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Contents:

All articles are very welcome, and can be about just about anything DF related. For more information about contributing to DF-21.net, mail [email protected].


Dark Forces Information

  • Installing & Configuring Dark Forces

    How to get DF running on newer systems - Windows 9x, ME, 2000 and XP. Note that this article is a work in progress; if you have anything to add or have a problem that isn't solved by this article, please post in the forums giving details of your system and any error messages.

  • DF Weapons

    If you've ever been curious as to the true power of Kyle's arsenal is, this article is a must-read. Written by the author of Dark Statistics, DF Weapons discusses the distinction between damage, firing rates and firepower, and reveals the strengths of each weapon in the game.

  • Dark Statistics

    A very thorough study of the many dynamics found in Dark Forces missions. This article explores the biggest, the smallest, the longest, the shortest, the most complex, the most simple and even the lightest and darkest levels ever made!

  • Early Dark Forces

    Take an interesting look back at the early development days of Dark Forces. This collection of screenshots all show noticable differences from the final retail version of the game. We'll expand this article if anything new turns up.

A wealth of information about Dark Forces, including cheat codes and in-depth information about the making of the game, can be found in the Dark Forces FAQList.


Editing Tips & Tutorials

  • Class for Dark Forces Editing (10 pages)

    GAdRS gives an overview of various aspects of DF editing. Aimed, for the most part, at beginners; but those with experience might find something of interest as well.

  • Scape Goat's QuickTips: Part 1

    A very useful set of short tutorials about various parts of DF editing.

  • Scape Goat's QuickTips: Part 2

    Even more disorganized semi-nonsense...

  • DF geometry explained

    Nervous Breakdown author japh explains the basics of sectors, subsectors, adjoins and texturing. Could be very helpful if you're new to DF editing. (This was originally posted in the DF-21 forums).

  • Level-safe Palette Conversions

    Dark Tide author Matt Hallaron explains how to avoid transparency problems and glow-in-the dark pixels in your custom DF artwork.

  • The Plot Thickens

    Matt Krischke talks about the creation of a sound plot line for DF missions.

  • Enemy Placement

    Calrissian12 gives some advice on what to put where.

  • Working With Dark Forge Bugs

    A little something for all you Mac Dark Forces editors out there... Jordan Boyer runs through a number of bugs in Dark Forge.

  • How to Give a Level That Dark Forces Feeling

    Useful reading for beginners and more advanced editors alike, particularly with regard to texturing.

  • Regular Polygons

    DarthDoctor explains a method for creating regular polygons with walls of an exact length.

  • Dark Forces Sound Editing

    Oton "Fish" Ribic gives a comprehensive run-down on creating sound effects from scratch, with advice on choosing sources and how to apply filters and effects to get the best results.

  • Digital Music in Dark Forces

    The author of Dark Forces Sound Editing, discusses how you can, why you should, and why you shouldn't use VOC files as background music.

  • Dynamic Geometry

    DarthDoctor describes some INF techniques for making different areas accessible on different difficulty levels, and a key-sensitive forcefield.

  • Designing Missions

    Cory Buford goes into great detail on level design, providing innumerable examples of both basics and embellishments that make missions great.

  • Anatomy of a Subsector

    japh clears up all the confusion surrounding subsectors by answering "What is a subsector?" and "How do I make one?"

More tutorials and editing tips, including the essential WDFUSE tutorial, can be found in the Downloads section of DF-21.


Level Walkthroughs

  • Among the Shadows: Fortress Quadrigon

    Oton "Fish" Ribic helps you find your way through his debut mission.

  • Beyond Glory

    JFA guides you through Kevin Buscemi's mailoc-infested level.

  • Beyond Glory 2

    ShadowCell's thorough 40-step plan shows you the way through Kyle Katarn's second encounter with Senj Thirtrae and the Sunkiller project.

  • Discovery at Ironfort

    Can't figure out the alien force field? At last, help is at hand for Kevin Buscemi's fiendish level, in this walkthrough by Emambu.

  • Mt. Kurek

    Having trouble with the code? A walkthrough for Jeff Walters' DF classic by JFA.

  • Omega Red: The Return

    Stuck at the AT-AT hangar? JFA guides you through the level by intjacob.

  • Prelude to Harkov's Defection

    Lost in Hoerby's vast rendition of Nar Shaddaa? ShadowCell will guide you safely through the vertical city in this walkthrough.

  • Star's End: The Cloak

    ShadowCell shows you how to infiltrate and escape from Thon Mohc's training facility without getting laserburn from an invisible enemy.

Complete walkthroughs for the original Dark Forces levels, including secrets and Easter eggs, can be found in the Dark Forces FAQList.


Interviews & Previews

  • Interview: Xizor's Palace

    An interview from Dark Forces: 1999 with the authors of the level Xizor's Palace. This level was revived by Chris "Madine" Landrum, and is currently being worked on by Matthew Hallaron, Barry Brien, and Patrick Haslow (see the project page for The Dark Tide IV: Xizor's Web).

  • The Making of Operation Archangel

    The creator of the popular Operation Archangel series, Lionel Fouillen, takes a look back at the first two parts, and the upcoming Part 3. This articles was originally posted as a feature at Dark Forces: 1999. At first, it was not transfered here due to the unfortunate cancellation of Archangel 3. Now, circumstances have changed...
    (Modified from the original version).

  • The History Interviews

    James Milne questions a few Dark Forces veterans about their early editing efforts, their best work, and how far they've come.