Mortal's Tips on How to Give a Level That Dark Forces Feeling
Most of the custom made levels I have played lack that special Dark
Forces feeling. It's like everyone strives to "capture" it but never
suceed. Therefore, I will now tell you six things to think about that
will make a level be more "Dark Forces-like"!
1. THE GEOMETRY
If you study the geometry in DF you will see that rooms are often
very simple. Some shelves, a doorway, a window, a few things sticking
out from the walls. The rest of the details are made up with textures.
Do not make the rooms to complicated. Details make it hard to navigate
the map and multiply the risk of HOM! Besides, that will save walls that
can be used for better things if you make a big level! Use stairs where
stairs should be used and elevators where elevators are best used!
2. TEXTURES
Textures are probably the most important thing to give that DF
feeling. Some textures should not be combined. Learn from the original
levels what textures belong to the Empire, Rebellion or civilian! Some
textures were made for ships and other for sewers. If you want to use
textures in other places than were intended by the designers of the
original levels be sure you think about colours and patterns. When you
are done with the textures, look at them one more time. Do they REALLY
fit in there? Try several textures before you decide.
Sometimes you may need to use double layers of textures. Not possible
in DF? I tell you, it is! There are the top, mid and bottom textures.
But there is also the one called "SIGN" and it can be used for more than
switches! Use it to place details on walls or to get two different
textures on the same wall without having to align a zero-height sector.
In the original levels textures, or the walls actually, are split to
break down the textures into smaller pieces. This trick can give
completely "new" textures, using the the original ones. Split a wall in
two and use a texture broader than the two walls. Stitch them from the
outside and in and you have a texture that isn't 4,8,16 or 32 DF units
wide! This should of course not be used just anywere!
3. THE ENGINE
Dark Forces was made for that engine. And that engine was made for
Dark Forces. There just ARE some things that can't be done. Face it! =)
Depending on the geometry a room can't be much bigger than 200-250 DF
units and the same thing with the height. If bigger, there WILL be homs.
Homs can be hidden by the geometry but don't push it to far! Where in DF
can you find sectors that NEED to be bigger than they are? Nowhere! If
LucasArts could create all the original levels with that engine... so
can you!
4. INSPIRATION
Don't build on the level unless you are inspired! Let it take some
extra months to finish it and get it to look good instead. Play the
original levels and look at there solutions. Don't be afraid to take
ideas from them! As in real life, there are some standards in the Star
Wars universe. The Empire builds in a certain way, often very regular
with straight lines while the rebels are slightly more irregular. Why?
Well, try to build a base inside an icecube and see how straight you can
make it! =)
5. STORYLINE
A lot have been said about changing storyline during the work on
custom made levels. My opinion is that the story can be written when the
level is completed... more or less! Start with an idea and build the
level from that. See where it takes you! As the level develops, ideas
will come and the plot will be visible! Create the level and THEN put
puzzles into it! Well... that is if you, like me, have a hard time
coming up with a story from the start and then stick to it! =)
Don't be afraid to change things along the way!
6. WHAT TO DO
Have you dreamed of all the cool stuff you want to put in the level?
All the new textures from that new world never seen before? Well so have
most of us! But do you really know how much job that takes? The risk is
that when you discover that you are already half-done with the level and
all suddenly you don't want to finish it. Don't set too high goals from
the beginning. Remember, there are a lot of textures in DF already and
they are used to give DF that dark and mysterious feeling it has. Wanna
make a custom made level that feels like Dark Forces? Use the original
textures!
These are some of the guidelines I use to follow when I work on my
levels. All of these things do not apply to some projects, I know. But
those projects are often not intended to look like DF anyway! =)
Good luck and keep on editing! You are expanding the Star Wars
universe!
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