===========================================================================
Advanced engine needed : ZDoom, GZDoom or Zandronum
Primary purpose : Automated pistol starting
===========================================================================
Title : Simple Pistol Starter
Filename : pstlstrt.zip
Release date : October 2016
Author : Coldiron
Email Address : [redacted]
Description : This is a mod that automates the process of
pistol starting in Doom and several other IWADs.
It makes no other changes to gameplay in
the IWADs or other mods that the included
"pistol starters" are compatible with.
Usage is simple: Load only one pistol starter,
and load it after whatever WADs you want to use.
Autosaves should be enabled, and the game should
be played as in normal continuous play.
The process of pistol starting will be performed
for you automatically via ACS scripting.
At the start of each level a script will run.
It will remove from all players all weapons,
armor, ammo, etc. and give them the default
weapons and ammo and reset their health to 100.
If autosaving is enabled the game will then save
your progress as it would otherwise.
You will be able to play the entire game with no
need for cheats or further configuration.
These pistol starters should only be used with
IWADs, megawads and other mods that include
multiple levels and are "pistol start friendly",
such as Ancient Aliens, Sunlust or Valiant.
For Freedoom use the pistol starters for Doom or
Brutal Doom.
Chex Quest 3, Hacx, and Heretic have been given
pistol starters because of the similarity of
their structure and gameplay to Doom.
Other IWADs such as Hexen and Strife were not,
due to their unsuitability for pistol starts.
If any other mod or IWAD is hub-based or
otherwise dependent on continuous gameplay,
it may be "broken" by these scripts.
If a WAD only includes one map these scripts
would be pointless.
If a WAD includes custom weapons it will not
work as intended unless the pistol starter
is compatible.
Pistol starters for several mods have been
included:
Beautiful Doom v6.1.0.2
Brutal Doom v20b
Elf Gets Pissed v1.1
PerK's Smoother Weapon Animations Enhanced
Strange Aeons v5.4
Valiant
The pistol starter for Brutal Doom v20b includes
a patch for the error that prevents Brutal Doom
from working with recent versions of GZDoom,
which is the reason why this pistol starter
is in ".pk3" format instead of ".wad".
It will also "remember" whether the initial
"crack knuckles and load rifle" and shotgun-pump
animations have played and skip them in future
maps as they would be skipped normally.
As for the pistol starter for Elf Gets Pissed:
It will remember whether or not the Lightbringer
was found, and will give it back to the player
on pistol start, along with the amount of ammo
that would have been given on pickup.
(120 on skills 0 and 4, 80 otherwise)
For Strange Aeons: It will remember the Yithian
Lightning Gun, giving it back after pistol start
if it was found, along with the ammo given on
pickup. (80 on skills 0 and 4, 40 otherwise)
This is a list of the included pistol starters:
(IWAD) Doom and Freedoom: pstlstrt.wad
(Mod) Brutal Doom v20b: btlpstrt.pk3
(Mod) Beautiful Doom v6.1.0.2: bdpsstrt.wad
(Mod) Elf Gets Pissed v1.1: egpsstrt.wad
(IWAD) Heretic: evwdstrt.wad
(IWAD) Hacx: hxpsstrt.wad
(IWAD) Chex Quest 3: mzchstrt.wad
(Mod) PerK's SWAE: pkpsstrt.wad
(Mod) Strange Aeons: sassstrt.wad
(Mod) Valiant: vlpsstrt.wad
The pistol starter for Brutal Doom is compatible
with Freedoom if used with Brutal Doom v20b.
It is not intended for use with mods based on
Brutal Doom, such as Project Brutality.
(It may work correctly, it but probably won't.)
The pistol starter for PerK's Smoother Weapon
Animations Enhanced can be used with either
the brown or black gloves editions, and is
also fully compatible with Smooth Doom.
The Valiant pistol starter is intended for use
with skillsaw's "Valiant.wad" and "sawdust.wad".
For Valiant: Vaccinated Edition use either the
Doom pistol starter, or the one intended for
whatever mod you want to use with it.
The original ACS script source files have been
left inside each pistol starter WAD, and are
commented for reference.
The source files could be used to make more
pistol starters for other mods and IWADS.
===========================================================================
* What is included *
New levels : None
Sounds : No
Music : No
Graphics : No
Dehacked/BEX Patch : No
Demos : No
Other : ACS Scripts
Other files required : Depends on selected pistol starter
* Play Information *
Game : Doom, Doom 2, Final Doom, Freedoom, Chex Quest 3,
Heretic, and Hacx
Single Player : Designed for
Cooperative 2-4 Player : Designed for
Deathmatch 2-4 Player : Designed for
Difficulty Settings : Yes
* Construction *
Base : New from scratch
Build Time : ~1 week
Editor(s) used : SLADE
Known Bugs : None
May Not Run With : Any mod that alters weapons without a compatible
pistol starter.
Tested With : ZDoom, GZDoom and Zandronum
* Copyright / Permissions *
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
International License. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
You are free to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format;
and remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even
commercially. If you do so, you must give appropriate credit, provide a link
to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any
reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you
or your use. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must
distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
* Where to get the file that this text file describes *
The Usual:
ftp://archives.gamers.org/pub/idgames/ and mirrors
