[ck3D]

Ninety-Six, on 19 June 2020 - 06:21 PM, said:

I will never stop being impressed by multiple SOS trickery.

Me too, here just don't expect Zaxtor/Billy Boy levels of SOS trickery with those one-way windows that exploit bugs and whatnot - could never really get into doing those and I'm wary of everything that relies on a glitch - I'm aiming for something technically more basic and simple. It's still going to be several layers interconnected with just one on different levels here though (if I can pull it off the way I envision it), so indeed not exactly beginner level. But I've been practicing, generally speaking, the first two maps already have quite a lot of SOS as I've been having a lot of fun trying to make the layout of each map as coherent as possible with the design with the indoor locations and their interconnections actually matching the 2D space, size and scale of the outdoor constructions, etc. This building and region of the level is essentially going to be the same thing, just concentrated. Think Lunatic Fringe type of trickery meets Duke Hard thematics.

[Ninety-Six]

ck3D, on 20 June 2020 - 03:45 AM, said:

Think Lunatic Fringe type of trickery meets Duke Hard thematics.

I'm liking it already.

[Maarten]

More information about this upcoming release soon. Very soon.

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[Sanek]

@Maarten this particular shot reminds me of your part in Roch Island a little bit. Glad to hear that your map's coming soon, can't wait to play it!
...I must say though that it doesn't look like a summertime map for me...it looks something that I''ll play during autumn.


As for me, I didn't work on my map for the last 1,5 weeks, unfortunately. I'm with my laptop right now and while it's certainly possible to make maps using laptop, I never really managed to get the hang of it, especially when it comes to use of numeric keypad and stuff. Maybe i'll try to make something with it, but I think i'll better wait when I come back to PC...
BTW, is there anyone who's mapping on laptop?

[Merlijn]

Sanek, on 29 June 2020 - 03:48 PM, said:

@Maarten this particular shot reminds me of your part in Roch Island a little bit. Glad to hear that your map's coming soon, can't wait to play it!
...I must say though that it doesn't look like a summertime map for me...it looks something that I''ll play during autumn.

Our sky currently looks exactly like the one in Maartens screenshot. Welcome to the Netherlands, where we have rain in all 4 seasons.:)

About your other question, I also use a laptop for mapping and don't encounter any problems.
Is yours missing the num pads or something?

[Sanek]

Merlijn, on 30 June 2020 - 07:39 AM, said:

About your other question, I also use a laptop for mapping and don't encounter any problems.
Is yours missing the num pads or something?

I have num pads, they just don't work as they should in mapster. I use num pads for height purposes, but I just move around in 3D mode instead. I can use mouse wheel, but it's not as comfortable as using num pads.

[ck3D]

I used a (pretty terrible) laptop to map circa 2011-2016 and never had a problem with that as far as I remember. Can't remember the process in detail, there might have been some stuff that was harder to do (maybe panning/aligning textures? my memory is hazy) but I'd just develop alternatives to get the results I wanted.

[Maarten]

15-07-2020

[Forge]

i like the music as much as I like the map samples

+100

[Gambini]

Lovely stuff Maarten!

Music inspired on the map or map inspired by the music? :) Both are great!

[ck3D]

Got some progress down on map 3 of my thing which is now somewhere in the 400 sectors. Basically added a whole new section today and also lots of spritework including a pretty big 3D bridge (not visible on these screenshots). First pic is the view on the first plaza out of that elevator with the see-through windows I was talking about earlier. Second pic is a fraction of the second area (the original plaza can be made out somewhere in the background for reference), although those buildings in the back are a few weeks old - there's also some cool (mostly indoors) stuff I did today just in the back of the player here too that I need to finish (that portion is probably going to turn into a good third of the map which I didn't expect at first, but recently realized would make sense from a gameplay perspective so might as well push it a bit). Of course the detailing will come later, WIP barebones stuff and what-have-you, it's just kind of cool to post about the regular progress on this one as to document the process (e.g. here on screen 2 I'm definitely working on one specific zone of the level as its own whole), I also don't mind semi-spoiling it like this because the (temporary) default visibility kills all the depth anyway.

