My Custom Quake - Any .pk3 Conflicts? Any suggestions for better performance?

[Quake1]

Hi all,

As many other users, I have downloaded several files in order to get the best Quake experience according to my taste.

Here is the list with the files I use in my Quake pack:

Client / engine:

DarkPlaces (DP) engine autobuild 20130709 - 'cause this works best with SMC v4.55 (LordHavoc's DarkPlaces Quake Modification)

Map textures:

Quake Revitalization Project (QRP) map textures v1.00 + QRP normalmap textures add-on v1.00 - they are much, MUCH better IMO than rygel's high or even ultra! (:: Quake Revitalization Project ::)

Eye-candy and more:

Small mod compilation (SMC) v4.55 - this version is EPIC!!! (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...mpilation.html)

DP Pretty Water v0.51 + VISed maps - I like v0.51 more than v0.55 for some reason (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...er-update.html)

DP New Teleport v1.23 (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod..._teleport.html)

DP New Lava v0.3 (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...va-thread.html)

Environmental effects (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-hel...arkplaces.html)

Moving sky (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-hel...html#post80673)

Animated reflecting overload (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...-overload.html)

Light stuff:

Inkub0 rtlights v2.0 (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...-rtlights.html)

MH's .lit lighting pack (http://www.quaketastic.com/upload/fi...h_May_2009.zip)

Healtpacks, powerups, weapons etc:

Shader animated b-boxes ID1 (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...d-b_boxes.html)

Shader animated b-boxes health packs (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...html#post83192)

Ooppee's explosive barrels (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...e-barrels.html)

Effect Enabled powerups (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...-powerups.html)

Plague's weapons DP edited (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...k-dp-edit.html)

HUD + Menu:

Fully transparent HUD + Menu (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...-hud-menu.html)

Mosters - Basic:

Quake Reforged bestiary (Quake Reforged)

Monsters - Low- and High-Poly models and skins:

High-Poly Monsters - models and skins (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...sters-smc.html)

Low-Poly Monsters - skins (http://quakeone.com/forums/quake-mod...tml#post108841)

Audio:

Mindgrid HQ Quake 1 audio (QuakeWorld GFX - Other / Sounds / Mindgrid:audio High-resolution Quake 1 sounds)

Rest:

Of course, my original Quake 1 copy (pak0.pak + pak1.pak) and the original music.

The result is in my opinion great! QRP map textures are amazing, even without normal maps are much better than Rygel's; SMC gave Quake a re-birth; weather features, moving skies, and reflecting overload add a lot to the atmosphere; new monster models and skins are awesome (even though we still miss, as far as I know, a high-poly model for knight, hellknight, and dog).

I have a couple of questions, though.

1. Is there any change that there is some conflict between, for example, Quake reforged bestiary and my new monster models and skins? (I don't think so, since I can see the new models and skins in-game, but maybe I miss something as a newbie, you never know ... ). Or between any other .pk3?
   
2. All the new monster models (except Shambler's Castle models which are grouped into a single .pk3) and skins are at their own .pk3 (usually with one or more z in front of their name ...). Would it be better, in terms of performance, if I pack them all into a single .pk3 (I have downloaded the tools to do that, it is really easy)? Is there any general guideline?
   
3. Finally, I would like to ask you if you have to suggest any other extra that I might like (or a replacement for something of the above - e.g. another weapon pack), and if you can share a link.

A big THANK YOU to all the persons that either created new content for Quake 1 or modified and improved existing content or shared their knowledge or even just shared a link to facilitate us in finding what we want!

[Seven]

... we still miss, as far as I know, a high-poly model for knight, hellknight, and dog.

capnbubs made a dog replacement, which both sides (the vanilla fans and new-age fans) really like.
A noob ported replacements for Knight and Hellknight from a Quake 2 mod to Quake.

I have a couple of questions, though.

