Mapsets - Pick your recommendations please!

Well I've played or at least made a clear decision about the worthwhileness of many pure 6 episode, 60-level (or SoD 21-level) mapsets, but there are some that I simply haven't made my mind up on yet.

So, in the list above, I list such ones, followed by their authors when known. To prevent the list from getting insanely excessive in length (as it's already very big), I've only listed full 60- and 21-level games. All the Wolfenstein games are above the SoD games on the list. Please pick any and all that you've played and would confidently recommend playing, and commentary is welcome if you'd like!

I've really only played Ipank's mapset. Wolfbel I prolly have, but it was ages ago. You know what? I think sometimes the authors should try a map or two where they try to make something completely different, to see what ends up in the end. Break away from the usual mapping style. Helps prevent tedium.

Didn't play any of them.

I thought that FWIW I'd list the ones I didn't mention (still strictly only 60- and 21-level mapsets) and why:

For reason already decided NOT worthwhile (so this is my 'trash bin' and it's quite large; please point out if you think I've excluded any gems):
-Anything by: Joe M,, Sandy, Kyo Kusanagi/Richter Belmont, Fred Kenny, or Ken/Melissa O'Brien
-Anything by Robert S. Bradbury that I didn't include because the levels are copies of ones I did include when looking in an editor
-Anything containing Creator or modified Creator levels
-Anything saying the maps all come from another 60- or 21-level set
-Acktung! (ack - only because I've already played Acktung! 2: TLW making it pointless to play this)
-Beltran (Marty Beltran)
-Cover of Darkness (Liso1 and Mek)
-Domination (Barry Christian)
-Gex's Spear Levels Pack (Various)
-The Grail of Eternal Life (Marcus Svensson)
-Gravestein 3000 (Thomas Hubert - exception: I do plan on possibly playing Episode 6. It's by Brian.)
-Guild of Darkness (Tetraarchangel)
-The Holy Grail SDL (Josh - I've already played every map this consists of anyways.)
-Justin (Rampage Games Inc.)
-Kenny (Gaming X)
-The Lost Fortress (Barry Christian)
-Nazi Alert (Maxim Zhukov)
-Op. Ubermutant (Matte Software
-Operation Scorpion (Tornado/Waterdog)
-Revenge (Osiris)
-Sam's Spear of Destiny Add On Levels (Sam)
-Schabb's Resurrection (Nate Smith)
-Spearfishwolfbones (Thomas Weiling - The designs didn't look like much in an editor, not what I'd expect from Thomas but it's okay to have a weak set or two)
-Shankenstein (Author unknown)
-SoDBlast2 (Chuck and Dave Archer)
-SOD Floors (Jamie E. Edwards)
-Spear of Bullsh*t (Nathan Linebuck)
-SweetSOD (Author unknown)
-WLF3D_60 (Barry Christian - Looking at these maps it's unbelievable this is the SAME AUTHOR that made Armageddon and TRTN, While also above on the not worthwhile list, even Domination looks like 100x better than this tripe.)
-Wolfm2 (Nate Smith)
-Wolf_Run (Author unknown)

For reason already decided is worth playing:
-Conflict in the Fatherland (BJ Rowan)
-DHW SDL SoD Mapset
-DHW SDL Wolf3D Mapset
-The Golden Episoes (Arielus)
-The Renovation (BJ Rowan - On the edge decision, but some of the levels look pretty nice)
-Spearmpixsod (MP Entertainment [Marteen Pinxteen])
-Super Haven Mapset (various - Not for all 60 levels but for levels by Schabbs/Brian [approx 15], ack [9], Thomas Weiling [6], WLHack [4], and Havoc [1])

For reason already played (will give brief opinion):
-Acktung! 2: TLW (ack - excellent set)
-Alliance of Powers (HellRaiser and StormBringer - excellent set)
-Archives Volumes 1/2 (ack - both very good to excellent)
-Arielus' Wolfenstein 3D (Arielus - overall very good)
-Chrono Spear of Destiny levels (Chrono - pretty good overall, will suit original SoD fans, aside from Floor 13 which is a Return to Danger ripped map)
-SoD Haven Style (Dark_wizzie - Way, way too hardcore for me. I didn't even finish it. Technically a 'trash bin' set, but I did try it so it ends up here.)
-Spear of Destiny Mappack (Megabyte - very good, moderate size levels to play through)
-Spear Revisited (Executor - overall good to very good)
-This Spear (Dark_wizzie - very good set, reminds me of ack but a bit more extensive, huge improvement over SoD Haven Style)
-Trilogy Revisited + Nocturnal Missions (serpens - mostly good early levels, very good to excellent later levels)
-W.O.L.F. (Thomas Weiling - excellent set)
-Wolfen60 (Various - Not really worth it in this day and age. I've played it because back in the '90s all I had for extras was the CD 'Wolf3D Mania' and this happens to be the 60-level set it contains. Back then I pretty much played to death whatever I had.)

I'll give some of the mapsets a whirl, a quick playthrough. When mapsets are too easy, it ruins the fun for me. It doesn't need to be SHS level, just enough to keep me on my toes. What's the fun if I have 100% hp and 99 ammo at all times? I'll be looking for the challenge, the flow, the decoration, the variety. I'll try to post my opinions today or tomorrow.

Mapping design is great, but some Kyo Kusanagi mods I think, were worth trying out, because they are not original wolf3d mapsets. Some nice coding going on over there. Spear of Dreams SE didn't faeture the best mapping, but I still had some fun and for some reason I dig some of the music there.

Acktun 1/2, Archives 1/2 I've already mentioned in the past.
Haven Mapset - I'd personally play to see, as I've said before, the different mapping style.

I'll also try Ipank's set, it has been sitting on my computer for ages...

I disagree that playing Acktung 2 makes playing Acktung 1 pointless. That's like saying all of Thomas' mapsets are pointless because I've played his latest entry. A little typo last post of mine, I emant Super HAVEN mapset, not SHS - I think it's a decent trip to experience different mapping styles, as I managed to get a wide variety of mappers, some of which have not made their own seperate mapsets still. I'm playing Ipank's set right now.

Ipank's set is quite decent. His enemy placement got me killed a few times at the start. Does have a bit of marching guards and dogs around, levels are decently challenging. (I'd say This Spear level of difficulty.) Mapping seems solid, his prison levels have many corridors with cell rooms, and a few rooms with many cages, corpses, etc. I think it's worth playing. Although, we do have to look realistically at the mapset size - 60 levels! In order to sample more mapsets and have more variety, I can't manage to play all 60.

I'll play more in a jiffy.

I'd say the best 4 (at least very good) are:

Thomas Wolf3D

Dunkelberg

Ipank 7000

Wolf_CC

The Sod_CC, Red Sunrise and Ariel Spear of Destiny come close.

Thanks

If I recall aren't Dunkelberg and Red Sunrise both by the same author (who has never made anything since)?

Also I didn't include this in the poll but what would you classify Golden Episodes as (would it take a top four spot)?

WolfForever wrote:Thanks

If I recall aren't Dunkelberg and Red Sunrise both by the same author (who has never made anything since)?

Also I didn't include this in the poll but what would you classify Golden Episodes as (would it take a top four spot)?

Yes they are by the same author Michael Kalous. Golden Episodes I would class as excellent and would take a top four spot. The only thing I don't like about it is the very difficult to beat E5L1 level. Mutant equivalents with only a handgun.

I don't like that level either but I think it moderates a bit on E5L2 onwards so long as you don't start levels from scratch.