Wavelet
by Mr. Happy · Uploaded Jun 06, 2011
File Size: 6.08 MB
Downloads: 1245
Rating: (23 votes)
Description
Wavelet...a single packet of vibration. A single (player) chamber. Good luck, you will need it. v2.0 - Current File fixed a rare way to trap yourself increased ambient light many small tweaks and fixes v1.1 fixed a scene and a kill trigger
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Very hard map, with state of the art graphics - which will accompany you until you are collapsed like that chamber. Look at what the map suggests you: I got stuck for dismissing those hints.
Even if the technical side is a-ok (maybe some stillness), imo in the end any such considerations become shadowed by user's ability to deatl first with the (hard) job at hand.
Bug: around the entrance is a little hole with missing texture.
The non-linear look of the map make the hint really confusing.. That contribute to make this map really hard, with a lot of satisfaction when you finally solve it.
Nice work!
Excellent puzzle, I struggled for a very long time to get the last symbol lit and then it was sooo obvious. Should have left and come back. Superb challenge..Thanks for creating.
An interesting map. The most difficult part for me was determining where to begin the puzzle, but once I discovered the first number panel the puzzle was of balanced difficulty after that: not too easy, but not stupidly hard.
Aside from the actual puzzle, the overall aesthetic design of the map is incredible: the map didn't feel like it was designed for the overgrown style, it felt like it actually had decayed and fell apart. I also applaud you for being the one designers that actually places autosaves in proper places: it made the puzzle a lot less frustrating if something didn't go right unintentionally (stepping on that faith plate on the first ledge).
Great work. 5/5.
great map. as others have said you get a real sense this room has dilapidated over time making the puzzle that extra bit harder. thank you
Very fun. And very pretty.
The only issues I can think of are that it's possible to shoot a portal underneath the "three-dot" emancipation grill on the far end, and that it's sloooooow. But there's only so much you can do about that.
Nice map. The use of destruction and changing lighting was nice and well done.
Couple of ptroblems with the design: That first fatihplate was really annoying for a few reasons. Because of the portal surfaces next to it, I found myself trying to use those to portal elsewhere and would accidentally hit the plate and be flung to my death. It is way too easy to accidentally hit, and its also annoying that there is no save from it unless you have prepared to hit it beforehand. I must say I don't like it when maps have faithplates that will kill you unless you do something first, I know the main SP campaign didn't have any. Kinda makes me lose my faith in em =/
Second: the vertical faithplate was also annoying because, while its obvious you need to use a lightbridge to land on, it is way too hard and tedious actually firing the bridge portal in time. The portal surface is too high (the bridge comes out only a bit more than 128 units under the ceiling) AND that section of the ceiling that is jutting down actually blocks the portal surface completely so you CANT fire the bridge-portal at the peak of the jump, only after or before.
I would reduce the catapult size on the faithplate, maybe change the portal surfaces next to it to metal, and also put the "toxic water" warning sign with the signs on the plate. For the vertical plate, maybe remove the part of the ceiling blocking the intended portal surface (I found that really infuriating)
I liked the map though as a puzzle. It took a while to find the two-dot part, but once I did figuring it out was fun. I was delighted by the new innovation in fizzler puzzles where you had to use a portal to make the laser turn the fizzler off, then fire a portal behind the fizzler turning it back on but leaving portal behind it. Then, using the other portal to catch the lightbridge and usin the bridge to make it through the fizzler.
Valve never had you do anything like that.
The initial faithplate is what I get the most negative feedback about, which is ironic since it's addition was one of the biggest changes I made in response to playtesters wanting more "flying through the air really fast." As for the vertical one, I'm honestly a little confused since I tested a dozen times specifically to make sure that the portable surfaces you need are always in view, though they do get 'blocked' by the vines, you can obviously still shoot.
I'm looking at my options for updating/fixing this puzzle once the contest is over. There's a couple minor but serious problems (missing overlay etc/way to get stuck) that I've discovered and I have some ideas about how to address what everyone has mentioned here.
Again, thanks for playing, and if you do play, please rate! 
ok here's to clear up the confusion with the vertical one. I'm talking about the big chunk of ceiling that's sticking down blocking the one portal surface that gives my bridge the height I need to get to the next part. Observe these screenshots:
the first shot is the tile wall I'm shooting at. The second shot was taken right at the top of the jump. As you can see, no line of fire.