1. Is there any change that there is some conflict between, for example, Quake reforged bestiary and my new monster models and skins? (I don't think so, since I can see the new models and skins in-game, but maybe I miss something as a newbie, you never know ... ). Or between any other .pk3?
   
2. All the new monster models (except Shambler's Castle models which are grouped into a single .pk3) and skins are at their own .pk3 (usually with one or more z in front of their name ...). Would it be better, in terms of performance, if I pack them all into a single .pk3 (I have downloaded the tools to do that, it is really easy)? Is there any general guideline?
   
3. Finally, I would like to ask you if you have to suggest any other extra that I might like (or a replacement for something of the above - e.g. another weapon pack), and if you can share a link.

to 1) Yes, most probably your engine does not make use of all the monster replacements you listed. That is why somebody made a Starter Kit. But that is rather unimportant as long as you do not see diamonds.
to 2) Not that I know of. It is (as always) a matter of personal liking how tidy your ID1 folder shall look like.
to 3) There are always different weapon packs. Ruohis is the most famous besides Plague's. You will also find lots of models, that you did not list there.
CD-tracks might also come in handy if you do not always have the Q1 CD in your drive.
Other things are too tiny to mention.


Have fun with your Quake !

[Quake1]

Hi Seven, thank you for your reply.

I didn't know about this dog model. Even though I have searched many previous threads, I failed to find this one.

Regarding the Kinght and Hellknight, the guy is definitely a noob!

1) I think it makes use of all of them, since I see different skins and no diamonds, but you never know - I think the rule is a) first non-packed files, b) then .pk3 starting from the end of the alphabetical order, and 3) finally what is inside the .pak files, but I don't know if there is an overwritting in-game. About the Starters Kit, yes, I am aware of it, I am one of the few persons that actually read the readmes. However, this is only a Starters Kit with a limited number of models and skins, there are more out there which I downloaded seperately. And that is why I was not sure if there is a conflict or not. There is this "zzz" rule due to this alphabetical-order behavior I guess, but ... a newbee is a newbee! You never know!

2) I took a look at Ruohis weapons, I like both Plague's and Ruohis, but I think I like the latter more.

PS: I sent you a PM, I am not sure if you received it.

[SDY]

Hi, Quake1, what are your computer specs & your average fps using Darkplaces with those enhancement? I'm kinda curious about it, since Quake on my PC doesn't run smoothly when I use pretty water (30-40fps) & reflecting overload (20fps). My PC specs are:

- Windows 7 Pro 64-bit (6.1, build 7601)
- AMD Phenom 9950 Quad-Core 2.6GHz
- NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 1GB with NVIDIA Driver 331.82
- 6GB RAM
- Realtek HD Audio Driver R271

Please let me know.

[talisa]

@SDY
DP_pretty-water alone can be very heavy on performance when multiple water-surfaces are visible at same time.

it is one of the most resource-heavy features, after RT-lights which takes first place in being resource-demanding by a big leap

[SDY]

Thanks for the information, talisa. I need to upgrade my PC someday, since it's a 2009 PC.

[talisa]

i have a core i7 3.2Ghz, with 12GB ram and a MSI GTX580 twin frozr II OC-edition,
and even i still get slowdowns sometimes when theres much water-surfaces visible at same time.

RT-lights and DP-pretty_water both are extremely resource-demanding,
and will bring even the most powerfull machines to their knees

[Quake1]

Hi SDY,

sorry for the late response.

Same thing here, I also have a 2009 computer with similar specs as yours and I get similar fps. In fact, more often than not I disable offset mapping and in some cases - such as the start map or the secret level of the first episode which is full of lava - I have also to disable real-time world. IMO, an fps around 30-40 is ok (i.e. playable), not great, but still ok.

However, I am planning too for a serious upgrade in the following months. I hope I will be able to have all the eye-candy while at the same time having a really good fps (~50-60 would be ideal, I don't need more I guess).

