Trail of Schabbs - SDL

It is time to start a proper thread for the new Trail of Schabbs as the old one is too out of date (you could say that nearly everything has changed after that).

So what is different? Well, compared to the False Spear SDL, there will be a bit more of everything, but to mention few key features:
- Two new types of syringes. The other one of them (purple) will give player a perfect accuracy with weapons for a limited amount of time.
- Armor. Player can now protect him-/herself from the enemy bullets, but in exchange enemies have become deadlier.
- Slightly edited palette (the left one is from TFS and old TOS - the right one is the new TOS palette):
(B.J's face in old and new palette)...
- More enemy types, e.g. doctors. Also there will be more different death animations.
- 25 regular levels and 5 secret ones. Also some of the leves are timed like the level 2 in Wintersturm.

Also I have been thinking of making TOS more episodic... Even though the game has seamless progression like TFS, it can be divided to a five level (+ one secret) long chapters that each one of them has their own main boss. After you have won the game, you can start the game from any chapter you like. Another idea is to bring back the Death Cam, but instead of ending the game, it will just end the level.

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I will be updating this post, and my blog, with the current status in every two weeks:

Maps:	0%
Walls:	59,43%
Objects:	0%
Enemies:	34,70%
Weapons:	71,43%
Music:	0%

Good luck with this project!

doomjedi wrote:Good luck with this project!

Thanks...

I am looking forward to this. I was looking forward to the original TOS as well, and to see this is back is awesome news! Will this use midi music like in TFS-SDL?

I Wish you luck too!

lilmanjs wrote:I am looking forward to this. I was looking forward to the original TOS as well, and to see this is back is awesome news! Will this use midi music like in TFS-SDL?

Yes it will...

WolferCooker wrote:Any new weapons besides the ones from The False Spear? i.e. Blitzgewehr?

Yeah... There will be more weapons to give player more variety to choose from... Also some weapons might be chapter specific.

Maybe you can make player classes with different weapons...adds to the replay value and tactics....BJ can have allies....Sniper, HeavyGun, Silent Ghost....
Maybe you can even select characters for an episode - or even every (or some of) particular level. After reading breif description of the upcoming facility and deciding which one to use.

doomjedi wrote:Maybe you can make player classes with different weapons...adds to the replay value and tactics....BJ can have allies....Sniper, HeavyGun, Silent Ghost....
Maybe you can even select characters for an apisode - or even every (or some of) particular level. After reading breif description of the upcoming facility and deciding which one to use.

¨
That would be interesting idea... Well, I need to think about it.

WolferCooker wrote:I have a few requests.

- can all weapon SFXs come from the old-school WWII Medal of Honor games just like the SFX you used for the medicinal canteen?

I was thinking of using them more, but will see..

WolferCooker wrote:
- 128 X 128 maps instead of 64 X 64?

That is something I am still thinking about as it would mean that I need to change the map editor I am using... Well, in this point of development it wouldn't be a big deal though. Anyway, if there is need for larger maps, I might start using bigger maps.

WolferCooker wrote:
- Hold more Panzerfaust rockets since The False Spear still has a problem with that

Unfortunately that is something I am no going to change for the sake of realism... I know there is a reloadable variant out there but I am still sticking in with this one.

WolferCooker wrote:
- Perhaps add one more syringe powerup to boost weapon power for a limited time when faced with  tons of enemies at once.

There will be six different syringes in total (one used only by the enemies) and I think the purple syringe will already do something like that that... If you use the purple syringe you will have perfect accuracy meaning all bullets will hit exactly the same spot. With weapon like shotgun, machinegun or even the STG-prototype, I think you can imagine how easy it will be to clear a room full of enemies.

Time for a small update...
I have been making the walls and objects for the different themes of the game and I think most of walls / items for the dungeon and facility areas are done. Also I have completed all the different doors I will be using in this game and unlike in TFS, there will be even different door sides. I still won't update the percentage though as I need to complete the list of all items/walls I going to use in this project.

Anyway here is small spoiler mostly of the new facility walls:


Also the temporary chapter names:

Spoiler:

I'm liking the steel. Looks really nice, and those chapter names are good!

Time for a quick update:
- Added support for 128x128 maps.
- Added armor for both player and the enemies... Explosions and certain weapons ignore the armor.
- Added elevator-key and one-way doors.
- Changed the statusbar and added more frames for B.J... Also changed B.J.'s eyes from purple to blue (no idea why they were purple in TFS)...
- Players weapons (the ones player found and the one player is currently holding) are now displayed in the statusbar.
- Added 4 more weapons and organized their order a bit.

Picture of the new statusbar (those 4 slots in the left are used to display portable medikits):

Spoiler:

Woah, I am liking the look of the status bar. Lots going on, but not too much.

lilmanjs wrote:Woah, I am liking the look of the status bar. Lots going on, but not too much.

Thanks... I tried to organize the elements so it would be easy to view...
Everything related to health is in the left, everything related to the weapons are just below the players weapon, items are placed to the right and things you aren't looking that much (score and level) are under the ammo.

lilmanjs wrote:Woah, I am liking the look of the status bar. Lots going on, but not too much.

