Ground Fault is a Quake map made in a timeframe of just under 48 hours, for SM227 – Thunderbolts and Lightning. It introduced a set of new power-ups: mini versions of the Quad Damage, Biosuit, and Pentagram, and was built around just one idea: the map needs to include a Thunderbolt (lightning gun).

I started by choosing the cr8 texture set for the map, since I felt it suited the Thunderbolt theme with its electric-themed switches and panels. It also features a lot of grimy metal, which I thought fit some ideas I had around gameplay with water, primarily coupling the lightning gun’s discharge with the mini-pentagram.

I also made some attempts to integrate a fair amount of verticality once more, with multiple walkways stacked on top of each other in the main hall. Overall, I think it came together nicely given the time involved. The only thing I wish I could have done more of was tighten up the combat, especially in the last room.

There are 9 maps in total in the pack, with my personal favorites being A Marshmallow Dream, The Lightning Lock, and Frankenstein or Supersham-bler.

More Sand Than Oil is my contribution to Quake Brutalist Jam 2.

Atmosphere and visuals were my focus for this one. I brought it to life with some custom rain sound effects, as well as blending sand with concrete brutalism. Of course, throwing in a few references to Front 242 didn’t hurt either.

I have to admit that playing the first Quake Brutalist Jam was one of the things that made me pursue Quake mapping. I’ve played mods for Quake for a very long time while lurking just outside of the community, but never thought that about making my own. Then, I was presented with a stunning collection of art pieces that people were bringing to life inside this old game.

I found and downloaded Trenchbroom, and I was hooked.

Some notes on inspiration and my process for this map follow below.

I have a new map for Quake out, this time as part of FireBlu Jam! It’s a small Runic themed map that I planned and put together over about 2 days.

As is the case with Doom’s fireblu texture, this jam is full of alternating red and blue textures, and at times, flashing lights.

Overall, there are some maps with some really smart use of these textures. Of particular note is Fire Is Raging Eagerly. Blu Lingers Underneath. by IceColdTofu, FIREBLU Infestation by Avix, and Rottensweet by Adib Murad.

Updates:

This map has also been updated to better support co-op play (along with the rest of the pack). Also, if you have issues with photosensitivity, there is an alternative version in the Slipseer discussion tab that does without the animated red-blue texture.

I’m working on a little bit more of a buffer before I post more comic updates, since I want the next few pages to appear closer together!

Meanwhile, I’ve put together a couple more Quake maps over the course of the past few months. One is yet to be released, since it is part of a larger map pack, but is complete. The other has been released over the weekend, as part of Dog Jam, a fun little project with a restriction on using just the rottweiler.

The map is titled Licked Clean. You are stripped of your weapons and fed to the dogs in a metal dungeon.

The custom models by Kebby really elevated this to something a little more fun and unique; however, I do think the concept was somewhat under-utilized, where I wish more people joined in. All-in-all, this was a neat piece to practice with.

You can find and download Dog Jam on Slipseer.

I had to let my drawing hand heal some after a small injury last week. Since I still wanted to do something creative with my time, I put together another map for Quake, this time for a speed mapping event. It’s titled Lost in the Sauce.

It’s a remake of cs_italy (Counter-Strike: Source), with some added Quake flavor for single player, along with some small extra added areas that I felt could exist within the original map. I ran right up to the wire with the time limit, so I had to rush a couple of sections, but I’m pretty happy overall with how this one turned out!

You can download it with the Quad Run II map pack over on Slipseer.

A few of my personal favorites in the pack are Get Digging! by Pinchy, The Dissolution of Mind & Matter by Repator, and Dances with Quads by Mazu.