BTMappackT2-b1
For the last few months I have been working on a version of the BTMappack for Tribes 2. I am near ready to release the first beta version of this mappack so I thought I would let the general community know of its existence.
The first beta version of this mappack consists of 11 maps.
1. BroadsideBTt3
2. CanyonCrusadeBTt2
3. DangerousCrossingBTt1
4. DesertOfDeathBTt1
5. FirestormBTt3
6. IceRidgeBTt1
7. RaindanceBTt1
8. RollercoasterBTt1
9. ScarabraeBTt2
10. SnowblindBTt1
11. StonehengeBTt1
"t" in the name signifies I consider it a "test" version.
Since Tribes 2 does not have a client download function I will release a test version for players and server admins to play test for a period of time. It will be a while before a more polished version is released.
If anyone can host the first release please PM me here on the forums. I expect the first release to be slightly less than 25 mbs in size.
The test versions of these maps are currently on my server "BearTown Tribes2". Unfortunately there is no download to client in TribesNext.
I have set up a personal blog at http://btmappack.blogspot.com
Stop on by if you're interested in following my adventures....and misadventures in mapping.
A couple pic links:
(sorry bout the size)
The first beta version of this mappack consists of 11 maps.
1. BroadsideBTt3
2. CanyonCrusadeBTt2
3. DangerousCrossingBTt1
4. DesertOfDeathBTt1
5. FirestormBTt3
6. IceRidgeBTt1
7. RaindanceBTt1
8. RollercoasterBTt1
9. ScarabraeBTt2
10. SnowblindBTt1
11. StonehengeBTt1
"t" in the name signifies I consider it a "test" version.
Since Tribes 2 does not have a client download function I will release a test version for players and server admins to play test for a period of time. It will be a while before a more polished version is released.
If anyone can host the first release please PM me here on the forums. I expect the first release to be slightly less than 25 mbs in size.
The test versions of these maps are currently on my server "BearTown Tribes2". Unfortunately there is no download to client in TribesNext.
I have set up a personal blog at http://btmappack.blogspot.com
Stop on by if you're interested in following my adventures....and misadventures in mapping.
A couple pic links:
(sorry bout the size)
Comments
STFU IF YOUR A MAN I DARE YOU TO PLAY DUEL MONSTERS WITH ME ONLINE.
http://www.gamefront.com/files/20278279/BTMappackT2_b1_vl2
Some things to keep in mind about this first version:
1. It IS a beta version. The maps are in a test state and not everything is done. Even so they should be playable for the most part. There WILL be a future update but not for quite a while.
2. All maps are client side. They do REQUIRE players to have a copy on their systems. If you are a system admin considering running these maps on your server please keep that in mind. If you are a player make sure you have the mappack installed before visiting a server running these maps.
3. There is NO vehicle support in any of the maps at this time. You may notice a couple maps that traditionally have vehicle support in other versions. These do not at this time. That will be added in a future version.
4. There is NO bot support in any of these maps. That may not ever be added in future versions.
5. One map has broken spawngraph support (ScarabraeBTt2). I hope to have that working in a future version. The map basically works but you will find one team spawning at the other teams base. (Hey, its a feature!)
6. Install is just like any other mappack for Tribes 2. Drop a copy in the base directory and you should be good to go.
7. I have no idea whether these maps will work at all with your favorite insertnamehere mod. YMMV.
8. While I have tested it over a period of several months I cannot claim it won't rape your cat, burn your house and or cause some other kind of deviant damage to something you love and cherish.
9. Most of the work in creating this mappack was done in the original Linux version of Tribes 2 from Lokisoft. Much of the other associated modeling and other graphics was as well. WinXP was used for some areas also.
10. The maps were migrated from the "Legends" version of the BTMappack. Legends uses a larger scale than Tribes 2 so many of the maps may seem "larger" than you are used to. Some of that may change in futures version depending upon how well each map plays.
11. All skyboxes were created by me. Almost all models were created by me with the exception of the main base in ScarabraeBT and the main base in BroadsideBT. DonnyKrun created those 2 interior models with me doing some texturing and alterations on them. (Thanks DonnyKrun!) All other assets are listed in various credit files contained in the vl2 file.
12. These maps are NOT finished. I am well aware of the various issues and will eventually be correcting and adjusting the maps in a future update.
13. The maps are currently running at my server, "BearTown Tribes2". which will be listed in the master server list.....when it is actually running and not crashed.
