A Medieval-styled WAD [UPDATED!], by GuildNavigator
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:35 pm
Hello everybody!
My very first attempt to create a decent set of levels brought me to try publishing something of my recent work about it.
It's thought to be composed of 7 linear levels in a typical medieval style, that also includes many aspects of modern times. Unfortunately I didn't find a suitable title yet for it, but surely it's rapidly gettin' sharper and brighter in my mind.
It's for GZDoom, better the latest versions.
(go to the Updating section at the bottom of this post )
The plot
(The story itself is simple, most of all tought to justify the settings of the levels)
"Several centuries ago, some illuminati and power-hungry men gathered together to form the "Order of DarkLord", a secret society whose only purpose was to bring back to life an ancient deity from the depths of Hell, in order to control its powers and finally satisfy obscure aims. To do this was necessary to find first the Ancient Scriptures, a serie of powerful precepts and magical formulas thought to be lost and never recovered from his last possessor and also writer, the deity itself: Tuluum, the dark god son of Chaos. But one day a dark sorcerer called Hecarion found the writings, after a private and personal research using fraudulently the others' wizards powers and help; with these Hecarion, already head of the cult, soon put under his control the dark sorcerers and exploited their powers to perform the Rite, the only possible way to bring back Tuluum from Hellish depths. But something did go wrong: just before the completion of the mystical practice, a good wizard who played the role of the spy inside the cult, made Tuluum's resurrection impossible to happen. However, an evil pact between Hecarion and Tuluum had been already held. Hecarion did not totally died in the explosions, neverthless his soul survived due to the deity's influence, with the only purpose to regain power and restart the ritual.
Nowadays, wizardry and magic seem to be just the fruit of human imagination, something quite impossible to exist in reality; but the good wizard was sage and aware of the dangerous destiny that his descendants would have had to bear during generations. One day, Tuluum will resurrect, bringing chaos and death.
That day has come.
The more and more frequent cases of people's disappearing in the region nearby the ancient castle of the "Order of DarkLord", visible only by the few wizards remained, was an irrefutable and indicative matter of fact of the activities of Hecarion.
Our hero is ready to investigate, and decides to enter stealthily in the complex trought the sewerage system, armed with a rusty pistol and a stick supposed to be the old magic wand that in past just delayed the worst of disasters.. "
The Style
As mentioned in the plot, the adventure starts in a dungeon/sewerage systems, where narrow pathways and high ceilings will be the normal routine in the first levels. I already know I'll probably receive much criticism with the narrowness of the levels, but I must say it was a proper choiche because of the ambient I supposed in which the player moves; also, the rooms will be a little dark: it's beacuse I need to make some brightness adjustments yet.
Every level has a different "gameplay": in everyone more importance is given to a special aspect. For example, in the first level you must drain enough water from five smaller cistern in order to collect it in a central big room, enabling the player to reach a very high room, so puzzles and triggers are privileged in this one; instead in the third one the combative component is pre-eminent, where enemies are located on multiple levels of higness... you gotta check!
Next levels will have more large areas to explore and to fight in.
I made a large use of 3D floors, and you'll soon discover I'd like to invent new forms of triggers
I also wanted to add some interactive elements: I mean, objects and keys to pick won't be the same as usual (blue/yellow/red/skull/keycard...) but you'll have to check more carefully. This, in my opinion, gives the game a more realistic touch.
IMPORTANT: the first level I posted is not FINISHED at all, so do not think this is the definitive version; many things must be done yet: many sounds must be replaced with more appropriate ones; there are also some graphical glitches on the grates, for example, in which you see the sky effect instead of darkness.
Many parts need the use of JUMP and CROUCH!
Screenshots
Well, you're probably willing to see something of all this stuff I talked about , so I had taken some relevant screenies to show you the style of the WAD:
1st Level: A passage to the dungeons
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/856/exitdoor.jpg/ Two, sliding, metal doors.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/70 ... nroom.jpg/ The main room of the level, with a typical gothic architecture.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/806/grates.jpg/ A room with a well.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/689/room1s.jpg/ Corridors... there'll be plenty of!
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/40/bridgeeq.jpg/ The broken bridge: you must find another way to reach the other side..
