W.O.B.M . Survival CTM map

[RU Joe]

This is the official announcement of a coming Survival CTM map my friend RU Kitty and I have been working together on for a while now; a tribute {tribute, I say!} to showcase elements of certain mods I've enjoyed, and of course credit for those elements goes entirely to the mod creators.
Extra credit goes to the creators of MC Edit, without which the map would not have been possible.

So far it's grown by over 28 MB and a dozen or so new dungeons but I'm still not confident enough to post many screenshots; this is RU after all and certain standards of quality must be maintained.
:arrogant:

Therefore any screenshots I post will be limited to completed areas only as many changes are still being made.

I know many people never bother with mods since they're sometimes difficult to install, have so - so content, go out of date, etc., so I thought:

Why not make a map featuring as many of those different mod - created elements in a sort of showcase so those people who never saw those builds will have a chance to play them all together in one happy package? :clap:

What we couldn't generate, we cut and pasted using MC Edit.
What we couldn't cut and paste, we re - created block by block.

The toughest is the terraforming - and here's where I have to give lots of credit to the well - known makers of maps such as Vechs, Hypixel and so many others whose amazing works are posted on PMC and You tube.

Terraforming, often involving smoothing the edges where items have been imported into the map with MC Edit or where biomes from different game versions meet .. is not always easy and is way more time - consuming than I originally imagined.
Some places in the map simply could not be fixed, so I worked with it the best I could.

{bask in the chunky goodness of WOBM, the map that eats like a meal!}

http://www.retrouprising.com/img/2013_12/3095.jpg

The map is based on a {Robson's} MACE - generated city, featuring Novv's Medieval Building Bundle as well as builds from MegaMiner and Ghostdancer.

The MACE city generator named the map 'World of Black Monster', although Kitty don't like it

{the kit - ty don't like it, rock the casbah, rock the casbah!}
it remains the current name which may yet be changed.

On top of that I layered the Tale of Kingdoms Guild, City, and associated structures.
Then I ran MC Dungeon which added in 22 dungeons.
I re - created the Turtle Village from Witches and More since it was out of date.

The map also includes elements from:

Wars mod
Chocolate Better Dungeons
Mystic Islands
Shadow of Israphel
Instant Structures
Twilight Forest
Calmere Nightmare
Millenaire {* loose re - creations of villages due to mod - native blocks being absent}

as well as certain builds I've forgotten the origins of.:face:

Screenshot to be posted soon.
:search:

[Dudebro]

Lots of words I don't understand but I'm interested.

[RU Joe]

Thanks, DB.
Please ask about anything at all and I'll explain it best I can.



Even if no one likes it at all I'm going to play it for certain because I think it kicks arse, and it isn't even done yet!

[Kugyince]

Looks interesting, Joe.

[RU Joe]

Thanks for your support, guys.
If you have input or suggestions please let us know.

I don't want to give away too much at a time and spoil surprises, so today I'll tell you about the spawn area.

I don't like getting lost, and I'm sure you guys don't like it either.
In order to make it easier to orientate yourselves in the first part of the map, I divided the starting city into Quadrants:

Purple
Amber
Red
Blue

Time for a screenshot or two.
Those are blossoms on the trees, by the way.



The Guild, serving as both spawn and your entry into RetroUprising City {honestly did you think I would name it anything else?}:

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The Guild rests within the walls of RetroUprising City, in the Purple Quadrant:

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The Blue Quadrant:

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The Amber Quadrant:

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The Red Quadrant:

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[RU Joe]

Adding more variety.
Pretty boring if it's just a collection of dungeon after dungeon without much else to do but fight monsters, right?

SO besides the Complete The Monument aspect of it, I've added

Mazes {I'm still perfecting them}
Parkour {my first ever go at it actually}

.. and there will be .. other things you will be required to do/ figure out in order to locate certain items.

IN the meantime, I'm still working on it .. I'll get a good screenshot of something up here for you soon.

[RU Joe]

Random screenshot time!!
Just to give you an idea of the type of places you may encounter, I will post shots of random locations from time to time whilst I'm working on the map.

TO BE HONEST this thing is way, way bigger than I remembered {what she said?}, and .. I often get lost while I'm working on it, no joke.

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Not a bad thing, since my intention from the onset was to provide an experience of visiting many different locations - like the good old RPG's on the Nintendo NES (http://www.retrouprising.com/game-menu/nintendo/) ,and for that you need a lot of space!
:victory:

[RU Kitty]

:party:It is a great map!!!
I can't wait until it's done! Lots of interesting things to discover as you go through! Creative and challenging! Just smoothing out the experience now, but will have more after the holidays, promise!
Keep up the screenshots, Joe! They're awesome!!


