Controls used:

        Keyboard only (see tirade below)


Machine specifications:

        486DX 33
        12 meg memory
        Orchid Fahrenheit 1280 video
        SoundBlaster Pro 16
        Northgate OmniKey/102 keyboard


What's good in FREE.LMP:
        Circle strafing with keyboard only.

        After reading one of the recent threads about keyboard vs. mouse vs.
        keyboard and mouse vs. game pad vs. keeping one hand on your
        privates, I decided to work on the techniques that were considered
        impossible / difficult with the mouse.  One of those cited was
        circle strafing.

        The key to circle strafing for me was having both right and left turn
        and right and left strafe available without holding down the strafe
        key.  This allows me to hold down, say, the right strafe key and hit
        the left arrow key periodically to keep facing my target.

        This may not be the textbook definition for circle strafing, but it
        certainly looks pretty cool...

        To map these, I made the 7/HOME key on my keypad left strafe, and
        the 9/PgUp key right strafe.  I keep my middle finger on the 5 so
        that I don't get disoriented.

        This LMP was recorded on E3M1.  All mistakes are my own.  No fat.
        No calories.  Just good clean killing fun.


Reasons for substitution:

        < No substitution done >

        Man, I really wanted to get rid of E3M5!  I had a lot of trouble not
        using up all of my shotgun shells...  Berserk *rules*!


Version of DOOM used:

        1.666


Mouse vs. Keyboard tirade:

        I don't think that it's totally impossible to be a DOOM stud using
        only a keyboard.  To me, the irritation and randomness of the
        mouse (when it decides it's going to skid and not register movement)
        is intolerable to any degree -- especially when I have a Baron of
        Hell shoving green fire down my throat.  Now, this might just be my
        particular mouse, and I might not have the ODM (Optimal DOOM Mouse),
        but I've *never* met a mouse that tracked consistently enough to
        kick ass at any game.  Now, "*never* met a mouse that tracked
        consistently" is subjective -- how many mice have I had an intimate
        relationship with?  Only a dozen or so.  The point is that the
        frustration of dying because of a damn mechanical problem is
        tremendous, and I have many smashed game controllers to prove it.
        The tactile registration of the keyboard, and the immediate effect
        on the screen makes all the difference to me.  Then I am better able
        to figure out what's wrong with my strategy and improve as a
        player, instead of getting fragged because my mouse has lint on his
        ball.

        As an aside, the keyboard has its problems too!  Sometimes DOOM
        doesn't get the "key-up" interrupt, and I get in trouble.  At the
        end of my E3M5 LMP, I had this happen when going after the lost
        soul in the secret area near the start of the level.  The up arrow
        key got stuck and I wandered into the ooze...

        As of yet, I'm still a deathmatch virgin, so my opinion may also
        change when I get my ass good and kicked.  Any takers?  (206)
        area code MoDOOM (sorry -- only PPP access via 14400 dialup to
        Internet, so no NetDOOM).


Thanks to Id and others:

        This game *rules*!  I only hope that games continue to be open for
        the unique modification (some authorized, some unauthorized :)) that
        DOOM allows.  Thank you Id for doing it.  And thank you everyone
        else for putting together the specs for .WAD internals, .EXE
        internals, and editors.  I'd also like to thank my mom and dad and
        the academy for nominating me.
