unexpected monsters at the finish.

The pdbq_sp1.TXT file says the author of this level is Palldjon Brosche. Is that the same person as distrans?

A surprisingly inventive, if very arbitrary, journey through cathedrals, tunnels, basements and the odd sewer. None of it makes much sense, but it's a lot of fun. I finished with 104/109 kills (on Hard) and 2/3 secrets.

Quibbles: the last secret is only available at a point where it's of no conceivable value. And more importantly, it's quite possible to skip the whole section that contains the zombies and the grenade launcher. Still, well worth the time to download and play.

DId anything ever come of Q-TOO: The Other Operation, the in-progress episode mentioned in the README for this package? See http://quakerepo.net/singleplayer/maps/pdbq_sp1.txt

Hi Mike, Q-TOO eventually became Travail.

Ah, right! Thanks!

A really fun and atmospheric level. A little romp to raid a rune and get out of there! Something is fishy about this place and sure enough stuff gets strange at the end!

As Mike put it, the arbitrary sections are enjoyable an the mood is fitting. I do not like having to retrace my steps through already explored places void of enemies but it doesn't occur too often. Lovely lighting here as well plus you gotta consider its age!

To me, nothing really stuck out about this map, apart from how hard it was to navigate at times and how tense I felt while swimming in the slime with the biosuit. I really enjoyed having the pressure of wondering if it would last long enough as I explored as quickly as possible, and i'd have to say it was the highlight of the level for me.

Quite a nice level, and I didn't find it too arbitrary; in fact the variation was quite welcome. Not as detailed or challenging as Travail but worth playing, as is the other Travail "prequel" Grendel's Keep.