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TDM has tons of textures from "free" texture resources that do not allow redistribution and cannot be incorporated into a commercial project. Someone would need to create a huge replacement pack of textures that do not break the look of existing missions and do not infringe on the copyrighted textures. Also, many artists who contributed to this project do not want 3rd party entities to use their work in commercial projects. They intended the models, textures, sounds, animations to be exclusively used for Darkmod content. You would either have to replace ALL assets or contact every contributor and ask them to re-license their assets. Many contributors are no longer active with the project and haven't visited the forums in years so it would be no easy feat. I cannot speak to Debian policy but I think that they treat installers that add non-free content the same as non-free content itself. One could argue that Steam is such an installer but I guess Debian would counter that there are a few fully Libre games on Steam. I think Debian, Ubuntu, or Linux Mint need to consider a repo that allows for games (etc) that include non-libre content but intentionally offer this content for free to the community with no stipulations other than "don't try to sell it as a product".

The gamepad implementation allows for a great degree of flexibility to personalize settings, aside from a few minor issues that I mentioned here: https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/22337-gamepad-bindings/ I would say that playing TDM with a gamepad works very well, especially considering that it was implemented as experimental and hasn't been changed since then. If I could, I'd go back to 2021-you and congratulate you on buying that gamepad. I notice that your DarkmodPadbinds.cfg looks very different from mine...

It seems like more and more "thief" and "thief players" is becoming a short hand to dismiss community members earnest desire to improve the game - which happens to be a barely legally distinct "thief style" game which was made by thief fans for thief fans and is "designed to simulate the stealth gameplay of Thief". Who is the predominant player base of the game supposed to be beyond fans of the thief games? Is there some better avenue to find feedback for the game beyond this forum? FOSS and linux forums? I have seen maybe half a dozen posts from that segment. I am a thief fan, I play thief fms, my association with those games is what drives me to play and make things for this game. Are we supposed to pretend the original games are not a huge reason why most of us are here at all? TL;DR version:

Thanks! 1) Doing LONG_PRESS PAD_A (what I, for lack of knowledge, call "jump-mantle" or "_jumpmantle") differs from doing PRESS PAD_A ("_jump"). "_jumpmantle" differs from "_mantle", so they must be mapped to different button-calls. "_jumpmantle" differs from "_jump", so they must also be mapped to different button-calls. This appears to be the case, but it is not evident (or changeable) in DarkmodPadbinds.cfg. "_jumpmantle" seems to be hard coded to always connect to the same button as "_jump" but with a long press. It is as if bindPadButton PRESS PAD_A "_jump" is not actually just binding PRESS PAD_A to "_jump", but rather interpreted as "link PAD_A (regardless of button press time) to behave exactly like keyboard SPACE for short and long presses". I would have expected the default DarkmodPadbinds.cfg to explicitly read: bindPadButton PRESS PAD_A "_jump" bindPadButton LONG_PRESS PAD_A "_jumpmantle" bindPadButton PRESS PAD_B "_crouch" bindPadButton LONG_PRESS PAD_B "_mantle" ... but neither LONG_PRESS PAD_A or "_jumpmantle" is listed in the file. If there are actions "_jump" and "_mantle", I suppose there must also be an action "_jumpmantle" since it is possible for the player to do all those movements: * "_mantle" does the movements "crouch on the high surface, then stand up" * "_jumpmantle" idoes the movements "jump slightly forward, then land standing on the high surface" * "_jump" idoes the movements "jump up, then land exactly where you started" If the actions "_jump" and "_moveup" are not synonymous, then perhaps the action "_moveup" is what i call "_jumpmantle"? 2) Thanks for the link! It was useful in more than one way. I'll link to that page from https://wiki.thedarkmod.com/index.php?title=Bindings_and_User_Settings#Gamepad_Default_Bindings if I can get an account on the wiki, which proved more difficult than i thought (https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/22327-how-can-i-create-an-account-on-the-tdm-wiki/). However, it does not answer my question how to find out the name ("<button>") used for a button on my gamepad. Basically, I would need to press the button on my gamepad and some program could tell me "That button is called 'PAD_A'". In my case, I have a gamepad "Logitech F310" (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logitech_F310_Gamepad.jpg) which has a "Logitech button" (see image) that I want to use. I was hoping to find out the "button name" for that button and then edit DarkmodPadbinds.cfg to map it to a function. 3) ... but if that button has an "unusual name" that TDM does not recognize, then it may perhaps not work. E.g. if that button is called "PAD_LOGITECH" and TDM cannot recognize that name, then I cannot map anything to it via DarkmodPadbinds.cfg. Using QJoyPad I can map any keyboard key to it instead, as a workaround, but I cannot map MODIFIER to it (since MODIFIER cannot be set to a keyboard key). If current implementation is still called "experimental", then I must say it works very well; @cabalistic: kudos for that! I may not have continued playing TDM had it not worked with a gamepad.

