The Official 4th Quest Contest

I do believe its a Moldorm. They were used throughout, especially in the second quest if I remember right, including level 1 I think.

Yep, its a Moldorm. Screen 2:27 has two of them in Level 1.

So Moldorm can appear in all nine levels? I never played all the way through Quest 2, so I wouldn't know… O:

Well, seeing as that fireball tile is apparently loaded up in all nine levels in both quests by that chart, I would guess that's a yes. Good chance its loaded up just because of the fireball statues.

EDIT: Oh, and about the NES palette thing I was talking about earlier, I am using that "fixed" palette throughout my whole quest. It'd be a very easy copy-paste job if you need it in the brighter one though. Personally, I'm liking the way that darker one looks.

Questwizard88 wrote:Well, seeing as that fireball tile is apparently loaded up in all nine levels in both quests by that chart, I would guess that's a yes. Good chance its loaded up just because of the fireball statues.

Here's a version of that chart that actually shows the level palettes as well:

You can easily see now that there's 3 groups of minor enemies, 3 groups of bosses, and one group used for every dungeon. (And a whole different set for the overworld, too. And Zora still uses that fireball, and it's loaded into the same spot in memory...it's possible to use Moldorm in the overworld without getting garbled graphics. (Though its movement does glitch up a bit since it wasn't really meant to be used there. Heh. 😛))

The way the Triforce pieces are laid out on the subscreen once collected is also tied to level palettes:

Both quests actually use the same pattern based on the level palettes. The game's internal level numbers never really change; they stay with the same palettes, and then the game swaps the level number written above the minimap. So you'll go to the teal/red dungeon in the 2nd quest, and it'll say "LEVEL 2", but the game still thinks it's level 3. You can see this for yourself by blowing the whistle after finishing 2nd quest level 2...it takes you to the 1st quest's level 3 warp point. 😛

Hypercrash wrote:Yeah, that's it exactly.
(Though its movement does glitch up a bit since it wasn't really meant to be used there. Heh. :P))

It even glitches up in ZC. I found that out when I tried using the rock worm I had made on the overworld. It ended up moving completely off the screen, and up into the subscreen a few times.

You didn't mention anything about the mazes on the overworld. I seem to remember the paths being different in 3rd quest (And possibly in 2nd quest as well, though that's a little more foggy).

So can we play with mazes? (Well, not me personally... I don't have the drive to pump out a quest in two weeks). Could the mazes be moved on the overworld? Any screen with symmetric vertical and horizontal entry points could be made into a maze room. I don't know how effective they would be in different locations, but it might be fun to confuse the player.

EDIT: Even better, could you throw one into a dungeon?

They were the same in the 3rd quest and 2nd quest. Personally, I think everyone needs to stop trying to find cute ways around the rules of the contest, shut up, and just work within the original version's limitations.

Here's a question that I think is fair. The rules say Whistle->Stairs must be accompanied by Whistle-> Palette Change. Does Whistle->Dry Lake also have to be used? I ask this because my game has one screen in a dungeon that has water and a Whistle->Stairs secret (I really hope that using Whistle->Stairs in dungeons in general is fine!). Dungeon water doesn't really look like water so being able to walk over it would be strange. I could rework the room if I had to, but if I don't, I'd just leave it be.

System Error wrote:They were the same in the 3rd quest and 2nd quest. Personally, I think everyone needs to stop trying to find cute ways around the rules of the contest, shut up, and just work within the original version's limitations.

Actually I read the rules thoroughly and there was nothing in there about maze room types, which is why I asked. Seeing as a maze does not change the actual appearance of the overworld, and it is an old mechanic to begin with, I wanted to know if it was acceptable.

System Error wrote:They were the same in the 3rd quest and 2nd quest. Personally, I think everyone needs to stop trying to find cute ways around the rules of the contest, shut up, and just work within the original version's limitations.

Ok, I hope you've got your 42 dungeon screens set up, since the original version did not support any more unique screens than that.

Just though I'd say, I'm out of the contest. I've been going in and out of town for the past month, and have to go out of town again soon, so there's no way I'll have time to finish this.

War Lord wrote:Ok, I hope you've got your 42 dungeon screens set up, since the original version did not support any more unique screens than that.