[MadGypsy]

I guess this is basically related to this thread so I will post this funny noob fact here.

When I first became a member here I thought all those expansion packs were official and I was hella confused about the overlap in content...lol

What I'm telling you is, I thought you guys "worked for Quake(Id)" - LMAO

It didn't take me very long to figure it all out but, I was definitely completely lost when I first got here.

[Quake1]

Well, in some way, we all work for Quake(id), meaning that if they ever decide to produce a Quake 5 based on the original Quake 1 story, they can find here a huge reprository of both great content like SMC, sky boxes etc. as well as user feedback and suggestions. However, I am afraid that this is not going to happen - i.e. either they will not "reload" the Quake 1 cosmos or, in case they will do, they will not make use of neither any of these great mods / extensions of this forum nor any of the user feedback.

PS: For native-english speakers, can "not" be combined with a "neither-nor" structure? I have the feeling that the previous sentence is grammatically wrong! Please feel free to correct me if this is the case ....

[MadGypsy]

drop "neither". Honestly, I wouldn't have guessed you aren't a native English speaker. I assumed it was just what I call a "double thought" where you have 2 ways you could say something and you accidentally type them both.

Also "neither" is most commonly used when you are only speaking about 2 things.

(ex) I currently use neither the SMC or Epsilon mods.
(maybe) I currently use neither the SMC nor Epsilon mods.

The messed up thing about English is only you foreigners know it. If you came to America speaking perfect English you'd leave it speaking something else that vaguely resembles it. Regardless of how I type here or how literate I can be, often times I sound like I live in the ghetto. When in Rome...

I've also been faking a country accent for like 20 years. I just like it.

[Quake1]

Hi MadGypsy,

thanks for the provided info! Actually I like learning new languages and I am constantly trying to improve myself on that matter, but sometimes I get confused, as it is natural.

Regarding English, in particular, I like the differences between British and American English. I find it interesting that different groups of people can use the same language in a different way. But I am sure that if I ever visit USA I would sound as a funny guy, 'cause I don't know the everyday "informal" language.

Now about the country accent, I like it too! But it would be better not to count on my opinion, since I like the British accent too ...

EDIT: Or is it "since I like ALSO the British accent"? You see, it is confusing sometimes ...

[MadGypsy]

since I like the British accent too
or
since I also like the British accent
or
since the British accent is one which I am fond of as well
or (informal)
I'm bout that British flow, ya heard
or (gutta)
Is like..you kno, ya herd ♪awwww shit♪ {starts dancing}( I really know people that talk like this. Communication is impossible cause EVERYTHING is like "you know, ya herd" like I'm some kind of mind reader. Something tells me they can't read their own mind.)

[Quake1]

I thought this was just something in the films, an exaggeration, you kno ...

[MadGypsy]

Well, it's definitely not an exaggeration on the "wrong side of the tracks" in New Orleans. What's even worse is the people that seriously and completely have made up their own language. There is this one guy that comes into my work bumming free beer and cigarettes. Nobody can understand a damn thing he says.

He's a cool guy. Most people have no problem giving him a beer and a smoke but, if it wasn't for universal sign language nobody would know what the hell he wants.

His nickname is Fish. Apparently he can swim like the dickens but, he cant talk for shit. He makes Pooty Tang look like a scholar (LOL). Anyway, this all went way off topic so, in the spirit of trying to re-rail the thread - hit me up in a PM if you have any further English questions.

Just don't ask me any grammar questions. I put punctuation in the craziest places. I skip punctuation in the same.

In my world, commas come after (however, anyway, well, so, but, anywhere I pause when I talk) and they come before names/address names. I have no clue what a semi-colon is for. Dashes continue alternate thoughts that complete a thought. Parenthesis hold "aside" info. Colon comes after any word that is about to be followed by an example except (to and from). For the most part, I invented all of that as my style of punctuating and I'm fine with that. You would fail the hell out of a grammar test using my method (probably)