[ck3D]

Download as user map: https://www.moddb.co...taearly-release

V. 0.96 episode 7-level demo: https://www.moddb.co...v-096-earlybeta

Project still missing: level 5 interlude, level 9 secret, and then later general finalization but episode is now traversable.

[NNC]

I finished L3 and L4 and man, this thing got on my nerves with it's nonstop audiovisual noise. So far, out of the 4 maps, the only one that I actually enjoyed was the 2nd map, and even that one had issues. I, for once, would love to see something more casually approachable stuff, with less flickering colours, less ear rape ambient sounds, less drones in ambush places, less respawns, no tiny newbeasts, etc.

[Dr.Panico]

Yay! Just in time for my birthday!

The beginning is REALLY brutal. Enemies shooting from all directions, no clear sign of where to go, but it does get things on track eventually. Getting through the latrines was a pain in the ass because Duke just doesn't feel like climbing sometimes (though you can just skip that part and emerge near the Mess Halls, and then deal with the cells later).

Right now I'm stuck: I've blew up the reactor, went up the hole with my Jetpack, dealt with pretty much every enemy there, but I don't know what to do after that. It doesn't let me go further up, and I haven't found any switches - not helped by the fact I've wasted my Boots and Scuba Gear in the process.

Another thing: that glitch involving the Freezethrower you reported on another thread? It's happening with me as well. I wonder if it's a problem with the current Eduke32 code, or just another case of the Build engine being weird. I'm far from a programming expert, but shouldn't the code maintain the weapon sprites as they're presented in the Tiles? Never seen something like this before (the closest thing was a glitch on the old JFDuke3D where the game would load the wrong sprites for some reason)

[ck3D]

Dr.Panico, on 01 June 2026 - 08:50 AM, said:

Right now I'm stuck: I've blew up the reactor, went up the hole with my Jetpack, dealt with pretty much every enemy there, but I don't know what to do after that.

Happy birthday!

Spoiler

Yeah I figured this part may be a bit too obscure in its current state. Once you've reached that room you no longer can go up indeed; now I don't know if it's obvious in practice (tried to make it with the enemy spawns), but you can shoot out of the sides.

If still stuck, the first combat phases are 1/ blast giant Overlord silhouette in the distant base with an explosive, 2/ will result in an explosion that will expose a switch you can shoot. Then (hopefully) the rest will speak for itself. Obviously I'm not super happy with how the player barely gets feedback from that part of the sequence (especially the switch can be problematic) but I'm also not going to touch Build again for a while right now so figured yeah, good enough and for now people can work it out. There is a hidden stash of inventory, ammo, and even air in the main room too that can be found by having 'good luck with the floor' of the purplelava sector, so in theory if you've used up everything around the arena is going to be tough but you can still make it.

[Dr.Panico]

Okay, I've just beat it! Took me 40 minutes, with one secret missing.

Yeah, admitedly the last part is pretty tough and confusing; but I guess at this point in the episode, no one should expect a walk in the park. Shooting the button in the distance was a problem, because the button is encased in shadows; so you don't know if you hit it or not (not helped by the distance and the Pistol's generally unreliable aim). Figuring out the rest was a tad easier, but you still need to pay close attention to your surroundings.


With that over, I guess that means...

Spoiler

... that the "mental ward" level is going to be the secret one?

[ck3D]

Dr.Panico, on 01 June 2026 - 09:42 AM, said:

With that over, I guess that means...

Spoiler

... that the "mental ward" level is going to be the secret one?

Spoiler

Yes. The one thing regarding the original Duke Nukem V story I stole I was skeptical about was (possibly) mandatorily ending on that note, when it is a delicate topic to handle and felt wrong to picture as the (full) closure of something linear and destructive. 'Penetencury' [sic] seemed more on point for that instead, in spite of originally being listed as penultimate by the original writer(s). As secret level of some sort on the other hand should work really well, and tie cooler into the story.

Parts of it already exist (some of them big), I do not know when it will be done though, I definitely am taking a clear pause now that the episode is (mostly) out. I don't know how perceptible that is from player POV, but from mapper POV the deal with Build is, it lets you do whatever you want but chews on your brains the whole time in exchange, and then once you're done just kind of spits you out. This was supposed to be a one, two month project tops and it ended up costing me six; so I'll just leave it hang dry here for a bit and come back once I've rested.

About the dark button that is my main concern with it too, I actually kept revising it but it was never good enough due to being low on resources and thus options (only viable one would have been killing the sector lights and losing the style/concept), but I might remake that whole little building corner thing in the final version eventually - managed to recoup about 60 spare walls super late into beta that could be put towards improving that whole sequence a little.

