ASDOOM][: The Final Countdown (Part Two). First revision, 20/10/94. Please read ALL of this file before beginning play, especially the section entitled CONDITIONS OF USE as this details what you may and may not do with these files. There was a certain amount of "confusion" (what a diplomat) with the original ASDOOM levels, with a few odd people doing several of the things that I had asked oh-so-nicely for them not to do. Please don't let it happen again. I have tightened up the wording a little, for the sake of clarity, and I apologise to those of you who would never have dreamed of doing anything untoward anyway. "Beware the fury of a patient man." - John Dryden. INTRODUCTION Welcome to ASDOOM][, a series of completely new levels for id's DOOM ][. This archive, ASD2_PT2.ZIP, contains the second three new levels. You should try to secure the first archive, ASD2_PT1.ZIP, as well since the levels included here follow on directly from those in Part One. ASD2_PT1.ZIP also includes the earlier plot text. This text has not been repeated here as it is intended that you play Part One and Part Two together, so get hold of that first archive! All DOOM levels these days seem to have to have individual names (like UNDERHALLS or ENTRYWAY), so I decided to give mine names too: Level four is called GOING DOWN?, level five is HELL OF A KNIGHT and level six is imaginatively titled THE HEAT IS ON. In each case you'll have to find out why the hard way... ;) For the ultimate experience play all six levels in a dark room (the darker the better!) on Ultra Violence. If you do this I can guarantee you one of your best games ever (assuming that you live long enough to enjoy it). :) DEDICATIONS A full list of dedications may be found in the file ASD2_PT1.TXT in the first ASDOOM][ archive. I am still grateful to all of those people, but not repeating their names again saves you download time... MO' MONEY... You thought that I was going to demand some cash, right? Well calm down, I'm not going to. No need to part with anything that you don't want to. I'm going to go on designing levels of this quality (or better) until I get fed up, and you can have 'em for nothing if you like. Send me some money if you can and if you want to. I wouldn't want you to think that I'll get upset if you do, I just won't get upset if you don't. :) INSTRUCTIONS Decompress this archive if you haven't already. Place all files in your DOOM2 directory. None of your existing files will be altered by playing these levels, but if you feel nervous make sure you back up your DOOM2 files first. Once all of the files are in your DOOM2 directory simply change to that directory and type ASD2.BAT to play the new levels. This batch file is designed to get you straight in to the new levels without the need to set anything up first. A message will appear telling you that you are playing modified levels - this is no cause for alarm. Press Enter to continue. Once DOOM2 has loaded choose a difficulty level and play as normal. -------------------------------*IMPORTANT*----------------------------------- CONDITIONS OF USE Copyright for these levels remains with the author. You are welcome (even encouraged!) to have fun with these levels yourself, and to pass them on to as many other people as possible so that they can have fun with them too, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: * This compressed file (zip or arj or whatever) must be passed on in its entirety with all files present and unaltered in any way. You may not add to or detract from what is here, just pass it on exactly as it is. * You may not use these levels as a basis for alterations to produce levels. * You may not sell any of the ASDOOM or ASDOOM][ levels or include them (or a derivative of them) on any compilation which will passed on for profit (e.g. sold), or given away (e.g. strapped to the cover of a magazine) WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PRIOR PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR IN WRITING. Use, decompression or duplication of this software indicates total and unquestionable acceptance of these conditions. I am not trying to be difficult here, but I've worked long and hard on these levels (over forty hours EACH) to enhance and extend your enjoyment of a great game. All I ask in return is that you respect my labour, please. I have extensively playtested these levels and plenty of other people have tested them too, but please note that I cannot be held responsible for the use of, or inability to use, these files. ---------------------------IMPORTANT - SEE ABOVE------------------------------ BACKGROUND You press yourself further into the small space, trying to ensure that there are no parts of your body still exposed. This level seems quiet now that you have finished blasting merry hell out of everything on it, but you can't shake the feeling that bullets (or missiles or razor-sharp teeth) might rake across you at any moment. While you are down here it probably pays to be paranoid. You pull the communicator out and power it up. The damn thing has been bleeping for the last five minutes, trying to attract your attention but only succeeding in giving away your position to the swarming demons (may they rot in peace). You keep one eye on the corridor, the other on the communicator. The picture is fuzzy, but Diaz is on the other end. "Hello, Major, Diaz here. How are you?" "Well, Colonel, I'm alone on the planet, about a mile underground, surrounded by homicidal hell-spawn. How do you think I am? What are you anyway, my mother?" "You are 1.463 miles underground. And your mother is supposed to look after you, protect you, help you to stay away from trouble. I suppose that at this moment I am indeed your mother." "Okay, Ma, have it your way. I have to tell you that beaming me in here means that you score low marks in the "helping me stay away from trouble" category. And do you think that in future you could avoid calling me when I'm in the middle of a running battle with half of the ex-denizens of Hell?" "Certainly. We had heard nothing from you since you entered the garrison, and you were making us nervous. Check in regularly from now on and I will have no reason to contact you." "Fine. Anything else that you'd like, or can I go back to chaos and mayhem now?" "I need to check some data with you. It is very important, so please pay close attention." You treat Diaz to a quick glare, then go back to watching the corridor for any signs of movement. "I'm listening, Colonel. I thought that