Asking playing to get a texture pack VS including them in your wad

[Delisk]

Not really a technical question but more about getting everyone opinions on this.

 

I have not really used a lot of custom texture on my maps, well until the map I'm working on right now, But i did play quite a few of them.

 

I have seen 3 ways textures are used.

 

1) Adding the textures you want directly in the wad file using Slade

2) Have the texture pack as a separated file but still included in the download

3) Saying you need X texture pack (mostly done with OTEX)

 

The vast majority of the maps I have played did option number 1, and it is the way I do it myself, I have no issue with number 2, but number 3 bugs me, I dot not believe one should tell players to get a resource to play the map when the map maker could have done the work for them.

 

So what is you stance on this?

 

[Bauul]

As long as you fully credit the texture pack accordingly, generally it's fine to bundle the required textures into your wad.

 

Number 3, as you outline above, is a relatively unusual, and to my knowledge has only been a case recently with the beta version of OTEX.  The reason was when OTEX was released, Ukiro asked people not to bundle it because he was still working on the textures, including making improved versions of already released textures.  He didn't want temporary beta versions of the textures becoming permanent inclusions in released wads.  Once v1.0 was released back in 2019 that requirement was dropped as the textures were finalized.

[Btyb88]

In regards to number 3, I've always been under the assumption that if it's a big enough, well known texture wad you shouldn't bundle it with your level. The reason being most people will either a) already have it or b) end up having it from other wads that also require it. Is this not the case?

[Sneezy McGlassFace]

I'm probably the only person who does this but the post attachment on the forum is capped at 25MB. So if I wanted to use something like OTEX, I'm boned for option 2, including it in download. Which is what I usually do. So either option 1 or 3. Providing a link for the resource is arguably the easiest option, and there's a good chance people already have OTEX. Obviously, option 1 is the best. There are also some cool doom utilities like Mtrop's DoomTools that do the texture copying for you. Among other things.

But is it actually such a big deal when you say:

• link to my super_amazing_map.wad
• link to cool_resources.wad

Does every click really count? I'm genuinely curious what others think.