Re: SoNK Volunteers - B'Rak Power Station


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Re: SoNK Volunteers - B'Rak Power Station

Posted By: Mark Levin Date: 1/9/04 11:02 a.m.
In Response To: SoNK Volunteers - B'Rak Power Station (Steve Levinson)

: Mark, when I said you didn't have to take it upon yourself to do a map a day,
: I didn't mean you would go into hibernation. Actually, I was kind of
: hoping you would go first on this one, so that I could reply that, yes, it
: violates a lot tenants of good mapmaking, but I still consider this one of
: my favorite maps.
Unlike last time, I'm not trying to *lead* this volunteering, so I'm not going to make the first post in every thread :) Also, we don't want to leave people behind, and I was under the impression that the "1 level a day" requirement had been pretty much abandoned. This isn't supposed to feel like some sort of assignment.
I agree that this map breaks too many rules. Overlapping areas can be done well or done badly, and this map manages to accomplish both at once. The main courtyard is not that difficult to navigate, but the mazes consisting of 3 or 4 levels of corridors are quite annoying. They might have been improved by varying the pattern in such a way that the different levels could be traced out without obscuring each other. Another item in the "it sounds cool but is really annoying" department is the elevator to the northwest with multiple exits on each level.
On the other hand, the level has some really nice touches that have never really been duplicated. The "square maze" in the south is a very cool idea, and the stairway leading to the final area is impressive as it slides up the wall. The visuals are generally top-notch, even with the Marathon 2 lava set.
: If you're expecting to need to visit a third place to lower
: it, you'll be exploring for a long time.
This is a large inconsistency in the puzzle and a major mapmaking mistake. A pattern of solutions is set up and then violated for no apparent reason. Why not put in 3 polygons?
: When you access the
: terminal, you'll get a message from Frigidman along with a plug for the
: sequel, "Cursed", complete with a screenshot from what became
: Marathon Evil. I suspect that this secret terminal is only in the Infinity
: version os SoNK - Mark, could you verify this?
In the M2 version, the terminal contains a screenshot from the Map Makers Guide to Pfhorte, and plugs for network levels and the Guide and some more of that good old FM ranting, ending with
LOOK FOR PART II DEATH TO IMBICILES,
comming after Marathon Infinity is released

: OK, now for cryptic problem number 3. Once back in the starting structure of
: the level, you'll find a new open area that leads to the circular
: lava-filled room. You can see where you need to go, but the stairway
: lining the perimeter of the room leads downward, away from your
: destination. Walking around the stairway, you'll see a switch high up on a
: wall, but hitting it with a grenade or fusion blast only raises a walkway
: to the center of the room. Once there, you'll find a spot on the wall that
: emits a locked door sound, but you can't seem to unlock it. If you go back
: into the adjacent room and look very carefully, you'll find that what you
: might have thought was just another dirt patch on one of the walls is
: really a very small patch of destructible wires. Fist it and you'll hear
: something open, but you'll likely have a devil of a time finding it as it
: opens a door directly below you. Exploration will eventually lead to a
: newly opened alcove with more bad guys and another switch - one that opens
: that locked door to the final switch you need to flip - the one that
: reverses that stairway so you can reach your destination. What a
: round-about way to get there.
I managed to hit the "open the locked door" switch before returning to the lava room, so it was much more straightforward to lower the stairs and beat the level.
: And you don't want to miss the coming
: levels, now, do you?
Not to mention the upcoming scenarios :)

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Pre-2004 Posts

Replies:

SoNK Volunteers - B'Rak Power Station Steve Levinson 1/9/04 9:03 a.m.

Re: SoNK Volunteers - B'Rak Power Station Mark Levin 1/9/04 11:02 a.m.

Re: SoNK Volunteers - B'Rak Power Station Keith Palmer 1/9/04 1:38 p.m.

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Pre-2004 Posts

Your Name:
Your E-Mail Address:
Subject:
Message:
: Unlike last time, I'm not trying to *lead* this volunteering, so I'm not : going to make the first post in every thread :) Also, we don't want to : leave people behind, and I was under the impression that the "1 level : a day" requirement had been pretty much abandoned. This isn't : supposed to feel like some sort of assignment. : I agree that this map breaks too many rules. Overlapping areas can be done : well or done badly, and this map manages to accomplish both at once. The : main courtyard is not that difficult to navigate, but the mazes consisting : of 3 or 4 levels of corridors are quite annoying. They might have been : improved by varying the pattern in such a way that the different levels : could be traced out without obscuring each other. Another item in the : "it sounds cool but is really annoying" department is the : elevator to the northwest with multiple exits on each level. : On the other hand, the level has some really nice touches that have never : really been duplicated. The "square maze" in the south is a very : cool idea, and the stairway leading to the final area is impressive as it : slides up the wall. The visuals are generally top-notch, even with the : Marathon 2 lava set. : This is a large inconsistency in the puzzle and a major mapmaking mistake. A : pattern of solutions is set up and then violated for no apparent reason. : Why not put in 3 polygons? : In the M2 version, the terminal contains a screenshot from the Map Makers : Guide to Pfhorte, and plugs for network levels and the Guide and some more : of that good old FM ranting, ending with LOOK FOR PART II DEATH TO : IMBICILES, comming after Marathon Infinity is released : I managed to hit the "open the locked door" switch before returning : to the lava room, so it was much more straightforward to lower the stairs : and beat the level. : Not to mention the upcoming scenarios :)

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SoNK Volunteers - B'Rak Power Station	Steve Levinson	1/9/04 9:03 a.m.
Re: SoNK Volunteers - B'Rak Power Station	Mark Levin	1/9/04 11:02 a.m.
Re: SoNK Volunteers - B'Rak Power Station	Keith Palmer	1/9/04 1:38 p.m.



	Your Name:
	Your E-Mail Address:
	Subject:
	Message: : Unlike last time, I'm not trying to lead this volunteering, so I'm not : going to make the first post in every thread :) Also, we don't want to : leave people behind, and I was under the impression that the "1 level : a day" requirement had been pretty much abandoned. This isn't : supposed to feel like some sort of assignment. : I agree that this map breaks too many rules. Overlapping areas can be done : well or done badly, and this map manages to accomplish both at once. The : main courtyard is not that difficult to navigate, but the mazes consisting : of 3 or 4 levels of corridors are quite annoying. They might have been : improved by varying the pattern in such a way that the different levels : could be traced out without obscuring each other. Another item in the : "it sounds cool but is really annoying" department is the : elevator to the northwest with multiple exits on each level. : On the other hand, the level has some really nice touches that have never : really been duplicated. The "square maze" in the south is a very : cool idea, and the stairway leading to the final area is impressive as it : slides up the wall. The visuals are generally top-notch, even with the : Marathon 2 lava set. : This is a large inconsistency in the puzzle and a major mapmaking mistake. A : pattern of solutions is set up and then violated for no apparent reason. : Why not put in 3 polygons? : In the M2 version, the terminal contains a screenshot from the Map Makers : Guide to Pfhorte, and plugs for network levels and the Guide and some more : of that good old FM ranting, ending with LOOK FOR PART II DEATH TO : IMBICILES, comming after Marathon Infinity is released : I managed to hit the "open the locked door" switch before returning : to the lava room, so it was much more straightforward to lower the stairs : and beat the level. : Not to mention the upcoming scenarios :)
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