Click the orb to search for another world to invade.
What is this?
Corruptor of Humanity (previously known simply as Red Eye Orb to those who've helped in playtesting) is a hybrid PVE/PVP gamemode for Hideous Destructor, supporting 2 to 6 players. As you might've guessed, it takes heavy inspiration from the invasion mechanics of the Dark Souls series. One player attempts to clear the map with the help of up to three allies. Up to two invaders serve as counterbalances working alongside the enemies to kill the host and his friends.
Why would you do that? Hideous Destructor was painful enough already.
Because invading is fun and From Software won't make a new game so I have to do their job for them. And while I could've done this for any mod, I find HD's toolset to be the most useful and enjoyable by far for this gameplay style. Turning game journalist memes into reality is just a bonus.
How does it work?
Connection order determines players' roles. Player 1 serves as the host. They have one chance to make it from the start of the map to the end with the blue skull key that's needed to unblock the exit. Player 2 is the first invader. They are provided all keys and a Red Eye Orb that prevents enemies from targeting them, and can choose from three spawn locations in the map. The orb respawns every five minutes, but the invader can enter the map without it if they don't mind being attacked by everything. Players 3, 4 and 5 are co-operators who have to be manually "summoned" by the host using switches at the start of the level. Player 6 is a second invader with all the same tools as the first.
How do I play this?
Download the mod by clicking the orb above and follow the included instructions.txt. If you don't have friends who will play with you, or don't quite understand the eldritch workings of GZDoom netplay, you're more than welcome to join the HD Discord and ask for games there.
What does it look like?
Screenshots wouldn't show much, since I've added all of one new sprite (and you can see that at the top of the post) and a few very uninspiring spawn rooms to some IWAD maps. Here's some clips from testing sessions, and an artist's rendition of the events of a session I forgot to record.
What maps does this work with?
While I'd love to make it work anywhere, unfortunately, careful preparation plays too great a role in invasion dynamics for me to let the game randomize anything, so I have to edit maps individually. The modifications are fairly quick and easy, so it won't take long to flesh out this list. Suggestions are more than welcome.
Spoiler: Map listPlease load doom.wad as a PWAD to provide the missing resources for the Doom 1 maps, or use Wadsmoosh. It wouldn't surprise me if some TNT or Plutonia maps ended up in the list down the line, so Wadsmoosh would be a more futureproof option.
What doesn't work about this?
Because I've not modified any of HD's mechanics, and this just runs on normal co-op, not everything in the game knows what the players are actually doing.
Spoiler: Known issuesCould this work with other mods besides HD?
Technically, yes. The spawn rooms will be full of unknown actors, but the basic gamemode will otherwise function normally. Some invader spawns may be difficult to escape from or take advantage of without HD's tools and mechanics. Try it at your own risk.
Are you going to apologize for this?
No.
Spoiler: Credits