NaMcOJR Posted March 27, 2021 (edited) Hello, @Bridgeburner56 @DavidN @Decay @FrancisT18 @GarrettChan @HAK3180 @Snaxalotl @Suitepee @TheEvilGrin I have tagged a few random testers in hopes you can give me some help: These two maps are part of the third episode of a megawad i am building and i'd love to have some input on them. They will require GZDoom, no jump, no mlook. Please feel free to say how great or how sucky they are but do provide some input if possible so i can have an idea if i'm going in a good direction or if i'm just producing stuff that is completely uninteresting. They should be fairly easy for experienced players and MAP15 still only has Ultra-Violence monsters configured, so it doesn't care about what difficulty is selected yet. My apologies for the file size as each map here is "standalone" and uses the resources from the whole WAD. Map13 is based on a real location up until you exit the big gate that exists outside. It also features a simple puzzle somewhere in there. All the rest is very very similar to what exists in reality. Map15 is based on a harbor theme with a container area which then exits into a sewer system then onto a tech base of sorts with odd machinery and experiments going on. If you like secrets, there's quite a few to find, also a few traps. This is Map13 => https://mega.nz/file/NZVDDArI#49h3zjERy2JXkNSkvmaUmWbCYrJO5XWkgxGO8Y-Zm4o This is Map15 => https://mega.nz/file/tcM3RALZ#xoGuU9t8t9LtPMRPPRJBeDKbV65ubhHK6geCmpRzkts This is the complete WAD (Version 1.5) => https://mega.nz/file/xE82UCrY#MIP738V8X1rep8hUvfDO-4ESwEDmrQkozpMVSo4XL9w Some screenshots: Spoiler Edited May 26, 2021 by NaMcOJR 7 Share this post Link to post
Silhouette 03 Posted March 28, 2021 The Day After(Map 13) A visually pleasing, yet challenging map. Played on UV, tested in GZDoom 4.5.0 Gameplay The gameplay is very much hard hitting and aggressive in some areas, though the combat has some conventional aspects to it. The first few areas are indeed an example of this more conventional nature, though the later areas show off some frantic combat where the player is forced to act quickly, and decisively if they want to survive. I really like this shift in the style of the encounters, from conventional combat encounters to a more fast paced nature. I do think that the player could be better equipped for the later areas. Throughout the map, the player is given surplus rockets and cells, though no rocket launcher or plasma rifle (unless it's in a secret somewhere). The encounters in the later areas demand that the player have these weapons, or at least a substitute for these weapons. Also, the arch-vile encounter in the area that you find the button that opens up the door into the void is extremely clunky, since there isn't much cover. Layout The layout itself is nicely done, though a bit too small in the final areas. Texturing and detailing Texturing is extremely well done, and you make creative use of vanilla, as well as OTEX textures, though I'd recommend being careful with the OTEX palate, as it clashes visually with the vanilla doom palate in some areas. In other words, use vanilla textures that don't clash with OTEX, and vice versa. Bugs The texturing on this door is misaligned. https://imgur.com/a/Nr7W0k1 Conclusion The visuals and texture work are a high point of this map, though some of the encounters could be tweaked. Harbor map with name I'm too ashamed to say I can't spell( Map 15) I love how these maps are short, but have lots of punch to them. Played on UV, tested in GZDoom 4.5.0 Gameplay This one seems to copy the same type of gameplay as in the map I previously tested. It turns from conventional run-and-gun encounters to slaughter light aspects. This type of style is very enjoyable, though it has the same problem as your previous map, in that the player isn't equipped with the right equipment to take on those encounters to the fullest. I got most of my gear from a secret, not out in the wild( so to speak). If I hadn't found that secret, I would have had to take on hordes of imps and a cybie with only a chain-gun and shotgun. Layout I enjoy how you take realistic location and add an abstract feeling to it, so that the realistic aspect doesn't weaken the map's gameplay. No halls or too narrow or too wide, and the layout supports the type of encounter associated with it. Texturing and detailing There's a very nice use of textures prevalent here, similar to your previous map. Very much the same in your detailing Bugs I think the "impassible" tag was accidently put on these crates( in other words, I can't walk off these crates into the harbor itself https://imgur.com/a/Rtl0J4g Conclusion I really like your mapping style, and the way you structure your encounters. Really good stuff Sorry I took so long with this. By the time I got around to testing the maps, the thread had already been buried. You could always try tagging some playtesters. 1 Share this post Link to post
NaMcOJR Posted March 28, 2021 Wow, this is some excellent input. I really didn't consider that if you cannot find the secrets you are indeed underpowered for the fights. There is a hidden Rocket Launcher and Plasma in MAP13 indeed, maybe i can (at least) make one of them easier to find OR just place at least one of them visible (although if you look carefully you can spot the rocket launcher :)) You can deal with the Archie by using the Plasma, but if you cannot find it and if your health is low... it'll be an unpleasant surprise. I'll review that section :) Thank you for noticing the misaligned door, i'll have it fixed also. MAP15, again, has a hidden Plasma rifle which is pretty useful to deal with the CD later. It's doable with the SSG but if you cannot find it, it'll be much harder and ammo might become scarce. The impassable tag is on purpose but i see it feels awkward, i'll have to find a better solution to force the player to use the pier passages without being able to pass onto the other side or review the whole gameplay of the first area. Anyway, very very helpful input, thanks a bunch! 1 Share this post Link to post
DavidN Posted March 28, 2021 Downloaded these a couple of days ago - I’ll take a look soon :) 1 Share this post Link to post
NaMcOJR Posted March 30, 2021 5 minutes ago, Kuro_mahoh said: These Screenshots look awesome! Thank you. You can check the full megawad here. There's a text file inside with some story :) 1 Share this post Link to post
Kuro_mahoh Posted March 30, 2021 58 minutes ago, NaMcOJR said: Thank you. You can check the full megawad here. There's a text file inside with some story :) Will definitely do! 0 Share this post Link to post
DavidN Posted March 30, 2021 Right, so I've managed to record 40 minutes of blank video. Which I'm annoyed by because these maps are really nice - if you would find 40 minutes of Doom radio play helpful, I was able to rescue the audio here. http://files.teamouse.net/doom/netherworld.m4a A couple of things I noticed: - The secret round the back of the building you start in is VERY hard to find the way out of - a change of texture on the inside would be helpful (and the secret door has some weird problems with the ceiling behind too high and the walls being visible in the sky - this also happens when facing towards the stone section at the tip of the L shape) - The mini Icon of Sin style fight is nice, but maybe a bit hard to understand what to do at first - maybe some custom switch textures that look more shootable? - I had trouble noticing that the ladders were usable in the docks! I was slightly off-centre at first and concluded they didn't work - maybe making them wider might help? - The invisible walls around the first crate area in the docks could do with a fence, you can hit the invisible wall frustratingly in several different ways - If the player misses the rocket launcher when going through the tunnels to the big computer/warehouse area they really are stuck until they go back to find it! Perhaps having another one at the back of the room would save them? - The teleporter at the back of the same room only works once, if you fall down the hole again you're stuck I think that's all the problems I noticed... I don't want to seem so negative in just pointing out the small issues, so I want to say again that these were a couple of really interesting, nice maps - I loved the new textures and the ideas that you had in them :) I'll have to play through the main WAD some time to make up for my failure to provide a video here! 1 Share this post Link to post
NaMcOJR Posted March 31, 2021 (edited) Hi and thanks so much for the feedback! Shame you lost the video, that's really unfortunate :( So, here we go... Quote - The secret round the back of the building you start in is VERY hard to find the way out of (...) This has been addressed. The ceiling on the inside was lower and was causing these issues, and i also added a new texture on the inside door. This all happened because i had a different idea for this section but it would not mirror the real location it's based on, so i dropped it and forgot to address the changes, leaving it with those flaws. Quote - The mini Icon of Sin style fight is nice, but maybe a bit hard to understand what to do at first - maybe some custom switch textures that look more shootable? And having infinite IMPs spawning at you while you're thinking "what do i do now?" hahahaha :) I replaced it with a texture i think it is more "shootable" :) Quote - I had trouble noticing that the ladders were usable in the docks! I was slightly off-centre at first and concluded they didn't work - maybe making them wider might help? Yeah it can be hard to "fit" in there sometimes. I agree and have widened them a bit. Quote - The invisible walls around the first crate area in the docks could do with a fence, you can hit the invisible wall frustratingly in several different ways Already pointed out and i fully agree, it was frustrating so a fence was added :) This was frustrating for me while designing it as it needs to be impassable for the gameplay to work and somehow i didn't think of the fence (and i had a nice texture for it too!). Dumb me. Quote - If the player misses the rocket launcher when going through the tunnels to the big computer/warehouse area they really are stuck until they go back to find it! Perhaps having another one at the back of the room would save them? The second and last thing i don't really want to mess with, as there is a second one also on a hidden room and you can't really miss the first one. Well, maybe you have to run away from the demons at first, but you can go back to pick it up i guess? Quote - The teleporter at the back of the same room only works once, if you fall down the hole again you're stuck Thanks, i don't know how i missed this, silly ACS mistake which runs a delay and the teleporter would only work again after a while. Quote I think that's all the problems I noticed... I don't want to seem so negative (...) It's really good input. By pointing out the flaws you contribute to make it better, so i can only thank you because this was the main purpose :) I updated the megawad in its own thread with all these changes. Thanks a bunch! Edited March 31, 2021 by NaMcOJR 0 Share this post Link to post
DavidN Posted March 31, 2021 Sounds great :) What’s the real life location that the courtyard is based on? 0 Share this post Link to post
NaMcOJR Posted March 31, 2021 (edited) My wife's parents house... I know it's hard to recognize without the Mancubus, but still... :P Yeah, now that i look into both pictures at the same time, it could be much better lol. Like, get real textures from photos etc. 2 Share this post Link to post
Suitepee Posted April 25, 2021 (edited) I tried to download the two maps from the link in the OP @NaMcOJR, but I got this message on both of them: https://gyazo.com/9356859089bb67fd6a6887ac9164328e 0 Share this post Link to post
NaMcOJR Posted May 1, 2021 On 4/25/2021 at 11:00 AM, Suitepee said: I tried to download the two maps from the link in the OP @NaMcOJR, but I got this message on both of them: https://gyazo.com/9356859089bb67fd6a6887ac9164328e My apologies, i've been away for a while. This is the link for the whole WAD (GZDoom only). https://mega.nz/file/oMFEXZrb#-Hn2_4BHqXxcaEq4fcul6z-BEXwwo1w90BiD-JmtMQE You can obviously skip to levels 13 and 15 and feel free to look at the rest if you have the time ad patience :) Thanks! 0 Share this post Link to post
Suitepee Posted May 1, 2021 3 hours ago, NaMcOJR said: My apologies, i've been away for a while. This is the link for the whole WAD (GZDoom only). https://mega.nz/file/oMFEXZrb#-Hn2_4BHqXxcaEq4fcul6z-BEXwwo1w90BiD-JmtMQE You can obviously skip to levels 13 and 15 and feel free to look at the rest if you have the time ad patience :) Thanks! Cheers. I will add this to my playtest list for my May playtesting stream. 1 Share this post Link to post