DESPAIR.PK3 - unzip than drag both the PK3 and maps file into your GZdoom loader!!!!
DESPAIR is a custom WAD for Heretic, and includes a handful of custom enemies, powerups and weapons. What they are, I'll leave the surprise up to you - but feel free to take a peek at the screenshots before playing this five-level adventure! I'm just looking for constructive criticism and playtesting before this becomes an IDgames entry.
STILL TO-DO (once I have feedback):
- Fix the TitlePic error (why doesn't it show?)
- Level 5's "rising watertable puzzle" in Lightning Wizard's section (nothing there yet)
- ExArch death frames (he replaces the Skullwizard as a more suitable enemy, as well as a' Surprise Wizard' whose also not as overpowered)
- End pic and text
- Deathmatch starts and accomodation (maybe)
- Other balance issues found by you, the testers
People seem to be downloading this after all, but very few are providing actual criticisms. Strange. I need more ppl to let me know what they think and look for bugs - I know of 3 texture errors already, one with a hanging crate where a cloth should be, a mistexture above a Romeric door, and the wrong trim by the DragonClaw crossing. I also need Gauntlets of the Necromancer placed on the first level. Besides those things however, I think it's IdGames ready after all....!
Re: DESPAIR - for Heretic!
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:35 pm
by acidhoez
ill check this out again man, i liked what i saw last time and im sure youve made some changes, have fun with that hud btw
Re: DESPAIR - for Heretic!
Posted: Sun Oct 06, 2013 9:51 pm
by SallazarSpellcaster
Greetings.
I have played through the second map once again, and I must say it is pretty terrific. Gameplay-wise it's quite tight and unforgiving at the higher difficulty levels, which actually leads the player into playing strategically and using their items in their favor, especially in those overly crowded spots, such as the fight in the last level. I found the area where the Maulotaur is fought to be both the safest and most dangerous place to fight him in: While the pillars and buildings offer many ways to take cover from his attacks, they also reduce maneuverability and make using the Phoenix Rod a cost-benefit affair, you can either land a solid shot, or blow yourself into Oblivion. Personally, I quite liked the artistic and architectural design of the area, it fit pretty well with the map, together with the textures you chose: It is fitting that the ma, being the "Gorgon Temple", has a Greek-Roman motif.
I agree that placing the Gauntlets of the Necromancer somewhere on the first level would make things much more bearable for the player, seeing as once you enter the second map, you're rather underpowered against the foes you face. Though I feel this makes it so the player actually has to use his items in a strategic way instead of hoarding them and never making use of them; I mean, on Heretic it is not uncommon to end up with a large inventory that is seldom used. In this case, knowing your items and using them well can be the difference between life and death.
I didn't notice the graphical bugs, seeing as I was more focused on gameplay and not getting smashed into a pulp, but overall I think those texture errors are minimal and noticeable only if you pay attention to them.
Something that wasn't entirely clear for me however, is this: What's the difference between normal Dragonscales, Imbued Dragonscales and Obsidian Scales? Do they offer different levels of protection?
Also, personally, I really liked the texture used for the Necronomicon Ex Mortis and the sound it has, nothing like good ol' Shambler death sound to exemplify evil.
Re: DESPAIR - for Heretic!
Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 1:04 am
by Triple S
Maps are nice and flow pretty well, except that I was having some serious ammo issues in the first level. Like, even getting the Ethereal Crossbow didn't help that much, especially with the powerful enemies thrown at you.
Re: DESPAIR - for Heretic!
Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2013 1:48 pm
by acidhoez
i played through the maps again, and i couldnt really see any texture issues, im sure that there maybe some some where in the maps, but you're not gonna see them unless youre looking for them i suppose. the first level is still a little too tough honestly but it is definitely a really good map. in the gorgon chamber though, there is a small temple ish building with stained glass and Disciples of D'sparil, and on the left and right sides of the room are the skull tomb things, and on their sides the textures are randomly placed and i think centering the skull on the sides would be better, but thats literally the only thing i noticed, and i love the area where you fight the maulotaur, you really made it more detailed and impressive.
