DM FNB Temple Of Dragons

DM FNB Temple Of Dragons

UT DM/TDM - Large alien world ancient temple - Started November 2002

When earth exploration teams discovered the ancient civilizations of planet Sigma Epsilon 4, colonization soon followed - and with it Liandri Corporation. Wherever humans settle in the cosmos, there is the tournament. In the valley of DRAK'D'GKOR stand several ancient temples built by alien warrior races. Four of the temples have been converted into arenas by Liandri, where you must do battle. Be wary gladiators, the humans have committed a sacrilidge, and the ancients will have your blood for it...

Temple Of Dragons was originally intended was to be the last (and most challenging) of a series of four Ancient Alien Temple maps set in the same locale. The first map of the series was FNB-Ring-Of-Stones, was actually released and indicated the story setup for the locale, but unfortunately, the other three maps didn't follow for one reason or another (oh damn you FnB). They do exist, but over time the series "concept" was abandoned.

TOD has had my attention on and off for years, and has evolved quite a bit from it's original DM design. It became more detailed and now uses a lot of WOT textures as well as the old UT Ancient stuff. It has a similar feel to RoS except the setting is earlier in the day so it is brighter in the outside areas and there is shadow work throughout the map. Polys get high in a few areas as well, but are not crazy. That said, Frame Rate is decent overall.

For the most part, the problems that plagued this map during it's long existence have been solved mainly because I became much better at mapping in general after 2002 (and in particular fixing BSP bugs) when the original map was started. Over time, some areas were simplified and others made a bit more detailed. Since 2005, I have been picking away at little bits of it (actually the greatly expanded Assault version) and low and behold it's looking like it's almost there.

I'd also like to add more ambient static elements, hopefully with meshes rather than BSP, because adding more brushes now will likely bring BSP issues like HOMs or collision anomalies. The map plays really well right now, so adding more detail may actually hurt the map rather enhance it (older and wiser now - I don't view high detail as absolutely necessary any longer) Especially if adding eye-candy compromises the build or the maps performance when loaded up with BOTs or players.

The cool thing about the TOD design is that it is quite adaptable (with minimal changes) for several UT game types: DM, DOM, AS and now Monster Hunt. What makes this possible is the fact the has six very different gameplay areas which are formed into a cross (i.e. N-S-E-W and a middle). Multiple warp zones connect the areas in an end-to-end and end-to-sides manner. The result is quick movement between all areas making it ideal for DM and DOM, while the removal of certain warp zone "paths" tailor the map flow for more linear Assault and Monster Hunt.

So, likely, whenever the DOM version of Temple Of Dragons s completed, I'll create a DM version from that. Not sure when that will be though. Cheers