It is possible that this is a setting that needs to be activated to work: https://mantisbt.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=23221

I am going to sort-of reveal that this is loosely like the nature of my upcoming mission. I noted it here when JackFarmer asked about things that are coming along in this post: https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/profile/37993-jackfarmer/&status=3943&type=status It too is a builder church. The player is requested by a hopefully famous character in another mission to handle some business that is affecting the congregation. I am looking to invoke some info and history laid down in other missions as a hook story.

I created the page: https://wiki.thedarkmod.com/index.php?title=Lightgem In the source I placed the following text: <!-- Page text made by forum user Fiver: https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/22327-how-can-i-create-an-account-on-the-tdm-wiki/&do=findComment&comment=491145 --> Personally I think the page isn't really necessary because the info is already present under HUD.

Currently mappers can't edit the objective screen gui. 1. But let's say you create a mission where you don't want any difference in difficulty, or set it in a different way, then I think you should be able to remove the 3 difficulty selections from the objective/dificulty screen. (Edit: Not possible yet, but objectives could be set in mission briefing and then difficulty selection screen can be skipped, See below.) 2. Also, maybe you don't want to list the objectives on an objective screen before mission start. Maybe you want to have a mission briefing, start the mission and after that give the objectives somewhere during the mission. Or maybe you want players to select difficulty inside the mission in some way. In this case there's no need for the objectives screen and you might as well skip this screen. (Edit: Already possible with #define ENABLE_MAINMENU_DIFF_SELECT 0 in mainmenu_custom_defs.gui )

So I think I post it here as well then, because I think it's pretty cool: A while back (2011) grayman posted about an option to have multiple starter locations in a mission and select the starter position from a list in the briefing. This is documented in the wiki. Unfortunatelly the modified gui file grayman made for this got lost and the functionality got broken in 2.10. This was recently fixed by stgatilov (2.12 dev16789-10349), but the gui file remained lost. With some help I created a text-based mainmenu_briefing.gui with a mission starter location screen with 3 locations (but you can make as many as you want): So this is based on the textbased mission briefing, while grayman's version was based on the Button Controlled Animated Briefing originally made by Sotha. But it can probably be added to that as well.

In the first post of the other topic Geep proposed: Then Stgatilov's answer: But I think applying subtitles in different languages shouldn't be too hard I would think, but I don't know how the current translation system works. The engine should apply the correct subtitles based on the applied language setting, this doesn't need a whole new language system I think. Not sure who's going to write those subtitles though. I can only do Dutch and English and nobody needs Dutch I think. I suggest further discussion of this to take place in topic https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/21741-subtitles-possibilities-beyond-211/

Part 2: I've also checked that besides the video exists and the "music", it is written in my mainmenu_custom_defs.gui As I said, I didn't change anything here. It must have stopped working with a TDM update. Are .roq files still supported? Here's the relevant content og my mainenu gui file /* --------------------------------------------------------------- * * DE-BRIEFING VIDEO DEFINITIONS (<== yes, DE-briefing, briefing is handled above) * * If you're setting up de-briefing videos, these are the settings you need to change. * These settings are not limited to campaigns, single-missions can have debriefing * videos as well. * * The MM_DEBRIEFING_<N>_VIDEO_SOUND_CMD lines define the soundshaders * to be played during the de-briefing videos. * * Important: The syntax is "music YOURSHADER;", the "music" part is important * and should not be deleted, neither the trailing semicolon. * This is the actual GUI command issued to the C++ code. * * Each mission has its own sound cmd, the first mission has number 1. * * --------------------------------------------------------------- */ /** * These define the window coordinates for your debriefing video(s). * The default is 0,0,640,480, which is full screen. */ #define MM_DEBRIEFING_VIDEO_TOP_X 0 #define MM_DEBRIEFING_VIDEO_TOP_Y 0 #define MM_DEBRIEFING_VIDEO_WIDTH 640 #define MM_DEBRIEFING_VIDEO_HEIGHT 480 // Defines the material colour of the debriefing video windowDef #define MM_DEBRIEFING_VIDEO_MATCOLOR 1,1,1,1 #define MM_DEBRIEFING_1_VIDEO_MATERIALS "video/pens_outro;" #define MM_DEBRIEFING_1_VIDEO_LENGTHS "14000;" #define MM_DEBRIEFING_1_VIDEO_SOUND_CMD "music kneipe_ending;"

Could a campaign be wrangled to produce the effect you want? I've never tried, but it seems like it should be possible to set the campaign up to play the same mission again and again. Then you just use the atdm:campaign_info entity as well as persistant args to keep track of what needs to be remembered for each playthrough. You'd still need to find a way to suppress the intro briefing and end-of-mission stats though.

