Introduction:
Tiny Heretic: a
collection of small maps for Heretic. This community project aims to build a
large number of small maps for Heretic with zdoom in mind. It aims to include a
bunch of texture resources, decoration sprites and a few choice monsters from
Doom, Hexen and the community. Mappers will be given a handful of themes to
build a playable episode around. Mappers will also be given plenty of time and
encouragement to make the best small level that they could possibly make. This
project also aims to create involvement in the community for Heretic map making
by keeping the maps small and detailed. It further aims to create a massive
resource library for mappers and modders to use in creating full sized maps and
projects.
Project History:
The idea for
this project stems a few years back. At the time I was playing a bunch of
limitation wads for Doom and Heretic. These include all 1024 sized maps, 10 sectors
and various speed mapping contests hosted by danarchy. It was further inspired
by various small map sets for heretic including smudge.wad, Hells Surface
(Hell.wad) and danarchy's heretic speed run session "The Sewers of
D'Sparil."
The latter of
which was the greatest inspiration of all. After playing it, I though it might
be fun to create a map set containing a bunch of small, quick to play, arcade
style maps for Heretic. After thinking further, I thought it might be best to
separate the maps into themes, that meant finding textures for them. Little did
I know how big the project would be. I also thought it would be best to create
a community project out of the idea.
Objective:
To create a
bunch of small, detailed, fast and playable maps for Heretic. This is not a
speed mapping competition, this is not restraining the player to a certain
space, it is not a limitation wad in that degree. It is only a limitation wad
in how small the levels are and how much time it takes a player to play them.
This would actually be a limitation light wad.
Maps in this project do not have to be new either. They can be old released Doom maps, re-skinned and converted to Heretic. You are all probably thinking that you have a map or two on your hard drive, at this moment, that is detailed but, is still too small to be released. I say why not submit them here, they might actually work for this project.
All levels that are not selected, will be released as a directors cut prior to this projects release. This is in part to give the players something to sink their teeth into before this project is finally complete.
Project Goal:
8 episodes filled with 10 regular levels and 2 secret maps. This makes 12 level episodes with a grand total of 96 levels.
Creating all episodes in there own theme and sub themes.
Rules and Guidelines:
Maps must be small and not take me, an average Heretic player, no more than 10-12 minutes to play. We are looking for an average play time of roughly 6 minutes to finish each map. Therefore an episode should take from 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes.
Each map must be very well detailed and well put together.
All maps must work in software rendering whether it be vanilla style or designed for Zdoom.
Maps can contain scripts but map scripts must be accessible via Doom Builder or Slade 3.
Maps can have a bunch of cool Zdoom features, like fog, deep water and translucent glass. but please don't go overboard. We want to keep to the original feel and style of Heretic.
Maps can contain Hexen specials such as monster spawns, monster kill scripts and poly objects.
Can contain new community textures, which I will provide you.
There shall be no texture replacements only new textures names. Because, we will be using most of heretic's stock textures.
Scripts must not be map specific ie. e1m1 because, I would not know the final order until I have compiled enough maps for the project.
Can contain various monsters from Hexen, Doom and Realm667, which I will also provide you.
I need all maps sent to me in two different files. One containing a bare bones map without any new stuff added and second your playable map just the way you propose it to be.
All maps must allow for future editing, If you, or I or anyone else wants to use any map in this project in their own personal project. I say go for it. Because the purpose of this exercise is to create a massive resource for other Heretic mappers and modders.
I will also need to know how to contact you if I have any further comments about your levels and so I can put you on the credits file.
Most important, have fun. That is all for now.
I will need the following help because I am not all that good at all this Doom editing stuff.
1 or 2 people additionally to compile all the resources in the same pk3 file, head up the project, help with scripting and sprite editing. If its anyway possible to put each individual sprites in their own wad and each episode theme pack in there own wad respectively.
1 or 2 peaple to balance all the maps to be playable in an episode.
Other than mappers a few other testers would be nice
1
person to actually release the file once complete, preferably the other
project leader. I don't have my own internet, unfortunately.
I will be handling:
Game Direction - What maps, textures and sprites go into the compilation
Map
Progression - What order the maps are played in and when the bosses will
appear.
Map Development - I will be making a few small maps myself.
Game Testing - Providing my feedback where it matters the most.
I would like to use these released maps in this project, possibly as secret maps, if someone would be willing to remake them and to make them better:
All 3 maps in the Sewers of D'Sparil
All 3 maps in smudge.wad
The last map remade in Hells Surface
Episode
Breakdown:
Episode 1:
Episode Title: 'The City In
Shadow'
Episode Theme: A city theme
with houses, markets and things.
Episode 2:
Episode Title: 'The Dungeons of
Darkness'
Episode Theme: Dungeon themed
maps that have 2 caves, health reducing floors and a few traps.
Episode 3:
Episode Title: 'The Valley of
the Damned'
Episode Theme: Doom marble
themed maps
Episode 4:
Episode Title: 'The Sands of
Chaos'
Episode Theme: An Egypt themed
map set utilizing the egyptsoc textures that I have compiled for Heretic.
Episode 5:
Episode Title: 'The Whispers of
Treachery'
Episode Theme: A split theme
where the first few levels are water while the last few are Ice.
Episode 6:
Episode Title: 'Metal, Magic
and Mayhem'
Episode Theme: The first half
has a frozen metal feel and look while the second half has a more burning metal look
Episode 7:
Episode Title: 'The Fires of
Hell'
Episode Theme: Lava themed map
that contains hell themed textures and look.
Episode 8:
Episode Title: 'The Land of the
Dead'
Episode Theme: In this episode
it has maps that are set in chapels, crypts, graveyards and small castle areas. There might even be a haunted house.
Here are a few screenshots
Halblind
