This was started from scratch in the New Year. Making a map this size in under three months is HARD. All major areas are complete but there are still a bunch of connecting bits that need lighting and detailing (basically like e2m5 before it). All straightforward stuff, just a time drain. Then gameplay needs looking at... many level designers might find it weird me leaving this until the end but it's how I've always worked; I have a rough idea of combat setups for each area but prefer to leave room for spontaneity (I figure if it were real, it would probably have taken years to build those buildings, but minutes for the monsters to decide where to stand).

Anyway, I took a novel approach with this one: divided the layout into five segments, worked on them independently as separate maps and spliced them together at the end, like a speedchainmap. The original plan was to complete lighting and gameplay for each segment, but that would have gone way over my time allowances for the segments, so most of the detailing and lighting was done in the last month. Probably a good thing, as it brought a level of unification to the slightly disparate architectural styles.

There is, of course, already an excellent remake of E2M7 for Arcane Dimenions, by EricW. I did not want to retread old ground so this is quite a different take on it, which greatly expands most areas and transforms the architectural style, but at the same time retains some key features that made the original one of my favourite Quake maps (Giant spike! Slime bridge! Round spike trap! Strobe corridor!)