A rather unique idea for a possible FM occurred, though doing it right would require something I don't think is possible, none the less I'd like to know what the closest way is. Is there a way to trigger a reset of the map that makes you start from the beginning from within the map itself, storing only information about particular choices you made during the previous run? I don't care if the loading screen shows up again or not, a seamless way where you just reappear at the beginning would be ideal, but I'd rather avoid the briefing screen and having to pick a difficult again as I don't want the restart to be that total. Example: During your first run, you're given an objective to kill an AI which you may or may not complete. Upon reaching the end, instead of the FM ending normally and showing your stats, the screen fades to black and you find yourself at the beginning: Everything is reset, all objectives the AI the loot any items you picked up and so on. Based on whether you completed that objective or not before the reset, certain targets are triggered changing a few things on the map during this run. I case a map reset isn't possible to trigger: Is it at least possible for the FM to store information independently of saves? So you complete the FM normally at first, but next time you choose to play it choices you made during a different playthrough are detected and triggers executed accordingly. I'd rather avoid this method since there's no way to reset it unless you'd manually delete whatever text file is generated in the FM's directory, granted there's a script function allowing this to begin with.

Creating a new thread for this as it was being discussed in an old beta-testing thread starting here: https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/21822-beta-testing-high-expectations/&do=findComment&comment=490751 I suppose the main questions are: when should this spawnarg be used, if at all? why was it introduced in the first place? Can we get it documented properly on the Wiki so misuse isn't propagated? @stgatilov @Dragofer

Hello! Tracking down information on software and plug-ins that work with D3 / TDM can be a tough. So I have created a thread here where people can post what software/ plug-ins/ tutorials or other references they've had success or failure with in TDM. 3DS MAX 2013 64bit .ase - Default .ASE model exporter works. However you have to open the .ase file in text edit and manual change the *BITMAP line on each material to read something like: "//base/textures/common/collision" which allows the engine to read the correct material path. md5.mesh / animation - Beserker's md5 exporter/importers for 3dsmax. http://www.katsbits.com/tools, Importing and exporting works. The model must be textured, UV'd, with a skin modifier attached to the bones to export. PM me (Kingsal) for help with this. Imported models using the script will not be weighted appropriately, so this is not recommended if you are simply trying to edit existing tdm content. (Use blender instead) MAYA 2011 32bit md5.mesh - So far I've not had any luck with Maya 2011. I am using Greebo's MayaImportx86 for Maya 2011. I've got the importer working however I get a "Unexpected Internal Failure(kFailure)" and the import fails. This could be due to something finicky in Maya that I am not doing correctly. Will keep trying.. Blender 2.7 about - Blender is commonly used and pretty well supported on the forums/ wiki. Various versions may work as well - https://www.blender.org/download/ md5.mesh / animation Blender MD5 importer/exporter (io_scene_md5.zip): https://sourceforge.net/projects/blenderbitsbobs/files/ Sotha's guide Blender Male/ Female rigs by Arcturus - Here Edit by Dragofer: more links found in this post.

These are my initial thoughts for possible use cases (copied from the linked bug tracker entry). 1) In the recent thread @datiswous asked if it was possible to develop a template for an enhanced type of briefing where people could specify a different background for each page of text (possibly by having different xdata items for each page) 2) It would also make it easier to develop a in-game journal type of readable which is added to when the player does certain actions. A current example of this is done in the first mission (Monastery) of a House of Locked Secrets but the implementation is quite cumbersome because a) Each xdata item contains the whole contents of the 'previous' xdata item plus the added text. b) The in-game actions have to be performed in a pre-determined order. 3) Readables could be made more sophisticated e.g. having tabbed pages (e.g. in a paper address book). 4) You could have dynamic entity guis (e.g. destination displays at railway stations which change when the train has left). I'm willing to expand on these if needed

Hazard Pay has subtitles for in-game conversations. The briefing is a video with text, although its not using the subtitle system.

When I posted my prototype image on Sept 22, I should have included the corresponding revised tdm_subtitles_common.gui code. For the record, here it is: @stgatilov, you've of course independently implemented your version. My version evolved from 2.11 and the testSubtitles... gui code, but with new more-extensive use of #defines. Like testSubtitles..., it uses a narrower field width that I MUCH PREFER. I know this is contentious, and that you and @datiswous evidently wish to retain the original wide field width. Can we compromise along these grounds: have the original field width for "verbosity story" have the narrow field width for "verbosity speech" subtitles (which I guarantee will fit with either of the two fonts we've been considering) "verbosity effects" TBD This compromise would have an advantage: the user could tell at a glance whether the clip is story (or briefing) versus a bark. The implementing .gui code would choose the right width, based on the global verbosity enumeration I've requested earlier.

