Is it good form to modify other people's maps? The map I'm thinking about comes with a GPL. I'd ask the author, but what I'm talking about is a guy who releases huge quantities of unplayable (imho) maps, and I'm going to try to "fix" one of them. And to top it off, this guy was more or less hounded out of these forums (iirc). Plenty of room for umbrage there.

Go ahead, fix MikeeUSA's maps I have to admit, the sicko got talent. Just not the right one

I don't see a problem if you go ahead and edit maps which have been released under the GPL. That's what the GPL is for imo. You don't have to ask for permission cause it's granted .
Of course asking for permission still is a friendly gesture

I think it's the ultimate compliment if done right.

I think mikeeusa would be much appreciate a different twist on his maps. He's always looking for feedback, this way you can ~show~ him what you have in mind.

Man, didn't take you guys long to figure out who I was thinking of.

Ok; the map I'm working on is DesertCastles6. Turns out mikeeUSA uses png for all his textures, which are not only huge, but gtkRadiant for the mac doesn't support png (which is odd). I shaved 2 MB off the map by changing all the pngs to jpgs.

I've removed all the slow doors and added some jumpers. More will be added, so the player can bounce from the roof of one castle and onto the roof of the other. I've also removed the roof above the flag rooms. I'm letting the traps stay as they are.

Questions:

1: Should I remove the music? One one hand, it fits the map, but on the other hand, the music is a 6MB file and the map is currently at 18 MB, so it would help a lot wrt reducing the download size.

2: Any changes you guys would like to see to this particular map?

YES, YES!!!!
remove the DAMN INVISIBLE WALLS

when you're on a roof, try to walk off it... you'll be stuck on an invisible ground+wall!

I HATE THAT grrrrrr

Blµb wrote:YES, YES!!!!
remove the DAMN INVISIBLE WALLS

when you're on a roof, try to walk off it... you'll be stuck on an invisible ground+wall!

I HATE THAT grrrrrr

The was the first thing I did. Plain forgot I did it too..

Clueless Newbie wrote:

Blµb wrote:YES, YES!!!!
remove the DAMN INVISIBLE WALLS
(...)

The was the first thing I did. Plain forgot I did it too..

You're my hero ^^

the aweful slow doors

and make the map less confusing

cortez wrote:the aweful slow doors

Been there, done that. B)

and make the map less confusing

I've punched a hole in at least one wall so far. Hope that helps.

And thanks to the bouncies I've added, it takes just a few seconds to cap the flag.

Still no opinions on the music, guys? Do I remove it to reduce dl size or do I keep it to maintain the mood?

personally i mute the music , i like to hear what is comming at me or who i need to hunt down . i would vote remove the music @6MB less i have to download . the music is distracting in my opinion . let the ambiance set the mood .

Mikeeusa did appreciate the modifications I did to blueamuse81 (or rather, the "fix" of its darkness by entirely replacing the texturing by cel shading)... same map, more playable.

I think he is okay with it unless you use his old map name. As you call your variant desertcastles_mod, it is fine.