Call out to all D2 level designers (old and new)!

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:21 am

Okay, Wishmaster says he is bowing out at 3 levels for the set. And that's perfectly fine. I already have a solid idea for one of the levels he couldn't do. Furthermore, I don't really have an idea for the fifth level Wishmaster could have made. So instead, I opening that up back out to the community of level designers out there. I'll reiterate the rules

Rules:
- Most important: it must be D2 only. (not Vertigo or D2-xl) We want the widest audience possible to play this, so it must be made for standard Descent 2.
- Every level can have any combination of blue, yellow or red keys to solve it.
- No robots or power-ups just yet, you can make secret areas for them, but no power-ups/robots. I'd like to arrange the levels in an order at the end that'll make sense and then scale the difficulty and weapon giving at a balanced rate throughout the mission.
- For secret areas, since the levels will be very small and compact, you can make them more interesting than just a 'one cube' behind a hidden door type of secret area.
- Hostages are allowed to be inserted if you so choose.

So this is another chance for someone to get their level inputted into the level set. We're only asking for one level this time instead of five for whoever wants to make it. And on top of that, if Darkhorse and Sirius pull through, you'll also have new robots in the levels plus a new soundtrack!
So lots of good things going for this set!
So if you want your level submitted, please notify me ASAP on the boards, I'll most likely take the first person who applies and has talent at level designing.

Alter-Fox · Post by **Alter-Fox** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:26 am

I made a small level a few weeks ago, based on the idea I had for secret level 1 of my D3 set. Unfortunately, I ended up putting powerups and robots into it, because I didn't know there'd be a chance for it to be included in this. If it were possible to remove the powerups and robots (deleting objects in dle-xp for some reason causes the level to crash in DOSbox, but maybe someone else could do it in DMB-2 or some other editor I don't have?) Also, it doesn't have a title because naming it for some reason also crashes it, but that just means you can name it whatever you want. It's a hybrid water/alien2 style level which looks kind of like a rainforest.

If someone can do all this, I'd gladly contribute the level.

EDIT - new soundtrack? Does that mean my new midi was accepted? If someone sent me an email about it I didn't get it.

I just have to do some texturing in the exit, as it's one cube, so I want the far wall to have the secret teleporter texture. I can do that today.

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:05 pm

It shouldn't be too difficult to strip robots and powerups from the level. Are you running DLE-XP through Dosbox? I don't think you should need to, unless you're running Vista and it's somehow incompatible, though that would surprise me.

Alter-Fox · Post by **Alter-Fox** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:24 pm

I'm running Descent 2 with dosbox, but using dle-xp to build levels because the only other editor I can get to work is the DMB2 demo, and apart from the obvious difference in level size, it's also much faster and easier for me to build with dle-xp.

What I meant was that if I delete any objects, the level will crash when I try to play it in dosbox. The same goes for naming the level.

BTW - who's composing the soundtrack?

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:23 pm

Send me the level via email and I'll check it out. darkflamewolf@yahoo.com
As for your midi, I've actually not had time to even listen to it really. I've found a few other tracks I've liked. Plus a D2-XL user exclusive ogg soundtrack, thanks to Diedel for getting that to work.

Alter-Fox · Post by **Alter-Fox** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:36 pm

I have loads of homework to do, so I might not be able to get the level to you today. If I don't send it today, then I probably will tomorrow.

EDIT - If the soundtrack for your campaign is D2X-XL only, then I won't be able to hear the music for my own level, if it gets put in. I think it would be a good idea to have a midi soundtrack too, even if it's not my music.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:57 am

OK, program finished (at least for this job, adding extra shortcuts will take little work if I need them), and the first robot (\"Terapinner\") has been fixed/imported/etc. Well, save the submodel centres - haven't set them. Not sure if they're important in this case - it depends how wild you want to go with the joint animations.

Haven't bothered to deal with the robot behaviour for it though. That job can be done by pretty much anyone who's customised robots before.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:00 am

as for the midi soundtrack, I have a few choices and a optional D2-XL soundtrack for those who want it. So there is a choice.

As for Sirius, I can do robot customization, I've been pretty well versed in that. So you can send them my way and I'll eventually compile the robots together for the set.

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:13 pm

Wolf - any point in me doing a custom cockpit, should I get the time to put one together after the levels and robots are done? It adds a bit to the filesize, but in the days where people are downloading 200MB files on a regular basis a 640x480 bitmap is going to seem pretty microscopic.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:40 pm

if we got time for it, I'm all for it. However, its last on the priority list as far as I'm concerned. We need to get the 'bulk' of the mission done first, then we'll worry about the 'extras.'

As for the level set, because of future events in my life, this set ultimately will get released probably during June or later. So don't expect the set before that.

EDIT: minor setback, my only means of playing D2 on this computer: D2-XL is no longer functioning for me in the latest beta Diedel put out. So can anyone point to me in the direction of Rebirth so I can utilize that to finish up working on the set?

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:58 pm

I also need to work out how XL displays polymodels... so far every time I touch something it seems to break. Raw form out of cob2pm works fine, but if I re-order something or split a submodel up, those parts mostly stop rendering.

Wishmaster · Post by **Wishmaster** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:26 pm

DarkFlameWolf wrote:EDIT: minor setback, my only means of playing D2 on this computer: D2-XL is no longer functioning for me in the latest beta Diedel put out. So can anyone point to me in the direction of Rebirth so I can utilize that to finish up working on the set?