This opens all sorts of possibilities. I was thinking about games as Gabriel knight and Broken Sword where you navigate from different locations on a map, I always liked this approach, playing the mission in a different order. You can also write a story around it in the text based briefing with images. Or for example a choice of who to work for (let's say there are 2 thief gangs that you can work for or you work for yourself). You can also include multiple missions in one map file. I thought you could do a "Choose Your Own Adventure" type briefing, with in the end a different mission start based on your chosen path. There could be conversations in it as well, with multiple choice answers in it.

There's a group of players who have meticulously tested and adjusted ghosting rules for The Dark Mod. Please see: Official Ghosting Rules: https://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148523 Ghost Rules Discussion: https://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148487 Why alienate an established group of dedicated players?

Looking at the code, the originals were "pm_mantle_pull 750" and "pm_mantle_pullFast 450". The new "pm_mantle_pull" value is "400". A "pm_mantle_pullFast" value of "450" would be slower than regular pull, not faster. With both being set to "400", they are at least similar. Other than that, it's subjective and the feedback from playtesters was positive. Also, referenced internally here: https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/22256-movementcontrols-settings-in-main-menu/&do=findComment&comment=489158

Hm, looking at the mainmenu_briefing.gui file it might actually be possible to make a gui with navigation buttons, make the navigation buttons move to a new page with possible graphics, but also list the second page of the xdata file. Because it does this: windowDef scrollDown { rect 292,390,57,27 background "guis/assets/briefing/nextpage" visible ("gui::ScrollDownVisible" == 1) onMouseEnter { set "cmd" "play sound/meta/menu/mnu_hover;"; } onAction { // Send the request to the script set "cmd" "play sound/meta/menu/mnu_select; briefing_scroll_down_request"; } } So you remove the scrolldown button and when you do the next page action, you activate: set "cmd" "play sound/meta/menu/mnu_select; briefing_scroll_down_request"; Edit: Actually you can also keep the normal navigation but include graphics, etc. and when you do the scroll down action, you can change the page, add new graphics, etc. and also move to the next xdata page. I think. But it doesn't seem like you can specify a certain xdata page.

That sort of tone doesn't fly in our forums.

Btw. the original training mission has a room you start in where you go to the different sections with tutorials. Instead what could be done (since 2.12) is implement a choice menu in the mission briefing where you choose what tutorial you do and then the mission starts in that part of the map. This can be done via the "Controlling Where the Player Starts" functionality introduced by Grayman. Just an idea.

Ambient atmospheres are in my opinion one of the best parts of the Dark Mod experience, not just for getting a mission to have the right feel but also for inspiration and to have them playing in the background when creating maps. The more the merrier, so here's a thread to collect all the links to ambient music and environmental sounds that could have a spot in TDM's setting. Ambients from the TDM forums Gast's Eerie Lullabies Magnanimous Merry's Miscellanea Orbweaver's Dark Ambients Spadey's Ambients Radioteque's Ambients Kyyrma's Composing Ambient Tracks for Dummies - Kyyrma shows how ambient soundtracks can be made from a set of sounds. Also contains some of his finished ambients. Request for more interior sounds - this thread is a very productive community session where members came up with a large and good selection of new ambients. Uncle Peti's Sound Den Dragofer's Ambients - post #6 in this thread SeriousToni's Ambients - posts #8, 12, 15 and 19 in this thread Ambients from the TTLG forums Custom resources list Gigagooga's Ambients 1 - possibly the largest pack of ambient musics and nature sounds, all of them high quality. Gigagooga's Ambients 2 - this pack puts more weight on shorter swells/hits/pads to be layered on top of a subtle ambient. Gigagooga's Ambients 3 Yandros' ambient loop Sephy's Ambients - a large collection of ambient pieces, including many shorter ones which will be valuable for anyone wanting to try a layered ambience approach like in the Thief OMs and Full Moon Fever. Internet databases www.freesound.org - some of the better composers in my opinion are ERH and BrandonNyte. www.purple-planet.com - a large selection of all kinds of ambient and musical soundtracks to be used freely. www.darkwinter.com - an internet label that publishes a lot of dark ambient music under a Creative Commons license. www.endlessascent.com - sister website of Darkwinter for non-dark ambients. Youtube Asatru Dark - also has very nice reference images for outdoor stone memorials, statue arrangements etc. #4 Void by Raffaele du Marteau & #6 Dreaming of Nowhere by Raffaele du Marteau - possibly the most forlorn pieces I've found on the internet. Alacazam - a prolific Creative Commons ambients composer . Cryo Chamber - for-profit label for dark ambient music with a large selection on offer. Going by their Youtube comments they're fine with people using their soundtracks for games etc., although you'd probably need to buy the soundtracks first. Dark Ambient Mixed Session - as much ambient as something to have in the background while mapping.