Thats it. Hope you enjoy the maps.
Bear
Thanks for pointing that out. I am aware of it and tried all the options listed there plus some from a couple other spawngraph tutorials. So far no luck. I also have a little script add on that allows you to customize the spawngraphs. If I can't get the spawngraphs to build the traditional way I may have to focus on that method.
I'm sure I will eventually get it to work in a future version. I figured I would be at it a while and since this release was meant to be a beta test version just to get it out to players to introduce it and basic testing I decided to let it go for now.
There are a number of other minor issues in that map as well. Base needs more changes/lighting etc. Of the maps included it is the least finished map.
Thanks again.
In reviewing download numbers for this mappack over at filefront I find that there have been a total of.......5 downloads since I released it. ( Thanks Mom
In an effort to perhaps break through that number ceiling and hit maybe as many as 6....or even 7 (hold on to yer hat Martha!) I thought I would post a bunch of cra......er.....stuff about each map and maybe even some pics. (if I am doing the attachments correctly)
1. BroadsideBTt3
This is a remake of the Tribes 1 map. The base interior models were originally by DonnyKrun with some later retexturing by me. The skybox is by me. The platform model is by me.
2. CanyonCrusadeBTt2
This is a remake of Doxx's great Tribes 1 map "Canyon Crusade". All interiors are by me.
3. DangerousCrossingBTt1
Another Tribes 1 map remake. Interiors are by me. Skybox by me.
4. DesertOfDeathBTt1
The very first Tribes 1 map I ever played after purchasing the game way back in the "ol days". The interiors in this remake are by me as well as the skybox.
5. FirestormBTt3
This is a remake of the Tribes 2 map Fire Storm. The interiors are by me and the skybox also. I took it in a slightly different direction but still fairly close to the original layout.
It will be a while before another update happens to this mappack. My basic working plan is to work on the BTMappack for Tribes 2 then bounce over to the version for Legends and then back to Tribes 2 and so on. Right now I am in the Legends phase.
Ok, thats all for now. Hopefully that inspired at least 2 more map adventurers to download this mappack.
Will post a few more pics soon.
Thanks for reading.
6. IceRidgeBTt1
A remake of the map from Tribes 1. All models are mine, as is the fogged in skybox.
7. RaindanceBTt1
A remake of the map from Tribes 1. All models are by me as is the skybox.
8. RollercoasterBTt1
A remake of the map from Tribes 1. Again all models are by me as is the skybox.
9. ScarabraeBTt2
A remake of the map from Tribes 1. The base models are originally by DonnyKrun with retexturing by me, platform models are by me. Skybox by me.
10. SnowblindBTt1
A remake of the map from Tribes 1. All models are by me as is the fogged in skybox.
11. StonehengeBTt1
A remake of the map from Tribes 1. All models are by me as is the fogged in skybox.
Thanks to those who have downloaded this mappack.
My focus will be on improving the original list of maps already released in the first beta and adding several maps that are by various authors who created content for Legends. These maps are all in the current released version of the BTMappack for Legends.
1. ArdenaBTt1
This is a map by Knochensage. All interior models are by him. The terrain is his. The skybox is by me. This is a small fast playing map set in an arena like large bunker environment with 2 small bases facing each other across the enclosed terrain. There is only one plasma per base but its placement makes flags grabs quite dangerous.
2. CleverlineBTt1
This is a map by Pakocino (AKA Pak). All interior models and the terrain are by him. The skybox is by me. This map features floating bases and platforms with a hilly terrain. Its a fast skiing map with plenty of grab routes and escape routes.
3. NerebusBTt1
This map is by Knochensage. All interiors and terrain are by him. The skybox is by me. The bases are positioned opposing each other on an island separated by a small bridge. The playing area is of medium size with very small hills on the terrain.
Unfortunately, because of the lack of an adequate download system in Tribes 2, these maps won't be accessible to visitors to my server. They are there, but with no downloads all I can do is show this preview until I can release BTMappackT2-b2.
My plans are to steadily add several more maps from the Legends side to the second beta version of the BTMappack for Tribes 2 to give Tribes players a chance to see what those authors who contributed to Legends over the years have been up to.
All credit goes to the original authors.
Thank you! Much appreciated.