Right here...

http://www.dxx-rebirth.de/?Downloads:D2X-Rebirth

Pumo · Post by **Pumo** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:24 pm

If D2X-XL latest versions is givin' you problems, you could stick with the last version that worked for you (that's what i do most of the time)...

Of course, Rebirth is also an option here...

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:38 pm

Alter-Fox hasn't sent his level my way even when asked. So if anyone else wants to submit a single level to the game set, I'll take a look at it. First come first serve however, if I find a quality level I like.

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:00 pm

In between finishing levels, I built a robot to replace the Diamond Claw, entitled Mantid:

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:27 pm

awesome,. when Sirius gets it done, send it over. I'll plug him in. He's going to be a very sneaky bastid! XD

Duper · Post by **Duper** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:25 pm

wow.. that thing is UUUUUUUUggallleeeeee.

I mean that in the nicest way of course.

(nice work!)

Kyouryuu · Post by **Kyouryuu** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:17 am

It reminds me of Stitch.

Alter-Fox · Post by **Alter-Fox** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:01 am

It completely slipped my mind, what with all the homework I've been doing. I'll send it right now.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:09 pm

Whew, it needs a LOT of work to make it workable. I'll be changing a good bit of it in terms of textures and lighting. All objects removed other than reactor/keys/hostages so far. It's a fixer-upper, but I'll take it.

Awaiting word from Kyouryuu for a bonus level, but not holding my breath there. He's a very hard person to get a hold of and when I do, its a miracle to get a decent conversation out of him.

EDIT: Alter-fox, I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to redo the whole level from scratch. However don't fret, I'll keep your overall layout intact and you'll still get half credit for the level regardless. So I'm taking your level idea and 'remaking it' as it were.

Theftbot · Post by **Theftbot** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:24 pm

whoa d2 with headcrabs use the crowbar:)

Alter-Fox · Post by **Alter-Fox** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:44 pm

DarkFlameWolf wrote:EDIT: Alter-fox, I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to redo the whole level from scratch. However don't fret, I'll keep your overall layout intact and you'll still get half credit for the level regardless. So I'm taking your level idea and 'remaking it' as it were.

That's fine. I'm just a novice level builder anyway.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 3:26 pm

but on the brightside, your level idea will still be seen by everyone and you'll be given credit for it as well. So yay!
Also, great news, Kyouryuu has given us permission to convert his Aurora Outpost level for Descent 1 to Descent 2 and utilize our new robots in it. Awesome stuff, thanks again Kyouryuu!
so that puts out level designer count up to....
7 different level designers!
Also, this 'extra' level from Kyouryuu won't interfere with the 5 levels from each of the 5 original designers one bit, it actually will fit into the story better now that we have one 'extra' level than originally intended.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:43 pm

update everyone:
Minus the potential two secret levels from Darkhorse and Sirius 0which would up the secret level count to 5 instead of 3). There is but one level from Sirius that he has to complete and a remix of one of Pumo's levels for a boss arena. Beyond that, all the levels will be done and then its grind time on the robots and music, etc. Then It'll be on my to focus on robots, weapons, balance issues, etc. Due to some training I have in the coming 3 weeks, this probably won't get finished until the end of May. But rest assured, I promise to get the first wave of testing with the rest of the level designers done sometime in June!

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 3:04 pm

Another pair of robots, Juju and Sprite, replacing the Green Spider and Hornet respectively.

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:40 pm

Bolas, replacing the Sidearm.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:38 pm

oh...he's evil lookin' Thankfully I got a choice selection of weapons for him to use. He will not be your friend. How big is he? He looks like a lumbering fellow, slow, yet precise.
Does he spawn modula, or is he not that type of robot?

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:41 pm

Planning to add modula, but haven't come up with a concept for them yet.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:52 pm

my suggestion: a smaller ball with a eye with one of those big side guns on the right attached. Kinda of like a Orbit from Descent 3.

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:59 pm

Done. I put the gun(s) on top, but hopefully you like how it turned out. The three dots in front will light up at different times, all of them being on the same eye animation.

Called it Sapper.

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:08 pm

Double-posting, so sue me.

There's 23 robots in total, of which 7 of them have been built so far. So I'm just about a third of the way through, which is nice, because it's looking like a very long list. Then there's six bosses, which have a different concept behind them.

Can't complain though, it is a lot of fun putting these things together.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:41 pm

as long as you are having fun. Its good not having someone breathing down your neck and telling you specifically what to do with each robot. Other than my request about the bosses, I really am pretty lenient with whatever you give me.

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:16 pm

Kalki, replacing Red Fatty Jr.

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 5:19 pm

Golem, replacing the Lou Guard.

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:18 pm

Parasite, replacing the Omega.

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:51 pm

Echo, replacing the Red Hornet.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:18 am

holy crap dude, let's hope all these awesome designs work in D2. I heard the Bolas still crashes the game when spawned from robot makers. I love your designs, I really do. They are probably some of the best robots I've seen in Descent 2 ever. but wondering when you'll be making some 0 joint robots again like the Meson. They may be un-complex but they can still be cool looking.

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:20 pm

Apparently that mesh had all of the quads become triangulated. I'm quite surprised that any of these are getting anywhere near 200 faces, but I suppose it's an easy limit to exceed.

d3jake · Post by **d3jake** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:32 pm

Very nice work! The Golem looks like the Class 1 Drone from D1's big brother!

DarkHorse · Post by **DarkHorse** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:59 pm

Three more. Angler, replacing the ITD:

Morningstar, replacing the ITSC:

Mule, replacing the Smelter:

Call out to all D2 level designers (old and new)!

Descent Vignettes a good idea?

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