Fan Mission: The Painter’s Wife v1.1 by Fractured Glass Company (2020/07/01)

[Dragofer 1429]

Another question that'd be interesting for me: are you able to leave the painter's room or is it invisibly blocked?

A script command via console has a good chance of working, but you'd need to be aware that any saves you make afterwards won't work, so it should be the last thing you do in the mission. This is no big matter, since it's only needed to tick off an objective and it unlocks a 2nd flavour conversation if you return to him later.

These are the 2 console commands, in order:

script painter2_finished_conversation_end1();
script painter2_choose_conversation_end1x();

To play the 2nd ending conversation, leave the building, then return to stand in his field of view and use the below command. Since you had already dealt with Marlow for the 1st conversation, the 2nd one will be quite short:

script painter2_choose_conversation_end();

 

In case this stuff doesn't work, you can find transcripts of the conversations at the bottom of the mission's collab document. The conversations go differently depending on whether/how you've dealt with Marlow.

[Peanut 4]

On 7/14/2020 at 11:18 PM, nbohr1more said:

Try increasing frame memory:

r_frameIndexMemory and r_frameVertexMemory to 8192

and reducing texture memory via image_downSize

https://wiki.thedarkmod.com/index.php?title=Performance_Tweaks#Image_downsizing

and lowering resolution scale ( r_fboResolution 0.75 )

Thanks for posting that. Initially I couldn't get this mission to work, it would crash to desktop just after finishing loading (Ubuntu 16.04 based, 4GB RAM, Integrated Intel graphics, thedarkmod.x64) due to the Linux kernel out of memory manager killing off the process.

I then tried playing around with the image_downSize settings and found I could get it to work by enabling them.

Eventually, I discovered that all I needed to do was set image_downSizeBump "1" without having to enable the texture/diffuse or specular downsizing.

I then tried raising the image_downSizeBumpLimit from the default of 128. I found that I could raise it to 512 and still have the mission work fine. However, raising it to 1024 or 2048 results in the mission just about loading, but severely lagging to the point of being unplayable.

I don't know anything about the internals here, but perhaps it looks a bit like there could be a number of large bump maps greater than 512x512 which are causing problems? (Is that what setting a "512" limit would mean?) 

It does seem to be a somewhat large image size (1024?) if that's what's actually happening, but I don't know, maybe it's normal? (pun not intended) At least it seems that way, considering the default for image_downSizeBumpLimit is much lower.

Edited December 24, 2020 by Peanut

[nbohr1more 2171]

1 hour ago, Peanut said:

Thanks for posting that. Initially I couldn't get this mission to work, it would crash to desktop just after finishing loading (Ubuntu 16.04 based, 4GB RAM, Integrated Intel graphics, thedarkmod.x64) due to the Linux kernel out of memory manager killing off the process.

I then tried playing around with the image_downSize settings and found I could get it to work by enabling them.

Eventually, I discovered that all I needed to do was set image_downSizeBump "1" without having to enable the texture/diffuse or specular downsizing.

I then tried raising the image_downSizeBumpLimit from the default of 128. I found that I could raise it to 512 and still have the mission work fine. However, raising it to 1024 or 2048 results in the mission just about loading, but severely lagging to the point of being unplayable.

I don't know anything about the internals here, but perhaps it looks a bit like there could be a number of large bump maps greater than 512x512 which are causing problems here? (Is that what setting a "512" limit would mean?) 

It does seem to be a somewhat large image size (1024?) if that's what's actually happening, but I don't know, maybe it's normal? (pun not intended) At least it seems that way, considering the default for image_downSizeBumpLimit is much lower.

To begin, there have always been textures larger than 512x512 but they were fairly rare until after TDM 2.0 ( only used on large models ).

After TDM 2.0, the team decided to raise the max recommended texture size to 1024. For most missions this had little impact but even Penny Dreadful 2 was too much for typical low\mid range GPU VRAM.