Many of the textures are the same ones used with "Legends" and are mostly by "Evil Lair", a very well known texture artist and mapper from the Quake community. There are textures by other authors also and if you dig into the vl2 (zip) file you will find a list of credits.
Most of the Interiors are by me with the exceptions being the main bases in ScarabraeBTt2 and Broadsidet3. Those 2 bases are by a longtime Tribes modeler "DonnyKrun" with additional retexturing by me.
Sadly, not many have even looked at the maps so I do really appreciate your positive feedback. Legends has actually been quite a good game for a long time and overlooked by the greater Tribes community. A while back while experimenting with maps I realized I could "bridge" the 2 games with one basic mappack. While both games are different they are close enough that this is possible with some changes on each side.
There have been quite a few very nice maps created for Legends over the years by various authors. As time goes on I hope to add more of those efforts to this first core version.
One of the really sad things I see prevalent in both Tribes versions is a push for server side only maps which has resulted in a serious lack of original content that is leading to a steady stagnation of both games. That is truly a shame because IMHO opinion the basic Tribes style of game has far more depth and potential than the other 2 "big" games, Quake and UnReal. Those games mapping communities are thriving while in contrast, due to the lack of a adequate basic download function in both versions of Tribes for custom maps and content, there has been almost nothing new produced for either Tribes version for years. (Legends has had this download function all along BTW even though it downloads a bit slowly)
Even though many Tribes map authors have worked miracles with stock content you can only rearrange the same deck chairs so often........
If there is anything that really needs addressed in both versions of Tribes it would be a working download system.
Another goal I had for this mappack was to make it completely independent of the Tribes 2 game itself. Its pretty much there and at this time is only using one stock terrain texture that I could not find a decent candidate for elsewhere. With the exception of things like turrets and inventories all else you see in the BTMappack is not actually a part of Tribes itself. (used in IceridgeBTt1)
I made a conscience choice to not add BOT support to the maps but I have no objections to you doing it. Please preserve and use proper author credits for the maps and keep in mind the future releases/updates may bork some of what you do. The next version is a ways out. Likely sometime after Xmas or even later. I do most of my work when winter hits and keeps me from working outside so thats when I will resume work on it. It will be a while.
Again, thanks for taking a look and your comments. Very much appreciated.
Hey Roboto. Wandered into the forum after a few years being MIA. I see the links for the mappack have vanished as things tend to do on the Internet. I probably have a copy on my system somewhere. If you're still interested in getting it drop me a note here.
That's surprising, you're still alive. Welcome back! Hope you are well.
Yes, I'm still interested in having those maps. I'm not sure if I will bot support them anymore due to me being a bit lazy in the last years, but I might. Still, I at least want to wander around them and check them out, and also have them in case you disappear again so I can repost them for someone else to download.
The pics still look beautiful, and I can see a lot of work was put into those maps.
Another forum user is trying to track down a Windows version of Legends. I'm in the process of going through old hard drives. I'll look for a copy of the T2 version of the BTMappack as I am doing that. Once I find it I'll upload it to some T2 map sites and let you know when I've done that.
Oh yes, a LOT of work went into that. My original plans were to port over as many of the Legends maps as was possible to T2. Since the Legends material couldn't be used in that porting it involved a lot of going through each maps list of contents and substituting other textures etc to make the map usable in T2. I ceased work because the T2 community seems to think its too hard to download maps. These are all maps that require the player to have a copy of the mappack on their system rather than the no download variety most servers use.
The first released version of the mappack included all the T1 maps that were so popular in that game but generally missing in T2. I think they stayed pretty true to the original T1 versions.
The biggest issue involved with porting them over is scale. The 2 games (Legends and T2) used different player scales which meant a lot of tweaking to get them workable in T2. Otherwise the basics were the same between the two games.
I suppose I could upload a copy of the Legends version of the mappack as well in case someone wants access to all that material. There are quite a few custom models, textures, terrains, and skyboxes in it that could be used by someone ambitious enough to convert the maps to T2. All I ask is that anyone doing that include credits to each author who created the material. There is tons of stuff there. The last Legends version of the mappack contained something like 120 maps as I remember.
Alright, sounds good. Post the links when and if you find the T2 version. I appreciate it.
And yes, this is why these maps should have bot support. Because no one will download clientside stuff just to try out a new server. This will only happen to established servers and after at least a year of familiarity. So the only option is to play them offline against bots.
