Hi guys,
I’m making a campaign of Quake maps for my friend. I’m using AD/Quakespasm-Spiked, so there are certain maps (Copper mod etc) that I can’t drop in.
My friend hasn’t played Quake since the old vanilla days. My idea is that it will follow the same path as the original - four episodes, 6-7 levels each episode, loose theme per episode.
I want to show him all the wonderful stuff that the community has been up to. Sort of like a ‘now that’s what I call Quake 2020’ compilation. He’s used to modern shooters, so I think he’ll be able to handle the difficulty - but I want to make sure I don’t drop him in the deep end too early.
I also want to make sure there’s a general flow from shorter maps to longer ones each episode.
Where I can, I’ve made a nod towards the original map where a quality remake exists, and it fits somewhat within the flow. He may remember from playing back in the day, so it could be a nostalgic moment for him. I also want each episode to end with a boss fight.
It’s quite sock heavy - in part because he’s great, but also because he makes quite a few maps in the 50-80 monster count category, which helps to raise the pace of an episode gently.
This is what I’ve been testing so far:
Episode 1 (lava-themed, keeps Cthon boss ending)
E1M1 - Detour by Rick Lipsey (func_mapjam 6) (It’s just a killer intro map in terms of atmosphere - possibly too hard tho?)
E1M2 - Candles of the Damned by ComradeBeep (hwjam2)
E1M3 - AD-test 3 by sock (transitions from castle of the damned theme to castle/metal/fire theme, and it’s a great map in its own right)
E1M4 - The Dirge of Despair by Bloodshot (dm4jam)
E1M5 - Grendel’s Blade by sock
E1M6 - Oxyblack Fortress by Heresy
Episode 2 (skull-wizard/medieval theme - it is the realm of black magic, after all!)
E2M1 - Deep Research by ComradeBeep
E2M2 - Wizard library test map by sock
E2M3 - Ogre Bastille by sock
E2M4 - The Underearth by Ericw
E2M5 - Foggybottom by mfx
E2M6 - Necromancer’s Keep by Scampie and Lunaran
Only things that irk me here are the fact Foggybottom is longer and harder than Necromancer’s Keep - but NK feels better as a final boss fight and as an end to ‘The Realm of Black Magic’ in general.
That and the starting base map doesn’t really transition/relate to the wizard library.
Episode 3 (otherworldly/ice/snow theme. Last three maps are all IKwhite)
E3M1 - Dismal Signal by Heresy
E3M2 - A sip of Alkahest by Bal (both these maps ooze atmosphere, and the red sand of heresy’s map transitions to the red sand of bal’s map. There’s also a transition between the same IKblue theme of bal’s map to sock’s map)
E3M3 - Orthogonal Oreo by sock (func_mapjam2)
E3M4 - Pale Signs of Doom by breezekeep (xmasjam2017)
E3M5 - An Angel was heard to call over the city of Celephais by skacky (func_mapjam2)
E3M6 - The Realm of Enceladus by mfx (gorgeous map, ends with an appropriately climactic boss fight)
Is three IKwhite maps in a row too much? Possibly.
Episode 4 (BIG MAP theme - I know it’s not really a theme)
E4M1 - A Warm Welcome Home by bal (xmasjam2017)
E4M2 - Arcane Adamantine by Vondur and Sock
E4M3 - Obsessive Brick disorder by sock
E4M4 - City of Zendar by sock
E4M5 - The Forgotten Sepulchre by Giftmacher and Sock
E4M6 - Leptis Magna by Ionous and PuLSaR
Leptis Magna is a slightly odd choice to end this one, as it’s shorter and more linear than Forgotten Sepulcher. But it does have a cracking boss fight with the sculptor at the end, which feels appropriately epic? Episode 4 feels the most 'big maps I like strung together of the episodes so far.
I’m mulling over whether I should enforce a shotgun start on each map for balance reasons. Especially getting the AD triple-shotgun too early.
I’ve also kept the ‘base map starts an episode’ vibe, aside from episode 1 - should I insert one there do we think? I know Episode 4 doesn’t have such theming as the rest, but the first 3 maps flow very naturally in terms of mood/texturework.
Anyway, apologies for the long post - I’m probably overthinking it, should just have got him to download Arcane Dimensions, and will annoy mappers by the fact I’ve omitted them here. But any thoughts welcome - I know there are so many maps I may have missed.