The fastest way to contact me is Discord. You can ping me on the Marathon Discord server at @aaron6608 (or @Aaron#6608), though it’s entirely possible others may be able to answer your questions before I see them, so I recommend this only if you notice errors/omissions on my website (or have suggestions for additions; if you remind me, I can credit you for any of the above). If you need help, I recommend asking in #classic-marathon, #forge⁽¹⁾, or #tech-support. (#development is intended only for engine and editor development, so unless you’re specifically discussing Vasara AF, you should probably ping me in one of the other three channels.)
I’m also on GitHub as aaronfreed, naturally. If you notice any errors, omissions, or unclear passages, please create an issue, submit a pull request, or start a discussion. I do ask that users be respectful (both of me and of others) and note that I maintain this page on my own time, for free, while also juggling multiple active development projects that I’m also working on, also for free. The rules I outline for my discussion section apply equally well to issues and pull requests.
I’m also on the Pfhorums (as The Man) and Reddit (as u/aaronnotarobot), but I can’t promise to respond to messages on either quickly. Lastly, I do, of course, have an email address, but:
Contents · Mapmaking (basic) · Mapmaking (advanced) · Marathon soundtracks · Discography · Portfolio · Website index
I’m Aaron; I’ve got a long history modding for the Marathon trilogy. I’ve worked in some capacity (not always mapping-related) on current and forthcoming mods like:
Basically, I’ve been busy mapping for this engine off and on since about 1997, during which I’ve acquired all kinds of stupid arcane knowledge about it. Have you ever heard of ambient light delta? Neither had Aleph One’s developers until I pointed it out. I’m not saying that because I think it’s worth being proud of having acquired so much useless and pointless knowledge, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me… no, hang on. Sorry, that’s Taken.
Anyway, I feel Aleph One content creation should have a lower barrier to entry, so my mapmaking guide, in its beginners’ and advanced flavours, is my attempt to create a reference for solutions to some of its frustrating problems. I’ve also collected my notes on my remastering process in hopes they’ll be helpful to those working on sounds or music. You may also be interested in:
Contents · Mapmaking (basic) · Mapmaking (advanced) · Marathon soundtracks · Discography · Portfolio · Website index
| # | Note |
|---|---|
| 1 | Which, despite carrying the name of a program hardly anyone has actively used for fifteen years, is meant for all map, physics, shapes, and sound creation for Aleph One or the Marathon trilogy. |
| 2 | Bearing Gifts, Collaborations & Covers, and Selected Works, 2014-2023 are either too incomplete or too self-centred for me to feel comfortable including them on the soundtracks page. |
Contents · Mapmaking (basic) · Mapmaking (advanced) · Marathon soundtracks · Discography · Portfolio · Website index