[quakis]

What's this thing?
We play through a set of maps/mods during the month, and use this thread to discuss it as we're still all fresh with our comments/opinions/feelings about the maps.

What's the purpose?
Basically, there are 4 purposes:

• Showcasing some of the older mods/maps to wider public - they definitely deserve the attention!
• Getting more people to actually enjoy and appreciate the user content - because let's be honest, over the past 29 years this was really what kept Duke alive after all.
• ...and while we're at it - keeping Duke alive by still enjoying it, as there's no new games in the franchise on the horizon (and let's be honest, they wouldn't be as good as some of this stuff!).
• Having a more structured discussion on maps than what's going in "Last map you played" thread - which is great, but it's basically a monologue most of the time.

Can I join?
Sure, as long as you find some spare time during the month to play the stuff that's on the table!

Why a month?
Because people have lives, jobs or other stuff to do (like mapping). For smaller maps, this could be shorter time - it's all up to debate in the future!

What port should I use? Are mods allowed? Where to get the maps?
It's entirely up to you how you play the game, so you can use whatever port or mod allowed - it would be cool to state in your posts what you're using too, as there might be some slight differences between the ports! As for the maps, they should be always linked within the first post.

How should I play the maps or post about them?
Again, it's up to you. You can finish them all in one go or play them one by one whenever you feel like. On Doom forums, there's a rule that you should keep the pace by not posting about a map that has a higher number than the day of the month, so e.g. on 6th you shouldn't post about map 7 etc. I think that might be a good practice if there's a large interest in this, but first let's see how active the thread is for a start - so if there's nothing going on, feel free to post about whatever map you want to.

Previous 2025 Editions

Spoiler

August & September 2025 - KaiseR
June & July 2025 - High Treason
May 2025 - Various Authors #2
April 2025 - Bob Averill

Previous 2024 Editions

Spoiler

December 2024 - Duke Nukem 64 + Duke Nukem: Total Meltdown
November 2024 - N/A (Continuation of October Edition)
October 2024 - FM4X: The Uprising + FM7X: Continental Odyssey
September 2024 - Pray Your Prayers 2000 + The Realms of Grune
August 2024 - Shadow Warrior
July 2024 - Maps by Alan Page + Maps by Daniel Aashage + Maps by Magnar Jenssen
June 2024 - N/A (Continuation of May Edition)
May 2024 - Merc: Fatal Reality + Merc 2 + Murder: The EDF Conspiracy
April 2024 - FM1X: New York Rebellion + FM2X: Orbital Oblivion + FM3X: Anarchy Village
March 2024 - Redneck Rampage Rides Again + Wanton Destruction
February 2024 - Duke!Zone II
January 2024 - Back in Business + The Conundrum + Maps by Alex Pistol (Ledsbourne)

Previous 2023 Editions

Spoiler

December 2023 - Maps by Jason Bredhauer (Overlord) + Maps by Juha Laaksonen (Turpuli) + Maps by Kevin Cools (Kuffi)
November 2023 - Duke, It's Zero Hour! + Redneck Rampage: Suckin' Grits on Route 66
October 2023 - Maps by Aymeric Nocus (CK3D/MRCK)
September 2023 - Maps by Reginukem + Maps by Stephano Lessa
August 2023 - One Unit: Whole Blood (Part 2)
July 2023 - One Unit: Whole Blood (Part 1)
June 2023 - The Gate
May 2023 - Maps by Maarten van Oostrum + Maps by Merlijn van Oostrum
April 2023 - Redneck Rampage
March 2023 - Metropolitan Mayhem
February 2023 - WGRealms + WGSpace Episode + Maps by William Gee
January 2023 - Future + Fight the Future + Duke Tournament + MSSP Episode + The Brave New World + Maps by Mikko Sandt

Previous 2022 Editions

Spoiler

December 2022 - Countdown to Christmas + Duke: Nuclear Winter + Duke's Snowy Adventure II: Stolen Weapons + The Christmas Project + Xmas 1997
November 2022 - JJ Duke Nukem 3D
October 2022 - Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition + Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour
September 2022 - Secrets of the Acropolis + Twin Dragon
August 2022 - The Lost Duke Episodes
July 2022 - Community Build Project Series
June 2022 - Maps by Billy Boy + Maps by Bob Masters
May 2022 - Duke It Out In D.C. + Duke Caribbean: Life's A Beach + Penthouse Paradise
April 2022 - Duke Nukem 3D
March 2022 - Last Reaction & Water Bases + Chimera
February 2022 - DaikariN + Operation Blitzkrieg
January 2022 - ADG Episode + Maps by Alejandro Glavic

Previous 2021 Editions

Spoiler

December 2021 - Lost Highway + Maps by Lukas Cerovsky + Maps by Peter Kucera
November 2021 - Maps by Various Authors
October 2021 - Maps by Taivo Maripuu
September 2021 - Duke Hard
August 2021 - Maps by Geoffrey van Dijk (FakirBaba) + Maps by Rob Wijkstra (Highwire)
July 2021 - Maps by Maarten Pinxten
June 2021 - Roch Series

October 2025 Event
I've been considering putting DMOTM on hold until there's a larger demand for these discussions again, attention has sadly been declining for a while now even before I took the mantle. No blame to anyone as we've all had other priorities, DMOTM filled a void at a time when it was needed most. Rather than force these threads to continue on and fizzle out, it would be better to end on a high note. I'm always up for hosting them again when the demand arises.

