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Timeline

The Elements of Map-Making Style

A nice document detailing some dos and don'ts about mapmaking. These are well thought-out... everyone making maps should read them-there's probably something you haven't considered here.

Elevation Preset Templates

A pretty intriguing idea-all elevations, from -8 WU to 8 WU in 1/8 WU increments have been already specified in the 128 polys already existing in these maps. (There are 5 maps-1 for each texture set.) If you can live with the limitation of 896 polys per level instead of 1024, you can use these as starting points for your own levels, and you'll find you don't need to define elevation levels for each altered poly. Pretty cool... The readme describes a few potential problems (nothing major), and workarounds for these. If you're building levels that don't need really bizarre elevations, these...

Marapose

Another one from the master. A tutorial/base for building Marathon sprites... includes three poser models, a detailed readme, and sample output picts. If you're thinking about creating new humanlike sprites, this is a wonderful place to start.

M2/Mi Photoshop CLUT

One question that has come up more than most is "How do I get the Marathon CLUT in a form I can use it?" Hamish Sanderson has answered that question, with two files: a Photoshop CLUT file (directly importable), and a PICT containing all the colors in a nice grid, that you can eye-dropper anywhere you need in any painting program. There are also some very useful hints on making Marathon artwork in the readme... if you're doing serious work in Anvil, and having troubles making things look right, get this file. 'Nuff said.

Map Exporter Documentation

Documentation for the Marathon Map Exporter. Contains info on exporting to various 3D games (including a few upcoming ones), and some discussion of the evolution of 3D games. Worthwhile reading for anyone looking beyond the Marathon universe for first-person-shooter games.

Guide to Using Unused Sounds Slots

Detailed information on reactivating (or activating, depending on your view) the unused slots available in the M2/Mi Sounds file. This is a great way to add new sounds, without losing what's already there. The doc mentions that you can see the technique being used in "M1->Mi Hunter conversion patch that this doc is bundled with"-while the patch does have these docs bundled, this version is just the docs. If you want the patch, you need to get it from the Alterations section.

Task-Sensitive Term Tutorial

A tutorial (with nifty pictures and an example map) showing how to allow multiple messages on a term without tying them to full level goals. That is, if you want to change the message on a term after a particular task is completed, but before all the level tasks are completed, this little guy will show you how. My wife says I wrote it because I was feeling like a cool technique we used a few years ago was unappreciated. I'd rather think it's useful info for the Marathon community.

M1 Map GIFs

A nicely done set of GIFs covering all the solo levels in M1. (Yes, it's been done before... but I don't think any of the originals are in the Archives... and these are pretty complete, with secret areas, save terms, and rechargers.) Worth a look if you're working your way through M1 again (or for the first time...)

Multiple Message Terminals

Wow. I wrote up a small tutorial to help people create terminals with more than one message in them. The day after I released it, Bo Lindberg sent me mail explaining that I'd taken the hard road, and that there was an easier one. (He also sent along a quick demo map.) I planned to add his info to the tutorial, but backburnered it... Two days later, I got mail from Jason Harper, who explained that your options in this field are nearly unlimited, and sent along a demo map, with a promise of a full tutorial to come. Here it is... and if this technique interests you, you need this file. The ex...

Thing What Kicks Spoiler Guide-updated

Most of the posts on the news group lately has been with folks needing help with this level concerning Marathon Infinity. Nick Lewis along with some help from Gary Simmons has put together a spoiler guide with text and picts that should help you through the level. This is a bin hexed file that you will need to debinhex and unstuff. Once unstuffing is complete drag the whole folder into your browser and use the "open file in browser" command to view the pages...Open up the "Main" folder first to read the first page... Joe Gardner has updated this to be standalone (that is, it no longer reli...

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