Ryleh 3 : Lurker at the Threshold Readme

Title | : Lurker at the Threshold
File Name | : Ryleh 3.fsm
Version | : 1.4 - 12/01/98
Designer | : Michael Diedrich (Zarathud)
Email Address | : diedrich@megsinet.net
Homepage | : www.megsinet.net/~diedrich/
| : descent.gamestats.com/
Other levels by author | : Ryleh 1 (Ryleh Rising)
| : Ryleh 2 (The Hounds of Tindalos)
| : Ryleh 4 (Thing on the Doorstep)
Additional credits to | : Volition, Inc. for Descent: Freespace
| : Interplay Productions, for some excellent recent releases

* Mission Description *

The Hammer of Light attacks on Ryleh Station (Ryleh 1 and Ryleh 2) have prevented investigation of strange readings from Beta Wing on its initial long-range patrol (Ryleh 1). Fearing a new threat from the Hammer of Light, sizeable reinforcements have been sent to secure the station against further attacks. Freed from defense duties, the pilot will be sent on a reconaissance mission. There is danger in the air, as the Terran-Vasudan Alliance encounters the Lurker at the Threshold.

* Mission Ratings *

This mission has not yet been rated. Handle with care, and review it on Xanadu's Mission Archive.

* Play Information *

Single Player | : yes
Multi Player | : no
Training Only | : no
Difficulty Settings | : yes
Campaign | : yes
New grapics | : yes
New sounds | : yes
Known Bugs | : Ship ghosting issue created by version 1.04+ patch

* Installation *

Unzip the zip file into the proper drive. The mission should automatically be transferred to the mission folder, and any sounds to the appropriate voice folder.

* Author's Comments *

This mission is still under development. If you have ANY problems, please tell me about them so I can try to fix them. No promises, but I'll do my best. Tell me about any inaccuracies (weapons out too soon, etc.), imbalances (too hard or too easy?), performance issues (tested on a P200MMX with 64MB RAM and Diamond Monster 3D), or outright errors. Your feedback is important to me.

I've found an interesting "ghosting" issue which sometimes pops up in asteroid missions after the version 1.04 patch. Basically, the object colission system seems to malfunction (as if you were lagged in a multiplayer game) and, as a result, you cannot damage or "hit" hostile opponents. There will be no "shield hit" effect or response as you pound a ship at point-blank range. This seems to be a bug with the game, and not the mission. The only solution I could try was to reduce the density of the asteroid field.

This mission flows from background elements in Ryleh 1 and 2, setting up Ryleh 4 in a red-alert sequence. It is also a departure from the "kill everyone in a huge dogfight" missions I've done previously. Two missions of "defending the Arcadia Station" has been enough for me. You will escort a mobile, but weaker, capital ship in this mission as you discover several unexpected and unpleasant "things" lurking. All will be explained later, I hope, when you finish Ryleh 4. Let me know how this double-mission (Ryleh 3 and 4) compares to Ryleh 1 and 2.

I suspect a few elite pilots will be able to win themselves half of a medal by eliminating all of their foes, so I challenge them to try to win it. If you *do* succeed somehow, e-mail me a screenshot of the winning debriefing in Ryleh 4. And let me remind everyone that you can't cheat and continue in the campaign....

You must visit the Descent Chronicles site at http://descent.gamestats.com/, which contains the FRED FAQ at http://descent.gamestats.com/freespace/fred/index.shtml, Xanadu's Mission Archive at http://descent.gamestats.com/xanadu/, and the FreeSpace Review at http://descent.gamestats.com/review/.

* Strategy Tips *

Survive the best you can for Ryleh 4, and rearm before leaving.

Special Thanks to:

Everyone who provided feedback on the earlier missions, especially Pastel. Thanks also go out to my wife Bkwyrm, my old friend Jason Lazar, H.P. Lovecraft for the inspiration of Cthulhu and the other Elder Gods, Volition Inc. for creating such an incredible game, the Freespace Developer's League and Peter Drake for getting me started on FRED design. And, finally, I thank YOU for playing this mission.

* Legal Stuff *

You may distribute this mission for free, as long as you include this text file and give the author credit. If you want to distribute this mission on a CD or in a Collection you MUST contact the author first and obtain approval. Any distribution of this mission shall act as an acknowledgement of the author's moral rights granted under applicable laws.

You may edit this mission, but cannot redistribute the edited mission without the permission of the author.

Certain rights to this mission are retained by Volition, Inc. and Interplay Productions. Use of this mission by any third party must conform to the copyrights and license terms of its creation.

* New Sound Files Supported *

> voices/special/

> r3_afclear.wav

> r3_laff.wav

> r3_move.wav

> r3_probes.wav

> r3_sorry.wav

> r3_thanku.wav

* New Animation Files Supported *

interface/

cb_inn1.ani

cb_gar.ani

cb_inn2.ani

* Prior Sound Files Supported *

(All released with Ryleh 2.fsm)

> r2_alrit.wav

> r2_whooho.wav

* Release Notes *

v 1.0 Not Released

Attempted to create Ryleh 3 and Ryleh 4 as one mission

Adjusted length of chase sequence

Fixed tons of bugs with Red Alert missions

Discovered ships ghosting issue, reduced asteroid field to compensate

Created false sound effect of warping out just before Red Alert triggered

v 1.4 Release 12/01/98

Buy the retail version of Descent: Freespace and Silent Threat. This game is awesome.

Now stop reading and start flying!