Announcing the release of RanDOOM version 1.65! Due to the efforts of many dedicated and creative DOOMers, the DOOM playing community has been blessed with a virtual flood of new DOOM levels to enjoy. Unfortunately, even a custom level eventually suffers from the same malady as id-created levels, namely after a player has played the level for a while he learns where all the items are. Clearly it would be desirable to be able to RanDOOMize the new PWADs as well as the original DOOM WAD. Earlier versions of RanDOOM, however, required that certain elements be present in any source WAD file before it would agree to run, which prevented RanDOOM from working on the shareware WAD but also meant RanDOOM would refuse to RanDOOMize PWADs. The solution embodied in this release of RanDOOM is the "reference WAD" concept. Basically, you can now specify up to three WAD files on the RanDOOM command line: an INPUT WAD file (from whence your THINGS data comes), an OUTPUT WAD file (where the RanDOOMized level data wil be written), and a REFERENCE WAD file (which is, as always, your registered DOOM WAD file). Now you can RanDOOMize *any* valid PWAD. OTHER RECENT CHANGES -------------------- For various reasons, including a debilitating bug in the mouse support, many people are continuing to use DOOM 1.1 instead of the newer 1.2 release. These people are unable to use RanDOOM 1.55's restore feature, since the maps and objects have changed between DOOM 1.1 and DOOM 1.2. In addition to this, when the inevitable DOOM 1.3 is released, RanDOOM 1.55 may also be incompatible. These facts prompted the creation of RanDOOM version 1.6. RanDOOM *NO LONGER MAKES ANY CHANGES TO YOUR WAD FILES*. Instead, RanDOOM uses your registered DOOM WAD file as input, and creates a separate PWAD file as output. What this means is there is no more need for a RESTORE function within RanDOOM - the WAD file is untouched, so there's nothing to restore. This has several advantages: * It makes RanDOOM version-independent of DOOM; RanDOOM will now work equally well with any version of DOOM, including the new DOOM 1.3 when it is released. * It makes RanDOOMized net play easier. Now you can share the (smaller) PWAD file among all players directly, in addition to the existing method of supplying identical command line switches on all machines. * Since RanDOOM begins with a "stock" WAd file every time it is run, maintaining synchronization among WADfiles across a network will become easier. * There is no chance of RanDOOM corrupting your original WAD, even if it crashes or runs wild. WHAT THE HELL (pun intended!) IS RanDOOM? ---------------------------------------- RanDOOM is a utility which will randomize the placement of objects in the DOOM playfield. Tired of knowing where everything is in each level? Tired of starting out in the same old places in DEATHMATCH mode? Run RanDOOM and all that will change. Not just another DOOM randomizer, RanDOOM has some smarts about the manner in which it will scramble things - it's designed to never leave you with a pillar blocking the exit, or a keycard on the opposite side of the door from where you start, or to erase all the DEATHMATCH warp-in spots with other objects (preventing DEATHMATCH network play), or to replace the endgame bosses with other objects (thus preventing the completion of an episode). In short, RanDOOM will always leave you with a playable level. RanDOOM is user-configurable WRT how many of each object it will add. RanDOOM can load a set of weight values from a flat ASCII text file which controls the relative proportion of that object in each level. Is E1M1 too easy? Just raise the weight factor for the Barons of Hell, Cacodemons, and Spectres. Not enough ammo? Raise the weight on bullets, shotgun shells, and energy cells. Too tough? Lower the weights on the monsters and/or raise the weights on weapons. It's all up to you and your preferences. Surgeon General's Warning: At id's request, RanDOOM will only work with the registered version of DOOM. OK, SO HOW DO I GET IT? ----------------------- To get your copy of RanDOOM, anonymous ftp to ocf.unt.edu in directory /incoming under the file name RDOOM165.ZIP. RanDOOM is also available via anonymous ftp on mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu in directory /asre as RDOOM165.ZIP If you can't ftp, you could get it via mail: Send a mail message to ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com In the body of the message, type reply connect ocf.unt.edu binary chdir /incoming get rdoom165.zip quit RanDOOM is freeware, BTW. DOOM is a registered trademark of id software. If you have problems with RanDOOM, don't bug the people at id - they can't help you. So rev up the chainsaw, swallow the invulnerability sphere, charge up the BFG, and go kick some devilish butt!!! And remember, "If you don't have RanDOOM, you suck." - M. D., Mississippi State University