I believe that Doom 3 originally was graceful about this and would revert to image_downSize if your VRAM was lower than the configured settings would consume. Unfortunately Doom 3's detection of most configurations was very poor leading to constant fighting with graphic settings to prevent reverting to blurry menus and textures. ( Try TDM 1.02 and have the fight of your life to keep settings in place. ) Even before standalone it seems that we disabled most of these fallbacks so that (for example) TDM 1.07 would keep your menu settings flawlessly. We probably should consider adding a detection and fallback system for VRAM limited systems but we would need to get it working better than the original Doom 3 implementation.

Incidentally, you should try the TDM 2.09 beta.

 

It defaults to using RGTC normal map compression so VRAM usage should be reduced a bit and you can also lower your Render Scale but add Image Sharpening so that it doesn't look that blurry. It is pretty remarkable. No guarantee that it will lower VRAM enough to disable image_downSize though.

 

 

[Peanut 4]

@nbohr1more Thank you for the detailed explanation, I'll give 2.09 a try!

[stgatilov 1252]

1 hour ago, nbohr1more said:

We probably should consider adding a detection and fallback system for VRAM limited systems but we would need to get it working better than the original Doom 3 implementation.

Every discussion of "automatic settings detection" immediately bumps into problems:

1. We don't own diverse set of machines where we can test such detection.
2. The experience mostly depends on FM. There are too many FMs, constantly getting bigger and tougher, and we don't control it.

Thus we cannot make good detection. And it's better to have none than to have buggy one.

On the other hand, we can probably implement some code which would detect VRAM size or out-of-memory error, and modify the downscale cvar, post warning, and restart loading from scratch.

[Hugo Lobo 29]

Amazing FM! I actually got 3 phases while playing it.
Phase 1 - holy crap! This is amazing! Look at how many places i can go and how many ways i can do it! Look at this gigantic map!

Phase 2 - ho no! Another door that can be opened! And another window... I can't keep track of it all. This FM has too many divergent paths. I hope this door can't be opened. Crap.. it will open. I will be lost and never finish this FM.

Phase 3 - oh yeah! I'm starting to understand this map. This city is mine!

So, to sum it all, this was quite an experience. One of those FM that will keep on your mind forever. As far as i know, this IS the new gold standard for FM's of this category.  

[Zerg Rush 58]

Excellent mission, I have finally managed to finish it, All the secrets, all loot and with 100% stealth ... na, lie, it has cost me horrors and they spanked me well. Also messing around in the alleys with the girl in my arms, trying to avoid the guards, doing the tourist route (the poor thing must also have finished full of bruises, as many times as I have had to throw it on the ground to orient myself).
After reading the diary of the chief thief, I almost felt sorry for having knocked them out.
Quite funny all, but certainly one of the missions that has cost me the most to finish.

[Xolvix 57]

I have a question - assuming people are being honest, how do people even get all loot in a mission like this where loot is hiding everywhere and it's so easy to miss a coin hidden in the dark or a crevasse no normal human would look twice at examining? I can only assume it's done via playing the mission for hours upon hours to check everywhere, backtracking into optional areas and then backtracking again and so on, without getting lost, and still getting 100% stealth. I'm not sure I even want an answer, it's more of a "throw-hands-in-air" thing that I can't master.

Edited January 10 by Xolvix

[Dragofer 1429]

@Xolvix
we're in the same boat, I couldn't imagine scouring even modest-sized maps for 100% of the loot. But there are quite a few who enjoy exploring a map that thoroughly, and they seem to do it by keeping track of all the places they've searched, sometimes returning for another pass, and paying attention to every readable. So far I've seen someone getting 95% loot in this mission after 10 hours.

