[Community Project] Hellwhole - A project for Piece of Pie Software's 15th anniversary

Another community project from me when the beta of my previous one only came out yesterday? Well, this one I'm not hosting entirely on my own - in fact, the original idea isn't even mine.

Backstory: back in 2020, @InfernalMonsoon and I co-hosted a Doom mapping project within the Piece of Pie Software community's Discord server called A Piece of Hell. It was a modest effort, with 5 maps in the end. The concept was almost entirely thought up by Infernal, while I handled compilation duties. Discussions about a potential sequel, as far as I recall, began sometime last year, and the first version of the sequel's concept materialized as recently as earlier this week. We had some back-and-forth about some nuances in the design document, but for the most part, the concept is courtesy of Infernal once again.

While Infernal is the ultimate mastermind of the project, we agreed that I should act as the messenger of the project on the Doomworld side. The good majority of the project will most likely happen in the PoPS Discord server, but joining it isn't mandatory to join the project - submissions can also be posted and they'll be collected from here. That said, a temporary join link is provided below if anyone wants the full scoop, so to speak (valid for the next 7 days):

[removed until I actually get permission to post it]

Project discussion takes place in the #community-projects channel.

So here's the detailed blurb as per Infernal's design document:

Hellwhole is a megawad project arranged by the Piece of Pie Software community, a fully fledged sequel to A Piece of Hell. The aim of this megawad is to create and compile a bunch of fun and exciting levels that can be easily enjoyed by casual to average Doom players, but most importantly to celebrate Piece of Pie Software's 15th anniversary on Youtube.

Deadline for RC1: May 29th

Here's how the wad will be handled:

• Levels will be divided up into episodes, each PoPS-regular mapper having their own dedicated episode that you must name.
• Each mapper can make 1 to 5 maps in their episode, having the maps ordered and themed however they want.
• It will be a hybrid mapset with only vanilla weapons and enemies, while allowing for GZDoom features.
• Mappers of all skill levels will be accepted, beginner or veteran.
• Non-PoPS regulars can also join and submit 1 to 5 maps, however they won't have a dedicated episode as their maps will appear alongside other non-regulars' maps in a larger bonus episode.

Of course, all projects need rules and regulations, to make sure everybody is on the same level and to create a consistent play experience, though keep in mind that some rules may be subject to change as the project goes on:

• Must be for Doom 2.
• File format must be GZDoom: Doom 2 (UDMF Format).
• 1-5 maps per mapper.
• All levels must be balanced around pistol starts.
• You must scale your levels for all difficulties (how you do this is up to you).
• DM and co-op play are optional, but encouraged.
• Custom textures, graphics, sound and music are allowed.
• Custom weapons and monsters are not allowed.
• No joke or terry levels (obviously).
• Slaughter segments in your maps are fine but entire dedicated slaughter maps will not be accepted.
• Very large maps are allowed, but anything exceeding an hour long will be rejected.
• Humorous and fun easter eggs are allowed and encouraged, but only in secrets.
• Regulars should ideally communicate what easter eggs they want to add, just in case people have similar ideas and want to keep them unique.
• Jump and crouch are not allowed, so don't design your map around them.
• Freelook is allowed.
• And most of all, have fun!

When you submit your map/maps in a wad file, please write out a text document or post using this format listed below:

Hellwhole Submission

Mapper Name: (Your name here)

Episode Name: (Non-PoPS Regulars should leave this blank as your maps will appear in the bonus episode)

Intermission Text: (Again this is only for regulars, to add some story flavour text at the end of their episode, so non-regulars should leave this section as blank)

Map 1: (Name your maps here, while also listing the wads they're in if you have multiple wad files)
Map 2:
Map 3:
Map 4:
Map 5: (If you have less than 5 maps then you don't need to list more than what you're submitting)

Map # - copy-paste and fill out below info separately for each map
------------------------------------------------------------------
Textures: (source(s) of custom textures if applicable)
Sounds: (source(s) of custom sounds if applicable)
Music: (name and author/source of custom music if applicable)
Graphics: (source(s) of custom graphics if applicable)
Co-op: (yes/no)
Deathmatch: (yes/no)

Personal note: (You can write anything you want here - it can be to do with the maps, the project, Piece of Pie Software, etc, whatever you want to commemorate your contribution)

Woah hi hello I am the spider mastermind! But yes this is a much more casual project for people to partake in here on Doomworld. Originally I thought keeping it closed in with a small group would be the way to go, but because of it being such a special occasion and how Piece of Pie Software has been going at Doom for so long, and loves many of the maps the community makes, I thought it would be great to invite anyone and everyone to just make whatever they want for the project purely for the fun of it.

So whether you want to join in on the project with your own unique maps or want to enjoy the finished wad when it's finally done, then we sincerely hope you have a great time partaking in this fun little escapade we concocted!

EDIT: Since we forgotten to post a link to Piece of Pie Software's Youtube channel, somehow D: I thought I'd take the opportunity to introduce or perhaps re-introduce him (if you watched his content before) to everyone.

Probably one of the first ever let's players on Youtube, a lot of us in his community found him through his old Doom 3 mods and map videos, and ever since he started he's been going strong with the Doom content for years. Of course interspersed within a whole bunch of other playthroughs as he's far more variety driven nowadays. But even today he's still in love with Doom and always eager to play more quality Doom maps and mods created by the many talented mapping communities, with videos like this he posted a few days ago:

Over the years of interacting with him during his live streams, where he plays Doom stuff almost weekly lately, we've formed a very tight knit community of friends, always laughing and joking and enjoying Doom and various other games together in one way or another. So with the 15th anniversary of being on Youtube coming up, we wanted to make sure this community project would be something special, as a gift to him and the rest of the Piece of Pie Software community and the Doom community.

Thus we thought allowing anyone and everyone to contribute would be a cool idea, because nobody can say no to more fun and varied Doom content right? But even if nobody is interested in contributed, we'll still gladly post our finished work here for everyone to play our passion project dedicated to one of our favourite content creators, who we can gladly call our friend.

So remember, anyone is welcome!

Count me in!!! DM me the discord link if you get permission!

I’d like to join in on this. I can whip up one or two maps for the bonus episode. 

Hey @MFG38, I'm doing a quick status checkup for projects that have passed their deadlines to keep the tracker up to date. Should I consider this project closed? Or do you still need participants and will the deadline be extended? Cheers.

52 minutes ago, quakis said:

Hey @MFG38, I'm doing a quick status checkup for projects that have passed their deadlines to keep the tracker up to date. Should I consider this project closed? Or do you still need participants and will the deadline be extended? Cheers.

We actually extended the deadline to May 29th, I just kept forgetting to update the OP. Gonna do that right now while I remember.

 I'm a bit late on this. If the project is still accepting, then I plan to have a submission in by the weekend. 

2 hours ago, needsF00DBadly said:

 I'm a bit late on this. If the project is still accepting, then I plan to have a submission in by the weekend. 

Well, we did extend the submission deadline. Looking forward to seeing what you whip up. :)