Nightwalker on 19/7/2013 at 15:04
I started playing TDM a month or two ago. I only got through 2 before betatesting and other stuff got in the way but this was one of the ones I tried. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it despite being very inept with the controls still. I can't tell you how many times I fell off balconies and ledges!:tsktsk::cheeky: I plan to continue on with them as time permits and I hope more people will give TDM missions a try.
Springheel on 19/7/2013 at 18:17
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for now The Dark Mod - in general - fails to impress.
In what way?
Flavia on 19/7/2013 at 19:39
I've already seen this, very helpfull indeed. Along with couple other threads they gave me a pretty decent list of missions to play. It's a shame though that most recommendation threads dates back to 2011.
But thanks for willingness :)
Quote Posted by Springheel
In what way?
Most of the missions I've played (some of them taken from this thread: (
http://forums.thedarkmod.com/topic/13323-pick-your-top-5-tdm-missions/)) were pretty straightforward: "get in, get [special loot name here], get out". Optionally "get X amount of loot" and "DON'T get anyone killed". Plus presentation of some cool gimmick, which "may be put to better use by future authors".
Yes, I know that stealing is a core of Thief-like gameplay, but original Thiefs (and their FMs) had so much more to offer! Elaborate storylines and varied objectives, for start.
But, as I said, I've only started to play The Dark Mod, so I hope I will eventually find something that will satisfy me.
And we really shouldn't clutter Melan's thread with my rants :cheeky:
And I also look forward to the thread you mentioned before editing. Maybe I'll add my two cents.
Springheel on 20/7/2013 at 21:49
Yes, there are a lot of missions like that, since many early missions were just made by people exploring the potential of the engine (and also because a lot of people find simple, get in, get the loot, and get out missions plenty of fun).
If you want missions with rich backstory and twists, definitely play Heart of Lone Salvation, In the North, and Mandrosola (and Glenham Tower if you like undead missions).
Quote:
And I also look forward to the thread you mentioned before editing. Maybe I'll add my two cents.
Yeah, sorry, I got two threads mixed up for a moment.
Flavia on 22/7/2013 at 20:33
Quote Posted by Springheel
Yes, there are a lot of missions like that, since many early missions were just made by people exploring the potential of the engine (and also because a lot of people find simple, get in, get the loot, and get out missions plenty of fun).
I understand. But it's been 4 years since the release of TDM. I'm obviously not an history expert, but if FM download sites are to be believed, 4 years after T2 we already had "Ominous Bequest" and "Rowena's Curse". So you can't use age as an excuse :p
Plus, good writing has nothing to do with technical skills. There's been a lot of neatly written T1 and T2 FMs obviously made by people exploring the potential of Dark Engine (for better or worse). And as many terribly written, made by DE veterans.
I now realised that my words may seem a bit harsh. Sorry for that. Rest assured, that I never intended to undermine The Dark Mod itself – turning Doom 3 into a Thief-like experience was amazing accomplishment that deserves nothing but admiration. And I'm sure it's great tool – unfortunately The Builder didn't bless me with adequate skills so I will never be able to appreciate it in it's full glory. I'm just a bit dissapointed that so rarely I see it being put into a good use, even among supposedly top FMs. Simple missions can be fun, but they are not outstanding and, after so many heists, hardly memorable.
Maybe a little update to your list would do it justice? ;)
As for your recommendations:
"Heart of Lone Salvation" – played it, one of the two I mentioned above. Interesting, but too frustrating for it's own good.
"In the North" – I've heard it's best TDM mission ever, so I had to put it at the end of my „to-play” list (after that things can only get worse :laff: )
"Mandrosola" – funny thing, I went to play it right after writing my last post. Nice, even if a bit crude. Same goes for "The Transaction" (though, to be honest, I hoped that
the girl I saved from Builder's dungeon will turn out to be the Lich Queen. Now THAT would be a twist! :ebil:).
And while we're at it, you may want to know that trying to download your "A Score to Settle" via TDM built-in downloader leads me to „Sneak and Destroy” for some reason.
Anyway, the more I play, the more I find to my liking. But I'm still waiting to be blown away.
bikerdude on 24/7/2013 at 18:20
Quote Posted by Flavia
But it's been 4 years since the release of TDM. I'm obviously not an history expert, but if FM download sites are to be believed, 4 years after T2 we already had "Ominous Bequest" and "Rowena's Curse". So you can't use age as an excuse :p
Er yes we can, in that instance T1 had been around for years and there were already a lot of authors at that point so the switch to T2 was easy, hence the two mission you mentioned.
gnartsch on 24/7/2013 at 22:41
One should keep in mind that TDM was released as something that is more like a 'framework' then an actual game.
Many things like a large variety of voices, textures, sounds... are still being added all the time.
So, stating TDM was released 4 years ago and comparing with a 'finished game' isn't really fair, since it is still being worked on to make it even better.
And actually many of the FM authors also (or should I say mainly ?) contribute by improving the framework with all little details (scripts, coding, textures, etc.) which for sure consumes a lot of time as well.
Flavia on 25/7/2013 at 00:03
Quote Posted by bikerdude
Er yes we can, in that instance T1 had been around for years and there were already a lot of authors at that point so the switch to T2 was easy, hence the two mission you mentioned.
I started to write down titles of good (in terms of writing) FMs produced 4 years from T1... Then I noticed that first FM was released in 1999. OB and RC were from 2003. Uhm...
Quote Posted by gnartsch
And actually many of the FM authors also (or should I say
mainly ?) contribute by improving the framework with all little details (scripts, coding, textures, etc.) which for sure consumes a lot of time as well.
All right. But all these things, however impressive in their own merit, are not enough to produce an interesting mission. Why do you even need them if you don't have a good use for them?
As I said: there are fanmissions that are very basic and crude-looking, but thanks to excelent writing I'm remebering them far more fondly than yet another mansion heist, whose author didn't even bother to think of a plot twist, but *gasp* decorated it with a whole set of new textures I won't even know about since it's my first TDM mission! :laff:
Seriously, for now I think TDM is more interesting for authors than humble players.
But that's just my opinion. You don't have to agree.
Springheel on 26/7/2013 at 00:17
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I understand. But it's been 4 years since the release of TDM. I'm obviously not an history expert, but if FM download sites are to be believed, 4 years after T2 we already had "Ominous Bequest" and "Rowena's Curse". So you can't use age as an excuse
Well, the number of mappers for T2 during that time was probably ten times as many as TDM has (and some of our best mappers have been busy working on unreleased campaign missions for the past two years). I wonder if the overall percentage of "high class" missions was any different for T2?
I'm glad you've found a few missions you enjoy. But ultimately, if you don't like straightforward storylines, a lot of TDM missions won't appeal to you. Personally, I don't need "twists" to enjoy a mission...challenging gameplay and a sense of immersion will go a long way--one of my favourite TDM missions remains Knighton Manor, which is a very straightforward mansion heist. My favourite from the original series was Baffords, so I guess that fits.
To each their own.
But you should definitely try In The North. :)