[Zerg Rush 58]

I get ~4200 in loot and 2 secrets in the Painters Wife, playing it more than 10h. Dying half a dozen times (3 guards saying Hello and 5 falling from a roof), 40 points in stealth

Edited January 11 by Zerg Rush

[Xolvix 57]

2 hours ago, Zerg Rush said:

I get ~4200 in loot and 2 secrets in the Painters Wife, playing it more than 10h. Dying half a dozen times (3 guards saying Hello and 5 falling from a roof), 40 points in stealth

I think that answers my question. I'm enjoying the mission but I could never devote over 10 hours to it, or any other FM really. That's a lot of time to spend scouring for loot. If you have the time available (and the determination) to do than I give you credit, but I guess it's not for me. At some point my brain would starting asking me what I'm doing.

[Zerg Rush 58]

10 hours ago, Xolvix said:

I think that answers my question. I'm enjoying the mission but I could never devote over 10 hours to it, or any other FM really. That's a lot of time to spend scouring for loot. If you have the time available (and the determination) to do than I give you credit, but I guess it's not for me. At some point my brain would starting asking me what I'm doing.

Nor can I play more than 1-2h daily on a mission. It took me almost a week to finish this one.

[TheUnbeholden 16]

I float above the dumbwaiter in The Painter's Wife, can't ride it down.

[TheUnbeholden 16]

 

The issue that I see is that the near Bridge street shop/shack is a woodsie Apothecary place but you can't enter into. The key to the door is on the inside. The other issue I found is:

Spoiler

Marlowe is on Lower street, not the Bridge street as the clue/letter suggests to us. Even stranger you have to wait for the guard to exit the "club" AKA gambling den to snatch the key to that place.

 

 

Edited February 10 by TheUnbeholden

[Bluehawk 16]

You can access the Apothecary's...

Spoiler

through the back door via Alderman Gardens; if you look for an open window on King Street due south you can pass through an apartment to a balcony and drop down, or you can hop across the roof from the assassin's balcony on Alderman Way; or you can come up into the garden through the sewers. The sewers also provide an alternative route into the Lower Street casino although it's very confusing down there.

The note mentioning Upper Bridge Street is meant to lead you to the assassin he hired, not to his present location. The confusing part is that it removes the objective to find Marlowe's location (which is added when you find his bedroom and library empty). The assassin's journal in her footlocker then tells you that he is in the "Arch Way Club". Arch Way has no other doors to check but the club's, so the clue is technically accurate (if maybe a little ambiguous).

 

[svperstar 3]

So this made me literally laugh out loud.

Long time Thief fan having played the original demo in 1998 but I mostly lurk. I had to come share this with you guys since you are the only people who would appreciate this. I just started playing this tonight:

Spoiler

So I loaded up the mission and was just relaxing and taking it in. I wasn't looking at my map, just wandering around and going down alleys and such. I happened too see a ventilation duct above a staircase so I opened it an went inside, some noble was in front of me so I killed him to shut him up and it was objective complete Marlo is dead. wtf? hahahah I laughed so hard. I was 5 minutes into the mission and managed to find the secret passage that leads to killing the main guy?

Epic. Great mission so far the whole 5 minutes I have played.

 

[Zerg Rush 58]

6 hours ago, svperstar said:

So this made me literally laugh out loud.

Long time Thief fan having played the original demo in 1998 but I mostly lurk. I had to come share this with you guys since you are the only people who would appreciate this. I just started playing this tonight:

  Hide contents

So I loaded up the mission and was just relaxing and taking it in. I wasn't looking at my map, just wandering around and going down alleys and such. I happened too see a ventilation duct above a staircase so I opened it an went inside, some noble was in front of me so I killed him to shut him up and it was objective complete Marlo is dead. wtf? hahahah I laughed so hard. I was 5 minutes into the mission and managed to find the secret passage that leads to killing the main guy?

Epic. Great mission so far the whole 5 minutes I have played.

 

Look in the briefing of this mission, this wasn't the main objetive. The main objetive is to rescue the wife of the painter and take her home to her husband. This is impossible in 5 minutes, not even in 5 hours.

