Thunderhawk Down

[ChromeAngel]

Much as we would like it to be it's not always smooth sailing when it comes to modding. This month we finally called in the Grey Knights and dealt with one of the Demons plaguing Exterminatus. Namely the "dropship" based spawn system. What was intended to produce a seamless "cinematic" player experience, turned out to be real pain for the contributors who wanted to map for EX.

It might have worked on another game engine, but dropships just needed too much open space for Source mapping. As a result we've had to enable maps without dropships, respawning of players based on a timer, rather than when the dropships had landed. This should make it easier for the mappers and allow a greater variety of spawn locations, such as underground and inside buildings, where dropships were previously incapable of landing. As a result of this change we're going to have to release a second Map Development Kit for Exterminatus.

The new MDK will also include additional props, textures and a large Tyranid for accessibility testing. If you can think of anything else that would make mapping for EX easier drop us a line. I bet you'd rather have the mod than another MDK, but it's just not ready yet. But we can give you a little taster with these shots of the teams in-game and an action shot from this months testing.

[Brother-Captain Severus, Deserted Legion 3rd Company Master]

I bet you'd rather have the mod than another MDK, but it's just not ready yet.

Yeah, sadly... but I can see why it's taking ages, the best stuff usually comes late. And I guess this will categorise under "best stuff". Keep it coming!

[Dukeleto]

What about Drop Pods as a spawn effect instead?

btw I think the Tyranid models could do with a bit more slimy gloss on their carapaces.

Damn I'm a servitor? That sux :p Better get posting I guess...

[ChromeAngel]

We've thought about drop pods before ( link)   They're still not really practical unfortunately.  If you look closely at the in-game shots of  the tyranids you'll see the carapaces are already quite slimy, any more might be O.T.T.   I'll give it a try at some point before we release to see how it looks.

[migb]

So how will the pre-spawn be?
I guess you will use ghosting like most other FPS, but you could also have a spawn chamber, where people stay until respawn.

I'm thinking the teleport room abord a spaceship. Dead players could enter from a door, then when countdown is reached everyone is teleported to the surface.

[ChromeAngel]

Instead of following your team's dropship around the map you new get a view from your team's current objective, showing a countdown to the next spawn wave and your team's current mission.

The teleporter room is good idea.  Remind me again when were asking for ideas to put in 1.1.

[Brother-Captain Severus, Deserted Legion 3rd Company Master]

Wait, what about space marine teleport homers? Could you have a homer at one end of the map that the team would have to defend if they wanted to stay spawning?

EDIT: Mind you, that will remain quite a task. You know what space marines are like against a single carnifex, the marines will be put in to the wall... Never mind, it's just a short suggestion you've probably taken to mind before. Answer if you want to.

[Typheron]

taken from IRC chat on the subject:

<ZebraOnion> throw in a teleport effect + sound
<]OX[Razielk> what about the nids then?
<]OX[Alhaus> ya that will be a prob:P
<ZebraOnion> you know that refract map thing that the strider gun has.. the marines can appear in such "reality-bendint bubble"
<ZebraOnion> for nids, maybe a huge seedlike thing, that works as a dropship, and dissolves after they spawn
<Typheron> or we just dont bother and just spawn stuff for the moment
<Typheron> thus saving time to do the final weapon effects
<Typheron> and getting the mod out slightly quicker
<ZebraOnion> yeah that sounds reasonable.
<Typheron> I know it sucks a bit
<Typheron> but we can deal with making it look even more seamless when we have the publicity of a released mod and things aint so desperate
<Typheron> as right now, we still dont have a finished map, none of the weapons have final effects, the AI aint working properly and some of the animations are glitching
<Typheron> and thats before we even get down to balancing the mod
<ChromeAngel> sounds like a resonable summary to me

theres lots to do thats more important than teleporter effects and the like, so its standard "this is a FPS" game appearing out of thin air" till after we release the mod to the public.

PS. we need mappers.

[Ripperhugme]

We've thought about drop pods before ( link)   They're still not really practical unfortunately.  If you look closely at the in-game shots of  the tyranids you'll see the carapaces are already quite slimy, any more might be O.T.T.   I'll give it a try at some point before we release to see how it looks.

The marine armour would look sweet with phong shading.

[Typheron]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INXcrojhBcA

as im a bit of a show off and as the above is 5 kinds of cool, heres a little extra thing i recorded for the masses.

We have had them in game a while, but not entirly working correctly. They still need work and are very angry but they now walk about and can be ordered to run into the line of fire to protect other nids.

Behold the power of the meat shield! or Gaunt as its commonly known.

[Brother-Captain Severus, Deserted Legion 3rd Company Master]

Floating gaunts

[Typheron]

like we always say, its a work in progress

that will be fixed soon, minor adjustment to there orgin needed.

[migb]

Floating gaunts

If they can die, they are fully functional ;-)

[Brother-Captain Severus, Deserted Legion 3rd Company Master]

Floating gaunts

If they can die, they are fully functional ;-)

Well, that is a 100% true statement

[Alhaus]

They roll down cliffs pretty well though