A touchy subject: Descent Maps

sdfgeoff · 2014-01-02 06:18:46

Over the years, the Descent Community has made a great host of maps, like Minerva, NYSA...
The question is: how will they play in Talon? And should we convert them?

They are pretty blocky, and provide nice clear geometry that you don't get stuck on, but by modern standards they are simplistic.

----
Just for some fun, I've started converting Minerva into a Talon map. (with a couple of changes removing non-talon-things-like-doors-and-grates)

But before I finish it:
The pootermans .txt file with minerva tells me it was originally made by Spaz. Does anyone know how I can contact him and check that he is OK with me doing this? I don't see him registered at the DBB, or the rebirth forums. If I can't get hold of him, should I continue anyway?

CommandoRash · 2014-01-02 06:22:28

I say go for it, if I had a map that got carried over to a new game I would be pretty proud of it. It was made as a gift to the community anyway, and we are all that remains of the descent community.

CDN_Merlin · 2014-01-02 10:34:39

I have no problem with Descent maps for Talon.

VEX-Ben · 2014-01-02 11:23:40

CDN_Merlin wrote:

I have no problem with Descent maps for Talon.

+1 :-)

CDN_Merlin · 2014-01-02 12:43:07

I just hope that the maps could be made a bit bigger since Talon isn't Descent and requires more stopping room.

Also, some maps really shouldn't be ported. Sadly, I thin Minerva and Skybox have been so over played that I really wouldn't play them on here.

Red_Barchetta · 2014-01-02 14:17:13

CDN_Merlin wrote:

Also, some maps really shouldn't be ported. Sadly, I thin Minerva and Skybox have been so over played that I really wouldn't play them on here.

But any new players, that have never played Descent and are introduced to Talon might like them. I always played a variety of maps, not always the popular ones. So I enjoy them every once in a while.

CDN_Merlin · 2014-01-02 14:41:14

I see your point. Sadly I think games like Descent don't appeal to many players because it's hard to be good at and most people these days don't want to spend weeks/months to get good. They want their instant win fix.

Red_Barchetta · 2014-01-02 15:04:05

Maybe I do not understand as I have only played D3, and I am not a map builder. Though Talon is Descent like, it is also not Descent, and therefore the dynamics of the game are going to be different. Ex Descent player or not, new Talon player or not, people are going to get good at maps/levels in Talon just as they did in Descent. I started D3 in 2002, and constantly got pounded in some maps/levels. I was a true rookie, never having played D1 or D2, and arriving on the D3 scene late. Some players were just so good, knew the levels so well. So I simply moved to others. That is why you still see so many D3 servers up. And I for one, do not always host the "popular" ones. But as I said, I do enjoy playing them every once in a while, even though I get my butt handed to me most every time still.

If you want to get some of the old Descent players over to Talon, you might find it easier if you have some of the more popular, familiar levels. Again, as I am not a map builder, I do not know what it would take to tweak them just enough to make them different, to make them TALON maps, so that even the seasoned Descent players would have to re-learn a few things as well.

Just a thought.

Last edited by Red_Barchetta (2014-01-02 15:27:38)

CDN_Merlin · 2014-01-02 15:25:22

I wish I could build levels but I tried back in my D2 days and sucked badly.

CommandoRash · 2014-01-02 15:28:04

I will definitely be trying to remake some of the maps, I'm not a mapper, but I am really excited to try my hand at mapping for Talon. I made a mod for D3 back in high school and I am also really interested in modding for Talon, although I don't really have any ideas for it right now and I'm still doing research on the Torque script.

CommandoRash · 2014-01-02 19:06:24

By chance, does anyone know how to open the descent 3 multiplayer levels in d3edit so I can view the level while I'm remapping it in Torque Converter?

CDN_Merlin · 2014-01-02 20:20:11

http://www.dateiliste.com/en/descent-3/ … 3edit.html

See if that helps.

DelCio · 2014-01-04 22:00:31

I think a port of all of Spaz's levels would be killer. I totally disagree they need to be bigger. Minerva and The Manes!

master · 2014-01-05 02:13:00

some d1 levels would be awesome!

sdfgeoff · 2014-01-05 03:24:58

Anyway, I have the minerva geometry converted to .map format. 229 brushes in total.

I have no idea about texturing for .map format, but will try my hand at it over the next couple of days.

Or if you want to do them yourself, here's the minerva.map file:
Link removed due to authors request
(Yes, I tweaked a few things, like putting height between the floors and removing the exit tunnel and some grates)

@commandorush:
In d3edit you can export sections of geometry as 3d models, I'm pretty sure. I can't remember if there was another step involved (export a room, and the room could be converted?)

Last edited by sdfgeoff (2014-01-05 22:26:04)

CommandoRash · 2014-01-05 04:51:34

What did u use to convert Minerva to .map?

Announcement

#1 2014-01-02 06:18:46

A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#2 2014-01-02 06:22:28

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#3 2014-01-02 10:34:39

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#4 2014-01-02 11:23:40

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#5 2014-01-02 12:43:07

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#6 2014-01-02 14:17:13

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#7 2014-01-02 14:41:14

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#8 2014-01-02 15:04:05

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#9 2014-01-02 15:25:22

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#10 2014-01-02 15:28:04

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#11 2014-01-02 19:06:24

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#12 2014-01-02 20:20:11

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#13 2014-01-04 22:00:31

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#14 2014-01-05 02:13:00

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#15 2014-01-05 03:24:58

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

#16 2014-01-05 04:51:34

Re: A touchy subject: Descent Maps

Board footer