you were on a countdown." "We are. I just need you to confirm a few facts for me. Since your insertion we have been experiencing occasional decreases in the demonic power currently holding the fleet. There was a small drop just before you left the garrison, then two large drops in quick succession a short while before you exitted the catacombs. Finally there was another large decrease a few minutes ago. Can you shed any light on this?" "Yeah, those timings would all coincide with when I iced a major demon. Are they weak enough yet for you to break free?" "No. The hold on us has not weakened at all, but it seems that the demons are now having to divert their power from other areas in order to maintain their pull on the fleet. As a result we are now able to scan their base much more thoroughly." "Have you got any useful information for me?" "Possibly. I have suspected all along that the force holding the ship might be the combined strength of many of the larger demons, and you have now confirmed that fact. My sensor teams have been scanning the levels below you to try to find further targets for you." "How nice. What have they found?" "You have now pacified the level designed to allow the bunker occupants to defend themselves against assault. You will now enter the main bunker. There seems to be some form of central shaft with rooms arranged around it." "What's in the rooms?" "It is hard to tell. The motion trackers do not penetrate very well to your depth, and we are obviously reading no life signs other than your own. If the records on the bunker are accurate there will just be old storage material and the odd item of powered-down computer hardware. The base was virtually stripped before it was abandoned. Automated systems will be in total disrepair since no-one has been down there for several decades. Even the base doors are likely to be unreliable, opening at random or refusing to close properly." "That's not much to go on, Colonel." "As I said, we have been scanning for the large demons, and there do not seem to be any on that level..." "Can I have that in writing?" "No, you may not. We have managed to isolate several large demons on the next level down though. Their power is easy to triangulate while they are directing it at the fleet. The level that they are on provides energy for the underground complex, so expect to see generator equipment down there. Be warned that there are at least three of the larger demons on this level. There must be more of them somewhere if my estimates are correct, but we have yet to locate them. It is possible that we have missed them when scanning the earlier levels, or they may have somehow managed to get under the base. Proceed with extreme caution." "The thought had occured to me. How can they get UNDER the base, if you don't mind me asking?" "We were not aware of this initially as it does not show on any of the base schematics. It seems that natural caverns exist below the base at a depth of almost two miles. The environment there is extremely hostile..." "It isn't exactly friendly up here!" "...with temperatures in excess of human tolerance in most areas. You cannot survive down there unprotected." "But I do have to go down there?" "It would seem likely, Major. The environment in the caverns probably suits the demons quite well, so they may seek to retreat there. You must follow and annihilate them." "But you said that the heat will kill me." "Unprotected you would die in minutes. However the bunker staff apparently conducted some investigations into the caverns to ensure that there were no other entrances into their secure base. They had protective clothing stored in strategic areas in sufficient quantities for whole teams of scientists and soldiers to survive down there for some time. They also built a number of defensive positions, so not all of the caverns are natural. According to the records of the budget for this installation a great deal of construction was due to take place in the caverns. I have no way of telling how far it had progressed. However I am sure that you will discover plenty of abandoned equipment." "You want me to use their supplies?" "Unless you have a more viable suggestion, Major, I would recommend that course of action. I have thought of a way to help you. My sensor teams will scan for the protective suits that you will need. Before you enter the caverns use the interface on the communicator and connect it to your automap. I will download the locations of as many of the suits as we can find. Check your map carefully, and plan ahead. Do not allow your protection to expire, or you will die. The only areas which may be safe are those where you find ex-humans. They are less resistant to the heat than the other demons, so their presence may signify temporary safety." "Swell. Anything else?" "No, not at this time." "Okay. Back to work then. Thanks for all of that GOOD news. I'll speak to you later. And don't call me, I'll call you." "Very well. Goodbye for now, Major." "Goodbye, Mother." The screen goes dark, like the base around you. Three large demons. At least. You edge out from your hiding place, eyes sweeping the darkness. Time to go and find them... CONTACTING THE AUTHOR If you can give me frank, open, honest, constructive feedback on ASDOOM][ (without leaving any noticeable bruises) I'd love to hear from you. If you have access to comms post a message to Andy Sheppard in the UK DOOM echo of Fidonet (it should find me) or e-mail me at the address below. If I don't reply it means that I haven't received your marvellous missive! Send it again. As an absolute last resort you can contact me via snail-mail at: Andy Sheppard 89 Gordon Road Corringham Stanford-le-hope Essex SS17 7QZ England. I don't actually live there (so keep it clean please) but I'll get your mail (eventually)! I do listen to the feedback that I receive, and use what I'm given to try to enrich the later levels as I create them. Don't be shy! KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH ASDOOM][ None - yet! These levels need a fairly powerful machine to get the very best from them - 486DX and 8Mb RAM recommended, but it'll run on less. If your PC is struggling a bit please either reduce the size of the playing window (by pressing "-") or decrease the detail level (by pressing "F5"). If you encounter a problem please let me know. I'll try to fix it ASAP. I hope you enjoy these levels. I enjoyed creating them. There will probably be an ASD2_PT3.ZIP. Be on guard for it... andyshep@sound.demon.co.uk ;)