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51 ... igger.jpg/ The Mechanism.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/40 ... igger.jpg/ Another trigger.. you'll need two keys.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/panelb.jpg/ A control panel: this makes things easier to help you escape
Updated version 2/8/2012
New screenshots from level#4!
At last I decided to show you some more about the progress of the leves; here are a few screenies of level#4 (settle inside the Castle), showing different locations; the main objectives is to open one of the lateral doors to gain access to the throne room, the greatest room inside the castle.
(Descriptions of the screenies won't be given: I want you to discover yourself how it works!)
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/641/1lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/580/2lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/513/3lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/109/4lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/820/5lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/37/6lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/838/7lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/810/8lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/11/9lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/845/10lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/818/11lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/828/12lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/442/13lev4.jpg/
If you want to leave a comment, I'd appreciate it and always motivates me to keep it on!
Downloads
As promised, I'd like to post the first level of the set. As my very first post, I don't know what could be the general impression about my work. Hope you like it!
Updated version 1/8/2012
I finally updated and adjusted something about the 1st level.
What's new:
- many bugs fixed;
- new monster added in the gameplay, based also on which skill level you're playing;
- now the level is fully completed: you can finish it starting from beginning to the end;
- SUPER-shortcut added, with a little surprise. Who said levels must be linear with no alternative paths?
To-do list:
- replacing monsters with some more appropriate: I just placed classical Doom monster because of giving a gameplay example. When I get deeper knowledge of DECORATE,
I'll surely move on this way;
- must specify that some walls block sound; so now if you shoot a single hit, every foe alert!
- general brightness adjustments. Probably rooms will get much darker, and you'll need a torch/lamp to explore..
Download link (updated!) ---> http://www.mediafire.com/?4eh3dulxslwoes3
ONE IMPORTANT NOTE: I used "GOTHIC TEXTURE PACK" from http://realm667.com/index.php?option=co ... Itemid=189
I'm not able enough to release the wad with the textures already included, so please use DoomBuilder2 to test it! (or someone explain me to join the level and the textures in a single playable WAD)
Let me know what you think! I like criticism and find it constructive
And thanks for your patience reading all this!
GuildNavigator
My very first attempt to create a decent set of levels brought me to try publishing something of my recent work about it.
It's thought to be composed of 7 linear levels in a typical medieval style, that also includes many aspects of modern times. Unfortunately I didn't find a suitable title yet for it, but surely it's rapidly gettin' sharper and brighter in my mind.
It's for GZDoom, better the latest versions.
(go to the Updating section at the bottom of this post )
The plot
(The story itself is simple, most of all tought to justify the settings of the levels)
"Several centuries ago, some illuminati and power-hungry men gathered together to form the "Order of DarkLord", a secret society whose only purpose was to bring back to life an ancient deity from the depths of Hell, in order to control its powers and finally satisfy obscure aims. To do this was necessary to find first the Ancient Scriptures, a serie of powerful precepts and magical formulas thought to be lost and never recovered from his last possessor and also writer, the deity itself: Tuluum, the dark god son of Chaos. But one day a dark sorcerer called Hecarion found the writings, after a private and personal research using fraudulently the others' wizards powers and help; with these Hecarion, already head of the cult, soon put under his control the dark sorcerers and exploited their powers to perform the Rite, the only possible way to bring back Tuluum from Hellish depths. But something did go wrong: just before the completion of the mystical practice, a good wizard who played the role of the spy inside the cult, made Tuluum's resurrection impossible to happen. However, an evil pact between Hecarion and Tuluum had been already held. Hecarion did not totally died in the explosions, neverthless his soul survived due to the deity's influence, with the only purpose to regain power and restart the ritual.
Nowadays, wizardry and magic seem to be just the fruit of human imagination, something quite impossible to exist in reality; but the good wizard was sage and aware of the dangerous destiny that his descendants would have had to bear during generations. One day, Tuluum will resurrect, bringing chaos and death.
That day has come.
The more and more frequent cases of people's disappearing in the region nearby the ancient castle of the "Order of DarkLord", visible only by the few wizards remained, was an irrefutable and indicative matter of fact of the activities of Hecarion.