:pirate:RU Kitty

[Kugyince]

Looking beautiful.

[RU Joe]

The longer this map takes to complete, the smoother it will play and the better it will look.:waiting::bulgy-eyes:

Setting things up to reward exploration.
There is loot everywhere which is easy to find - not the best gear, but can keep you alive.
The harder it is to find or get, the better the loot will be.

Also, because the map is so damn BIG, I'm counting on most loot simply never to be found by any but the most curious.

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[RU Joe]

This is a banner I'm trying to get working as my signature.
Even if it doesn't work, enjoy!
{click on picture for larger view}

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[RU Joe]

^ Thanks, Kitty.
The graphic is from Dragon Warrior 3 (http://www.retrouprising.com/arcade.php?act=Arcade&do=play&gameid=1148) » Nintendo (http://www.retrouprising.com/arcade.php?act=Arcade&ssearch=4) title screen.
Interestingly enough the DW series is also providing partial inspiration for the writing of W.O.B.M. too, along with other R.P.G.'s like Breath Of Fire (http://www.retrouprising.com/arcade.php?act=Arcade&do=play&gameid=592) » Super Nintendo (http://www.retrouprising.com/arcade.php?act=Arcade&ssearch=9) .

But then I suppose you could say all R.P.G.'s share the common trait {I'm shooting for} of having to visit townsfolk and talk with them to reveal storylines and also to gain clues to the games' goals.

[RU Kitty]

RU Joe--- I would like to see the screenshotz! Random, finished, clues, whatev, I'm interested! More screenshotz, shots shots shots, SHOTS!!! Everybody!

[RU Joe]

Kitty:
shots shots shots, SHOTS!!! Everybody!Ok, ok, but bear in mind this area is still W.I.P. and the final product may be slightly different than shown.

Side note:
I'm having a lot of fun putting this all together - I wish I could just post it right now for you all to play but it would be cutting it way too short .. there are edges that still need smoothing.

The other thing taking so long is that around the time I posted this thread I came across a whole whack of builds I copied and pasted into the map, and now those builds are being incorporated into the storyline ..

And in turn, the storyline is also being smoothed, with characters I'm pretty sure most retro Gamers will be very familiar with .. lots of 70's and 80's pop culture references as well, which I know you will all get a hoot out of even if you don't catch the references themselves.

Enough talk!
NOW on to the pic: , Happy New Year, Everyone!

{click on picture for larger view}

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[Kugyince]

If you're in need of some playtesting, just let me know.

[RU Kitty]

Thanx for the shotz; keep up the great work and keep them coming...!

[RU Joe]

Ten:
If you're in need of some playtesting, just let me know.Excellent of you to offer, and I hope you're still up for installing a redstone device or two because I think it's gonna need it .. I mean, it's interesting and all but there's only so much I can do with command blocks, as odd as that may sound.

I'm glad you brought up testing; I tested that section most recently shown and it didn't play right at all.
:mad-tongue:
Now I realize lots of other places need to be fixed as well, but better to have caught it now than later, I say.

The problem is potential Creeper damage; not that things couldn't be fixed but there's no telling where one may go off, and certain dungeons have one - shot redstone devices which cannot be reset.
Although I constantly make backup copies {no joke up to like version 39 now} I still don't like the feeling of not knowing whether one of those little buggers hadn't ruined something unseen, so 'live' testing has been very limited.

Also, I've been using the '@p' designation, triggered by pressure pads - which is causing problems with mobs stepping on them ..

AAAAAAAAAAA! :at-wits-end:
{That's a war face!}

Kitty, thanks for the words of encouragement.

[Kugyince]

I'd suggest player detectors. Mobs wont naturally spawn on certain blocks but a mob spawner can spawn mobs in mid-air.

I'd recommend something like a proximity detector. Vechs here uses them to set off TNT but you can use the redstone signal as you desire:
Vechs' Test World - Proximity Bomb (Slime-Proof 100% Stable)(V035) - YouTube

[RU Joe]

^
Vechs is an evil person.
{and anyone who's played his maps knows the challenge level is generally extreme - nearly impossible, even in SMP}
I understand challenge but that's just a bit too much TNT, IMO.

Thanks for the video, great idea but sadly many of the builds simply don't have the space even for the chicken - based model .. :-\ .. but some do.

Let me think about this for a while.

