SS2 Christine FM3: UNN Polaris v3

[68716213a5646Christine]

I have updated the UNN Polaris to Version 3, Newdark. I hope you'll like it 

Kolya has updated the first post 

https://www.systemshock.org/index.php?topic=578.0

[68716213a57dfMaskina]

There seems to be missing a key card for the UNN Facility Polaris. I have searched at the bridge architect and back and forth on the same level. No key card in sight.

Assistance is greatly appreciated. 

[68716213a596cvoodoo47]

if you mean the key I think you mean then it's on a random corpse - one would expect it to be inside the security checkpoint, but that is not the case. there is a corpse hanging on a railing, check the underpass where the big bots dwell.

[68716213a5d1eMaskina]

voodoo47
Thanks for the reply and information. I do not seem to find the body that you are referring to.

See attached picture. I believe this is the first key card, early on in the mission.

Cyber you later, hackilator.
[Ss2 Screenshot 2022.06.07 - 20.29.14.83.png expired]

[68716213a5e5avoodoo47]

aha, so not that one. ok, the one you seek is on another random corpse, you will have to search the snowy areas with trees outside where the ice beasts lurk.

[68716213a5f86Christine]

Like voodoo said, in a snowy area with trees and ice beasts, but not in this level. You have to go back, the keycard for the maingate is in the previous level. 

http://www.southquarter.com/christine/polaris-024.html

[68716213a61fdMaskina]

Christine
I backtracked to the first level and found the missing key card in an area that I had previously overlooked.

Pardon to question the authenticity of this mission.

I would like to say my thanks to voodoo47 and Christine. Your help is valued.

[68716213a6342voodoo47]

this is actually one of the few small details I don't exactly love - sometimes, important items are just scattered around (semi) randomly, easy to overlook.

[68716213a658bMaskina]

voodoo47
Yes, you expect them to be on the same level at least. Fearing that it's a bug when it's not.

Learn something new every day. Think outside the level.

[68716213a66edChristine]

Perhaps I should make a cardslot at the tunnel for the level transit. 

When I built this, these two levels were one. When I was almost done, I got problems with objects that became invisible. To fix that, I had to separate the levels.
I was far away from the old limits, but I had to make the snowfall with particles, I guess this made the problems 

[68716213a67e4Maskina]

The more you know.

I am new to fan missions and I am astounded by these creations of yours, truly well done. 

[68716213a696cStingm]

I don't think any changes are needed. I knew where to look and found it.  Also I love all your missions for System Shock 2 and Thief series. I play them all the time. They are just awesome. Thank you for all the hard work and you are very much appreciated.

[68716213a6bb7Jules]

I've really liked this! While a tad shorter, the quality is up there with the previous FMs in the series with the refreshing addition of being set on a planet's surface rather than on the usual spaceship. The fact that the setting was winter-themed was a definite plus for me, as I've always had a soft spot for such environments in videogames. I also cannot miss mentioning the ice rumblers, or however they're called. As my character was still too weak I was forced to sneak past most of them, fighting the occasional one, which made for some pretty intense moments.

I also liked the new subplot about a scientist involved in the usual morally ambiguous schemes. It was especially nice to see this subplot being developed even further (and satisfyingly concluded) in Urlaub. Little touches like this go a long way in making the overall experience more enjoyable.

I'd also like to mention that I really liked the voice acting this time around. I felt like there were a couple of times in Ponterbee when it was somewhat immersion breaking (even though I know we're talking about community work and people working for free, so don't take my comments too seriously). This time around, however, I felt like the quality was evened out pretty nicely.

It's a real shame that the SS2 FM community has never been as large as the Thief one. Still, I understand the reasons - Thief being mission-based with no real character progression, it's relatively easier to design for. Luckily, I've still got a couple of FMs left to play.

[68716213a6ca2voodoo47]

I also found the lack of a nagging AI refreshing. sometimes you just want to go around blowing up stuff and killing all the things in peace.

[68716213a6f51Jules]

voodoo47That's a good point, there was definitely less urgency compared to the previous entries and the original SS2 campaign in particular. I've always played the base game very carefully, relying mostly on my melee weapons and being conservative with my supplies. Playing FMs, and this one in particular, made me feel comfortable with using my supplies more and just being more trigger-happy, which made for a nice change of pace.

Incidentally, this reminds me of how it is only in this FM that I finally felt bold enough to use the grenade launcher, and that's after four playthroughs of the original...

[68716213a70a5Kal]

Hello Christine,

I've spent the last week or so playing through your fan missions (except for urlaub because I assume it's a joke mission?) and I gotta say these are some amazing fan projects, the level design rivals that of Looking Glass and pure passion oozes out of them.

What I'd like to know is, do you have a new website where you share your stuff? In the original FM posts you linked a website where you said you share assets and development material but it's down now, is there still a way to access that content?

[68716213a7194Stingm]

You need to play it. It finishes the story.

[68716213a732cvoodoo47]

ok, new patch available, requires the latest SS2tool update (10april2025). if using RealSG, you will need 1.07 or newer.

 - readded a few gamesys fixes that seemingly got lost after the last update
- replaced the convoluted and barely working vanilla proximity grenade scripts with NVscript, mines actually do damage now, and can be shot to explode so the player can't soft lock the game by trapping himself anymore
- edited the gamesys to move the shotgun hybrid scripts to a separate metaprop to not clutter the archetype (SCP style)
- modified a few corpse locations to fit the environment better
- all toilets flushed to the floor as the new model makes it very apparent they float in mid-air
- removed some superfluous punctuation from OBJSHORT.STR (both EN and DE)

to install, extract the zip to your Polaris folder, and overwrite. as always, anyone is free to use/not use this extra patch, and Christine is free to integrate/not integrate it into her fan mission.

note to self - the mutated plant could use the T2 eyeball plant treatment (turning around to look at the player).