What is the worst mission I've ever made.... - by uncadonego
uncadonego on 14/10/2019 at 01:01
P.S. Hey Psych0sis, want to look at the unfinished mission and offer up some critiques? Tannar PM'd me offering to look at it and offer suggestions too.
A couple of new eyes might be a good idea.
Just keep all the files and folders away from public view though, okay?
Psych0sis on 14/10/2019 at 01:11
Of course I wasn't being literal, I was just exaggerating to prove a point (and hopefully stopping future people from continuing to post more "all fms are amazing" type messages and not answering his genuine call for critique and help). Though I think if you can't remember anything bad due to time washing away the memories, you should either play it and do answer his question or move on and let the man get what he's asking for. I want more damn unca missions, and if they can be EVEN BETTER than his last, I will do whatever it takes, even being a little... :ebil:
@Unca, sure, feel free to send me a PM. Please note I am no dromed expert, but I can try my best to tell you how it comes off to me as a player.
.. Also, hope I didn't ruin your mission in your eyes, it was just a trend i noticed and figured it can be EASILY fixable and had to note down.
uncadonego on 14/10/2019 at 01:17
Psy, it will be a couple of weeks, as I told Tannar, and I will send you a download link. It will be the folder structure and a .cow file, not a zipped playable mission, but I know that's no problem for you and Tannar.
Keep the input coming people.
Unna, not specifically trying to call you out, but I guess that's what's happening right now.:laff:
You mentioned you recently played all my missions on the other thread.
I would appreciate it if you could criticize them while they are still in your memory.
Sorry for the triple post, but I had another thought while doing the dishes.
When I played Behind Closed Doors, I thought to myself that I don't build big enough. Do you feel like the walls are closing in on you in my missions? The hallways too narrow? The rooms too small, having to navigate around furniture to get out the door? The outdoor streets to narrow and claustrophobic?
[Don't apologize for triple posting... just edit the previous one each time! - Ed.]
A.Stahl on 14/10/2019 at 03:44
1) Why not include a list of your missions? I've played almost all FMs we have but I don't remember your nickname.
2) I'm sure that corresponding threads to your previous FMs have some critique (best critique is critique made right after playing with FM)
3) Just give us a peek to your new unfinished mission and we might let you know if there is something we don't like.
Calibrator on 14/10/2019 at 21:06
Hi Don,
I try to answer your question but of course I can't possibly replay all your nine missions right now to be able to truly explain why
However, I did in fact replay many/most T1 and T2 FMs in the last few years and especially city missions which are generally my favorite type of mission.
So did replay all your stuff.
While I can't remember specifics by reading a mission title (except some very special missions/campaigns) I do have a rating system.
This scheme uses the common A, B, C etc. scheme including +/- but with numbers (similar to German school ratings).
As many Thief FMs are quite good the differences between "1" and "2" are not very large, though, and my system accomodates for this a bit.
A FM that is rated "1+" is truly special FM or an extremely well-made campaign like Calendra's Legacy, Rocksbourg or Seven Sisters.
"1"-rated is slightly lower than this: A very competent and creative FM/campaign where only a slightly little magic is present.
A "2"-rated FM is not simply "good" but still very good.
A "3"-rated FM is still slightly better than "good enough".
Mediocre stuff is beyond that and I usually don't feel like replaying them.
A "short FM" in my book is a FM that can be played under one hour during the first(!) playthrough.
These are often competitions FMs and they get a "relaxed" rating where no +/- is allowed.
So there are only "1"/"2"/"3"-rated short missions.
Many things factor into the rating like build quality, creativity, atmosphere etc. - and as I do have a bias towards city missions they will undoubtedly get slightly better ratings than a comparably well made swamp mission, for example.
The ratings for your missions look like this:
Thieves' Highway: 1
A Thief Nonetheless: 2 short
The Power of Suggestion: 1
The Time That Has Passed: 2+
Two Fathers: 2+
Flip A Coin: 3 short
Mixed Messages: 2
Just Take a Look: 2 short
Chain of Events: 2
So practically all missions are either very good/great or even fantastic (although no 1+).
But the "worst" FM you have out of those nine (and I mean nine! friggin! FMs! - I couldn't even make one!) is "Flip A Coin".
This is also a short FM - and I remember replaying it vaguely.
When I fired it up again I was greeted by a very distinctive 90-degrees-look which doesn't look very Thiefy but more like a NYC street layout.
Matter of taste, of course, but I felt a lack in atmosphere and the plot was very run-of-the-mill.
I also do remember some difficult loot in this one and a few corners that were really interesting.
It is a mission with a unique look/character but perhaps not my favorite one.
So there you have it.
I don't really know if this answers the question you posted but perhaps it did answer which of your missions I liked most... :cheeky:
uncadonego on 15/10/2019 at 00:47
Thanks Calibrator,
This one also has to a great extent that "90-degrees-look" you mentioned, which is one of those feelings I was getting about it as well. Separated fill air cubes so OldDark won't crash under the view, then filled in with cubic buildings and straight facade walls.
I agree with you about the plot in Flip A Coin, there wasn't one. Steal something. That's not a plot. That creation was a quick 28 day throwaway job. Flip A Coin, Thieves' Highway, and A Thief Nonetheless, don't get any points at all for plot.
This one won't have that problem, but I'm concerned that the whole thing, "Garrett learns new things about himself and what the Keepers haven't told him", might be missing some adrenaline.
Thanks again for your input Calibrator, your post was a lot of effort. I appreciate it.
Psych0sis on 21/10/2019 at 08:47
Unca, it says your inbox is full! Delete some messages so I can reply to you
uncadonego on 21/10/2019 at 12:57
Sorry, did so. Space available now.
john9818a on 26/10/2019 at 08:33
Quote Posted by A.Stahl
1) Why not include a list of your missions? I've played almost all FMs we have but I don't remember your nickname.
2) I'm sure that corresponding threads to your previous FMs have some critique (best critique is critique made right after playing with FM)
3) Just give us a peek to your new unfinished mission and we might let you know if there is something we don't like.
There are at least 800 FMs & uncadonego started back in the earliest years of Thief.
I'm going to reply all of your FMs uncadonego to refresh my memory.