[stillTodd]

Sorry for the delay, site problems/slowness has kept me from posting.

Dukeplus has an incompatibility with the ending. Finishing off the boss doesn't end the level. It doesn't seem to stay put within the slowly raising shield either. Unsure if these are related and just fyi.

Works great in the same version of eduke32 in a fresh directory (nothing but DNLVL8.map, duke3d.grp and eduke32.exe). Really cool TROR work! Challenging as hell, haha!

[ck3D]

Delay? No such thing, feedback happens if/whenever it does. Thanks for playing,

DukePlus comment is an interesting one, I'll have a solution up eventually, I know people still like and play that mod quite a bit (it does still have its merits, and also Imperium). Ideally DukePlus players won't be the only ones to get an optimized version either. But don't hold your breath re: timing.

Boss can get off stayput sector occasionally, usually ends up getting back on, I thought that was cool even though technically a bug here just means it will occasionally venture onto the 'track', hang in there for a bit then usually get picked up by the platform again like it is surfing. Should still play well and not even look off, but of course I want to hear it if it breaks.

Curiosity/fun fact that is best kept in spoilers until one has beaten the boss:

Spoiler

There are more possibilities to the arena/level set-up than I ultimately left open. For instance boss can be made non-stayput, and reactor platform outside can be made explodable (it has the starting position/execution room/now exposed water pool below); rigging the sequence like that is kind of cool (perforates through the entire level) but also plays worse, as it means most of the fight would happen underwater in the Meat Disposal instead, that is really cramped. So I think right now is the best compromise, but it is possible I will keep thinking about the fight and later tweak how it plays like that. Conceptually having to lure the boss out of the pocket dimension, and into the real world meat grinder to defeat it would be great, but practically not so sure.

[stillTodd]

I'm clueless. Is the person in the orbiting chair a reference to a specific character?

[ck3D]

stillTodd, on 02 June 2026 - 04:12 PM, said:

I'm clueless. Is the person in the orbiting chair a reference to a specific character?

Spoiler

https://dukenukem.fa...wiki/Dr._Proton

[ck3D]

Just tweaked the boss fight a little, now uses pal 0 boss to make sure won't clash with (most?) mods, and boss switch no longer is annoying to see/use.

Files have been updated, same links.

[stillTodd]

(double post)

[stillTodd]

Boss death ends level in DukePlus, and the (edit: removed spoiler) button seemed easier to trigger. It looks like there's now a wall that blocks un-triggering, unless I missed that in the original version.

I like the blacked out original boss a bit more, but that's superficial of course

[ck3D]

stillTodd, on 04 June 2026 - 05:36 PM, said:

Boss death ends level in DukePlus, and the (edit: removed spoiler) button seemed easier to trigger. It looks like there's now a wall that blocks un-triggering, unless I missed that in the original version.

I like the blacked out original boss a bit more, but that's superficial of course

Yup, with (rested) perspective now I reckon you could say the fight wasn't completely finished in the original version in that sense, technically worked but slept on some crucial QoL. Finalizing this map/v. 0.96 knocked me out for three days straight, didn't realize I was running on an empty tank due to being so into it, so what happened is as soon as it was completable I released it then momentarily died figuratively. But should be cool and more fun now that I've caught up.

About the original boss me too, but both the base game and mods tend to do weird stuff to/around this specific boss actor; this version will do for now, but if/when I ever make 'optimized' versions of the episode for various mods I probably will add unique twists to mine too depending on what the code allows. Here 'base' boss is a compatibility compromise, but also kind of works better with the story in how it doesn't look different.

[ck3D]

Updated MSDN review of the episode (current state): https://msdn.duke4.n...vdukenukumv.php

[ck3D]

Mikko's report of a bug with the forcefields at the end of level 7 was correct, full demo had an incorrect version of the file for some reason. I went and fixed it and updated the files (individual map downloads + demo, although version number isn't budging). Same link as before just file name is (automatically) different: https://www.moddb.co...v-096-earlybeta

Changelog (quick edits, zero time/focus for Build right now):

Level 1 elevator better signaled (honestly just split a sector and threw blinking lights around, not the most brillant way on Earth but for now will work);
level 2 maskwall error fixed (in one of the secrets);
level 7 now traversable regardless of wherever/however you got it;
also made sure the demo included the right version of level 8 seeing as I am under the impression the old one with unfinished boss somehow kept going around too.

No idea when I'll update next or touch the editor so please don't lose sleep over it.

