Uploaded RC2.

Just finished Three's a Crowd. What a high quality WAD! This is what I was talking about. Each map tells its own story and a part of the overarching story. Every map is different and not a single slot is wasted on filler (in my opinion). My favourite level would have to be MAP29 Sheer Poison. Not because I think it's the funnest (I hate the constant damage) but because it clearly communicates through the gameplay itself and the map geometry (where you start in a fake warehouse but really you're in hell), that the IoS is done playing around and is really trying to kill you this time. Combined with the music it gives a sense of hopelessness. That death is inevitable and that your struggles are almost over; give up, you'll die anyway, soon you can sleep. This level communicates a sense of sadness due to the inhospitable environment coupled with the cruel deception at the start. The last level, MAP30, is the only IoS fight I've encountered which isn't a let down. The strength of the multi-map build-up of the IoS and the sacrifices of the Doomguys gives gravitas to this enemy (without relying on the spawner!).

Darker ZIMMER forest with lakes of nukage and caves of ZIMMER and moss to go spelunking in. Very likely to have a few slaughter fights!

I like D_RUNIN, but I was never an active PWAD player back in the 90th.

I imagine there are 3 types of dislikes:

People who genuinely dont enjoy listening to the track while they play Doom II. Maybe some of them genuinely dislike listening to Bobby Prince music while they play Doom II, maybe not, who knows, but somehow I doubt they are very vocal about their dislike.

People who played a lot of 1-level PWADs in the 90th. They may have played Master Levels, which gave them a bit of D_RUNNING disorder, and then some of them took Maximum Doom for a spin (it was on the same CD, right?) which made the disorder incurable. I think they might share some of their pain with D_RUNNIN when asked about it, but have something better to do normally.

Bandwagon fellows of type that believe it is "cool" when you are vocal about your dislike of something, which is not, let's say, outright apparently that bad and of type that belive it is "cool" for a "true" oldtimer doomer to have dislike of D_RUNNIN, depite never having suffered from the disorder mentioned. Now "coolness" needs diligent cultivation, so I would expect this type to be the major source of buzzing about how bad the track (supposedly) is.

EDIT: As I mentioned, I like D_RUNNIN, but I also like some diversity to the soundtrack:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZuvGP-1B6pk

Levels 6 to 7 where nice and fun. Very roomy for zooming about. Combat was fun. I did find the levels a little on the bare side. But those fish! And the fishing boats. So cute. I love it!

kvsari_lazarevenantlvl06to08.lmp

Level 8 was one tough level for me. I liked it (but hated the crusher section especially when I though of being clever and saving the berserk for later only for you to block my way, good work! 10/10). Aesthetically I think this level is very strong with the sunken ruins and the fishing boats floating above baiting you with the key on a hook. It's so atmospheric. I also like how no music plays (unless this is unintentional) as it adds to the suspense of the level and fuels its exploratory nature. Having background music thumping away would ruin its non-linearity. An enjoyable, slow paced level.

kvsari_lazarevenantlvl08.lmp

Now for criticisms. This is the kind of level I'd play with saves. If the levels in this wad are going to continue getting tougher I'm in for a bad time (or I'll have to improve). The one thing I found most lacking was armour. Please throw in another two green armours. That would make things much easier health wise.

@Thelokk Thank you. Yeah, MAP03 is meant to be the real meat, the rest is just flavour, if they were as much of a magnum opus, that would take away from the main event rather than add to it.

Also, RC2 did done duploaded.

I actually had to look at the screenie for a good 30 secs to understand what was going on, even after playing that map dozens of times.

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first use of donut linedef action in (almost) 30 years

As I wanted to take a break from Tartar, I have fixed some of the known and newly reported bugs in Bernewfie, and am now comfortable with sharing the latest build (HEX.7Z below), resource WAD (BERNEW.WAD below) and some extras taken directly from Gerwin's MBF.

HEX.7z BERNEW.wad FROM_MBF.7z

For those who wouldn't check the README here's how I normally start it:

bernew.exe -hires -show_fps -mlook -quick -ravpic -maxsound -use_vsync -page_flip -extra BERNEW.WAD

In the hindsight, I wish I had spent my time on a similar hack for Heretic instead, but it is what it is 🙂

PS. I actually also listened to the OPL card playing music with the IBK timbers loaded and to the vanilla playing music on the same card, can say that while the IBK does not make the sound match vanilla, it is sounds much more interesting in my opinion than pure Allegro FM music.

MBF_D2GM.7z

I wanted to add some bells & whistles from my newer weapon packs long time ago... Updated bulletholes, since they now gonna be really hot and get cold from time to time. Updated impact VFX for bullets. Enjoy some sparks and dust clouds, I guess. Added tossed linkers for UKM-2000. Added decorative empty mags for TT, Saiga-12, AKM, SVD and UKM-2000. Yay! More junk to the battlefield! Added distant sounds for explosions of PG-7V missile and grenade. Wait, what? Added ability to quick kick. I suggest key [Q]. With berserk you gonna one-kick Imp with 100% probability. Added ability to quick grenade toss. I suggest key [G]. From start you can carry 5. With backpack you can carry 10. Search for it near single PG-7V missiles. It has 10% chance to appear.

Here is a link to the latest version...

https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/levels/doom2/Ports/p-r/psxconvjm
Got accepted onto idgames!

@NoisyVelvet you're really not missing out on anything. All Heretic will do for you is change your definition of the word "monotonous".

I have switched to routinely use modules for my boom/mbf21 Doom maps, the range of sounds achievable is insane and there is a lot of untapped music available. Imagine your map not having Plasma or You Suck...

@Cuppykeks Really awesome ideas! I especially like the middle eastern, tower and tree house ideas.

As for the map I started, it could go in a few possible directions. Just made a couple combat scenarios, including a combat puzzle designed around pushing gaspods, and started making a central area. As of right now, I'm thinking it'll be an interconnected town-style map with gothic architecture. Want to also make it perched high up in the mountains if I can pull that off, but not sure since the sky has to be at/above player level to avoid getting wonky.

I also had some ideas for a magic-themed map set in a wizard's tower/library, including an area with portals to strange and varied settings.

Kekw
obligatory 8 symbols

https://youtu.be/nziqkawHlpc?t=1504 anyone?

Grime by EduardoAndFriends
5 Boom compatible maps
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Made using Duke 3d textures almost entirely, it's used stylistically to create dilapidated and grimed city environments, its difficulty is easy, but with a couple traps that will kill you if you get too cocky. Very DBP-like in terms of quality, creativity, length, and even an exit-less final MAP06.
The map contains some voice acting by the authors for the zombies, I didn't really like them, but it gave the wad some additional Duke 3D character.

Venus Temple by Azuris
1 vanilla map
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A newbie's effort at making a map; it's got plenty of small visual errors and it's very easy, but it's fun and has charm; it reminds me of The Unholy Trinity, and MAP31 from TNT with its basic rooms, but with the author's own custom textures that give the rooms architectural purpose.

Hey, @joe-ilya . Thanks for trying it out and sharing your opinion. I get that you don't like it at all, so I imagine there's not much reason in explaining every bit, and also find that what you say sounds logical, especially when it comes to weapon changes made.

One thing I would like to say is that none of the sprites are my work and that I have been using Realm 667 lower tier monsters that I though could be easily altered to fit vanilla enemy slots and brought over from zscript/decorate without much alteration of the frames. 2 of those monsters are likely based on Imp "stencil", one on pinkie and of the other two one seems to be based on the other.