[svperstar 3]

5 hours ago, Zerg Rush said:

Look in the briefing of this mission, this wasn't the main objetive. The main objetive is to rescue the wife of the painter and take her home to her husband. This is impossible in 5 minutes, not even in 5 hours.

Oh for sure I never said I finished the mission in 5 minutes or anything like that. I found it funny I managed to stumble on him by accident though. 

[Zerg Rush 58]

3 hours ago, svperstar said:

Oh for sure I never said I finished the mission in 5 minutes or anything like that. I found it funny I managed to stumble on him by accident though. 

Well, there are also small missions that can be completed in half an hour or less, for example Spring Cleaning, although the difficulty does not necessarily depend on the size of the mission.This is also what I like TDM, there are missions for a weekend but also for a free time in between.

[Jabberwocky 25]

I started exploring the city a few days ago and ... just wow! Thank you for this unbelievable and complex maze!

[svperstar 3]

Good mission. I am reminded a lot of the fan mission Endless Rain.

Spoiler

So I rescued Lily then went back to get more loot. I was streaming on Twitch chatting with a friend and decided to wander. Went on a pipe to the roof areas. Stumbled on a female assassin of some type. Remembered the objective "Stop Marlo's assassin" so I killed her. Sure enough objective complete. lol. Nearby I found a desk so threw down the papers. Marlo was already dead but hey why not.

I am sitting at 2250 loot so not technically done but loot is all I have left. Great mission.

 

[Dragofer 1429]

The Painter’s Wife v1.2 is ready for beta testing!

Compared to previous versions, this is a more modest update:

• One of the main features is that the FM archive has been cleaned up thoroughly, resulting in a much lighter mission that now weighs in at just 160 MB without compromising on content.
• The level has been tweaked and polished all over the place with an aim to improving lighting and performance. In particular the secret chapel is worth another look.
• The console has been used to track down numerous bugs that went undiscovered until now, in addition to some “regular” bugs that were reported.
• As always, a handful new locations have been added, such as a tiny roof garden on Kings St. Also note that the loot in the secret spider cave counts as the 14th secret now.

A more detailed changelog can be viewed here:

Spoiler

• Massive reduction in .pk4 size as a result of cleaning up assets, also allowing to use a faster compression setting. Everything that’s left has a purpose. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of what was done:
  • Eliminate unused or duplicate assets
  • Eliminate custom assets that have meanwhile become part of the core mod
  • Convert .ase models to more compact .lwo
  • Convert .tga images to more compact .dds wherever possible
  • Re-export custom models with the fixed DR model exporter to get rid of excess vertice counts
  • Oversized textures have been downscaled
• Lighting tweaks throughout the map, in particular in the hidden chapel.
• Console warnings pointing to undiscovered bugs have been fixed in many cases.
• New locations:
  • Small attic on Upper Bridge Street.
  • Tiny roof garden on Kings St.
  • Balconies added to apartments off Tavern Sq.
• Added ductwork:
  • in the sewers around the thieves’ hideout.
  • from Upper Bridge St. to Hill/Bell St.
  • from Knife St. into the courthouse - thieves highway entrance.
  • from the sewer maintenance room on Archway to the pumphouse on Bridge St.
• Location tweaks:
  • Added geometry to allow better visportaling ( = performance) throughout the map.
  • Secret spider cave has a loot item that now counts as the 14th secret.
  • The steam engine at the power plant is now active and animated (a new asset in 2.09).
  • Tweak access from the ducting to the generator room in Marlow’s manor.
  • The stone ring above the temple is now solid and can be used to get into the temple via the windows.
  • Player should no longer float sometimes when riding the dumbwaiter in Marlow’s.

 

Anyone who’s interested in trying this out would be very welcome to do so by downloading from this link:

Google Drive

For providing feedback, please use the FM’s betatesting server on Discord (channel beta-v1-2-b1) or send me PMs on these forums.