Did do another full episode run pretending I didn't know the levels/routes and playing the old versions. My times (casual and doing whatever felt natural to do, rushing, exploring, testing etc.):

https://i.ibb.co/RTnbnCX0/duke0610.png (used secret pipebomb from garage to skip RPG, allowed for fast route but made me miss Shrinker, Dev, etc.)
https://i.ibb.co/3Yp1rwXx/duke0628.png (skipped yellow key underwater cave with jetpack, managed to get the secret second one on the split second I hit 0% on the first one)
https://i.ibb.co/Wvn1Ch54/duke0652.png
https://i.ibb.co/YYgRVRY/duke0691.png
https://i.ibb.co/TQrhJBx/duke0706.png
https://i.ibb.co/VpPBhxq6/duke0724.png
https://i.ibb.co/4ZcHt6q3/duke0780.png (was playing old outdated version that was more difficult even knowing what to do, less items during last fight etc.)

[Telee]

I want to start playing some user-made content again and thought this would be a good starting point. Played only level 1 so far and had a good time - my complaints have already been echoed by others, but:

1) The red keycard slot confused the hell out of me. I used it on the slot inside the strip club and got no visual feedback of anything as far as I could tell, so I got stuck for a bit. Eventually I got to the end by taking an elevator up to that TV room and making a running jump out the window to land on the girders up there, but not sure if that was the intended route?

2) Too many loud ambient sounds everywhere, which might be fine by themselves but with the new music track it started giving me a headache. I sometimes like having more ambient noise than the base game did, since it helps immersion, but it felt like too much here.

3) Weapon progression was a bit weird, I was stuck with the pistol for a while against pigcops and enforcers (not sure if intended for difficulty?), took quite a while to find a chaingun and never found the expander. I never ran out of ammo and health was plentiful so I didn't have too many problems, but given that the map is a bit open in layout, not sure if I just didn't go the right way to unlock more powerful weapons sooner.

4) Some indoor areas, like the upstairs rooms of the strip club, feel too cluttered with props. I think this is something that's affected a lot of modern-day Duke mapping though with the greater expectation for detailing. Wasn't too much of a hindrance.

What I liked:

1) The general vibe, gives me Lameduke vibes almost? More cyberpunk feeling with all the colorful lights and such. Very creative use of stock assets.

2) Good placement of enemies, with hitscanning enemies mostly being indoors while the large outdoor combat consists of liztroops and sentries.

3) The double-stacked half-shielded turrets in the vents were a bit of a PITA but in a good way. Felt like a creative way to add a new enemy type.

4) The vending machines spawning items is a neat trick I might steal 😄

Looking forward to level 2!

[ck3D]

Thanks for playing,

Spoiler

Yes jump out of the window was the intended path. Red keycard situation altogether is confusing, the keypad is (canonically) broken, it can actually fail to work, you can always get around it... I just hate locks this much Turns out a lot of people love them, or at least trust them even more so than I assumed would be the norm. They really don't expect having to question one, even if visually it is this off. I like how to most players it seems to work as that map's main thing, not so much the keycard itself or finding it, but actually getting the door to work even if you can just go around and technically complete the level.

Shrinker gun is inside of the building neon, you can ride that one elevator with the squished Enforcer up (strip club top floor, after the vents). Then use in the dressing rooms to reach a secret. Leaving parking lot and getting out on the streets with just pistol is interesting, it never really occurred to me someone would do that unless they would choose to jump out of the first window and miss out on exploring the parking lot building (speedrun style, viable), otherwise I think there are at least two Freezethrowers in there, chaingun I am pretty sure, and there should be at least one shotgun (maybe two or even three total) around the exits of the building, plus the secret pipebomb you can get from the locked door (so one can skip the RPG later). Parking lot essentially teaches you to use the inventory/NVG's (will be very useful in this episode) and works as a place to stock up as compensation for playing it right, although of course it's also possible/fun to just barge through it and stock up later. The maps do do fun weapon things, as much as I love the staples myself, shotgun, chaingun etc. I like to make them count and sometimes encourage using different guns for a while, otherwise feels too procedural.

The clutter in one of the hallways (the one to the bathroom in the cinema) is on purpose (if that was one of the annoying bits). It needed to feel super impractical and cumbersome to reach, like a proper flaw in the building design and management (as one would expect from 'Million Dollar').

All of the vending machines throughout will work.

IIRC right now the title and first level music are the loudest tracks, I would describe the rest as mellower, and there are some references too.

[NNC]

I still haven't played 6-7-8, but of the first 4 maps, 2 is by far the best experience and so far my favourite ck3d map along with some of BR stuff, like Norilsk or Paris.

[ck3D]

NNC, on 23 June 2026 - 11:18 PM, said:

I still haven't played 6-7-8, but of the first 4 maps, 2 is by far the best experience and so far my favourite ck3d map along with some of BR stuff, like Norilsk or Paris.

