used : WAD Author 1.3 (the best!)
WinTex 4.0, 4.3 for graphics
Paint Shop Pro for editing graphics.
Additional Credits to : John Williston for WAD Author.
of course, ID and Raven
Where to get it : http://www.cris.com/~Mtz/caldera.zip
ftp.cdrom.com/pub/idgames caldera.zip
NOTE: If there are any bugs, please report them to:
Chet Walters internet address mtz@cris.com
If there are any bugs found the update file
will be available at:
http://www.cris.com/~Mtz/caldera.html
Look to the version number at the beginning
of this file and notes at the end.
* Copyright / Permissions *
Authors may NOT modify this WAD. I spent too many hours and
too much care in the details to have this hacked up. Besides,
all maps are at the limit. However, the climax map12 contains
two exit teleports. One is the end game and the other takes you
to level 13 map 27 cluster 3 just as in the Hexen IWAD. You
can start there with additional levels if you wish but you
must give me full credit for these six. You can also build
a prelude adventure for this using the first six levels
of Hexen (map 01 - map 06) then teleport to Map 13 from yours.
You will need to know how to edit the mapinfo lump to do it, tho.
You MAY distribute this WAD, (please do, I think it's great!
Yeah, yeah. I'm a legend in my own mind) but, include this
file with no modifications. You may distribute this file in
any electronic format (BBS, Diskette, CD, etc) as long as you
include this file intact and unmodified.
NOTES: This wad contains some never before seen Hexen special
effects (most different from the new effects seen in VAULTS):
Electric switches, flesh tearing hazards, flying monsters,
hidden deep pits, visible mazes, multi-level free standing
buildings surrounded by low walled courtyards, amazing
fireworks displays, elevators that take you to areas that
are actually "under" the floors above them, monsters who
continue to do damage after they are "dead", monsters who
spawn their own ghosts(!), mountain top panorama sky walls
and much more. Most levels are maxxed: Max 32 mapvars. Max 200
items with TID. Max Visiplanes. Max 64 scripts/map. The way this
WAD was created was to stretch the Hexen engine past its limits
then pull back until it would run. In Air Force parlance
this is called "pushing the envelope." This wad indeed
taxes the Hexen engine to the limits.
If you use WAD Author, I've been kind enough
to leave the original (but sloppy) script source code there
for your edification. Some comments too. Many of the scripts
use common "subroutines" for compactness Take a look at
the scripts if you wish to see how they work. If you want to
create new Hexen levels using these scripts... by all means.
I'm a real Hexen fan (the "behavior" makes the difference)
and would like to see more well thought out third party wads
made for Hexen so feel free! This wad also contains plenty
of weapons, health and ammo. There are many, many adjustments
made to this WAD for different skill levels. Game play is slowed
through scripts for wimps and sped up for bravehearts and different
monsters are spawned according to skill level. Try not to cheat.
Notes for slower machines and other things:
This wad is maxxed completely. It has many very large areas
and each level uses many tricks for display and game play.
If you have less than a p90 with fast video you likely will not
be able to play this wad effectively. In fiddling with the
Hexen engine, I made some interesting discoveries that are
included herein. I have taken advantage of some of Hexen's display
"bugs" making them "features" and changed the behavior of
some of the monsters as well. These things I guarantee have
never been seen before in any Hexen WAD. However, since this
WAD taxes the Hexen engine so, in some rare battle situations,
Hexen will lock up forcing a reboot (which is likely why these
particular tricks are not in the original release or any other
wad I've seen so far). These problems are minimized by the
great efforts of yours truly, but they do occur. You are
advised to save game often, not only because of these minor
irritations, but because CALDERA is a tough WAD to beat.
Also note that the tricks used for display look very bad if
you are a flyer (Wings of Wrath). The scenery was meant to
be perused from ground level. Flying will reveal the tricks.
If you fly or CASPER around these levels, you may crash with a
VISIPLANE error or a page granular error. CASPER will likey
totally screw up the puzzles and you may get trapped somewhere
or ruin the game entirely. Don't cheat! You have been warned.
Every puzzle built in to Hexen is utilized along with some
that the crazed author dreamed up. Most puzzles are randomly
generated and so are the monsters so each time you play, you will
have a different adventure here. Every creature built in to
Hexen is here for your enjoyment, along with extra and surprising
behavior added to some of them for your further enjoyment.
As in Vaults, switches are reserved. Push button switches and rope switches
normally are functional switches which open doors, work elevators or turn on
lights. Chain, skull and valve switches are always part of the puzzle
solutions. On each level there is a golden calf switch located near the
first area you must visit. It is a bonus switch which turns on some
helpful messages so pull it for help messages throughout the level if you
wish. But, if you want a real challenge, don't pull it to turn on messages.
