[Sanek]

Hello everbody!

In what may sound like some extreeeeme form of self-promotion, here's something I'd like to suggest us to do: a contest revolving around a "gimmick" that I've been messing with lately.

I challenge you to make a map, where every enemy is a Battlelord, in 2 weeks or less! I made about 14 maps with this premise already, and believe me - making short maps like this is a lot of fun, you'll get it if you'll try to do it yourself!

So here's the the complete list of the rules that you must follow if you're about to participate:


1. Use BattleDuke 2 User.CON.
2. Obviously, every enemy must be a battlelord. Inanimate objects that can harm you are allowed though (tripmines, explosives, cactus and such).
3. You must make the whole map from start to finish in 2 weeks or less.
4. The size of the map should be roughly 46064x46064 - which is a rough size of levels in BD Episode 1.
5. You must use 1.3D tileset only - like all maps in BD 1-2. No Atomic stuff!
6. Shrinker/Expander is not allowed!
7. Map must end in the regular manner, i.e. have nuke button or ending area. Don't make a PAL 0 Boss fight!


If you want to enter the contest - you must announce it in this thread. Once you announce it, you have 2 weeks to send me the map. Once I have at least 3 maps from different authors, and there will be no other WIP maps in sight, I think it'll be time to release the pack.

As far as timeframe of release goes, I think that everybody who want to make such map will show up over the course of this and next month, so the tentative release date is Aug 4th. (the first Friday/the weekend of August).

What's the "prize"? There's no any actual compensation per se, but we're going to have a vote in the release thread, and the author who's map that recieved the biggest amount of votes by September 1st, will be declared a winner! So I guess the prize is going to be your boost of your ego or something.


I don't expect that there's going to be a long line of participants. The last time we wanted to have a contest (I believe Aleks did), nobody showed up. If there's going to be 0 or less than 3 maps, I'm not going to release the pack unfortunately, and the contestants can release the maps on their own if they want to.

But come on, it's going to be fun! I really would like to see somebody else doing what I'm doing right now! I see you have some good suggestions here and there, which I don't tend to follow that much. If other people make a map that they think is a better use of the idea than in the original episodes, it's going to be a good learing for me, there's no doubt that I'm going to use some of the ideas/strategy's in my own BD maps, once/if I get around to it.

[ck3D]

Really cool concept. I might give this a shot!

[Aleks]

Yeah the concept is cool, good luck with holding the contest, Sanek! My contest from 2 years ago was a bit odd as it was aimed at beginner mappers, which is why it ended up with only a single contestant. Might give this one a shot as well, depending on how I'll be doing with time in the next few months, so no declarations yet, but it's definitely interesting!

[Sanek]

Thank you for support, ck3D and Aleks!

ck3D, on 18 June 2023 - 09:58 AM, said:

Really cool concept. I might give this a shot!

I'm glad that you like the idea. It'll be strange to actually see a map like this from you though, considering that you haven't played the actual episodes yet.

Aleks, on 18 June 2023 - 11:15 AM, said:

Yeah the concept is cool, good luck with holding the contest, Sanek! My contest from 2 years ago was a bit odd as it was aimed at beginner mappers, which is why it ended up with only a single contestant. Might give this one a shot as well, depending on how I'll be doing with time in the next few months, so no declarations yet, but it's definitely interesting!

Speaking of beginner mappers, I think making a BD map can be a good testing ground for those who have some expierence but never actually released anything yet. A chance to make a SP map that take less time than the actual, classic SP maps that we have around here.

So yeah, it'll be cool to have the contest around, since contests is kinda exciting. Don't know if anybody shows up with anything, but I guess we just have to wait and see.

[quakis]

I'm curious and have an interest, but it depends on my current workload and seeing as the schedule (August) might be a little too tight for me. Still haven't gotten around to playing through BD2 either. I'm not promising anything, so we'll see for now.

[Sanek]

quakis, on 18 June 2023 - 05:54 PM, said:

I'm curious and have an interest, but it depends on my current workload and seeing as the schedule (August) might be a little too tight for me. Still haven't gotten around to playing through BD2 either. I'm not promising anything, so we'll see for now.

All dates is purely tentative; all dates can be pushed further if the mapper wants to join the contest at the last moment.

There's no need to play BD2, since you played BD1 you got the general idea.