My 'proudest' maps in the episode from most to least satisfactory (not just shameless indulgence but might or might not result in entertaining/interesting reactions):

Spoiler

8
4
7
3
6
1
2

Episode has a bit of an 'hourglass' flow to it so it makes sense in a cool way that you're 'stuck' where you're 'stuck', on a literal (DN)V shape you would be at the bottom point. Looking forward for if/whenever it is you decide to find the next switch to raise the water levels.

[NNC]

ck3D, on 24 June 2026 - 07:54 AM, said:

My 'proudest' maps in the episode from most to least satisfactory (not just shameless indulgence but might or might not result in entertaining/interesting reactions):

Spoiler

8
4
7
3
6
1
2

Episode has a bit of an 'hourglass' flow to it so it makes sense in a cool way that you're 'stuck' where you're 'stuck', on a literal (DN)V shape you would be at the bottom point. Looking forward for if/whenever it is you decide to find the next switch to raise the water levels.

So you actually think

Spoiler

2

is your worst map? In this case, looking forward to play

Spoiler

6

.

[ck3D]

NNC, on 25 June 2026 - 03:07 AM, said:

So you actually think

Spoiler

2

is your worst map? In this case, looking forward to play

Spoiler

6

.

Spoiler

I think 2 has charm but is the most rushed one (of the episode), and the rocket part probably should have been done inside of a test map first as a sketchy experiment, then cleanly remade here. But just as level 1 is an entry level city map (with restraint but bonus confusion around the red key, which hopefully is under finer control now and just odd enough), for an early level that is part of an episode it is simple enough to serve its duty. I am fine/satisfied that it feels a bit LameDukey and conveys what I want but some of the sections like the ice cave are somewhat debatable, again in the vein of some LD stuff just that means equally fillerish (not bad if one likes loose nooks and crannies I guess). It is fresh to discover once but then as you've said it is tempting to skip a lot in it once the jetpack found and probably more fun that way, which may be a miss, but I also may be underestimating what that means in terms of replay value/speedrun interest (having to reach from first to second jetpack almost always seems to be perfect timing), in that sense it's a bit like E1L2 in both good and bad. I think the purple lava/shifting 'sands' (with blue key) can still downright squish you too which I need to fix ASAP. Whenever I do I also will edit level 4 so that the system of tubes around the start isn't mostly one-way, I figured that would be interesting to see how it plays out for a while and how confusing, but upon replays I don't think I like it at all, one-way passages are quite unD3Dish in general.

I think I am looking at it from technical/mapper POV too, for instance level 4 does a lot of stuff under the hood, central room with several TROR stacks, rotating column and rising water levels all around with windows in/out of central column literally requires a pocket dimension and perfect heights to work this well, in comparison rocket (whilst fun too) feels gimmicky. But from gameplay POV too (and it is fine that you will highly disagree with it), 3 is one of my favorite levels I've ever made, but I know it is disorienting on first plays/attempts before the player realizes the solution literally is to 'blast anything bright!' (and use the NVG's a lot). In order to do new things means the levels have to have some kind of learning curve to them, or trick to figure out, in this day and age that is very unpopular (e.g.. intentional simple puzzle or antidesign choices now are way more simply just regarded as flaws) but I do not want to compromise to the point where the player doesn't have to either think or try a little. To first time D3D players everything in the original episodes is new, just earlier today I was skimming through bits of streams of someone obviously younger than the game and just like most of us in 1996 having to figure out so much on the fly means even the most famous E1 levels can take 30/45 minutes and lots of reloads to complete as the player is soaking up the entire environment, logic and controls, not just selected parts and mechanics. I am not saying (and it absolutely wouldn't be up to me to say) I am being successful with it at all here but I like the idea of somehow achieving the same thing 30 years later regardless of how familiar the individual player may be with the game. E.g.. maybe you stopped dying to the first crouching Pigcop around the corner or the enemies in the dark hallway in E1L2 two decades ago since you've learned the game, but I'm going to try and find a new equivalent again, as a test of what in your approach is repetition and what is adaptation. As you may expect, that is a tricky line, it takes understanding the established language of the game in order to be able to decide where to follow, contort, update (risky) or subvert it and even then you are still (always) learning not to overlook stuff and progressing. The idea is to draw people towards being stimulated, involved, curious and grow confident rather than subject them to a more apathetic experience that is not something I am interested in rewarding and other gaming niches fill in that space anyway (and profit off that direction whereas to me mapping is a cost, thus I'm not going to waste everybody's time with tired tropes).

One aspect I am satisfied with regarding this episode is the layout work in general starting from level 3+ is some of my most coherent and at the same time technical work, all the while reasonable scale wise to the point where I'm not sure where I'll even go next now if anywhere at all.