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[Maarten]

@ck3D: gotta love the direction your map is taking! Lights are awesome :)

@Gambini: thanks!! The music is a little bit based pn this map, although the climax became a lot bigger/louder while writting/recording haha. I always wanted to record something like this :P

@Forge: great to hear!! Thanks :P

The map will be for regular Eduke and this will be the music for it. I got helpful beta reports. Now finishing the last stuff & release date will be 15-07-20 (my birthday).

[ck3D]

Thanks, yeah I'm having lots of fun with lights and various brightness values/clipping distance in the editor, although in the end none of that will matter much as I'll probably just bump the visibility close to all the way up in every map for the finished product. This particular map I want to have a lot of neons and signs visible from a distance to create a pretty saturated 3D environment of colors, coupled with the vertical action and spritework I have in mind (for instance I would love to connect those two apartment buildings on screen 2 with a sprite floor) I feel like it can make for something funky (and not too distracting, I want to see if I can pull it off wisely).

Looking forward to the final release, beta-testing that map was awesome (thanks for trusting me), you already know what I think of it.

[Seb Luca]

A big hall for a new level (under construction) of MTK :)

http://www.rpg-maker.fr/images/gallerie/screens/14282_18148.jpg

[Sanek]

@Maarten, ck3D - fantastic job all around guys! :)

@Seb Luca - considering that you game's tileset is not as big as Duke's, it's very cool that you can make such kind of environment. Thumbs up!


As for me...I just tried to work on my map via laptop, and can't say that it's a good expierence. I can't navigate on laptop's keyboard as fast as on a regular one. i can't work in fullscreen mode, since it takes my laptop about 8 seconds to make a switch between 2D/3D modes. It minimizes the whole app before making a switch, and it's just tiresome. There's no such problem in windowed mode, but...it's windowed mode on a laptop, so thanks but no, thanks.

So I have two options right now:

1. Don't work on a map at all, which is not that bad, considering I'm laying out the rest of the map in my head.

2. Start making yet another map. I know this is not welcomed by the community, but I want to try it anyway. ck3D worked on his episode and the latest CBP section at the same time and from what I can tell (looking at screenshots), it doesn't hurt any of the projects.

I actually have the idea for a dull CBP myself, a map that won't require much work when it comes to details but rather rely on layout and lighting. I want to make a Doom-styled map, I really do. I don't know if any of the forum member like playing such maps in Duke, not to speak of participating in such projects, but I'll make a thread about it anyway to see if anybody's interested.

[Seb Luca]

Sanek, on 09 July 2020 - 06:27 AM, said:

@Seb Luca - considering that you game's tileset is not as big as Duke's, it's very cool that you can make such kind of environment. Thumbs up!

We should count, but I suppose that my stock of tileset is probably more provided and varied than the game of origin, since all this time :P
Thank you, however :) And good luck with your map, I can't wait to see it :P

[ck3D]

Sanek, on 09 July 2020 - 06:27 AM, said:

@Maarten, ck3D - fantastic job all around guys! :)

@Seb Luca - considering that you game's tileset is not as big as Duke's, it's very cool that you can make such kind of environment. Thumbs up!


As for me...I just tried to work on my map via laptop, and can't say that it's a good expierence. I can't navigate on laptop's keyboard as fast as on a regular one. i can't work in fullscreen mode, since it takes my laptop about 8 seconds to make a switch between 2D/3D modes. It minimizes the whole app before making a switch, and it's just tiresome. There's no such problem in windowed mode, but...it's windowed mode on a laptop, so thanks but no, thanks.

So I have two options right now:

1. Don't work on a map at all, which is not that bad, considering I'm laying out the rest of the map in my head.

2. Start making yet another map. I know this is not welcomed by the community, but I want to try it anyway. ck3D worked on his episode and the latest CBP section at the same time and from what I can tell (looking at screenshots), it doesn't hurt any of the projects.

I actually have the idea for a dull CBP myself, a map that won't require much work when it comes to details but rather rely on layout and lighting. I want to make a Doom-styled map, I really do. I don't know if any of the forum member like playing such maps in Duke, not to speak of participating in such projects, but I'll make a thread about it anyway to see if anybody's interested.

Oh I've had the 2D/3D mode switch lag thing before. Can't remember on which computer and which mode, but it rings a bell. On my desktop I've always used windowed mode (well since I started using eDuke32 anyway) and the -forcegl command (because the Mapster32 version I like to use is barely compatible with my graphics card), and on that laptop I used to use, I can't remember anything besides how in the end it was working smoothly enough for me to make many maps on it so maybe I was running it in windowed mode too, I don't know.

Working on my own maps and the CBP was fun but only possible because Sixty Four was lenient on the production pace, towards the end of the process it was actually really tempting to just sit on the CBP part in its 95% completion state for a while and focus on Blast Radius instead (also because I'm super into the map I'm making right now), I only kicked myself in the ass to go and wrap it up this week because I'm leaving on a trip the next and wanted Sixty Four to have it before then. That and recently I've been hit with a lot of work but like you're saying, that's only time you can use to mentally nurture the ideas for the level when you can't help but be away from it, and then when you finally get some luxury mapping time it's like a big release.

Also working on different maps at the same time really isn't 'not welcomed by the community' at all, maybe in your head it is but I feel like the process isn't wrong per se, it's when the person takes on more than what they can actually handle, disperses their energy and in the end never releases anything that some folks are bound to get riled up. But if you keep releasing what you make as you complete it then no one should have a problem with your workflow at all. Just don't give up on the maps - I couldn't even fathom giving up on a map myself without ever instantly recycling its resources or something, I'd just fucking hate myself for all the wasted time.

[Mark]

I think working on more than 1 project at a time is very common here. In my 11 years of modding, most of that time has been spreading myself out over 2-5 projects at the same time. Less if its a team effort. More if they are personal projects. Between both types I still am part of at least 6 projects right now. They go slowly as I jump around a lot. Not the best workflow but its how I roll. :) I'm retired and feel in no rush to finish something quickly.

But I suppose if my projects were only mapping they would be more sequential.

[Mark]

.

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[Sanek]

@Mark I feel Kingpin vibe here! Not a big fan of skybox though, it looks low-res by compasion with the map area itself.


I'm thinking about my map right now and one the gimmicks I want to implement is that you can't spent too much time on the street because of the tougher enemies roaming around. You'll have some ammo, but it won't be enough. I have 2 options, and both have significant drawbacks:

1. Have a squad of battlelords, that'll drain your health quick from the distance, but who's also very slow and have tendency to stuck in places.

2. Have a huge army of newbeasts who's fast. Personally, I like this idea more because newbeasts feat the map's legend more. However I can be certain that some guys like The Watchtower or Ninety-Six will be nagging that "Duke3D is not about throwing billions of monsters right in your face, it's not Doom, your map sucks!".

So here I am. Of course, I can always go with standard pool of enemies, but I want to have a gimmick that make this map a standout, so I'll try to make it less typical.

[Mister Sinister]

Go with the battlelords, build some cover, make some small streets and etc. Newbeasts are way too easy to avoid in open areas.

[ck3D]

Sanek, on 18 July 2020 - 06:20 AM, said:

Personally, I like this idea more because newbeasts feat the map's legend more. However I can be certain that some guys like The Watchtower or Ninety-Six will be nagging that "Duke3D is not about throwing billions of monsters right in your face, it's not Doom, your map sucks!".

No map can or will ever please literally everybody. Other players' feedback are a valuable resource to understand what technically works in a level and what doesn't, but you should follow your creative vision over everything. Trends are what does suck, just pursue what you think is cool.

Re: your concern, I think Battlelords are way deadlier than Newbeasts in open environments due to them having a hitscan weapon. Maybe just place a barrage of them in designated areas somewhere high up in Stayput position. Hell, a whole level could be built around that idea and lowering the platforms individually.

[The Battlelord]

Sanek, on 18 July 2020 - 06:20 AM, said:

However I can be certain that some guys like The Watchtower or Ninety-Six will be nagging that "Duke3D is not about throwing billions of monsters right in your face, it's not Doom, your map sucks!".

lol, i liked the carnage in Ruinas map, i don't know why i find it funny to play and in some other maps is boring to kill monster after monster, i guess the author should do what he likes and inspires him.

