Adding new weapons.

[thecheesypotatoman]

I'm making another map for Hexen and would like to add a new weapon for each class. I was able to open the wad up and add new music and textures. I'm aware that you assign weapon slots in DECORATE in Slade. But I have no idea how to actually add a new weapon.

[Kappes Buur]

17 hours ago, thecheesypotatoman said:

I'm making another map for Hexen and would like to add a new weapon for each class. I was able to open the wad up and add new music and textures. I'm aware that you assign weapon slots in DECORATE in Slade. But I have no idea how to actually add a new weapon.

 

To add a totally new weapon to your map, you have to 

1. learn DECORATE or ZSCRIPT and providing appropriate sprites
2. check out the Realm667 - Repository Armory HERETIC / HEXEN STYLE

I would choose option 2 for the the time being.

Download, for example, APOTHEOSIS and open both, Apotheosis.zip and your map into Slade.

 

Copy all lumps from Apotheosis.wad and paste them to the end of your map.

 

At this point you can close Apotheosis.zip

 

These two lumps, OLDCODE and ZSCRIPT, are important

 

You have a choice now, you can choose ZSCRIOT, which is the weapons script in ZSCRIPT, or OLDCODE, which is the weapons script in DECORATE.

 

a.) If you choose ZSCRIPT, make a new lump MAPINFO

to give the weapon a DoomED number

Save your map.

 

b.) If you choose OLDCODE, rename that lump to DECORATE and add a DoomED number to the actor

 

Now, either delete the lump ZSCRIPT or rename it to NEWCODE.

Save your map.

 

Open your map in Ultimate Doom Builder (or other) and add the new weapon 15000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 29, 2023 by Kappes Buur

[thecheesypotatoman]

Wow, that is really detailed and incredibly helpful, thank you. As for learning zscript what tutorials would you recommend? And is it too difficult to learn? I'm not a smart person.

[Kappes Buur]

While DECORATE is now deprecated that is not to say that it is useless.
Many mappers are still using it.

 

DECORATE was/is used to create just about any actor you can think of,
monsters, weapons, decorations, etc. But over the years it has shown
a few limitations and in the effort to extend it's capabilities Zscript was

the result.

 

Zscript can be considered to be a subset of C++. And thus it is a powerful
adjunct to mapping.

ZScript
https://zdoom.org/wiki/ZScript

 

ZScript_Basics
https://github.com/jekyllgrim/ZScript_Basics

 

"The end of DECORATE?" or "My fear of ZScript"

https://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=55293

 

[ZScript] Breaking the ice for non-programmer DECORATE users
https://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?style=19&t=55409

 

 

 

[Xaser]

Don't use DECORATE unless you're explicitly targeting Zandronum, ACE Engine, or some other port that doesn't support ZScript -- otherwise, use ZScript.

 

Relatedly, please don't post any sort of DECORATE how-tos without stating the above -- it is very confusing to newcomers.

 

[EDIT] In case someone asks "why?", there's a good writeup here:

https://github.com/jekyllgrim/ZScript_Basics/blob/master/03_Why_ZScript.md

 

The short version is that ZScript is a superset (not subset) of DECORATE; it can do anything DECORATE can do and more, and picking the old tool will lock you out of a ton of crazy-useful features (custom functions, virtual overrides, event handlers, level postprocessor, etc.) that you won't think you need until suddenly you do. Also, contrary to popular belief, ZScript isn't any harder to learn or use than DECORATE; the basic features are the same with a couple of very minor differences (semicolons and the Default block).

 

The linked guide is a great getting-started resource in general, BTW.

Edited June 29, 2023 by Xaser