[gibfrag]

I want to try this but the time-frame is certainly pretty short, so I'll need to experiment with Mapster a bit more before coming to a decision if I want to try and do a map within 2 weeks or less.

[Aleks]

I think it would be best for you, Sanek, to set a rigid deadline for the submission of the maps and leave people with as much time as they need to complete the levels in the meantime, without the "2 weeks" limit. You've already presented the rules of how the maps should be designed. It's holiday time for most people anyway, so probably different people will be available at different times.

Yesterday I spontaneously got a concept of how my map for this would be designed, so I will probably participate and hopefully, we can make it a decent episode together! It's a great idea for a community project that isn't too much work/burden on the participants, so thanks again for your contribution, Sanek!

[Sanek]

Aleks, on 21 June 2023 - 01:31 AM, said:

I think it would be best for you, Sanek, to set a rigid deadline for the submission of the maps and leave people with as much time as they need to complete the levels in the meantime, without the "2 weeks" limit. You've already presented the rules of how the maps should be designed. It's holiday time for most people anyway, so probably different people will be available at different times.

Thing about 2 weeks is that, it's the average time I spent making maps for BD2. If anyone will have more time to make a map it's going to be like, unfair advantage over my maps.

Okay, I'm up to get rid of the 2 weeks limit if it's the dealbreaker. If it's just going to be a deadline - 4th of August - sounds ok to everybody?

[ck3D]

I still want to do this and also have a few possible but specific ideas in mind, all very simple stuff, making my map probably shouldn't take longer than an hour or two, so to me a deadline doesn't matter. But I do want to play both episodes first, which may actually take longer.

[Aleks]

Sanek, on 21 June 2023 - 07:25 AM, said:

Thing about 2 weeks is that, it's the average time I spent making maps for BD2. If anyone will have more time to make a map it's going to be like, unfair advantage over my maps.

Okay, I'm up to get rid of the 2 weeks limit if it's the dealbreaker. If it's just going to be a deadline - 4th of August - sounds ok to everybody?

Don't think I'll be taking as much as 2 weeks to complete the map, just it's better to have a leeway to work on it whenever one feels like than a set 2 weeks

[Sanek]

Okay, if anybody want to join the contest and read this whole thread until this point, here's the change in the plan:

There's no 2 week limit to make a map, but there's a deadline - 4th of August. You must send me your map by then.

I test the maps and if there is no game-crashing kind of bugs, I package the whole thing and release it by the next weekend.

[Aleks]

Well, I've already started working on the map and it took quite an "unexpected" turn - i.e. since it's going to be rather small, I'm quite unwinded on the details and also using it as a kind of TROR testing ground. Either way, I guess I can declare I'm going to make a map for this, it's been a while since I've participated in a community project!

[Sanek]

Aleks, on 27 June 2023 - 11:34 AM, said:

Well, I've already started working on the map and it took quite an "unexpected" turn - i.e. since it's going to be rather small, I'm quite unwinded on the details and also using it as a kind of TROR testing ground. Either way, I guess I can declare I'm going to make a map for this, it's been a while since I've participated in a community project!

Hey, alright! Really interested in the result, my only hope is that it's not going to be only map hehe.

[gibfrag]

I'll contribute too. Going to get started soon and have it to you ASAP.

[Sanek]

@DNSKILL5 thank you, man!

There's no need to rush though, since the final date of delivery is Aug. 4ths. Working at your on pace is okay though (like, i think a month is way too much imo).

Oh, and hey - while I didn't mention it anywhere, including a midi with your map is welcome!

[gibfrag]

I do have a question though, does the shark count as an enemy in this? I ask because I want to have an underwater area and the sharks are fairly timid but do add something for underwater sections to engage with. If not then I can think of something else for the player to encounter underwater, but wanted to make sure first.

[Sanek]

DNSKILL5, on 29 June 2023 - 06:02 AM, said:

I do have a question though, does the shark count as an enemy in this? I ask because I want to have an underwater area and the sharks are fairly timid but do add something for underwater sections to engage with. If not then I can think of something else for the player to encounter underwater, but wanted to make sure first.

From the opening post:

Sanek, on 18 June 2023 - 03:35 AM, said:

2. Obviously, every enemy must be a battlelord. Inanimate objects that can harm you are allowed though (tripmines, explosives, cactus and such).