I don't know if anyone would port the rest of the Legends maps though, that sounds like a lot of work and there aren't many players left. I don't think anyone will do it. Still, I'd say post them just in case. Maybe even post some high quality screenshots of each Legends map if you have them, so we can at least look at the pictures if nothing else.
Good point on the Bot support.
My thoughts on the other material from Legends is that perhaps mappers out there in the Tribes community, if such creatures still exist, might find some of the material useful for their creations. Some of the T1 model recreations are nicer than many I have seen floating around in other maps for T2.
I came across a hard drive yesterday that "might" have the T2 version of the mappack. I have to put it into the system I used to used for all this and see whats on it. I used another system to open the drive with a Linux OS run from disc system to check the files on it did appear to a version of the T2 version of the BTmappack. Just not sure if its the released version or a test copy of it.
Will let you know soon.
Would be nice if you'd find a T2 version of the pack!
You know what they say...
lpbbear is da man!
Tanks! I'm sailing I'm sailing! :)
Man, I love that movie. Baby steps!
Here are a few screenshots from the Legends version of the BTMappack. These maps were not in the T2 version. Some of these maps were never released and some of these are from test versions that were released eventually.
That Blood Moon map is looking pretty slick. Nice.
Ok, this should be the first beta of the BTMappack for Tribes2. Give it a test and let me know if its working. I'm pretty sure this is the released version.
BTMappackT2 Contents List
CTF
1. BroadsideBTt3
2. CanyonCrusadeBTt2
3. DangerousCrossingBTt2
4. DesertOfDeathBTt1
5. FirestormBTt3
6. IceRidgeBTt1
7. RaindanceBTt1
8. RollercoasterBTt1
9. ScarabraeBTt2
10.SnowblindBTt1
11.StonehengeBTt1
I will give them a try and tell you if any of those do not work. Thank you for posting the map pack and the screenshots. Sad that the maps from the screenshots aren't in the T2 version, because they do look very good. Well, the plan is to try to bot support some of the maps from the T2 map pack version. If I can do it or not, that remains to be seen.
I hope they work for you. Its been 10 years since I have even thought about this project. I honestly don't remember if they all worked or not. I did run a server with them for awhile and remember them working but again its been a long time.
I have also found the second beta of the T2 version of the mappack but not sure of its working status. If I can get it working or confirm its working I'll post that also.
Did the pack work for you Roboto?
Haven't been able to test it yet but I'll tell you for sure tomorrow or the day after. I'll test each map.
I tried them all. Unfortunately, not all the maps are suitable for bots since the terrain size is not set to 8. Except Firestorm and Stonehenge, which could work with bots. I suppose I could modify the terrain size myself, but then it would require moving everything and the map would probably be different.
What I love about the maps here is the textures, skyboxes (especially in desert of death), and lightning. They have very pleasant lightning. I still hope in the future somehow the tribesnext match will allow custom map downloads so people can play these as well. That'd be awesome.
As for problems, here's what I found: In Scarabrae T2 players spawn directly at the enemy base. In Snowblind the middle towers could use some markers for guidance. And in Desert of Death, near a base at some ruins, the textures glitch a bit for me, meaning, I look at them and they're shaking a bit. Not a big problem, and maybe it's just my PC, but I attached a pic of the spot anyway.
I also attached some more pics to showcase the nice lightning and textures :)
What else to say except, thanks for coming back from the dead to finally post a link! That's still a big surprise, haha.
Yes, the terrain issue is due to Legends using a different scale compared to Tribes 1 and 2. The terrain files used for most of the maps were the original Tribes 1 ter files that were modified to fir the scale of Legends. In that first beta of the mappack I hadn't gotten to the point of changing them back to T2 scale. That was my long term never achieved goal.
I do remember the Scarabrae spawning issue. Another fix that never happened.
The texture issue in Desert Of Death is probably that the dif model is set just slightly low so that its occillating between the ter texture and the dif texture. Raising the dif a small amount should correct that.
Thanks for looking at them. Whenever I get the upload of the last Legends version together take a look at them in it. That last Legends version had the benefits of a newer Torque version than the one used in Tribes 2. The lighting was spectacular compared to T2.
Much appreciate the comments.
Man that last map kind of reminds me of a modern version of the long lost Crytek CryEngine 1 tech demo Engalus from their unreleased E3 2000 demo disc. I posted about it over at Vogons.org: https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?p=954362#p954362