Since we are discussing story already, I decided to give mine "two cents" (as Firebrand usually sais), and tell how I see the possible Strife-like introductory cutscene, or movie even (if it is possible to make one). Here's a rouph scenario. This could be either sequence of static images with some animated characters maybe or movie like Rolls did for his mod, with text or recorded voice, whatever possible/fits best. Copy of this in a text file: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://downloads.orcishweb.com/koraxdev/crimson/krpg/design/intro_cutscene.txt">http://downloads.orcishweb.com/koraxdev ... tscene.txt</a><!-- m --> ===================================================== [Scenario for first intro cutscene (shown before Main Menu)] [Scene 1] A planet of Cronos in the space. [Text:] The World of Cronos... A trifling piece of materia floating in the enternal depths of the Ethereal Void... It could have existed in obscurity, but Fate decided it shall become a victim of Serpent Riders. [Scene 2] A picture of Korax; perhaps two other SRs on background, dimmed. Some chaos flames on background, or something [Text:] The Second Serpent Rider - Korax has arrived on Cronos, eager to put the world into chaos and set his throne on its ruins. [3 kneeled figures appear before Korax] Three leaders of Cronos succumbed to Korax'es power and became his slaves. The destiny of this land was almost sealed... [Scene 3] Three heroes stand, facing three directions (see our KA logo); maybe some monsters around and ruins on background with a bloody-red skies. [Text:] ...That was then three heroes arose. Baratus of the Legion, Parias of the Church and Daedalon of the Arcanum, - they decided to keep the faith to their land instead of loyalty to their corrupted leaders, and fight minions of chaos. To rush through the dark legions, to crush most unholy servants of Korax, in reckless attempt to meet The Serpent Rider himself. And they succeeded. [Scene 4] Three heroes battle Korax and his minions in a throne room. [Text:] That battle will stay incused on the pages of History forever. The Fighter, the Cleric and the Mage fought for the future of their homeland versus a child of Chaos. The time seem to halt its pace and Gods watched intently as combatants exchanged their mighty blows. And the minute came when Korax got his final strike! [A picture/animation of dying Korax and spirits fly around him] [Maybe some extra Scene 5 here about Baratus and Parias perished and Daedolon met the Chaos Sphere, or something; or maybe not] [Scene 6] Some peaceful pastoral image, maybe a road with some travellers/caravan walking or peasants; with ruins of some town/castle on background and maybe some workers building/repairing something. [Text:] The next morning Cronos woke up from a nightmare. The world lied in ruins, but winds carried breath of hope. The restoration begun, and new life grows, but as time passes the future does not seem so serene anymore. [Scene 7] Some shady characters speak about some secret things in a cavern or dungeon. [Text:] Without the protection of Legion criminal world strengthen and flourish. Without the holy word of Church the sects and cults spread like locust. Without the power of Arcanum forbidden magic is being studied. [Scene 8] A city in the valley and a long creepy shadow lies on it. [Text:] Meanwhile the remnant of Korax'es minions come to their senses after their master's death... Shadows of the past terror stretch on the ground... And the evil, scattered around the world of Cronos, commences to gather once again! [SE Logo]

<!-- s=D> --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/eusa_clap.gif" alt="=D>" title="Applause" /><!-- s=D> --> I like the idea! It's a good start for the game <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc2.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->, nice work. <!-- s=D> --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/eusa_clap.gif" alt="=D>" title="Applause" /><!-- s=D> --> I don't think a video is possible as of now, but it's very possible to make a cut scene like that of Strife, so we can start with that. Another possibility is to use a scripted TITLEMAP, both are good calls if you ask me <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc9.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->.

What's the difference between a scripted TITLEMAP and the cutscene intro à la Strife?

[quote="RambOrc":246fv70m]What's the difference between a scripted TITLEMAP and the cutscene intro à la Strife? If I understand this correctly, TITLEMAP, is a ... map. <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc2.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> It is loaded when you run Vavoom and run on background of Main Menu. Think of Unreal or UT (old one), for example. Cutscene "à la Strife" is a sequence of static pictures, shown before main menu.