[gibfrag]

Okay, so inanimate would include things like the cannons, launchers, etc? Good to know. I’ll refrain from adding sharks then. I asked because I personally always found them to be more like moving decorations and not really an enemy but I’ll follow the rules

[ck3D]

I haven't started my map yet but that's gotta be the one I start next. Do we get to pick and include a MIDI, I would be keen on that.

(edit - that's been answered just a few posts above, my bad, just realized. Neat!)

[Sanek]

Thank you for keeping up with this, ck3d!

We're almost halfaway right now, and tbh I was worried that we didn't have a certified third contestant yet. But since you're continuing to express your interest in making a map based on BD, i'm worried a lil bit less right now.

[ck3D]

Oh yeah, I don't think you should worry, I started my map the other night, it's simple so just a couple of hours in and it's structurally done already. I just need gameplay in, but before I do implement it now I want to give the episodes a try like I said, to really grasp the possibilities and avoid possibly repeating ideas and tropes. Except I'm trying to take a Build break, so I might take my time and only send you my map just around the deadline.

[Aleks]

Bump! I kinda changed the direction with my map for this, as the previous one started to become a bit overly ambitious for this (and I wanted to base a lot of the combat on using automated shrinker shooters against the battlelords, but since their radius was greatly increased, now they basically shrink everything in a room). Anyway, I started another one which is smaller and more condensed - still being a heavy playground for TROR. Here's two little screens I've posted on Discord, although the textures are still mostly placeholders.

[Paul B]

Aleks, on 24 July 2023 - 08:15 AM, said:

Bump! I kinda changed the direction with my map for this, as the previous one started to become a bit overly ambitious for this (and I wanted to base a lot of the combat on using automated shrinker shooters against the battlelords, but since their radius was greatly increased, now they basically shrink everything in a room). Anyway, I started another one which is smaller and more condensed - still being a heavy playground for TROR. Here's two little screens I've posted on Discord, although the textures are still mostly placeholders.
duke0005.png duke0006.png

Awesome! I was wondering when someone was going to tackle an Oil rig for Duke. Reminds me of the old days of Counter Strike Oil Rig map:

[Sanek]

Every contestant must send me the map by Friday (Aug 4th), the set delivery date.

[brullov]

Aleks, on 24 July 2023 - 08:15 AM, said:

Bump! I kinda changed the direction with my map for this, as the previous one started to become a bit overly ambitious for this (and I wanted to base a lot of the combat on using automated shrinker shooters against the battlelords, but since their radius was greatly increased, now they basically shrink everything in a room). Anyway, I started another one which is smaller and more condensed - still being a heavy playground for TROR. Here's two little screens I've posted on Discord, although the textures are still mostly placeholders.
duke0005.png duke0006.png

Holyfuck, this looks awesome.

[quakis]

As feared I don't think I'll be able to manage with the current deadline closing in, haven't even got around to starting anything for this as my current workload is already daunting enough.

[ck3D]

I tried keeping going with my map the other day for a minute only to realize its entire set-up was very corruption-prone when splitting certain important sectors because of the way I originally approached (and arguably rushed) the construction, I can fix it and will find the time to by the deadline, just I'm slow because that singlehandedly has been a bit demotivating. It's mostly in place anyway and so should be only so much work and extra focus. It's a bit of a joke map and so don't expect too much, clearly I'm not in for the win but may be interesting.

[Sanek]

Aleks's map looks like the absolute banger, hope my machine can handle all the TROR action.

ck3D's participation is always welcome, although I wonder what "joke" is going to be..

DNSKILL5's effort is a real dark horse though - from what I know, he didn't show any snapshots from his WIP yet, so what his map is about is actually the most interesting thing right now.

Quakis - no need to apologize man; you already done a lions share by writing that huge ass review down at TAW.

In one of the previous posts I mentioned that I'm going to spend about a week testing the maps and preparing the pack for release, so...if someone like ck3D needs a few extra days and it's going to make a difference, here's that.

[gibfrag]

My map will be inspired by the Jamestown settlement. I have been working on it during my free time and should have it done by the deadline for sure. I am designing it to double as a Dukematch map, so it should be quite easy to test and check that it meets the requirements.

If an extension is given to the deadline, I would still have it to you no later than next weekend anyways.