[WIP] Happy Time Circus 3

[Major Cooke]

I think it might be spoiler dropping time~.

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The Particle Accelerator cannon makes use of special buildup mechanics. The particles gradually build up as they travel, absorbing molecules in the air to pack themselves bigger and deal more damage the further they travel. At close range, the projectiles are wimpy. But when given enough distance to build up, the Particle Accelerator will prove to be a powerful rival to the Plasma Rifle.

The alternative firing mode serves as a compliment to the primary, shooting fully charged particles at double the ammo cost. The unfortunate side effect of forcefully packing a particle makes it unstable and incapable of maintaining its field, rather quickly dispersing into nothingness. Thus, the secondary mode is only capable of dealing with shorter ranges. Mastery of range determination will help you master the weapon so you can deal the most damage, and ammo consumption.

[JohnnyTheWolf]

I know I am late to the party and you stated that the project would feature original music, but I thought you could use this as a source of inspiration.

Mega Man Zero 4's "Sleeping Beast" sounds like it would fit a creepy circus setting, even though weirdly enough the game lacks such setting:

[Major Cooke]

That would be perfect for HTC1 & 2 for sure, but HTC3 is taking a much different route. Overall, HTC3 is much less circus-y + unholy, instead focusing more on tech + unholy. Demons under the skin of clowns in a way for some of them. The music with HTC3 is more ambiance-ish instead, very much in the background and taking a back seat, kinda like how ITLURKS2 is during HTC2 (happens after sending Fluffy to Hell).

[Ravick]

OMG! I totally love both HTC mods! It was amazing news to see a third one being born! :')

It is looking awesome so far! Please, don't stop!

[Major Cooke]

The mod is actually near completion. There's just several MASSIVE hurdles to overcome (several levels to complete and such) before it's ready for some serious testing. Stay tuned for trailers sometime, but it'll be a while. Probably a few months for the trailers?

[Major Cooke]

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This weapon shoots missiles that's packed with Clown Fire. An unstable substance, it's designed for maximizing destruction on an unprecedented scale.

The higher the rocket explodes, the greater the spray spreads as it falls.

But that's not all. Built in is a detonator. Pressing the secondary function will make all flying rockets blow up, so if you miss your shot, you can still compensate by dealing some damage, which is better than none at all! Hit them head on with a rocket, or blow it up above them if there's room to really spread out the damage. No matter which way though, the Clown Fire is utterly devastating and will ensure few things can survive.

The only downside is its steep ammo cost, but that's hardly a concern when you're too busy destroying practically anything that gets in your way.

[Gez]

The alternative firing mode serves as a compliment to the primary

Compliment: praise, flattery. For something that completes, you want complement.

[Major Cooke]

Bless our weird-ass engrish system for all the shit I never wanted. =B

[goldsteed]

will this be finished in time for halloween?

[Major Cooke]

No release date is planned yet. We don't plan them unless we're confident we can make them.

[Unregret]

I absolutely love this series, best wish to your team.
Please consider cut a huge map with many monster into each smaller sector, similar to what ASHES Afterglow did. We couldn't handle that much lag with old HTC 1/2, due to GZDoom Hardware rendering and other causes I do not know.

[Major Cooke]

HTC1 did fine on its own. HTC2, yeah, sure there was a few problematic areas, but don't worry. HTC3 is going to be much better handled in that regard. The main problem comes down to the BSP rendering if anything.

Hoping Negatronica is alright. Haven't heard from her in a while... Aside from a few things, the project's on hold until I get word from her again.

[CBM]

I loved the previous 2 so I look forward to trying htc3!

[Major Cooke]

I may do a redux of HTC2 that optimizes a bunch of things and fixes some bugs, as well as add a new arena for the final boss fight. I've already got a clownified version of Dis made. In particular I've been modifying a variant of HTC2 for AEons of Death in particular. But I'd transfer many of the changes over to the redux, just made for any mod.

