trefoilknot on 29/10/2020 at 00:37
No known (game-breaking) issues on 1.27d. I can't remember what version the last tafferpatcher was. I think it stopped getting updated prior to 1.27c, so it shouldn't cause any issues. But the latest Tfix definitely addresses the issues from 1.27c.
PinkDot on 11/11/2020 at 19:24
Hey - wonderful mission! Just finished it yesterday. Congratulations and thank you for this experience! I loved it in every aspect. I love fractals and "this side" of mathematics! The paintings as portals was an absolutely delightful mechanics. And I like the way the Temple painting actually changed, after placing all the talismans - nice touch! Oh, and the spiral staircase... Looking forward to the next mission - hope it will be some escheresque maze...
Although I have finished it already, I'd like to complete all optional objectives and I'm missing one. I think it's the Dodecahedron, that I still need to find. Must be something trivial, considering no one has asked about it before... Any hints please?
trefoilknot on 12/11/2020 at 14:18
Thanks, PinkDot! I'm glad you appreciated the little touches, too.
Regarding the last bonus objective:
Little hint: The note in the curator's office contains a clue
Bigger hint: The dodecahedral diamond never made it to the storeroom- where might it still be?
Spoiler: It fell off the back of the pedestal in the Platonic Crystals exhibit room.
PinkDot on 12/11/2020 at 20:27
Ah, OK - thanks for the hint. It turned out to be easy enough - just like I suspected! ;)
Thanks again!
And... with some hesitations, since the mission is already great as it is (and with a risk of being seen as another wearer of Pedant Pendant ;) :joke:) I just wanted to share some suggestions:
- the Menger Sponge could be made a little bit better - I mean it could have more iterations to make it more what it is, rather than a almost generic cube with poorly aligned texture. Some detail could be achieved in model, some in alpha-mapped texture. I'm normally quite busy with different stuff, but the next time you need a fractal-like stuff to be modelled just let me know - I always have time for fractals! ;)
- The painting in Brouwer's studio - I expected to be teleported two, three steps backwards just to have the same view as what's on the painting.
- And I also wonder if a slight screen/camera coloured overlay to make the alternative reality stand out slightly would not be a good idea...?
But again, these are just minor suggestions, as you can see, not having an impact on the overall mission gameplay.
trefoilknot on 12/11/2020 at 21:18
Funny you say about the Menger sponge- I completely agree. (Texturing in multiples of 3 is difficult.) I actually made a much nicer one (with an extra layer of depth and better texture alignment) but Thief would never tolerate the object :(
(
https://youtu.be/aDfaQpdxJxM) https://youtu.be/aDfaQpdxJxM
I'll be sure to reach out for future fractal work!
PinkDot on 12/11/2020 at 22:37
Oh, so you made it out of brushes! That's crazy. :) (wait... that must be the base for Act II, isn't it?)
But really you don't need to be 100% accurate with the object model in terms of all the internal faces of the sponge. You can add a lot more details with a transparency.
Below is just a crude example (using parametric texture) - the model has only two iterations, but two more have been added via opacity map. The mesh has 1440 polys, but is not optimized. The coplanar neighbouring polygons could be merged and overlapping internal faces should be removed etc.. etc.. And a more detailed map can be added as well, with more iterations in transparency. Nobody will notice the cheat.
(
https://i.imgur.com/cUI7EzK.png)
trefoilknot on 13/11/2020 at 01:34
You're hired!!!
trefoilknot on 21/1/2021 at 00:19
Thanks, cavador_8, I'm really glad you enjoyed it!
My only two comments on the walkthrough:
1. Saving the water arrows for the end isn't strictly necessary. If you run out, you're not soft locked; you just need to access one of the two pools, and find something to transport water...
2. Your solution to the color-button safe is totally legit, but it's not the only one (nor even the intended one). So if you've already grabbed the gems and didn't think to look closely at them, you're not out of luck. Just check out the exhibit room where the gems came from (not where you found them) and read the plaques.
cavador_8 on 21/1/2021 at 17:26
Hi trefoilknot, yeah I was just providing the simplest methods for those two situations. For me it was much simpler to have some water arrows at the end. And simply looking at the gems was much easier than going to the exhibit room.