PALACE.WAD - Map + Disjoint Ideas [GZDoom]

[Noyemi K]

Howdy guys, gals, and assorted pals, I realized I hadn't touched doom modding in a while and decided to jump back in after a year of just lurking between the piles of work I had to do. This time I've done another map! And a handful of other things to try out gameplay modding. As the thread title says, this WAD has a mix of things I just wanted to try out so that I can do more fun and interesting things in future projects. If I keep going at the same rate, I'll have a 32 map megawad in just 15 more years 😂

 

I was originally inspired to do this map after watching Clippy play EVIL.WAD, but I kept getting too distracted or bored trying to recreate that map in my style, so I wound up with something entirely different. All custom assets I created for this wad are of course free to use in your own.

 

Hope you enjoy it, don't be afraid to report problems or bugs

 

Features:

• ~70% of the map is optional
• The chaingun is replaced with an automatic Carbine, which fires 25% faster and has custom graphics
• All difficulties are implemented, UV is stressful but manageable, HMP is easyish, and below that is a pushover.
• Original soundtrack (IT + MIDIs)
• A friendly baron somewhere

The Technical:

• No. of maps: 1
• Build time: Roughly 20 person-hours
• Required IWAD: Doom 2 (Freedoom 2 will work but it might break the aesthetic in places)
• Map format: UDMF
• ports tested: GZDoom 4.5.0, I recommend this version or newer
• Crouching/jumping: disabled through MAPINFO
• Mouselook: Strongly recommended
• Recommended Graphics settings: Whichever renderer you want, I prefer the truecolour software renderer

 

The Goods:

Download Here

 

CREDITS:

• Ola Björling (ukiro) - OTEX textures
• Bazylonator - The XM177 model that I used to render the Carbine's graphics
• Clippy Clippington - I watch his channel a lot, so hopefully the level of Secritude is almost acceptable 😏

 

Screenshots:

Spoiler

 

[Pistoolkip]

Excellent visuals and fun architecture! Great use of colours. Some interesting fights but overall very easy. The only fight that gave me a little trouble was at the Megasphere (though I did die earlier due to stupidity). Two soulspheres seemed somewhat redundant, but the armor secret certainly helped. It's a bit weird that so much of the map is optional. That makes it even more easy, and you miss most of what makes the map interesting. Why not lock the exit door with the red key?

The upgraded chaingun was a nice addition, but with the SSG and plasma not really needed. 
 

 

 

Edited February 9, 2022 by Pistoolkip

[Noyemi K]

Good points Pistoolkip, and like I said on the discord server, it was great watching your play. I'm still trying to figure out what my style of map and mod design actually is, so I'm gonna work on it and just practice as many ideas as I can

[Delisk]

That was a fun map... played it twice, I tied to do 100% on the second run but I simply ran out of ammo... so i ran out of there!

 

 

[Biodegradable]

Ayy the Spacebenders kid is back!

 

 

[Noyemi K]

@Delisk Glad you liked the map!

 

@Biodegradable Yep... I'm not sure why I didn't make a map for a year, but sometimes time just gets away from you. I think I made the mistake of trying to do techbase and got frustrated and dropped doom mapping for a bit to focus on work. Anyway, great play, it was interesting seeing you process the secrets and rinse the encounters without the early armour.

[Clippy]

Cool map with some very interesting secrets I spent way too much time trying to find. I almost got ate by skulls. I had fun punching things and I'm glad to hear you enjoy my videos I hope you like this one too. Good Times good map look forward to see what you make next 

 

 

 

[sandwedge]

I love the colour palette of this so much.  And the chunky assault rifle.  Like was mentioned the fact that so much is optional was surprising but the map makes me want to explore it.  Also who's hanging out with Mr. Baron?? 😆

[Noyemi K]

12 minutes ago, sandwedge said:

who's hanging out with Mr. Baron?? 😆

 

some DECORATE test entity nerd that was working out in the library

 

[Stabbey]

I'll say that two soul spheres that close together is too generous. There's enough cover to make it easy to avoid the AV attacks. I didn't pick up the Berserk, it did come in handy later, I picked it and the second Soul Sphere up.

 

The Rocket Launcher secret was too obvious. It looked like a door in plain sight. It could use a little better hiding, like a plain ordinary wall texture which is lit up for no real reason.

 

I didn't find the armor secret. I'd definitely agree with the notion of making the exit door locked with the red key. Most players probably will see the whole level anyway, but that feels like too early an exit.