Our hero is ready to investigate, and decides to enter stealthily in the complex trought the sewerage system, armed with a rusty pistol and a stick supposed to be the old magic wand that in past just delayed the worst of disasters.. "
The Style
As mentioned in the plot, the adventure starts in a dungeon/sewerage systems, where narrow pathways and high ceilings will be the normal routine in the first levels. I already know I'll probably receive much criticism with the narrowness of the levels, but I must say it was a proper choiche because of the ambient I supposed in which the player moves; also, the rooms will be a little dark: it's beacuse I need to make some brightness adjustments yet.
Every level has a different "gameplay": in everyone more importance is given to a special aspect. For example, in the first level you must drain enough water from five smaller cistern in order to collect it in a central big room, enabling the player to reach a very high room, so puzzles and triggers are privileged in this one; instead in the third one the combative component is pre-eminent, where enemies are located on multiple levels of higness... you gotta check!
Next levels will have more large areas to explore and to fight in.
I made a large use of 3D floors, and you'll soon discover I'd like to invent new forms of triggers
I also wanted to add some interactive elements: I mean, objects and keys to pick won't be the same as usual (blue/yellow/red/skull/keycard...) but you'll have to check more carefully. This, in my opinion, gives the game a more realistic touch.
IMPORTANT: the first level I posted is not FINISHED at all, so do not think this is the definitive version; many things must be done yet: many sounds must be replaced with more appropriate ones; there are also some graphical glitches on the grates, for example, in which you see the sky effect instead of darkness.
Many parts need the use of JUMP and CROUCH!
Screenshots
Well, you're probably willing to see something of all this stuff I talked about , so I had taken some relevant screenies to show you the style of the WAD:
1st Level: A passage to the dungeons
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/856/exitdoor.jpg/ Two, sliding, metal doors.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/70 ... nroom.jpg/ The main room of the level, with a typical gothic architecture.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/806/grates.jpg/ A room with a well.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/689/room1s.jpg/ Corridors... there'll be plenty of!
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/40/bridgeeq.jpg/ The broken bridge: you must find another way to reach the other side..
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51 ... igger.jpg/ The Mechanism.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/40 ... igger.jpg/ Another trigger.. you'll need two keys.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/panelb.jpg/ A control panel: this makes things easier to help you escape
Updated version 2/8/2012
New screenshots from level#4!
At last I decided to show you some more about the progress of the leves; here are a few screenies of level#4 (settle inside the Castle), showing different locations; the main objectives is to open one of the lateral doors to gain access to the throne room, the greatest room inside the castle.
(Descriptions of the screenies won't be given: I want you to discover yourself how it works!)
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/641/1lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/580/2lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/513/3lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/109/4lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/820/5lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/37/6lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/838/7lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/810/8lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/11/9lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/845/10lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/818/11lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/828/12lev4.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/442/13lev4.jpg/
If you want to leave a comment, I'd appreciate it and always motivates me to keep it on!
Downloads
As promised, I'd like to post the first level of the set. As my very first post, I don't know what could be the general impression about my work. Hope you like it!
Updated version 1/8/2012
I finally updated and adjusted something about the 1st level.
What's new:
- many bugs fixed;
- new monster added in the gameplay, based also on which skill level you're playing;
- now the level is fully completed: you can finish it starting from beginning to the end;
- SUPER-shortcut added, with a little surprise. Who said levels must be linear with no alternative paths?
To-do list:
- replacing monsters with some more appropriate: I just placed classical Doom monster because of giving a gameplay example. When I get deeper knowledge of DECORATE,
I'll surely move on this way;
- must specify that some walls block sound; so now if you shoot a single hit, every foe alert!
- general brightness adjustments. Probably rooms will get much darker, and you'll need a torch/lamp to explore..
Download link (updated!) ---> http://www.mediafire.com/?4eh3dulxslwoes3
ONE IMPORTANT NOTE: I used "GOTHIC TEXTURE PACK" from http://realm667.com/index.php?option=co ... Itemid=189
I'm not able enough to release the wad with the textures already included, so please use DoomBuilder2 to test it! (or someone explain me to join the level and the textures in a single playable WAD)
Let me know what you think! I like criticism and find it constructive
And thanks for your patience reading all this!
GuildNavigator