For October we'll be looking at maps that were released only as trilogies (afaik & at the time of writing). I've taken suggestions from NNC and threw in a couple of others for additional variety. 21 total maps, don't feel obliged to play everything. Maybe you'll discover something new here!

Trilogy Map Series

Aqua Series - Ben Roffelsen

Downloads:
Aqua 1 (1996) MSDN / Scent88 / Dukemaps.net
Aqua 2 (1996) MSDN / Scent88 / Dukemaps.net
Aqua 3 (1996) MSDN / Scent88 / Dukemaps.net

Boxes and Doors Series - Daniel Skladany

Downloads:
Boxes and Doors 1 (2021) MSDN
Boxes and Doors 2 (2024) MSDN
Boxes and Doors 3 (2025) MSDN <- This package includes all three, up-to-date levels

Skycity Series - ilovefoxes

Downloads:
Skycity 1 (2008) MSDN / Scent88
Skycity 2 (2008) MSDN / Scent88
Skycity 3 (2008) MSDN / Scent88

Munasta Series - Phoenix

Downloads:
Munasta Part 1 (2004) MSDN
Munasta Part 2 (2005) MSDN
Munasta Part 3 (2005) MSDN

Turok Series - Duke64Nukem

Downloads:
Turok 1 (2014) Scent88 / Dukemaps.net
Turok 2 (2014) Scent88 / Dukemaps.net
Turok 3 (2017) Scent88 / Dukemaps.net

JMW-SP Series - JMW

Downloads:
JMW-SP1 (2014) MSDN / Scent88
JMW-SP2 (2014) MSDN (alt) / Scent88
JMW-SP3 - Devil's Gate (2018) MSDN / Scent88

Rendezvous Series - Henri "RazorZ" K.

Downloads:
Resistance Rocks (2009) MSDN / Scent88 / Dukemaps.net
Demolition Plant (2010) MSDN / Scent88 / Dukemaps.net
Mincer City (2010) MSDN / Scent88 / Dukemaps.net

[NNC]

Both the Aqua series and the Boxes and Doors maps meant a lot to me, so I'm hyped for this particular edition (despite my fears that nobody else will be involved).

Aqua was a product of it's time, it was probably the earliest free mini-episode for this game, and I think it was one of the best mapsets for 1996. I actually think Ben Roffelsen was a very talented mapper regarding how to construct classic style levels with very good flow. I guess the water base theme helps a lot as all the assets are there to have one in the commercial game, yet, none of the original devs managed to create one with this theme. Probably that's a reason why I happened to treat both Aqua and LRWB episode 2 as something "commercial" alike.

The problems with the maps (particularly with the first one) are obvious though, and they are very 1996-ish. The rooms and corridors are extremely cramped, to the level that the commanders and battlelords move awkwardly in them. Texturing could also be better sometimes, although the flashy colours give a nice vibe to the maps. Despite these problems, Aqua maps aged surprisingly well, because they are constructed similarly to the original maps (and something that is non-present is 99% of the much better designed maps). It moves fast, never overstays it's welcome, levels are 9-15 minute long with different sub-themes, and solid flow in monster placement (except for the battlelords in Aqua 2 and 3). It also has the solid tendency to change the theme heavily after hitting a switch or finding a keycard. For example in Aqua 1, I like how the submarine segment opens up when you unlock the big door.

Aqua 2's tritanium mine theme looks as amazing as it looked in 1996. I suspect it was a big inspiration for George W Bernard, when he created his underwater mines in LRWB. Probably the best part in the mapset. I actually like the prison segment in Aqua 3. It looks unique and never seen anything like that since.

Overall, recommended to play these for curiosity and entertainment.

Boxes and Doors will come later, in an even more detailed post....

[Aleks]

I've been slacking with these, but seems like a good month(s) to come back. I haven't played Turok, Munasta or Rendezvous series (the latter two don't even ring a bell to be honest), the others are all fine choices. Especially glad to see some shine given to JMW series, which are quite cool maps with some neat texturing/strong lines kind of style (RegiNukem on steroids).

[NNC]

Actually Aqua 1 has a slightly different version in Dukeworld named "dnaqua.map". with the text file saying the next map will be watrbase.map and the opening room is different (worse, with a slope instead of stairs and a few others). Watrbase.map ended up being Aqua2.

I recommend playing it (and the other trilogies maybe) with renaming them to E1L9 to E1L11. It's certainly more interesting to hear streets, watrwrld and even snake, than dethtoll.