So far what's changed in my redux:

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• Fluffy:
  • Now has a million health but can be stunned the more he's injured.
  • Always triggers the scripts called when he's sent to Clown Hell if killed.
  • Drops the Soul Forge: Lets you buy items and craft an exclusive powerup you can't get anywhere but from it, and improved versions of weapons, in exchange for clown souls.
  • Closes the pet shop once defeated.
• Added Shadow Fluffy, a pure black variant of Fluffy that's an optional but very difficult boss. Spawns at the entrance to S-Mart.
  • Only starts attacking if you shoot him a bunch.
  • Can be disengaged by running far enough away and staying out of sight. Just hide in the warehouse.
  • Doesn't move through walls, but spams seeking skulls.
  • Drops the red key, plasma rifle and BFG.
• All enemies now drop clown souls. Stronger enemies = more souls.
• Clown souls are now a currency in addition to being ammunition.
• Staying too long in one section now causes Pennywise to send a bunch of black bears after you, enabling soul farming, after Fluffy is sent to Hell.
• The Petting Zoo is now the answer to gearing up for war against Pennywise. IF you survive...
• Replaced the west clown key void pit with a new arena.
• Crazy balls thrown by the player no longer harm them.
• Berthas now shoot a ball that spams black bears. Kill them fast before they overwhelm you. The gas rocket launcher will be your best friend here for interrupting.
• Replaced clown lighting with something much nicer: Doom64 lighting!
• Optional shortcut added to get to the IT Pit quicker after getting the clown keys, but optional. Closes off the buildings associated with the gate. You get to fight Fluffy. Don't try it unless you have an overpowered weapons mod like AEoD. Kill it to open the door to the pit.
• Pennywise:
  • Moved to Clown Dis.
  • Reworked boss fight. Good luck.
  • You gain infinite flight while in Clown Dis. Use it to your advantage.
• Enabled and extended the final cutscene, leading to the idea that the clowns were not yet defeated. Pennywise's body may have been destroyed... but his soul still lingers.
• Renamed the map to "Derry". Not canonical to IT of course. It's still 1980s enough in style, with a few UAC stuffs.

If anyone is wondering, the cutscene in particular shows the player running away down the road, pursued by some clown ghosts briefly, before the IT pit is shown. The heart is being reconstructed by a bunch of clown ghosts with Pennywise's soul fading in, deep in the void, indicating he's not done yet. Finally, some buildings are shown being consumed, with clownish building materials rising up and completely encompassing them.

My personal extensions add in melting roads into clown soup and increasing the amount of devastation caused to Derry, giving it the appearance that it was all falling into a massive sinkhole. Cut back to the player, you then fight off a bunch of oncoming clowns around your car, then another cutscene. Doomguy uses the forge to spawn some gasoline that had mysteriously vanished from his tank stolen by Pennywise. Stuffs the forge into his car and drives off as fast as possible. On the road going around Derry, you witness the whole fucking town starting to melt into the horrendous acid superman ice cream soup. A massive flash occurs, and the whole of Derry and the soup vanishes, leaving only a crater behind. The soul forge and the clown weapons disintegrate into particle dust.

What the Hell was that about? What even was Derry? What kind of demon did you just destroy?
Was he even a demon...? If so, it's nowhere near anything you've ever fought before, and that's saying a lot, given your reputation.
Unfortunately, you no longer have proof after that massive teleportation energy faded. The weapons and forge belonging to the clowns are now gone. You're just going to have to report this incident as a regular demonic event, but after what Hell has done by proving it exists, maybe they might buy it...
No. That 'thing' removed all traces of evidence. It knows your superiors will treat the report with mass skepticism, and perhaps you with suspicion. You underwent one hell of an ordeal when battling Hell, so they'll question your sanity if you report clowns. Demons it is. The wounds on your body are evidence enough of that.

What you saw in there, makes Hell's usual minions look like child's play. This was clearly a play on your coulrophobia...
The fear of clowns. If you've never had it before, you sure do now.
The bastard had the nerve to try and scare you shitless with Daisy's severed head, mutated it and called it Fluffy.
You're gonna need a stiff drink and years of therapy to get rid of these nightmares now...

[Unregret]

HTC1 did fine on its own. HTC2, yeah, sure there was a few problematic areas, but don't worry. HTC3 is going to be much better handled in that regard. The main problem comes down to the BSP rendering if anything.

Hoping Negatronica is alright. Haven't heard from her in a while... Aside from a few things, the project's on hold until I get word from her again.

Excellent, that would a big relieve for what I encountered with HTC2, lag + stalking huge daisy head = terrible nightmare.
About HTC2, i think it would even better if you can somehow make a weaponless-versions of it, so we can play with newest weapon pack such as Hellrider, a blast indeed!