The Dark Mod - a Thief Inspired Project for Doom 3

**Syl** · 12-14-2011, 06:04

Hey everyone! It seems like there are a lot of people on the forums who appreciate the amazing Thief series by Through The Looking Glass. The Dark Mod has been out since 2009, but I thought it might be worth posting in case there were others who might enjoy it as well who hadn't learned about it.

The Dark Mod is a project made with the Doom 3 engine. It's more accurate to say it's a toolset that's been used by its community and team to create levels and stories with. Currently there are 52 missions available. I've really been blown away by it, and it feels and plays incredibly true to its inspiration. Since it's a fan project and not connected to Eidos, the world is different than that of the Thief series, but it's set in a similar steam-punk world. It continues to be updated and expanded, with the latest major release being on November 27th of this year.

If you're a Thief fan and interested, the projects website can be found here.

**Fragony** · 12-14-2011, 12:15

Thief fans? Here? Absolutely unthinkable

And yay to Dark mod team, it isn't quite the real thing but I love you anyway

**frogbeastegg** · 12-14-2011, 13:12

Last I heard about this mod it was still in progress, then I heard nothing else and assumed it had died. Good grief! I'm pleased to be wrong, and shall look for a cheap copy of Doom 3 in the end of year sales. Thanks for mentioning it here.

Can you recommend some missions for a player who prefers human-based maps instead of undead, monster and robot ones? Do any of the missions have frog beasts? It would be nice to catch up with my cousins.

**Vuk** · 12-14-2011, 16:18

I am absolutely in love with the Dark Mod except for one thing...the combat system. Not even the system so much as the animations. They just look really...fake. Those guys should have built Thief 3, because they actually know what makes a Thief game.

**Syl** · 12-14-2011, 20:29

Originally Posted by frogbeastegg

Last I heard about this mod it was still in progress, then I heard nothing else and assumed it had died. Good grief! I'm pleased to be wrong, and shall look for a cheap copy of Doom 3 in the end of year sales. Thanks for mentioning it here.

Can you recommend some missions for a player who prefers human-based maps instead of undead, monster and robot ones? Do any of the missions have frog beasts? It would be nice to catch up with my cousins.

It was a similar case for me as well ^^, I remember hearing about the project years ago but ultimately got distracted by other things and lost all track of it. It was only a few days ago that I learned that it wasn't only alive but saw just how much they had accomplished. Needless to say pretty much all of my free time the last few days have been taffered away by it.

I've only been able to tackle a few of the maps so far out of the list so I can't reference too many just yet, but I'll keep a record of the human based maps that strike me as really well done as I go along and leave a post for you later. It seems there are a few people here who know about the project as well and probably have gotten to explore more of the maps already, if anyone else has some suggestions towards that and would like to share I'd be interested and appreciate it as well!

I understand if it's not as interesting for you or your cup of tea, but the occult maps I've played so far are fantastic as well. It seems that the Doom 3 engine gives the map creators a fair bit of bit of freedom in how they script events and the environment, and a lot of people have put that to really creative use.

No frogbeast sightings so far! If I see any I'll be sure to let them know their big sister says hello.

Originally Posted by Vuk

I am absolutely in love with the Dark Mod except for one thing...the combat system. Not even the system so much as the animations. They just look really...fake. Those guys should have built Thief 3, because they actually know what makes a Thief game.

The sword fighting can look and feel a bit clunky for sure, but I try and forgive it as usually combat like that is a last resort, and I try and keep a flash bomb on my belt when possible for that type of situation. Still, it's something that they could definitely improve on.

**frogbeastegg** · 12-14-2011, 23:05

Originally Posted by Syl

I understand if it's not as interesting for you or your cup of tea, but the occult maps I've played so far are fantastic as well. It seems that the Doom 3 engine gives the map creators a fair bit of bit of freedom in how they script events and the environment, and a lot of people have put that to really creative use.

In that case I'll take whatever recommendations you can give. I was hoping you had already played a lot of maps and might be able to name a few which I'd then use as a starting point before branching out to the map types which are traditionally a less to my taste.

I played the Thief 1 demo and finished it several times. Loved it to bits. I thought the whole game was going to be like that. Imagine my astonishment when I began mission 2 and ran into a zombie. As good as Thief 1 and 2 were, occult sections included, a part of me has always wished for that 'skulking around rich people's houses robbing them blind' Thief game I thought I was getting. Lord Bafford's remains a favourite level with me.

**Vuk** · 12-14-2011, 23:08

Originally Posted by frogbeastegg

In that case I'll take whatever recommendations you can give. I was hoping you had already played a lot of maps and might be able to name a few which I'd then use as a starting point before branching out to the map types which are traditionally a less to my taste.

I played the Thief 1 demo and finished it several times. Loved it to bits. I thought the whole game was going to be like that. Imagine my astonishment when I began mission 2 and ran into a zombie. As good as Thief 1 and 2 were, occult sections included, a part of me has always wished for that 'skulking around rich people's houses robbing them blind' Thief game I thought I was getting. Lord Bafford's remains a favourite level with me.

I never liked the undead stuff as much either. That is why I loved Thief 2 so much more than Thief 1. (and why Shipping and Receiving and the Bank were my fav levels.) In fact, those two levels define what Thief means to me.

**Syl** · 12-15-2011, 02:01

Originally Posted by frogbeastegg

In that case I'll take whatever recommendations you can give. I was hoping you had already played a lot of maps and might be able to name a few which I'd then use as a starting point before branching out to the map types which are traditionally a less to my taste.

I played the Thief 1 demo and finished it several times. Loved it to bits. I thought the whole game was going to be like that. Imagine my astonishment when I began mission 2 and ran into a zombie. As good as Thief 1 and 2 were, occult sections included, a part of me has always wished for that 'skulking around rich people's houses robbing them blind' Thief game I thought I was getting. Lord Bafford's remains a favourite level with me.

I'm sorry to not have too many names to offer at the moment. As soon as I got hooked on the mod I thought this would be the perfect place for it and had to share it, so I may have gotten a little ahead of myself.

I have a few I could suggest right away, depending on how soon you'll be able to pick up Doom 3 and try it out. I'm in the process of going through and keeping track of which missions I enjoy the most, so I'll be able to give you a more thorough list of my opinion later on.

I can completely understand enjoying that style more by the way ^^. It can take away some of the immersion when it's not your thing. I personally love the blend of the two, but I'm a bit of a fantasy dork as well so that probably helps. I think it's neat to see the conflict between magic and the rise of technology and how they're both shaping a world caught in between.

Originally Posted by Fragony

NEINNEINNIEN there is no Thief without the occult, if you disagree with that you must have a flawed personality, torture small animals, and are probably gay. Yes it kinda feels out of place at first, and I once felt the same way, but the more realistic setting outstayed it's welcome in Thief2. I also feel that you should be shot for liking Shipping and Receiving, Bank was awesome though

As someone who's gay and more on your side of the argument, hopefully for your sake you don't have your categories a bit confused :p. Or heaven forbid wrong.