Hope that helps
Oh and, 4.5 / 5
very nice, I especially liked the opening part where the turret gets smashed that was cute
@ CrazyGuy
Obviously I'm not the map creator, but I'm pretty sure that what you were trying to do in those pictures is not the intended solution. I believe...
the vertical faith plate is only intended to be used during step 2. The panel you were aiming for is part of step 1 and there's a much easier way to get a portal up there. You just portal yourself onto the light bridge, extend the light bridge over by the map entrance and go through the portals. Then when you're near the entrance you can extend the light bridge onto that high up panel and use the faith plate near the entrance to get up there.
@ Mr. Happy
I'm actually a bit confused about step 2.
I've solved it in 2 ways, that is I've gotten the portal behind the fizzler there in 2 ways, 1 is obviously unintended.
1. I set up the redirection cube to shut off the step 2 fizzler. Then I got myself on top of the ruined glass room out in the water and replaced the portals to shut off the fizzler again. If I stood at the extreme corner of the glass room I could shoot a portal onto the panels behind the shut down fizzler. From the glass room I could barely jump to the ruined walkway leading back up to the map entrance. That's what I did the first time.
2. This time I set up the cube. Used the bridge to get to the vertical faith plate. Replaced the portals to shut down the fizzler. Shot a portal on the panels behind the fizzler which reactivates the fizzler. Launched my self up on the faith plate and shot the other portal at the light bridge panel to extend the bridge under me before falling. Then I walked to the fizzler on the bridge and jumped through. Is that how I'm supposed to use the vertical faith plate combined with the bridge there? It completely worked, but neither of those methods felt 100% like an intended solution.
I really love how this map made me think and rethink what I was supposed to do. It was pretty easy to see what the next objective was thanks to the number and symbol signs, but it was also difficult to figure out how to achieve each objective. Really great job making it hard but not too frustrating...at least with the puzzle solving. I was extremely frustrated by the faith plate near the entrance as I must have accidentally died on it at least ten times(no exaggeration). I think it would be great if you just put in a step there that is high enough so you must jump on it and can't accidentally walk over it. I also noticed the map/texture hole near the entrance.
@adair
I was certain thats what that was for, because what else is the vertical one for? From the standing behidn that plate, in order to get to that spot (this is after 2) it was the only way for me to get back up to the top without looping back around through the beginning. I dont know, ill wait to hear from Mr Happy
CrazyGuy wrote:
@adair
I was certain thats what that was for, because what else is the vertical one for? From the standing behidn that plate, in order to get to that spot (this is after 2) it was the only way for me to get back up to the top without looping back around through the beginning. I dont know, ill wait to hear from Mr Happy
What I did was use that faith plate to get some air, and then turned off the fizzler near the entrance using the first relay and portal placement. Then I shot one portal through the now-open fizzler and it closed. I then shot a portal to the light bridge as soon as I hit the ceiling and walked across to and through the fizzler.
I also did this during a playtest, and he didn't say is was an alternate solution so I think this is intended.
CrazyGuy wrote:
I was certain thats what that was for, because what else is the vertical one for? From the standing behidn that plate, in order to get to that spot (this is after 2) it was the only way for me to get back up to the top without looping back around through the beginning. I dont know, ill wait to hear from Mr Happy
"...after 2"? There's no need to get back up to the top after step 2. ...or did I read that wrong?
Groxkiller585 wrote:
What I did was use that faith plate to get some air, and then turned off the fizzler near the entrance using the first relay and portal placement. Then I shot one portal through the now-open fizzler and it closed. I then shot a portal to the light bridge as soon as I hit the ceiling and walked across to and through the fizzler.
Hmmm, you make it sound like you accomplished several things during one launch from a faith plate.
Anyway, I just realized something:
It's possible to solve this map without using any faith plates or light bridge at all. You can turn off the fizzler guarding the cube without leaving the first area, then just use portals to get the cube. That's step 1. I described how I did step 2 without a faith plate in my first post. Step 3 shouldn't require any faith plates.
There are multiple solutions to each step, for speed-runners to experiment with, though I did work to make sure that the 'intended solution' was the most obvious...I hope I succeeded.
I didn't realize it was possible to get inside the fizzler room by standing on the glass like that...very cool!
The intended solution to get the cube is to use the first faith plate and a light bridge on the top left panel. I like to place the bridge as I hit the target.
It is possible to get to the cube by using the vertical faithplate in the manner adair tried, just difficult. I made it possible as a hint to those who did more exploring than solving so that they could remember that idea for step 2.
In order to get behind the fizzler with the intended solution you do as grox described, though it is not neccessary to stand behind the faith plate, that is what I meant when I said I checked the sightlines over and over again, you should be able to keep your crosshair on the portable surfaces you need for that part WHILE bouncing.
Once again, thanks for playing. Seeing something you've made spark discussion like this is a joy.