 Yop, it looks f**king awsome!

First "big" update... About the third of the enemies are ready and weapons are nearly all complete. Rest of the enemies (at least the smaller guards) should be quite fast to make as most of them are just slight variations for the base ones (e.g. white uniforms for the outdoor levels)...

Anyway here is a list of some of the bosses:

Spoiler:

You're a modding machine, heh

doomjedi wrote:You're a modding machine, heh

Hehe... Not really. Now when I have something actually planned it is just faster to make things.

Time for update...
The end of the week has been kind slow as I have put all my time to finish up a code sample for a company that I hopefully will work in the future... Aside that, all the basic enemies are now finished and I only need to make their variations.

As I were working on the advanced shading demo, I ended up doing a new palette that I decided to share with you:


As you can see, I made two different variations of the palette... First one has several shades of orange that you could use for e.g. B.J.s hair - in the second one there is no orange-colors but there is more shades for the rest of the colors...

So what is included in the archive?
- Palette-files to be used in ChaosEdit / WDC...
- Gamepal.inc that you can directly use in your source
- Separate images of both the palette and the shade-chart...

Okay... Time for update.
Now all the variations are done as well, next I am going to work on the bosses.

As I was making the bosses, I though that it would be cool to have a huge boss. This however required that everything needed to be converted to hi-res - so I made some sample sprites in hi-res format...

Here is small comparison between old and new sprites (yes, they still need work):

Awesome that your doing 128x128 Sprites....if you need testing....I'm up for it...for helping with the Shade thing...

Richter Belmont wrote:Awesome that your doing 128x128 Sprites....if you need testing....I'm up for it...for helping with the Shade thing...

Thanks... I keep that in mind.

Impressive

doomjedi wrote:Impressive

Thanks...

Time for quick update...
For the past week I have been making hi-res variations of the objects and working on the new walls... Wall and object list is nearly complete and I will be adding the percentage for walls/objects next week.

Small example of the new walls I made (feel free to use). Everything, except the portrait is made from scratch.

Simply great art.

WLHack wrote:Time for quick update...
For the past week I have been making hi-res variations of the objects and working on the new walls...  Wall and object list is nearly complete and I will be adding the percentage for walls/objects next week.

I'm sure those would work well for FF2, but I haven't touched that in a while. I need to get back to that and do something other than helpart stuff. Also that does look like your usual high quality material.

lilmanjs wrote:

WLHack wrote:Time for quick update...
For the past week I have been making hi-res variations of the objects and working on the new walls...  Wall and object list is nearly complete and I will be adding the percentage for walls/objects next week.

I'm sure those would work well for FF2, but I haven't touched that in a while. I need to get back to that and do something other than helpart stuff. Also that does look like your usual high quality material.

Thanks... If you need wall-textures for FF2, I can make you some.

Added the current percentage of walls... More than half of them are now done (of course this is just there might be changes to the amount of walls). Also I have been planning the appearances of the bosses and I might post some sketches later this week.

when will it be done??? great ideas

snuffi wrote:when will it be done??? great ideas

Next year at the earliest.

Here is a quick sketch of SS-Gruppenleiters new armor inspired by the cybermen from Doctor Who (shadows are bit off):

Spoiler:

Now I just need to make the actual sprite...

WLHack wrote:Here is a quick sketch of SS-Gruppenleiters new armor inspired by the cybermen from Doctor Who (shadows are bit off):

Spoiler:

Now I just need to make the actual sprite...

ooohhh....I'm like the sound of this already ^_^

First attempt to convert it to sprite form:

Top notch stuff. both art and palette. You are omnipotent.

Still it's a bit too simular to original Han's armor (recolored to green) so "effort to effect"-wise I'm not 100% sure it was worth it. But it looks great.

doomjedi wrote:
Still it's a bit too simular to original Han's armor (recolored to green) so "effort to effect"-wise I'm not 100% sure it was worth it. But it looks great.

Yeah, I think I will make some more edits to it... Maybe I should drop the miniguns and make him take the weapons from holster like normal guards?

Yeah, different weapons.

Maybe partially damaged armor? Can make it a more unique and less simmetrical look if made older/rusty/damaged. Also adds Boss "veteran" reputation and character.

If it's not Hans - you can consider face hair and maybe some hat.

Take two... Also variation for laboratory and outdoor levels.

Those look absolutely fantastic!  Great work!  I always enjoy your ability to make graphics and atmosphere that make the Wolfenstein aesthetic fresh again!

dunkelschwamm wrote:Those look absolutely fantastic!  Great work!  I always enjoy your ability to make graphics and atmosphere that make the Wolfenstein aesthetic fresh again!

Thanks...

Another two weeks have gone... I have now finished the frames for the new SS-Gruppenleiter and made more sketches for the bosses. Progress has been bit slow as Christmas is just around the corner.

It's ok, those times progress is slower on most mods
Nice to hear about the progress.

Early New years update... Due the holiday season, the progress has been a bit slow. Currently I am planning maps to this progress and I believe things will start moving faster after new year.