Yep, that's right <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc9.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->.

How far customizable is such a titlemap?

[quote="RambOrc":2ygfszkn]How far customizable is such a titlemap? As far as a normal map, I guess, except for it does not have a player on it (not sure, but that would be most logcal). I never tried to make one, but examples I saw used a flying camera, controlled using "patrol point" things and map scripts. EDIT: I just checked Strife (original and in Vavoom), I was mistaken, that cutscene is being shown not before menu, but on background, its like same changing title/credit pics in Doom/Heretic/Hexen, just there are more of them and voice added. EDIT2: I wonde, can we have both, a cutscene and a TITLEMAP? For I personally would prefer a Strife-style cutscene, if possible (read - if artists would make the pictures <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc2.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> ). Then, there could be a TITLEMAP downloaded after cutscene. I suppose it could be coded his way.

Just as Strife has several more cutscenes like its intro throughout the game, we should have one for the end/beginning of each chapter too. And I think the first cutscene would be better placed at the start of a game, i.e. after the player rolled and customized his character and enters the world, especially as this allows to add a bit of custimization to this intro scene depending on player class (and thus being part of the corresponding order). Is there any video I can check out for an example of a titlemap in action?

[quote="RambOrc":1a23pin4]Is there any video I can check out for an example of a titlemap in action? Here, I uploaded an old version of Alex_bomberman's Quaked Dimension (8 mb): <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://downloads.orcishweb.com/koraxdev/vavoom/QD.ZIP">http://downloads.orcishweb.com/koraxdev/vavoom/QD.ZIP</a><!-- m --> Unpack this to Vavoom folder and also make sure there's Doom or Doom2 wad in it, then run like "vavoom -game qd". It will take some time to start, because of TITLEMAP, so wait patiently.

I don't have either. I thought I still have Ultimate DOOM but couldn't find it, only Heretic and Hexen.

[quote="RambOrc":1btrx6t1]I don't have either. I thought I still have Ultimate DOOM but couldn't find it, only Heretic and Hexen. Umm, sorry. Anyway, I made a simplier one, based on castle of grief map: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://downloads.orcishweb.com/koraxdev/vavoom/castgr_tm.wad">http://downloads.orcishweb.com/koraxdev ... tgr_tm.wad</a><!-- m --> Run it with Hexen game.

So it's basically just a flyby, or can scripts be triggered depending on where the camera is? How advanced authoring is possible with a titlemap? If the QD example is more complex, maybe someone can capture it and upload to youtube or something?

[quote="RambOrc":3ntsni9o]If the QD example is more complex, maybe someone can capture it and upload to youtube or something? Nope, it isn't mor complex. [quote="RambOrc":3ntsni9o]So it's basically just a flyby, or can scripts be triggered depending on where the camera is? How advanced authoring is possible with a titlemap? I'm telling you, it is a real map. <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc2.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> It even has a player on it, although I doubt it would be good idea to give user control over him. All scripts work, all monster AI work. Camera flyby itself is controlled by script, it isn't some kind of native feature of TITLEMAP. If you look into script, platform you see in the central building is lowered down after some time (calculated so that it happen when camera is near).

Actually, we can combine both <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc2.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->, I'll explain myself, we can have "static" pictures shown by static cameras, pointing to the direction where the static pictures are drawn, they can be used as textures in dummy square/rectangle sectors <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc2.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->, and also combine all what has been already mentioned, like scripts, special lightning effects, etc. The script can be as complex as we need/wish, we don't have any limits on what to put on the TITLEMAP, I guess that speaking of artwork, it's easier to do things for a TITLEMAP, since they can also be reused for normal maps IMO, I'm not against Strife type cut scenes neither, but they are going to be slower to do and more difficult (but it's nothing is impossible, right? <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc9.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->).

Since one of the defining moments of the Korax' Heritage: Scattered Evil story is the battle on the plains where the three heroes fight a huge monster army, we could make that into the title pic, without adding any text or anything to it - just let people wonder what that battle is and look forward to it.