T2 FM: Among Two Storms (21/10/2010)

Unkillable Cat on 27/10/2010 at 21:16

Quote Posted by Calibrator

I'd rather call this gameplay type "Co-op single player" (:)) where one player controls several characters with different strengths, different equipment and/or in different locations that help each other to reach the goals or simply the end of the level. They usually open doors etc., pass equipment and solve other puzzles that a are impossible to do with a single player character.

This type of game is indeed with us since the early 8-bit days. Some of the ones I remember are:
(http://www.mobygames.com/game/suspended) Suspended
(http://www.mobygames.com/game/interphase) Interphase
(http://www.mobygames.com/game/lost-vikings) The Lost Vikings
and most recently
(http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/experiment) The Experiment

You're forgetting the original co-op singleplayer game - (http://www.mobygames.com/game/head-over-heels) Head over Heels. There was also (http://www.mobygames.com/game/mission-omega) Mission Omega, which allowed you to build several robots to control and move around while trying to disable the four reactors. (Hmm, I played this game on the Amstrad CPC, but Mobygames doesn't seem to know that it was released on that computer.)

I'd credit this FM to Head Over Heels first and foremest, because it only has two protagonists that have to co-operate. (Unfortunately, nothing happens if you try to have Garret stand on top of Palmer.)

As per in-game instructions, you wanted me to post what I thought of this FM. While I do not think that this mission deserves the praise of "FM of 2010", it most certainly is one of the more interesting FMs released in quite some time, is highly enjoyable and most defnitely one of the "Must play" FMs ever made for Thief 2. It's also the only FM I've played where I solved the combination puzzle within 2 minutes of finding the clue - and this while playing on Expert.

I'd love to see more usage of this "co-op singleplayer" gameplay. I wonder if you could have the AI teleport into a smaller critter, say a rat or a spider?

redface on 27/10/2010 at 21:53

It would be nice to see more FMs of this kind, although I guess they're very tricky to make. Maybe if enough people were interested we could get Haplo to share the "tech" :p

Haplo on 27/10/2010 at 23:08

Quote Posted by Unkillable Cat

I'd love to see more usage of this "co-op singleplayer" gameplay. I wonder if you could have the AI teleport into a smaller critter, say a rat or a spider?

That is a very interesting idea, however scaling Garrett is deemed to be impossible. If you ever find a way, please let me know!

Quote Posted by redface

It would be nice to see more FMs of this kind, although I guess they're very tricky to make. Maybe if enough people were interested we could get Haplo to share the "tech" :p

Sure. I have already shared some of the high level concepts with the DarkMod guys. Whoever is interested to see how the two-player mode was done just drop me a PM. Or should I just start a thread and explain it I wonder?

Yandros on 28/10/2010 at 00:12

Quote Posted by Haplo

Or should I just start a thread and explain it I wonder?

Yes, I think you should post a quick explanation/tut in TEG for posterity.

Sir Reginald on 29/10/2010 at 02:50

Sweet! can't wait to play. Thanks Haplo!:D

Haplo on 29/10/2010 at 09:27

Quote Posted by Yandros

Yes, I think you should post a quick explanation/tut in TEG for posterity.

I just posted a tutorial (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133738&p=2026350) here.

Marbrien on 29/10/2010 at 11:27

I really enjoyed this mission (on expert).

I managed to figure out the rope arrow swap and from there most of the other swaps.

I overlooked the master key, easily done. BTW, the answer to the vault code puzzle can be found by simply Googling the clue!

There are two ladders in the underground area, one behind a grill, and one accessible but with a closed manhole cover at the top. Do those go anywhere?

pwl on 30/10/2010 at 20:31

Haplo you are a Fan Mission Making God!!:eek::thumb: Thank You, the switching between characters was awesome!! I hope to see more in the NEAR future.

mabsy on 31/10/2010 at 14:00

Haplo, another wonderful mission. I loved the Palmer/Garrett switch and also the way you manage to make the AI move naturally. The woman in the shower is a case in point as were the party-goers in the "trance lounge".
Thanks for all these fms and I'm greedy enough to hope for many more:thumb:

P.S. Dummy whacked:joke:

Zontik on 1/11/2010 at 06:15

I'm here just to say I finished the mission (on expert) and liked it very much. Good idea, excellent realisation. All puzzles are logical and can be solved without hours of frustration. Cooperation between two characters doesn't look any artifical. Well done, Ali, thanks!
(As you couldn't solve 'sound problem' - loot sound when switching from one person to another - I have an idea. Maybe these sounds can be 'hidden' by adding some SPECIAL loud switching sound. All other possible solutions seem too complex and don't worth.)