I meant after 1, and trying to get to 2. I was solving 2 from the top ledge show in in my screenshots cause I fell down there, and thought you needed to be up there to see the intended targets. Like I said I thought the vertical FP was for getting back up to the ledge above that broken glass chamber to the side of cube 1
Mr. Happy wrote:
It is possible to get to the cube by using the vertical faithplate in the manner adair tried, just difficult. I made it possible as a hint to those who did more exploring than solving so that they could remember that idea for step 2.
That was CrazyGuy trying that method. It's cool that the map is solvable in so many ways, and thanks to all of you for describing your methods. I like hearing all the alternative solutions on a good map.
You have a visible nodraw surface in the beginning area of the map. I like the "ceiling falls through to let more light in", but I think it could have been done a little earlier as I found the map extremely dark to the point where I kept walking into the water unknowingly.
I feel like the indicators in the map are not well placed, or that generally where the player should be going next is not clearly shown. Most of my playtime was spent wandering around trying to figure out exactly how I was supposed to accomplish what it wanted me to accomplish. In contrast, getting the third fizzler down and getting the exit door to open was extremely satisfying.
Well that was a rather difficult map, but as soon as I figured out what I had to do it was fine... I spent a while exploring at the beginning. Interestingly, the first thing I did was go into the fizzler room (you can portal in underneath the fizzlers by standing next to the afp that sends you back to the start). Then I went and got the cube without deactivating that fizzler either (you can portal out of that room and place the cube on the ledge next to the exit door).
Then I started looking at the signs and realized what I was supposed to be doing, and at that point things fell together nicely. I have to say I found the first faith plate rather obnoxious and didn't use it as soon as I realized I didn't have to.
I think I must have super-night-vision, either that or no one else calibrates their monitors, it's just not dark to me! Thanks for taking that screenshot sleeper, I was told there was a nodraw but couldn't find it. I've fixed everything (including the fizzlers, thanks enigma) for the post-contest release.
Did anyone find the ratman room?
Mr. Happy wrote:
Did anyone find the ratman room?
Yep, actually thought it was mandatory until I realized what the wall signs meant - and trying absolutely everything before.
Loved the map. Yeah it was hard, but it was solvable. I thought all your positioning for the symbols for the puzzle were spot on. It did take me a while to figure out what i was supposed to do, but i would rather have it this way than have big signs all over the map telling you what to do. I do agree with the lighting of the map, at the start i could not see what textures i could portal on, when the light came in from above, it made a big difference. Cant wait to see what you come up with next.
Wow that last room was tough, even with signs. I enjoyed the game. The starting off in the dark only made the game more enjoyable when the lights finally came on. However I found that the game was a "tiny" bit fustrating when having to jump through a portal with a laser going through it. Maybe I solve it the wrong way, but that detracted from the fun element. Nevertheless, I like hard maps, and this was one of them. I too hope to play more of your maps, if and when +.
Eastward
P.S. I did not find the rat room. I was vey busy solving the hard map. LOL. Next round...
Awww, you fixed all the fun shortcuts 
Seriously, I didn't find any shortcuts in this latest version and I can see you put quite a bit of post-contest work into this map.
A couple of thoughts:
Why does the glass wall lower to allow permanent access to the second fizzler room? To get in there you have to use the normal puzzle solution, but it is very easy to use portals to get back out and the laser can pass right through the glass. So it seems unnecssary for that glass to lower and for some reason that bothers me, but it's not really important.
Also I liked it better before when the player had to portal into the third fizzler room then walk through the fizzler near the exit door and replace the portals to deactivate the fizzler again before moving the portals to get the exit open. I understand you might have wanted to streamline that part a bit and make it easier to figure out so you allowed the player to simply use the first faith-plate to get to the other side, but I think it might be too obvious for the first time player and lead to a reduced feeling of accomplishment. I remember when I figured it out using portals in the contest version I had a huge "Aha!" moment. Really it's hard to judge because I already knew what to do from playing before and every body has a different view of what is a good challenge versus being too difficult, but that's my opinion. Maybe I'm being too picky; both methods are available even though my preferred method is probably the less obvious one.
There are so many great maps out there now, but I think this is one of my favorites.
EDIT: I just found a way to get stuck. First get the cube and then toss it up through the laser-grid-of-death. I doubt it's worth fixing but, if you did want to, you could replace the laser grid with a grated wall.
Well adair you are tempting me to make the first faith plate deadly again but I think I must resist the temptation to work on this one little puzzle continually rather than move on, but maybe!
