Fan Mission Beta Test: Elite City

[Garreth]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2MkV2RPKSQ-UTNTYjBzb3dXbE0/edit?usp=sharing Edited February 10, 2014 by Garreth

[grayman]

Congrats!

[Garreth]

thanks, i start to understand the entire thing, what a trip, i have enough brushwork ready for days of editing and hours of gaming, i have no idea when i start part 2 but it will be done some day.

Edited February 8, 2014 by Garreth

[Oldjim]

Regarding download link

I won't install download managers and it seems to demand that I do

[Garreth]

Regarding download link

I won't install download managers and it seems to demand that I do

Edited February 9, 2014 by Garreth

[SeriousToni]

Do you mind making some non-spoiling screenshots and giving us the story / some information on this map please?

[Oldjim]

I did and nothing happened in Firefox - goes away to check

Solved - I had cookies blocked

Edited February 8, 2014 by Oldjim

[Garreth]

taffer

[RJFerret]

Like the alpha test version's download site, this site seems to require cookies and the browser referrer being enabled, and you have to be careful to avoid downloading their .exe.

 

Right at the start it seems many of the same issues as the previous test version, plus a new one, and performance problems have expanded unfortunately, improved from one aspect, but worsened from another...

 

I'm afraid the additions, without resolving some of the pre-existing problems, have balanced out the bit of improvement. :/

 

 

It does seem the briefing was improved, cool!

There still doesn't seem to be any visportals outside still...I'm getting 10 FPS though (woohoo, into the double digits!), probably due to the window change. :-)

A new problem is there were three similar AI carrying a lantern all overlapping in the same area, this is a big performance problem. It's compounded by the other AI with light.

Speaking of whom, do you mean for it's footsteps to be noticeably louder than other sounds?

Ironically, performance is now worse downstairs where before I mentioned it was the good area.

But the AI are now able to go through that stained glassed doorway they were locked out of before.

Downstairs where it used to perform at 60 fps, I'm now seeing under 30 when the AI are around.

It does seem AI pathing has been much improved, I didn't see stuck guys right off the bat.

The quantity of lights (particularly overlapping) is still excessive I'm afraid, even more so with all the AIs carrying lights in addition!

However the exterior lighting is much nicer and moodier than the previous.

 

 

 

I would start with r_showlightcount 1 as mentioned before, which will clearly show where problems are. Red/green and to a lesser extent blue are OK. Cyan and purple are problematic, and white is to be avoided. Be sure to check when light carrying AI are in the space!

[Garreth]

i am going to leave it as it is, since i do not have performance issues, i assembled a new pc not a year ago could be that that is making a difference.

but i will surely check my next build for overlapping lights, and open area's

[Oldjim]

I had no problems with frame rate

 

the wolf headed guard at the start had me baffled as it was obviously very heavy but the visual effect didn't give that impression - later in the mission all became clear

 

There were a number of minor glitches which would have been sorted with an open beta testing but nothing to change the overall impression

One thing did surprise me was that when I was spotted by an archer he ran away instead of attacking

Note I completed it on the hardest setting with all the loot

At the end the red tail lights on the tram were a nice touch

Edited February 8, 2014 by Oldjim

[Garreth]

The archer can attack, but he takes distance, then when he loses visual he returns to search.

Edited February 8, 2014 by Garreth

[SeriousToni]

taffer

 

This doesn't look very promising - gonna wait for more reviews before I download, as the mission quality seems to be on the same level as the presentation.

[Goldwell]

Just finished it. Took me a good 30 minutes.

 

First of all very very fun mission! I got scared a couple of times and jumped out

Placing that egyptian thing in the cupboard freaked me out haha

and I had some fun with the mines (first time using something like that in a mission and it felt really cool) and your mission has a very unique feel to it, I love it!

 

You have some really cool concepts here and some things that I have personally wanted to add into my mission but had to cut

mainly talking about the train at the end.. that was a fucking cool way to end it!

also the custom enemy you had was very interesting and added a new dynamic to the game for me.

 

As for the negatives, there were only minor performance issues I faced (but then again I have a decent computer so that doesn't suprise me) also certain textures looked stretched in parts but all over all very good job!

 

To summarize: It was a fun mission with lots of little custom things which made it feel unique to the mission, nice choice of music and it was short and sweet with a very cool ending that actually felt rewarding. If you could maybe fix up some of the textures and odd room designs (although i'm not as anal on room design as some people here and rightly so for them) it would be an even more amazing mission.

 

Really looking forward to Part Two Garreth!

Edited February 9, 2014 by Goldwell

[stumpy]

you are not supposed to call the thief garret or any name that closely resembles Garrett as its coopyrighted to eidos, and square enix.

[gnartsch]

Thanks for a new mission !!

Started playing today - but won't be able to continue too soon.

Overall it looks really nice... and performance wise it does not bring down my elderly PC.

A few issues, though.

 

Just like other players, the archers do not attack me, nor do they even draw theri weapons. - even if I stand in bright light.

Most just flee as far as they can (typically leaving the perimeter of the estate).

The same with the wolfs outside - he just gives chase.

 

And a weird spot in the mansion: the entire wall at the southern entry is transparent... and I can see the night sky while I am inside!