A note on the MAPINFO lump:
This wad was originally intended for a sequel to and a meld with
our first wad The Bishops Vaults. Therefore, the maps are numbered
13, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12 respectively, filling cluster 2 as in the orignal
Hexen mapinfo. However, in melding the two wads together, the file got
too darned big, so I left them separate. The MAPINFO lump within has been
modified so that these maps, actually the second cluster of Hexen, are
transferred to the first cluster with the WARPTRANS and NEXT fields modified.
If you wish to meld Vaults and Caldera, feel free, but you'll need to know
how to modifiy the MAPINFO lump to do it properly. If you use wadauthor,
know that WA does not understand modified MAPINFO lumps and it will be
difficult to edit this wad if you want to play around with it.
More Details....
LEVEL ONE:VALLES DE MORTE (map13 scripts:42 sectors:456)
The icy valley below the frozen mountain. In this colorless
and ruined world walk only the tortured ghostly souls of all those you
have killed during your prior existences. It is here that D'Sparil's
heart has been held in glacial captivity all these years. Watch out for
the spirits that jump out at you from behind every turn. Many things
are boarded up. Look carefully at the scenery for hints to solve
the puzzles. Sampson could solve this one.
HUB LEVEL: MARE CALDERA (map08 scripts:61 sectors:504)
The frigid mountain which you must awaken to gain access to
the other worlds. Frozen in the bowels of the Caldera are
the crystals to the power grid which will open the final door
to Korax's lair. But, to release them, you must restore the
machinery to working order by retrieving parts from the other
worlds. You'll visit here often & view some great pyrotechnics.
LEVELS THREE thru FIVE: These three levels, each ruled by one
of your former masters, are all part of the same complex. The
mechanics of each of these levels interacts with one or more
of the other levels to make the solving very interesting indeed.
You can visit these in any order you like and each is accessible
from any of the other two.
CADRE IXION (map09 scripts:54 sectors:556)
This is a strict military establishment ruled by Zedek himself.
In typical military fashion, each area is locked down tight and
there is a specific order in which things must be done or critters
that must be fought to gain your prize. If you know your mythology,
the name of the place will hint at the monsters to be faced here.
Watch out for the "super" monsters!
SOUTH MASSIF (map10 scripts:40 sectors:630)
Wizards are fond of machinery and reptiles as you will see. Logical
steps must be taken to activate the final puzzle. Time is of the
essence, here. Meet Menelkir, mage in charge of this plumber's
nightmare. There are no doors save one on this level and you can
wander about to take in the unusual and beautiful scenery at your
leisure.
NORTH MASSIF (map11 scripts:52 sectors:1285)
Traductus likes puzzles and reads not infrequently. He commands
quite an army of the "faithful" though you may call them the
"fateful" before too long. Summon the faithful to the main cathedral
and gain access to the Chapel of the Minor Bishops and the Library
of the Lost Tomes of the Ancients.
LEVEL SIX:MARE CLAUSEM (map12 scripts:42 sectors:456)
On your first visit to this level, Korax's palatial digs are
locked. Here you must retrieve your final machine part to break
the seal to his door. Your second visit here will not be as pleasant.
A simple FAQ file which will give you detailed hints to solve
the puzzles of Mare Caldera by level is available at this WWW address:
http://www.cris.com/~mtz/c_hints.txt
Don't cheat and look at it unless you are really stumped.
DEATHMATCH NOTES: I've never played a deathmatch. I don't know
how they work, exactly, but I've gleaned the logic from perusing
the Hexen IWAD and scripts so I think I've made the proper
adjustments to Caldera to make it a passable Deathmatch wad.
There are 8 deathmatch starts on each level along with extra
weapons and such for each. Each level is rather large and
"open" which should make for very interesting deathmatch play.
BUG FIXES AND ADDITIONS:
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By Darman Macray · PostedThese levels are short, sweet, and pack a lot of punch. Complete with a humorous end-text-screen containing a healthy dose of silly shock-humor, this a masterful triumph of Heretic map-making, and most certainly a must-play wad.
By Walter confetti · PostedA really frantic and fun DM map with pretty neat stuff like invisible pillar in the middle of the arena, doesn't have anything to do with the title but the level can become a BFG spamming fest soon, especially with bots. Less fun in SP but the arch-ville+bunch of nazi combo is a nice feat.
By Fireseth · PostedOnly six enemies (played on UV) and no working exit. Other than that, it is a pretty detailed map for 1995. I enjoyed the general design and the poisonous vats of acid. Very cool, but not practical for good gameplay. EDIT: Just discovered this is a ideally a DM wad… haha, for that purpose, it seems good. My original rating was 2/5, will change it now.
By CravenCoyote · PostedLots of traps and monster closets. Some switches are activated by shooting but there's nothing to really tell you about this because they look the same as other switches. Texturing is good and enemy placement proved rather difficult at times. There aren't may health pickups on UV so it was a fight to get through.
By costadevale · PostedIt's pretty good for 1994. If you don't mind having no health items at all (except in a few maps) and the outrageous amounts of cyberdemons per map, you should give it a try. It's pretty challenging and I like it. E2M3 is a bit 'eh...' though.