Re: DESPAIR - for Heretic!
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 4:04 pm
by Unholypimpin
Pretty cool maps, but the skull wizard is kinda..really..op. I love the map detail and im glad you finally figured out how to make only specific rooms have the fog effect rather than putting it throughout the entire map. Map02 confused the hell out of me because I didnt realize that one texture on the wall was a door. Finally after 5 minutes of wall humping I finally got that door which i didnt know was a door to open.
The starting point on the first map is a bit annoying because i felt like i was trapped in the starting room while monsters kept poring in. Imo you need to make the monsters beyond the first room deaf or something so they dont all go in there and gang rape you when you attack the mummys.
Also I see that you used the map you made for my project as the second map in here.... Are you officially leaving my project or did you scrap that map and decide to use it for this project? Please let me know.
Re: DESPAIR - for Heretic!
Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:03 pm
by ShadesMaster
No I'm still on but been busy - just finished jury duty recently for example and I wanted to finish this mapset that's been sitting on my hard drive SOMEHOW, lol! I'll still use it in your project as well but with further changes. Like how I recycled my Riverwood.wad from back in 2004 in Hpack and it looks totally different.
I made all the fixes proposed above to this mapset and I'll be reuploading it here as well as submitting to IDgames so it's done and done!
Re: DESPAIR - for Heretic!
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 4:54 am
by ShadesMaster
Just to let you guys now, after a hiatus I've worked on this again; it's now a 5+ maps mappack with much better balance! New screens, new enemies, and a new download will be up in a few days, than I can FINALLY submit to IdGames for that much deserved review.
Oh, and it will be fully compatible with the Wrath of Cronos gameplay mod, to boot!
Re: DESPAIR - for Heretic!
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:25 am
by The Ultimate DooMer
ShadesMaster wrote:What they are, I'll leave the surprise up to you
I think you already mentioned what the surprise is:
NEW UPLAOD!!!! After a hiatus, I have the 5-map playable pack here! The first post was updated as well. It currently supports single player and cooperative, so please playtest this thing and give me feedback! 5 levels of Heretic goodness await!
STILL TO-DO (once I have feedback):
- Fix the TitlePic error (why doesn't it show?)
- Level 5's "rising watertable puzzle" in Lightning Wizard's section (nothing there yet)
- ExArch death frames (he replaces the Skullwizard as a more suitable enemy, as well as a' Surprise Wizard' whose also not as overpowered)
- End pic and text
- Deathmatch starts and accomodation (maybe)
- Other balance issues found by you, the testers
Re: DESPAIR - for Heretic!
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 9:33 pm
by Ed the Bat
ShadesMaster wrote:- Fix the TitlePic error (why doesn't it show?)
You named your graphic TITLEPIC, when you didn't define it in MAPINFO to change from the default of TITLE.
I also see no maps in this package.
Re: DESPAIR - for Heretic!
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 9:39 pm
by Mikk-
I don't know about you, but this mapset is severely lacking in the maps department.
Re: DESPAIR - for Heretic!
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 9:40 pm
by Mav3rick
After downloading the file i try to run it and it end on just starting the e1m1, no new levels nothing new... but i had the old version too and for my surprice, there is a file called despairmaps.wad ¬¬ after put all together it run fine but have many warnings and stuff..
Now my question is... this new version came with no maps? or is just a mistake of my part
Here is the info and as you can see to played i needed to add the despairmaps.wad to make it work if not only e1m1 will come to play
Yeah, the zip file contains DESPAIR.pk3 and DESPAIRMAPS.pk3 but you must unzip it first than drag just those two files unto GZDOOM because the txt file is also in the zip, so dragging zip won't work.
This works with Wrath of Cronos as well but Lo & behold, I haveta change the first monster from being a #ghostGolem bc u start that mod with normal weapons.