I did remove 1 shortcut as I recall, the white wall in the first fizzle area, maybe there are some other glitch-dependant (like gap in fizzler) shortcuts I removed, don't quite remember. I did that for what seemed like a good reason but I don't remember!
Why does the glass lower? Because I was finding that people did not understand the spatial relationship between the lasers and glass clearly and because it was possible to get stuck by bringing the cube into there but not redirecting the laser with it before leaving the room...that way you could not get back in as the cube is required for lowering the fizzler.
I actually tried and tried to throw the cube into the lasers and was not able to!! If you notice that glass wall is taller than in the original version so that you can't throw the cube in there...but I guess you can!
Maybe I will update the map again, but I think maybe my time would be better spent on moving on to something new. It's like the latest TF2 blog post says, sometimes you overwork your structure so much that the flesh gets lost and it would be better to have a new idea instead.
Saying it's one of your favorites warms my cockles.
Mr. Happy wrote:
Well Adair you are tempting me to make the first faith plate deadly again but I think I must resist the temptation to work on this one little puzzle continually rather than move on, but maybe!
||Hey, I completely support you working on more maps... but if you do decide to give Wavelet a few adjustments I think you could move that destroyed glass box that is currently the first faith-plate's landing pad just a bit away from the area with the exit door. Far enough so that it's not possible to jump from one to the other.
Making the faith plate deadly again wouldn't be bad either. I think you might get a few complaints from people who put too much faith in the plate(ha!), but I think most players who would make that mistake would probably make it early enough that it's not a big deal. I think you should keep the landing pad and keep the portalable wall close to it so unwary players can use that to get back to the faith-plate, but you make the call.||
||> Quote:
I did remove 1 shortcut as I recall, the white wall in the first fizzle area, maybe there are some other glitch-dependent (like gap in fizzler) shortcuts I removed, don't quite remember. I did that for what seemed like a good reason but I don't remember!
I remember finding that shortcut. You also moved the other glass box that made the faith-plate in the far corner unnecessary.
Quote:
I actually tried and tried to throw the cube into the lasers and was not able to!! If you notice that glass wall is taller than in the original version so that you can't throw the cube in there...but I guess you can!
Heh, it takes some practice and luck.
I made some demos of me messing around in Wavelet. "boxtoss" is in there along with some ridiculous alternate routes:
I called them Longcut because they didn't exactly seem like shortcuts.
"Longcut" is something that happened rarely while I was attempting Longcut1 repeatedly. I wouldn't worry about it, but I thought you might wanna see it since it clearly breaks the way the lowering glass is supposed to work.
"Longcut1" shows a route I had wondered about and finally made it happen. Succeeding at it took more attempts than I care to admit (damn cube toss) 
.
I'm playing custom maps and record my first time of playing them. So the run is not perfect and may not use only intended ways, but maybe it can let you see how other people may understand the map or you could just enjoy someone playing this map for entertainment.
Anyways, here is the recording:
H69Z_UNWMK8
(Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H69Z_UNWMK8)
Also note the video description for more feedback and my signature for additional project information.
A clever puzzle that really makes the player pay attention to the signs. (I didn't use the vertical faith plate; if you want, I'll record a demo or something). The puzzle was interesting and the graphics were excellent.
you killed 
so sad anyway nice map im not sure if i got exact way your suposed to do it by the way is the faith plate thats almost sunken in water suposed to be used?
The first time through this map took me a while, mostly because the lightbridge allows one to explore almost every nook and cranny. When I finally buckled down to solving the thing, I only used nine portals. My second run through took less than three minutes, and I was being careful.
I never used the vertical faithplate; I used the same path to get to part two as I did to get to part one. Since I play with a controller, using the vertical faithplate would have been harder, as my solution required no timing whatsoever.
I think having multiple paths is a plus for a map, so long as it isn't a shortcut. Also, a map like this which requires more thinking than skill is a plus for me.
The looks were excellent, the puzzle looked harder than it actually was, and the little extra bits (details, animations and voiceovers) all add up to a solid 4/5 and a place on my favorites playlist.
P.S. On my third playthrough, I went looking for the ratman's den, and not only found it, but a way to solve the puzzle without using faithplates at all: high on the back side of the central column, there is portal surface that lets you use the lightbridge to get to both part one and two.
Wavelet...a single packet of vibration.
A single (player) chamber.
Good luck, you will need it.
v2.0 - Current File
fixed a rare way to trap yourself
increased ambient light
many small tweaks and fixes
v1.1 fixed a scene and a kill trigger
File Name: sp_mh_wavelet_final2.zip
File Size: 6.08 MiB
Click here to download [SP]Wavelet