So? The third quest worked within those restrictions. Why shouldn't the 4th one? Why should it suddenly have semi-advanced features like new enemies in it? It doesn't make sense.

ForgottenFox wrote:So? The third quest worked within those restrictions. Why shouldn't the 4th one? Why should it suddenly have semi-advanced features like new enemies in it? It doesn't make sense.

Because I said it can.

How's that?

Fine, fine. I still think those features should be saved for more advanced demo quests, but whatever. :P

Question, could I make it so the raft paths no longer work. And change the two maze path solutions? Also, what about making ganon tougher, that is changing his HP and Attack power.

Hypercrash wrote:
The way the Triforce pieces are laid out on the subscreen once collected is also tied to level palettes:

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6007/z1triforcearrangement.png

Both quests actually use the same pattern based on the level palettes. The game's internal level numbers never really change; they stay with the same palettes, and then the game swaps the level number written above the minimap. So you'll go to the teal/red dungeon in the 2nd quest, and it'll say "LEVEL 2", but the game still thinks it's level 3. You can see this for yourself by blowing the whistle after finishing 2nd quest level 2...it takes you to the 1st quest's level 3 warp point. 😛

I did this exact thing in mine, using level palette 3 for my level 2 dungeon, so I should keep the level number as 3 but tell them its 2, and it should go at the bottom left on the triforce pieces? And should I set the whistle for that to level 2's screen or to 3's to be correct with the NES bahavior? I'm sort of confused now.

The palette business is refering only to the colors right (and possibly triforce locations)? Because strict enemy limitations per dungeon were not enforced on the 3rd quest contest (level 9 has just about everything, darknuts/wizzrobes ganon/gleeok/goma like-like/gibdo). While "enemy theme-ing" the levels can give a more classic zelda feel, I don't see the need for arbitrary constraints. But what's the official ruling here?

Also I'm curious on the unresolved darknut issue in the "exterminated bugs" thread titled "[887] ZC gets confused where you hit the enemy " (I can't seem to post links or I would, it should be very near the top)
It greatly impacts making an original-style quest and time is running out.

Also, I think the GANON password is awesome.
I guess there's also LINK, HYRULE, TRIFORCE.

Several questions as well.

Still on the palettes-level correspondence, if we alter the palette of the levels (using the palette for level 8 in level 1, for example), must we make the whistle warps match irregularly (as in, using the whistle after finishing level 1 to take you to the level 8 entrance)? Or can we edit it accordingly? Also, in the same note, must we make the player receive the Triforce piece that goes in the erroneous slot (the eighth piece, for example)?

Cjc7988 wrote:So can we play with mazes?

This also intrigues me. I don't mean to change the locations of the mazes around, but can I alter the way that you clear said maze? The Exits are in the same place, but the order you must go through screens differ, I mean.

EDIT: Another thing: Secret Combos / Flag Triggers. In Dungeons (only), are we allowed to use flags that weren't used in the original? Like Boomerang Triggers, Arrow Triggers or Sword Triggers?

ANOTHER EDIT: In terms of Rules. Shouldn't "Use Old-Style Warp Detection" remain enabled as well? Also, is it okay to enable "Constant Traps Can Pass Through Enemies"?

The way I've got it set up right now is the triforce pieces go into the one by the level palette. I've done several palette switches so far, including using the level 3 palette in level 2. I just set the level to 3 in the DMap, but the title to LEVEL-2. With the default 1st quest triforce setup, it goes into the correct slot automatically that way as long as the level numbers themselves are correct.

Meh... it doesn't look like I'll have the time to make an entry. Making the deadline Tax Day is just plain mean!* I'll volunteer to judge the contest though.

* Actually my taxes are a piece of cake. Working retail, however, is not.

Reminding everyone that the tentative deadline is April 15th. If there's considered a pressing need the deadline could possibly be extended, but everyone should still operate under the assumption that the 15th is the date.

Also, make sure that you let one of us know directly when your quest is ready for submission, whether it be via PM or IM or whatever. Also note that playing through these quests is going to take time, so I can't say when we'll have the results.

AlphaDawg!!! 😞

I think we could all benefit from an extension (say May 15th! 😃)

Trying to fit a 1 month contest into my schedule has been hard, especially at this point in the school year (and for a contest such as this, I would love to play entries that people got to spend some quality time on without being rushed).