 

Why is there a dead body on the couch in the living room? Not the noble man... the other one.

 

There are a few candles over the table in the living room and one in the kitchen over the fire-place.

If you frob them in order to extinguish the light, you hold the candle in your hands, but the light remains at it's spot where the candle was supposed to be.

 

 

I have seen most of the estate, but I must be missing something:

 

Basicly I am missing a hint on the whereabouts of the tunnel.

In the masters bedroom is a desk with two shelfs, but I have found no key.

Did I miss to find a key or some lockpicks?

Speaking of which: in the dormitory on the 2. floor are 4 or 5 night-stands. They light up when you get close but do not take any key.

Is that intended?

 

Edited February 9, 2014 by gnartsch

[Goldwell]

I have seen most of the estate, but I must be missing something:

 

Basicly I am missing a hint on the whereabouts of the tunnel.

In the masters bedroom is a desk with two shelfs, but I have found no key.

Did I miss to find a key or some lockpicks?

Speaking of which: in the dormitory on the 2. floor are 4 or 5 night-stands. They light up when you get close but do not take any key.

Is that intended?

 

 

 

 

In the attic above the grandfather clock near the exit up there is a key which lets you into the locked wardrobe in the masters bedroom. Also while you are up in the attic jump over to the wood lumber thing and run to the end where the lantern is and read the book.. it details your way out

 

 

[grayman]

-They gather in a City called Elite, Garret must find his way to the meeting trough about the most heavy defences.

 

stumpy mentioned above that we're not allowed to use "Garret".

 

I haven't played yet. Have you used "Garret" in this mission? Readables? Briefing?

 

If so, you need to change his name.

 

We can't set up the in-game loader to load your mission if there are copyright problems.

[Garreth]

no i only used it in this description, and don't worry about copywrite i know the heads of eidos and such, did you know that they used the dark mod as a template for thief 4, the devs play the mod themselves, no joke.

In thief 4 the loading screen / animation where he opens a window, everything behind you stops rendering, and the room before you renders go's trough, window closes, that was my idea, they dont use visportals but force stop rendering.

anyway i started finishing part 2, wich will be about 90 or more minutes to finish. just running trough it without AI takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Edited February 9, 2014 by Garreth

[Garreth]

[quote name='SeriousToni' timestamp='1391905365' post='334845']
This doesn't look very promising - gonna wait for more reviews before I download, as the mission quality seems to be on the same level as the presentation.
[/quote]

The presentation has nothing to do with the mission, i build, not make elaborate presentations, the missions speak for themselves.

[Sir Taffsalot]

The presentation has nothing to do with the mission, i build, not make elaborate presentations, the missions speak for themselves.

 

I disagree. Most people will be unwilling to invest their time into something they no nothing about and so they should. Time is precious. Just upload a picture of the loading screen and put the briefing underneath in italics. That's what most people do. It only takes a couple of seconds. It's your FM though. Do to it as you see fit. I'm just trying to offer some friendly advice.

Edited February 9, 2014 by Sir Taffsalot

[nbohr1more]

Garreth has been posting pretty interesting tech demos and WIP shots for a long long time around these forums. The fact that we now finally have a release is a small miracle. I wouldn't be too quick to prejudge SeriousToni. That said, it would be cool if the first post had screenshots and voting to match our standard conventions.

[gnartsch]

I disagree. Most people will be unwilling to invest their time into something they no nothing about and so they should.

What??

It is not really like there would be 20 missions released per month.

So, if anyone is not even willing to play the 1 or 2 missions that come out each month, then they are not TDM fans.

Btw.: the mission is good and nice, but just not 100% perfect.

(However, I might imagine that quite a few people might want to wait for an update to be released,

which fixes the stuff that would have been found and fixed in a beta already. There is nothing game-breaking, though.)

[Sir Taffsalot]

What??

It is not really like there would be 20 missions released per month.

So, if anyone is not even willing to play the 1 or 2 missions that come out each month, then they are not TDM fans.

 

More like time is precious.

 

This doesn't look very promising - gonna wait for more reviews before I download, as the mission quality seems to be on the same level as the presentation.

 

Just because something has The Dark Mod associated with it, it does not guarantee it is worth someones time (not that I'm implying Garreth's FM is not as i have not played it yet.)

 

IMHO if my money is wrongly invested I can always earn it back. If time is wrongly invested then it is forever lost. Presentation helps someone decide if it is worth investing their time in. TDM FM or not.

Edited February 9, 2014 by Sir Taffsalot

[ungoliant]

Oh god, all the books in this bookstore have no covers!!!!!! How do i decide which one to buy?!?

 

otoh

no i only used it in this description, and don't worry i know the heads of eidos and such, did you know that they used the dark mod as a template for thief 4, the devs play the mod themselves, no joke.

In thief 4 the loading screen / animation where he opens a window, everything behind you stops rendering, and the room before you renders go's trough, window closes, that was my idea

This might be one of the weirdest and also most ineffective personal testimonials of the quality of ones work i've ever seen. And I've seen some weird BS boasts on the internet before.

Edited February 9, 2014 by ungoliant