[Kugyince]

There's always space in the ground below. ;)

[RU Joe]

There's always space in the ground below. ;)
There's still great potential for this, but to solve my problem quickly I'm using Custom Mob Spawner, which makes usable MC Edit spawner schematics.
Done.

In the meantime, here's another screenshot:

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[Dudebro]

Can't wait to explore that map like you taught me JG. Burn the trees so you can see better.

[RU Joe]

Can't wait to explore that map like you taught me JG. Burn the trees so you can see better.
The entire map has a lining of TNT just under the surface, triggered by acts such as tree - burning.

:q

Seriously, I recall being the one running around planting the trees .. :-\

[Dudebro]

I remember a time long ago when you made a place far from the rest of us. I went to visit and we decided to walk back to town. You burned forests the whole way back. I suppose you've figured out a better way to explore since then.

[RU Kitty]

That doesn't sound like the tree hugger I know...!

RU Kitty

[RU Joe]

I found what I think would make the perfect victory monument:

I'm only joking, but wanted to share this amazing build by Hmsesang!

[hm] YURUYURI & K-ON! Minecraft Project (http://www.planetminecraft.com/project/yuruyuri-amp-k-on/)

How about another screenshot while I'm at it?

{click on picture for larger view}
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[RU Kitty]

Beauty, eh?!?

[Dudebro]

Looks good I can't wait to accidentally blow it up.

[RU Joe]

Looks good I can't wait to accidentally blow it up.
I'm glad you mentioned this; recently I discovered the exiting realm of GAME RULE COMMANDS!

Two I have enabled {as a Opped player in Creative Mode} are:

keepInventory - Whether the player should keep items in their inventory if they die.

mobGriefing - Whether creepers, endermen, ghasts, and withers should be able to change

blocks, or zombies, skeletons, and zombie pigmen can pick up items.

.. and between those two I think the map should be Humanly possible to complete now.
Beforehand I wasn't too sure.
Why?

Well, the map uses approximately 22 000 chunks {129 MB} and that's all I could get MC Edit to render at any one time.
This is not including the massive underground areas I have included as well as .. other things which wouldn't be shown in that chunk count.

:redface:
I showed someone the map last night, and they told me it's insanely huge.
But as I've explained, the intention is to mimic the style of the old Role - Playing Games of the Nintendo NES (http://www.retrouprising.com/game-menu/nintendo/) , Super Nintendo (http://www.retrouprising.com/game-menu/super-nintendo/) , and Genesis (http://www.retrouprising.com/game-menu/genesis/) era, and as we all know, some of those games took a very long time to play and spanned a large {comparative} amount of space.

BUT PLEASE, if this is starting to sound unappealing in some way, let me know now.

What I mean to say is that, given the fact Tenser and Dudebro seem to be the only people besides RU Kitty who have expressed interest in the project - I am working in a vaccuum, so to speak, due to lack of input.

So, {anyone?} please tell me what you would like to see from the following options:

1. Full project - storyline, furnishings in buildings, smoothed edges, etc. with gameplay as described above.

2. Partial project - items for victory monument plonked here and there without any clues as to their location, no further storyline, no more smoothed edges, no more furnishings.

3. ???

Talk to me, people.
Tell me your thoughts.

[Dudebro]

Don't worry about too much feedback JG it's pretty obvious that your project is cool and you put a lot of effort into it.

If you want some help actually testing the world let me know. I am certainly no expert on MC and my past creations aren't epic or anything but I can derp around and see if anything breaks.

[RU Kitty]

I can't wait to play this when it's all finished! It's been fun doing some artistic smoothing and building.
It will be epic! Or an epic, whatevs...!)

[Kugyince]

Since its a survival map and not an adventure map I would go very light on the story.

I'd also like to see a "pre-start" area where the player can select some options. The ability to turn on a death counter, toggle keep items and mob griefing would be nice as well.

[RU Joe]

Since its a survival map and not an adventure map I would go very light on the story.

I've been thinking these exact things myself:
'How can it be a Survival CTM if it's got a storyline?'
:thinking:

I know!
It's a whole new animal - it's a

RetroUprising Retro - Gamer Map!
:pray::worship:

Yeah, that's the ticket - W.O.B.M. is a R.U.R.G.M.!

The storyline was my idea to send the player in the right direction to eliminate the need for exhaustive searching.
I also included elementary explanations of Cardinal Directions: North, South, East, West, to easier direct the player toward major destinations, and in case they don't know such as younger players may not for example.


I'd also like to see a "pre-start" area where the player can select some options. The ability to turn on a death counter, toggle keep items and mob griefing would be nice as well.

I tried this but it didn't work when in Survival mode .. I don't know why.
Death counter is a nice idea but isn't that a mod?

