Does anyone else use automap cheat on new maps?

[reaction]

I've made a change in how i play Doom semi-recently and now i use IDBEHOLD A (automap cheat) for pretty much all new maps that I play so that I don't miss out on secrets on the first playthrough. I'll make a mental note of where significant secrets are for when I replay the map later. I think this is to do with me going back to play the 90s classics that I have missed but often seem to want the player to hump every nondescript wall in the hopes of finding a secret.

 

There are definitely some maps that I don't do this on - mostly they're newer releases where I have at least some confidence that secrets aren't totally indistinguishable from regular geometry. Large scale mods and new games also fall into this category. But, for almost all vanilla/limit removing/boom maps I'll use automap cheat so I can learn the map. All that being said, on subsequent playthroughs I don't use the automap cheat. I like to learn a map first then try to do full, saveless runs later.

Im curious to hear what other people do and how they play. Do you have any other tips or techniques for getting grips with a map quickly?

[Shepardus]

I usually don't go for all the secrets unless I'm trying to test the map for maxing or if there's a reward for doing so (like in RAMP 2022). When I do, I get the secrets that are obvious to me as I play the map, and then go back for the rest with IDDT (sometimes IDBEHOLDA if IDDT is too hard to read). dsda-doom's IDDST cheat (pan automap to nearest unrevealed secret) is also helpful here. I also have secrets shown on the normal automap before touching them, so I sometimes find secrets that way.

 

tl;dr - all of the above, except for the "wallhump everything" option.

[reaction]

Damn I forgot to mention IDDT in the IDBEHOLD question.

 

4 minutes ago, Shepardus said:

dsda-doom's IDDST cheat (pan automap to nearest unrevealed secret) is also helpful here.

 

TIL. That sounds very useful, I'll try it out, thanks.

[DNSKILL5]

I have never really cared about finding 100% secrets enough to use the automap cheat, and barely use the automap as it is.

[Stupid Bunny]

I try and avoid automap cheats for secret hunting—more fun to have something to try for next time I play. I don’t really go around wallhumping either, though, Doom isn’t Wolf3D and if the mapper has provided absolutely zero hint that I’m supposed to do something then I’m not troubled if I can’t find their secret. That said, I’ll try and obvious possibilities such as computer consoles or wall decorations sometimes. Mostly I’m either keeping my eye out for hints like mismatches, anomalies, unexpected wall movements or lift noises, tiny hidden switches and little subtle ledges that could have something squirreled away out of view; or else I’m looking at the automap for two-sided linedefs on what look like solid walls. 
 

Or I just forget the secrets and move on sometimes I can’t be bothered 

[xX_Lol6_Xx]

Unless I'm extremely lost of confused, nope.

[CrocketRocket]

I use it whenever I complete a doom megawad or single level something like beating the game and just dicking around with it. Now if a map catches my eye I just enable IDBEHOLDA in it just to mess around to find some hidden secrets I missed or use it to take notes. Other than that

[Sneezy McGlassFace]

I think that is I can't find the secret by the clues that point to it, either I'm not worthy of the secret or there's no clues.  And if there's no clues to find a secret, that's plain bad mapping. 

[Captain POLAND]

If I haven't found the secrets by the end of the map (after I've killed everything) I use iddt twice, and if that doesn't work I use noclip and move through suspicious areas, and if that doesn't work I enable the option in GZDoom to highlight all secret areas on the automap, and if that doesn't work I look up where the secrets are online, and if that doesn't work I pull my hair out in frustration.

 

 

[idbeholdME]

I usually go for all secrets. First, go naturally, which is usually enough. Then comes thorough minimap inspection, looking for suspicious nooks or map areas. Then comes the desperation phase of wallhumping+chainsawing/shooting every wall/object and aimlessly running around in hopes of finding it. If it's taking too long (hours), I admit defeat, save at the end of the level, use IDDT and see what the secret is. I do not take anything from the secret, just find it and make a mental note of any weird gimmicky mechanics it might utilize, so that any of my future secret hunting endeavours are more successful, having now been armed with the knowledge.

 

But it is quite rare for me to reach the giving up phase and happens mostly on very large maps, where carefully combing through every milimeter of the map would take very long.

Edited February 22, 2023 by idbeholdME

[reaction]

It's been interesting seeing people's take on this. I think at the moment I'm trying to get better at Doom so I'm trying to learn the maps more than just enjoy them. I did find a nice middleground thanks to Shepardus and IDDST - using IDDST at the start of the map and then marking the locations on the map (M by default). That way you can know where a secret is but you don't spoil the whole map layout at the same time: