[FINAL] Derwyll's Castle 2 - MANY THANKS

[obsidian]

Hope you don't finalize it just yet. I have it downloaded but it'll be a few days before I find the time to run it as promised (Monday?).

[Noruen]

No, I'm going to wait until more than four useres will respond. Take so much time, as you need. But next week I want to finalize it. So it is ok, no stress

[ShadoW_86]

I took a quick run today with it, and I must say I'm imressed! I remember first versions, and the current one looks way better, good job! I like some structures you have there, and generally whole the design. Also nice textures . I didn't playtest it properly yet, so I won't comment on that. I'll try to play it later and provide the feedback. What Ican say now, it's you have some missing textures and shaders there :P. I'll write it all up later, if somebody won't do that before me.

[monaster]

Ok, you did it. You finally killed sock's POM as my #1 favourite map, well done!
Thanks for including so much elements I proposed in my feedbacks, makes me kinda proud to have contributed to such a masterpiece (as said, I like my Q3 maps big and atmospheric ).
As far as I can tell you at the moment, this map is near to perfect, but I still have to test it out with bots and still find the other two secrets. Spent much more than an hour exploring your environments alone again just to have no bot disturb me.
For now, only one thing: there's an "e" missing in "th eye of evil".
Don't know if you wanna changed that, but: the czech message behind the middle portal, don't you want to change that to english (would be helpful if it points to a secret, I didn't look up its meaning yet )?

As for the missing textures and shaders ShadoW_86 mentioned: Couldn't see any, it's probably that infamous mapmedia-pack once again?

[obsidian]

Wow, this looks almost like a completely different map from the previous versions, I'm impressed with the changes. I love the details and the TA warp portals but much cooler in terms of effects. Sauron's eye is amazing. The broken cathedral structure outside is cool too. I like the new layout, it's much more CTF-like now and makes for some much better gameplay.

I feel that the flag rooms can do with a bit more lighting, it's still a tad dark in comparison to the rest of the map since it is indoors. For future reference, if you ever make another terrain map, you might want to pay a little more attention to keeping the floor relatively level with more gradual height changes - the rough ground makes it hard to shoot reliably at a target, and can lead to player bouncing and lack of control.

Anyway, great map!

[bitWISE]

This looks epic. I'll have to check it out asap.

[Noruen]

Thanks guys! I'm so happy for your positive reviews...

Monaster - Don't try to find other two secrets. This secrets is too hard to find. I must add some help. And czech message is not help, it means in english: "They walk between us, they are darkness between stars..."

Obsidian - yes, darkness in the tower is problem I'm trying to solve for a long time. I put a look on it. And in next terrain map (oh no!) I will be more careful about terrain surfaces.

I'm still waiting for your beautiful pictures Don't tell me bots are not doing stupid things. Because I know, they do I see it in some places.

[monaster]

For fun:
- three secrets were added, one rune shows the way
- The Fountain of Youth.
- The Gun of Power Tomb.
- The Labyrinth.

Ok, so far I've found the labyrinth (and thus the hall of many thanks).
I also feel so damn close to another secret where I found the exit or the entrance door to it (found it by literally running all over your map shooting rockets EVERYWHERE since these leave no marks on doors ), but I couldn't figure out how to open it --- yet.
The other thing: that kinda creepy woman's voice triggered every now and then, I believe that could have something to do with another secret, I only can't confirm it at that time.
Last thing regarding secrets: I learned latin so I know what the messages mean, still I can't get too much sense out of them (with a few exceptions), but that's good or rather great, since you're forced to do some additional thinking. It's still secrets, you're after. So if you really plan to give more hints or make it easier, don't make it too easy, you hear? I really like the fact, that I have some hard times finding everything, whereas I always considered my own ideas for secrets to be "a bit" over the top.

Found the fountain with noclip (still looking for the legal way though), you should playerclip the stone quake sign there.

[Noruen]

Well, if you found the labyrinth, you have found a help - thats all about one specific rune, but not rune itself

You learned latin? Thats great I love latin. And sense of latin messages?

Tempus Fugit - "you are in enemy base and time is running out"
Et Lux Perpetua Luceat Eis - For a dead "people" in whole castle lost and damned...
Festina Lente - Don't be hurry, you are in the center of enemy base.
Hominem te Esse Memento - You choose the long way, not easy way so remember, you are only human.
In Omnia Paratus - Teleporter. You should be ready for something unpredictable
Kráčí mezi námi, jsou temnota mezi hvězdami - thats a small secret, what or who it is

And you are cheater!

[Bliccer]

The map layout itself reminds me a bit of Vortex Portal. Nice design.
- Maybe you could shorten the teleporter tubes? The "flying" feels too long.

- You need to center the weapons more properly. The Plasmagun is totally off for example. Also I think the need some shine around themselves, since it's hard to recognize them. Especially the GL.

I love the portals and the flames. The flickering lense! Sweet. Though, I noticed on the red flame that it's still a bit edgy.
- Maybe you can add some basins to both flames?

Didn't play with sounds, so I don't know if there is some strong wind in the background,
but if not the trees are definitely waving too fast, imo.

There are broken shaders in your map:
Shader

The spinning gears are fantastic, although they are actually not making any sense rotating there.

And I second obsidian's comment about the light in the flagroom. I think it's fine for the red base, but the blue base is too dark.
- Maybe you can take a brighter blue for the whole map, anyway?
So it delivers more light? I mean the red is much more brighter than the blue color itself.

That texture in the tunnel looks stretched:
tunnel

And I think you should exchange the brushes with the plank textures with "real" planks, so it looks more authentic.

Wow... that's a confused post. I hope you get everything I wrote

[Noruen]

The map layout itself reminds me a bit of Vortex Portal. Nice design.
- Maybe you could shorten the teleporter tubes? The "flying" feels too long.

No For a good effect, it is necessary to be this length. Also, it gives player some time to "coffe break"

- You need to center the weapons more properly. The Plasmagun is totally off for example. Also I think the need some shine around themselves, since it's hard to recognize them. Especially the GL.

I'm not sure I understand you. You mean PG is in a wrong place? And thanks, GL is really little -not visible-

I love the portals and the flames. The flickering lense! Sweet. Though, I noticed on the red flame that it's still a bit edgy.
- Maybe you can add some basins to both flames?

I do not understand

Didn't play with sounds, so I don't know if there is some strong wind in the background,
but if not the trees are definitely waving too fast, imo.

Fixed

There are broken shaders in your map:
Shader

OK, but I don't know how is this possible, when this shader IS present in pak0.pk3...

The spinning gears are fantastic, although they are actually not making any sense rotating there.

It's just effect

And I second obsidian's comment about the light in the flagroom. I think it's fine for the red base, but the blue base is too dark.
- Maybe you can take a brighter blue for the whole map, anyway?
So it delivers more light? I mean the red is much more brighter than the blue color itself.

I will put a look on it.

And I think you should exchange the brushes with the plank textures with "real" planks, so it looks more authentic.

Yes, but then you should have new IBM supercomputer at home. At some plces in ap, there are r_speeds more than 33k. With fact, that VIS optimalistion is practically not possible, I wouldn't like to add some more details

And what bout item placement? Evrybody is satisifed?

Ok, if there are no more suggestions I will finalize map during this weekend.

Thank you guys

[Noruen]

Sorry for double post.

[Noruen]

MAP IS DONE!

I want to thank all of you who helped me A LOT during this long developing process. Namely:

Anthem
Bliccer
cityy
corsair
fKd
Chretien
monaster
obsidian
Pat Howard
sock (also for textures)

I have uploaded my map to LvL today. If map will be accepted I will post a link here

Thank you guys!

[Anthem]

Congrats on the release. I'm really surprised that this is your first map. It's very impressive. I definitely look forward to any work you have planned for the future.

[fKd]

what he said gratz sir

[Noruen]

Guys please! I need a review - nor3ctf1.zip, please!

[fKd]

but not before q3dmp14

[Bliccer]

I love the portals and the flames. The flickering lense! Sweet. Though, I noticed on the red flame that it's still a bit edgy.
- Maybe you can add some basins to both flames?

I do not understand

Like this:
basin

So you have some bowl or something where the ash/wood and flame is in (blue thing). Otherwise you can see that the flame is a small brush or patch.

For the PG:
Plasmagun

I think the weapon needs to be placed more into the middle of the texture?

Seems like you've used some wrong commands in your shaders:

Shader

Still nice release for the first map!

[monaster]

Still nice release for the first map!

Correction: An AWESOME release for the first map. All my three thumbs up.
Still looking for that damn secrets, I will find them, don't wanna be called a cheater anymore (although I only did the noclip flight to give proper feedback since I couldn't find all places without the missing secrets ). My #1 map finally released, you better get a damn good review over at lvlworld.com, or I'll download it 500 times just to prove a bad review wrong.

[Noruen]

Guys please! Can somebody write a small short review on LvL? Still bothering, but I don't want my map tu be in that list Please: nor3ctf1

[Anthem]

I tend to try to limit myself from writing too many reviews on lvlworld. I would gladly review this, q3dm14 and pukka3tourney7, but I still hold preference over NoGhost Map Making Competition maps. I just submitted a review for kazdm5, and I want to submit one for Solitude and Phantq3dm3. They are all exceptional maps, so if I can't get to them within a month or two they will still get a review.

[VolumetricSteve]

I think I'd just released RocketHuxtable right before you released your map, and I was feelin' all good about how I had the ambience all set up thinking it looked distinct and kinda cool, then I looked at your map and thought "wow...well...this makes anything I've done look like a trashy pile of shiny triangles, sweet" but really...hats off man, your map looks astonishing. If there were a FFA version of it, I'd probably end up playing that rather than work on my own maps. Awesome, Awesome map!

[Noruen]

OK, is there any conspiracy to ignore my map on LvL? Or is there any logical explanation of why newer maps are reviewed sooner than mine? Should I cry?

[fKd]

heh its always a tough wait, hang in there bud

[mrd]

The whims of LVL are maddening. I would suggest forgetting about it entirely and just wait until they email you to say it's done