[Merlijn]

ck3D, on 19 July 2020 - 11:11 AM, said:

No map can or will ever please literally everybody. Other players' feedback are a valuable resource to understand what technically works in a level and what doesn't, but you should follow your creative vision over everything. Trends are what does suck, just pursue what you think is cool.

Re: your concern, I think Battlelords are way deadlier than Newbeasts in open environments due to them having a hitscan weapon. Maybe just place a barrage of them in designated areas somewhere high up in Stayput position. Hell, a whole level could be built around that idea and lowering the platforms individually.

I concur with this. Battlelords would work if you place a couple of them on strategic spots in stayput position and if there's enough cover for you to dodge their fire. Perhaps you could even combine stayput battlelords with newbeasts, but that might get too frustrating. This would depend on the layout of the area. In the end it's your vision.

[Sanek]

I get it. I started it all with battlelords anyway, but hesitated a bit because (as I said before) that can stuck in places. I actually thought that battlelords will be chasing you, but I can see where I can go with just placing them in stayput positiion on some key locations. So thank you I guess.

[Mister Sinister]

One map is FINALLY finished. Here's a little tease.

[Mister Sinister]

I need one beta-tester, preferably a very skilled player. PM me if you're interested.

[Sanek]

*I applied, but then we decided that I'll better play the finished title. :)


I want to say something about Blast Radius. I don't want to sound aggresive, but I'm URGING ck3D to release one level from his episode on it's own! It'll be sort of a demo, a preview - the same thing you did a decade ago with Meatball Sub Makin'! If every map of the episode have the same "ck3D user map" sort of a quality, it'll be a great way to get everyone interested!

[ck3D]

Ha I appreciate the interest, but I'll be my own PR here. Besides the map making, the process of going for a long-term project itself is an interesting experience for me. The idea of not leaking any actual level while keeping working on more is exactly the challenge I'm enjoying dealing with right now. I also really want to present those maps as a set in a certain given context and separately they wouldn't make as much sense. So I don't think I'll be releasing any of them as user maps. I've actually pondered the idea before but ended up deciding on nah. I know what I'm doing here, and I can't wait for when I'll be in position to actually tease that thing - don't worry. You can always ask questions though, and I'll be dropping screenshots often. Those past few weeks I've just been busy as shit but the map I'm currently on has been maturing inside my head, and even on the only mapping session I've been able to allow myself in the past few weeks I got to add some more stuff I like. Once that particular map is over too, I'll get to experiment with different styles that are out of my comfort zone and I can't wait. It's just a fun ride working on this (and admittedly quite the unreasonable one - in terms of time it's voracious).

I might still release stuff independently before that project is done and out, too. It doesn't have to be leaked content to build hype, just playable content. CBP2020 is around the corner too and I hope you'll enjoy my part in there, it's a funky one.

[Sanek]

Allright, I uinderstand. I guess it's going to be like one of these old Roch maps, when you can see part of the previous levels, isn't it?

Treating the episode's making as the experiment/challenge of sorts is the interesting one. Yes, I can see that you think differently about layout, ammo, weapons, enemies and stuff and you also can have a bigger storyline than a single user maps' usually allows.
It almost seems unreal to me that I made 2 episodes myself a decade ago but I had my reason for it, aka getting bored with the whole thing and just trying to finish several maps asap. Maybe I'll make a new episode some day...we'll see.

ck3D, on 31 July 2020 - 03:50 AM, said:

I'll get to experiment with different styles that are out of my comfort zone and I can't wait.

It looks like a city episode to me. Every map of yours looks different enough yet it still have your style, so I wonder what it's going to be.

And speaking of comfort zones...we all remeber that you made a map called Dark Side of the Moon, and you NEVER made another space-themed map EVER AGAIN. :o

ck3D, on 31 July 2020 - 03:50 AM, said:

I might still release stuff independently before that project is done and out, too. It doesn't have to be leaked content to build hype, just playable content. CBP2020 is around the corner too and I hope you'll enjoy my part in there, it's a funky one.

Nobody's talking about leaking anything, especially unplayable. I also see no reason to release maps as a separate when the whole project will be released. Still, do what you want and yeah, can't wait for CBP 2020. :)