Level Information

What Makes Up a Level

HOG files:

Contain the level file (.rdl .rl2) and additional files required for custom textures, sounds, etc... HOG files may be edited with various HOG editors available on the web. For detailed information about HOG files and HOG editors see this page.

Mission Files:

This file, either .msn or .mn2, tells Descent 1/2 what's going on.
DMB2 now has a built in Mission Editor. Go to: File / Edit Mission File.

Here you can fill in any additional information
you wish to include in your Mission File.

To add additional levels just click Insert and type the name of the .rdl or .rl2 file you wish to add.

To add a secret level select the level that contains the secret exit and click Rename. The format is: level, secretlevel

* BOTH the .hog and .msn/.mn2 files must be present to play a level.

I've Built a Level, Where Do I Put it?

It depends on which Descent you've made your level for.

For Descent:	c:\games\descentr\
For Descent2:	c:\games\descent2\missions

Note: If a level is designated as an "anarchy" level in the Mission File it will not be visable in Descent's level list unless you're connected to a network or server.

HOW TO BUILD MULTI_LEVEL MISSIONS:

DMB2 v2.6 now has a built-in .hog editor.
If you don't have v2.6 click here and download the upgrade FREE.

Now you're wondering, "What .hog editor? I haven't seen one."
Well, everytime you open a level with DMB2 v.2.6 you'll notice a little box with a file name in it appears before you can get to the level itself. This box is the .hog editor. It has functions like Save, Export and Import. This is what you'll use to make multi-level sets.

You Have 3 Levels You Want to Put in a Set

(All 3 must have reactors)

Open one of the levels.
You'll see the .hog-editor-box.
Select the .rdl or .rl2 file in the box and click Export.
Save it somewhere you'll remember.
Now do that for one more level.
OK, now open the third level.
Instead of exporting this .rdl/.rl2 you'll import the other two.
Click import and browse to the .rdl/.rl2 files you exported earlier.

NOW THAT YOU"VE IMPORTED THE .RDL/.RL2's YOU HAVE TO EDIT THE MISSION FILE.

Goto: File/Mission Editor. Here, you'll edit the mission file so it knows the other two levels are there.
Click Insert and type the name of the level.
If there is a secret level associated with a certain level: type the name of the certain level then a comma, then the name of the secret level.
Once you've entered all the level's names, you can move their order around using the Move Up/Move Down buttons. This will be the order of play for the levels.

After that, just save your level set under a kewl name and you're one step closer to being god.

Saving Your Levels

Before saving your level, do a Check Mine

. Find out if there are any errors in your level. Remember, errors are bad, warnings are just warnings. Name your level in the Preferences Box under File. Save your file into the appropriate folder. ('Missions' for D2, 'Descentr' for D1) When it saves the .hog file it automatically creates an .mn2 file in the same folder. Now just launch Descent, choose New Game, and look for what you typed in the Preferences Box.