I've noticed that in the past few months, there have been barely any good battle levels.
In an attempt to get people to create more decent battle levels, I have decided to start another contest. Pitfall levels will be accepted too.

Here are just a few hints when making battle levels:

• I am looking for fast paced levels, which are action packed, not too campy or chaotic, and quite strategical.
• Try to limit the amount of carrots to 2-3. Don't use Full Energy carrots, unless you know what you are doing. Same applies with shields.
• Have as many types of ammo as possible. Avoid using Ice and TNT. (Unless you want to get PU's in walls, or freezing players over pits to make them fall in.)
• Limit the amount of PU's to 2-3 for a small level, 3-5 for a big level. Too many PU's can make them chaotic. Too few PU's can make them campy. Or you could have no PU's at all, but keep in made that this will make killing slow, especially in a level with a lot of carrots.
• The level doesn't have to be extremely original. It could just be a very good, standard battle level. Don't rip off other levels though.
• Control the amount of eyecandy in the level. Levels with too much EC can be irritating to play in. It doesn't mean your level not have any EC. Levels which have too little EC are just as bad.
• Make sure that the level has plenty of routes, and it should have a good flow. Don't make them too linear. Also don't make the level too cramped, or too open.
• The level should not be biased for either characters.

And here are the contest rules:

• Only one entry per person.
• Levels must be saved in 1.23.
• It is not compulsory to folow the creation guidelines.
• I will accept levels with any tilesets, unless they have an annoying palette.
• To enter, upload the level and post the link in this thread, or via Email/MSN at billy_the_big@hotmail.com
• Levels must be newly created for this contest, previously uploaded levels (after 1 week) will not be allowed.
• The deadline is 8th May.
• There will be a mystery prize.

Ok, so have fun creating battle levels and good luck!

Count me in.

Originally Posted by Purplejazz7

I'd like to say that the advice are not rules. You can make a battle level in your own style if you like, but it should still be high quality.

High quality? count me out then.

I call anything "high quality", if I like it. And I'm quite a soft reviewer. ;p

Originally Posted by Purplejazz7

I call anything "high quality", if I like it. And I'm quite a soft reviewer. ;p

By this post I understand you are gonna review all the entries?

Yes, but not until after the deadline.

BTW that is not the mystery prize. It be something else, much better.

I'm entering, although I am making a custom tileset for this, so my entry might be one of the later ones.

Count me in. At least for now anyways.

I might be in, as I have a few ideas here and there and battle levels are quite easy to make.

Maybe, it depends.

Birdie has finished the layout, and the tileset. (faster then expected due to alot of inspiration) And would like to thank FS for making that 'unusual pack man' level, as it has inspired a part of my layout.

i'm in for fun

count me in

Well, I have free time on 29th and 30th, so why not!

well,I'm planning to enter the Community episode,so I would like to be removed

Originally Posted by ThunderBirD

well,I'm planning to enter the Community episode,so I would like to be removed

I think the deadline is already over before you can start your level for the community episode.

I want to be lazy a bit until 1 may,then I have a lot of exams.

I'm trying to make one..

Bleh, I'm not going to have enough time to make one now, so I'm out ;-;

My entry.

My level is done.
Edit:
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/dow...p?levelID=4694

Originally Posted by PurpleJazz

• I am looking for fast paced levels, which are action packed, not too campy or chaotic, and quite strategical.
• Try to limit the amount of carrots to 2-3.

I find these two points to be contradictory. Generally speaking, battle levels with 2 carrots are quite slow paced, due to the fact that in a duel, a situation can arise where each player camps at a single carrot. Plus, if the level has more than a single route between the two carrots, the players can go back and forth without meeting each other. Look at battle 1 as a prime example: it is a very slow level where this can happen. Three carrots reduces the problem, but I find they have to respawn quickly for this to work. A lot of powerups also helps.

Levels with a lot of carrots (like say 4 or more) or quickly respawning carrots (10-15 secs) tend to be faster paced than levels with fewer carrots, despite the fact that players have more oppertunities to heal. The reason for this is the fact that a lot of carrots encourages a lot of movement between focal points in the level, creating highly dynamic gameplay where players are constantly exposed. An enemy must be chased/ambushed and attacked aggressively in a level like this, because simply hitting them and running away will mean they can heal quickly. The exercise of camping the single location of a carrot also becomes rather pointless. This, in my opinion, is the definition of fast gameplay. I should also say that strategy can still be a vital part of levels like this, but with more of a focus on quick thinking and situational tactics than in a level like battle 1.

I might make an entry to this contest, but no guarantees. Suffice to say, if I do make a submission I hope that it will not be judged poorly because of this.

When did I say the hints where the contest rules? You may do whatever you like in your level. Oh well, I guess you know more about levels than me xD

EDIT: Recently I have recived quite a few complaints that the deadline is too soon, so I have decided to add an extra week before the deadline. There is two weeks before the deadline now, and that is enough time to make a decent battle level.

I would gladly send You my ElecLair lvl, if it only wasn`t saved in TSF. Anyone know a way to convert levels without losing half of titles?

By the way: Can anyone test this level to see it is worthy?
http://critz.w.interia.pl/ElecLair.zip

(warez)

[Warez edit. Sharing the full versions of the non-shareware Jazz Jackrabbit games is completely forbidden. Please do not post links of any kind to such things - FQuist]

Don't provide links to warez, also the best way to convert a level is usually to just remake the whole thing, although if it uses a 1.23 tileset it can be done, there is an article on it somewhere I believe.

http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/art...?articleID=167

We want to join the contest now, too. I guess, some people do know this level already. It's our rayman level...
http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/dow...p?levelID=4688

Originally Posted by PurpleJazz

Levels must be newly created for this contest, previously uploaded levels (after 1 week) will not be allowed.

It's been exactly 1 week since they uploaded it. I think it's up to Purplejazz.

I have already asked him and I think he gave an okay

>O PJ is voiding the rules to create a possible bias!

Back in so count me

I have finished my level two days ago, but I need some music for it and it needs to be tested.. although there is probably not much to improve, as the people who saw it haven't really said things that had to be improved. Anyway, that level is my level for the contest, I hope it stands a chance.

EDIT: To confirm that I'm entering, here is the link: http://www.jazz2online.com/J2Ov2/dow...p?levelID=4717

Who will the judges be?

my level is 99,9999% done.gonna upload it today

My entry! And the music.

I wasn't sure if I could enter old levels that hadn't been uploaded. I felt it was fun to join in at the last moment possible even though I don't have a good entry... It is an old unfinished crappy level that was meant to be an example level for the tileset or something like that. I added some ammo in the last minute before the contest ended (19:00 GMT+2?) and it's never been tested \o/. Uploaded 1 min after contest deadline?

Suitable for instagib or whatever.

it's here: circular.

It needs this set

This contest officially ends today at 19:00 GMT, so please make any finishing touches and submit your entries ASAP.

Give me 1 hour....

I thought it ended 19 minutes ago. I'll add some more updates to my level to reflect the later contest end... it should be downloaded once the contest has finished.

Edit: done.