Not sure if having mob griefing is a good idea at all; those large ships I posted burned down from mob attack during testing, and there are several of the dungeons which include redstone that could be damaged or disabled by Creepers.

Keep Items is pretty much the only way I can think a person will be able to play this map since the difficulty is so high.
Again, testing on those ships proved too hard the first time around since I couldn't even get aboard, the point being I would have lost all my stuff, and game over.

Ender Chests were my first solution for this but what if you're too slow putting the loot into the chest?
IN certain areas the mobs are relentless, Gauntlet (http://www.retrouprising.com/arcade.php?act=Arcade&do=play&gameid=5420) » Coin Op (http://www.retrouprising.com/arcade.php?act=Arcade&ssearch=2) - style, believe me.
Your only option is to grab the loot and retreat.

I would like to post the current version but it's still too undone and full of gaps, but it's getting close ..


{click on image for larger view}
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[Kugyince]

I believe all that can be toggled using command blocks. Perhaps encase them in bedrock and just add a button in front and a sign explaining what each one does.

[RU Joe]

I believe all that can be toggled using command blocks. Perhaps encase them in bedrock and just add a button in front and a sign explaining what each one does.
Exactly the method I attempted.
I'm going to try to figure it out again and if it's not possible then maybe different versions will have to be posted?
Just an idea.

---------- Post added 02-03-2014 at 05:38 AM ---------- Previous post was 02-02-2014 at 10:01 PM ----------

A-hA!

http://www.retrouprising.com/img/2014_02/3220.jpeg

I figured out what was wrong with the Command Blocks - it wasn't anything I did wrong after all;

The player must press Esc, then 'Open to LAN' and 'Allow Cheats' - THEN it works perfectly!
:dance:
So now it's set up with toggleable keepInventory and mobGriefing gamerules.

http://nick.mtvnimages.com/nicktoons-assets/video/images/ren-and-stimpy/space-madness-2.jpg?format=jpeg&ampmatteColor=white

Default setting for doFireTick will be false, since as I pointed out fires aren't very compatible with builds like wooden ships.

Tenser, I really think the Death Counter is a mod.
In any case you can see everything when you press Esc, then 'Statistics' = your kill count is down near the bottom of the list.

[RU Joe]

{click on image for larger view}
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^
This is the 'Necromancer Dungeon', named after its original resident Boss {sadly present only within its native mod} and since it was made, draws me back again and again.
Yes I'm proud.


OFFICIAL UPDATE:
The map is now approximately 10% complete.
:doh:

{click on image for larger view}
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[RU Joe]

Well, there I was, building away when all of a sudden I see this:

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2014-02-22_22.25.49.png (http://www.retrouprising.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3327&stc=1&d=1393480037)

Not your normal 'world hole', like the ones we used to get back in Beta where you would fall out of the world when you stepped into them.
This is more like invisible blocks in this particular area, and when inside it you go all jittery.
x/

Yes, I could re - load this particular area from a backup save file, but I'm concerned that with all I've changed on this map, taken along with the fact it contains elements from well over a dozen different sources .. mods, builds copied and pasted from earlier versions, etc. I think we've reached the absolute limit of what the code will accept.
:o
To my knowledge this is the only such glitch on the map, but it isn't the first one; I've had to fix some other odd things along the way such as upside - down shingles on roofs and odd blocks I didn't place ..

So today is that day where I would appreciate your feedback on this project as it is.
:search:
You will start with the very best tools, armor, and weapons available to you both in personal inventory and in chests at spawn.
If you don't want to take them, there are lesser sets scattered throughout the map for those who want a full - on Survival experience.

Note:

This map is incomplete, has been re - started as an RPG - style project several times and retains elements of each incarnation.
When you come across messages, signs, books, etc. directing you to different areas please understand the destination mentioned may not be part of the current map.
Use the maps in your inventory, which show 90% of the available locations or their entrances.

I'm dying to hear your thoughts .. have fun!

http://www.2shared.com/file/ZYLUldgY/World_of_Black_Monster.html

* Minecraft file compressed in .zip format.

[Kugyince]

I'll give her a go this weekend.

[RU Joe]

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I know I already said the map is incomplete but thought I should add that there is no monument ATM, and many of the buildings in cities and towns are still empty.:wilt:
Some are furnished, though.

So far the focus has been toward getting the dungeons operating.

If I can I'll continue working on it; getting teleport locations coordinated and such - right now there are a couple here and there programmed to take you back to spawn, so if you see a button somewhere chances are that's what it's for.