Whenever the contest is over, will we all get to play the entries immediately or after they are judged (or never)? (pending authors approval ofcourse)
Like a listing of all entries in this thread or something.

I can probably finish before April 15th, but I probably won't be able to properly test it.

Also, I have a small question:
Are we allowed to use Bats (to replace keese, sice they suck), Super Darknuts, Stalfos 3 (because Stalfos 2 are too easy later in the game) and of the other enhanced ZC enemies?

Sorry if this was already answered.

Blaman wrote:Are we allowed to use Bats (to replace keese, sice they suck), Super Darknuts, Stalfos 3 (because Stalfos 2 are too easy later in the game) and of the other enhanced ZC enemies?

jman2050 wrote:c) New items and new enemies WILL be allowed in this contest, but keep in mind that the goal is to maintain the spirit of the original
game and create an extension of the first three quests. As such, the judges will decide whether any additions to the quest qualify in
this regard. Adding a variant of the candle that uses rupees (much like the arrow - L) or an Octorok that requires 6 hits to defeat is likely okay. Adding the spin
attack, Din's Fire or an Octorok on crack is likely not.

If by "Super Darknut" you are referring to the Death Knight, the answer is most likely a no.

EDIT: Hopefully, I'll be finished by the deadline. I haven't been able to work on it recently due to having 8 college papers due these past 3 weeks (wtf humanities?!?). I'm almost done, though, so expect a test quest soon.

CaRmAgE wrote:If by "Super Darknut" you are referring to the Death Knight, the answer is most likely a no.

EDIT: Hopefully, I'll be finished by the deadline. I haven't been able to work on it recently due to having 8 college papers due these past 3 weeks (wtf humanities?!?). I'm almost done, though, so expect a test quest soon.

I just pumped up the stalfos 3's hp and took out the 4 sword beams and made it just the one still for mine. Highest darknuts are still the normal blue ones though, as 10 of them in one room is pretty crazy, even with the blue ring and lots of heart containers, along with the magic sword.

oh, and I had boatloads of papers and other junk in my humanities classes, so I guess its nothing unusual. One had a 3-5 page research paper due the first class day of each week, which was insane.

rhm815 wrote:The palette business is refering only to the colors right (and possibly triforce locations)? Because strict enemy limitations per dungeon were not enforced on the 3rd quest contest (level 9 has just about everything, darknuts/wizzrobes ganon/gleeok/goma like-like/gibdo). While "enemy theme-ing" the levels can give a more classic zelda feel, I don't see the need for arbitrary constraints. But what's the official ruling here?

Sylph wrote:

Several questions as well.

Still on the palettes-level correspondence, if we alter the palette of the levels (using the palette for level 8 in level 1, for example), must we make the whistle warps match irregularly (as in, using the whistle after finishing level 1 to take you to the level 8 entrance)? Or can we edit it accordingly? Also, in the same note, must we make the player receive the Triforce piece that goes in the erroneous slot (the eighth piece, for example)?

Cjc7988 wrote:So can we play with mazes?

This also intrigues me. I don't mean to change the locations of the mazes around, but can I alter the way that you clear said maze? The Exits are in the same place, but the order you must go through screens differ, I mean.

EDIT: Another thing: Secret Combos / Flag Triggers. In Dungeons (only), are we allowed to use flags that weren't used in the original? Like Boomerang Triggers, Arrow Triggers or Sword Triggers?

ANOTHER EDIT: In terms of Rules. Shouldn't "Use Old-Style Warp Detection" remain enabled as well? Also, is it okay to enable "Constant Traps Can Pass Through Enemies"?

Sorry for reiterating these, but the deadline is fast approaching and the answer to these questions could mean drastic changes in my quest...

Also. A weaker Wizzrobe that instead of magic launches a flame two squares in front of it (like a candle) is acceptable or already a borderline 'No'? (Or a straight-out 'no'😉

...w-what? Hey! Looks like time's up! Pencils down, everyone!

I sent mine in to jman last night. I assume he's the one we were supposed to send it to, right?

Questwizard88 wrote:I sent mine in to jman last night. I assume he's the one we were supposed to send it to, right?

I did the same, so I hope that's right.

Any one of us is fine, although judging from the number of PMs I've gotten I'm gonna be doing most of the initial work :P