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Eternal is one of the largest scenarios ever created for Aleph One, initially created by Forrest Cameranesi (Pfhorrest) and subsequently revised and expanded by a massive team known as the Xeventh Project, which, as of this update (March 2024) now includes more than 40 people. Besides Tempus Irae, it may be the oldest scenario still being actively developed; it was first released in 2004 and has been refined and expanded almost continuously ever since. Features include, but are hardly limited to:

• 52 levels, some revisiting familiar locations from the Marathon trilogy and some being among the largest ever created for the engine
• An intricately layered plot featuring dense political and philosophical themes, a tragic romance, time travel, major events from the Marathon trilogy’s backstory, complex original characters, and returning faces from the trilogy’s cast
• A huge, acclaimed soundtrack with unique music for every level, lasting more than seven hours total, and created by over a dozen composers and arrangers (significantly expanded in 1.3 previews 4 through 6)
• Redesigns of most of the game’s familiar cast (new in 1.3), some old foes from Pathways into Darkness, and some new faces (some new in 1.3)
• Hundreds of gorgeous terminal images (many added for 1.3 preview 4 through 6)
• Five texture sets, encompassing 650 high-resolution textures, 12 detailed original landscape textures, and several separate human and alien environments
• An in-game menu system (new in 1.3 preview 6) that toggles several optional features, including:
  • Simplified overhead map views in around twenty levels (new in 1.3 preview 6)
  • A secret tracking system (new in 1.3 preview 4)
  • Auto-save the game on level transition (new in 1.3)
  • An RPG-style monster health display (new in 1.3 preview 6)
  • Shared pickups between players in network games (new in 1.3 preview 6)
  • Disabled friendly fire between players in network games (new in 1.3 preview 6)
• More than 360 sounds, remixed or remastered in CD quality, in stereo where possible (new in 1.3)
• Atmospheric weather like rain and snow (new in 1.3)
• A final boss battle of sorts (new in 1.3)
• Detailed documentation including illustrated field guides to Eternal’s weaponry, aliens, and humans, detailed credits, a meta-history of Eternal, and technical notes on how its maps and scripts work (new in 1.3)

The current development release, 1.3 preview 6 (released on 2024-03-07), is perfectly playable despite still being incomplete; it is now our recommended way to play the game. We’ll refrain from estimating the release date of 1.3 final, as we’ve overshot too many estimates to count (thank you, feature creep). The current “stable” build, 1.2.1 (released on 2021-11-07), is missing several features listed above but is still an enjoyable game in its own right.

The screenshots seen on the right are from a development release from between 1.3 previews 4 and 5 and are a reasonable reflection of Eternal’s current appearance. Although they were taken on Normal (so as to show more monster types), we do recommend playing Eternal on the highest difficulty you can manage.

Thank you for playing NEFX Marathon Modifications. Among these are scripts and physics either for multiplayer, single player, or both. More may be added over time in future versions, so look out. See below for datestamped logs of all the uploads, because even if you are up-to-date on a current update, there may be more you've missed. You don't want to miss these!

What do these do?

2024-01-01 uploads:

Yuge New Year! I added 10 new mods:

"Pyrrhic Panshaper Esoteric Warfare"

In this mod meant for either multiplayer or singleplayer, both firing modes for every weapon each spawn a different monster. To win in a netgame, just die from the monsters less than the others do.

"Hold to the Calling at the Collapse's Beckoning"

In this mod meant mainly for netplay, all polygon floors rise and fall at different time intervals. They don't act like platforms in the sense that they won't retract or crush you if they get you up to a ceiling, but they will make the match wild as you try to kill each other amidst all the rising and falling.

"Seekers of the Absurd Eschaton"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay and requiring you to turn on Aliens for it to work, is based loosely on the map "Fith" from the original Unreal (or Unreal Gold). For one thing, 5 random polygons are marked (both in plain-view and in the overhead map) and numbered 1-5, and any time someone steps on that polygon, the corresponding number is printed to everyone's screen so they know roughly where to go to find an enemy (beyond the range of their motion sensor). However, the real catch of this mod is that there is always a lone green BOB wandering on the map; and if you kill him 7 times, you'll basically cause an armageddon event where explosives go off everywhere in the map for a while, probably killing other players. You'll be told how many more BOBs you have left to kill too.

"A Grandiose Wielder's Ambition"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, puts all items on the map in one random polygon that is marked in the overhead map as "the pile". Obviously you'll want to get and hoard the supplies from everyone else in order to best ensure your chances of winning.

"Secret-Holder Within Wide Decline"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, spawns different-level shield capsules in random polygons but makes it so that you take all the damage that you dish out. Obviously then you'll want to get to the capsules as much as you can to avoid killing yourself when you kill your enemies.

"The Maintainer of the Scarpter"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that you earn points for all damage you take, but lose them all if you die. So your best bet for winning is to get damaged as much as possible without dying and manage to stay away from further harm during the last few seconds of the game, making sure to pick off any remaining competition along the way.

"Rubiconic Order-Carver"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that each polygon in the map has a chip, all walls in the map are chip slots, and you earn points by installing the most chips. Keep in mind that if you use one of the wall panels with or without a chip, it will turn into a regular wall and won't be usable anymore, so be careful about when and where you use them. Not all panels will work, but many will. Sometimes chips will spawn well enough off the ground that you'll have to find ledges to jump from onto them or explosives-hop yourself up to reach them.

"Mapplan Hardharvest"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that one marked polygon (in plain-view and in the overhead map as "the pile") spawns an infinite number of chips, all walls in the map are chip slots, and you earn points by installing the most chips. Keep in mind that if you use one of the wall panels with or without a chip, it will turn into a regular wall and won't be usable anymore, so be careful about when and where you use them. Not all panels will work, but many will. Sometimes the chip pile will spawn well enough off the ground that you'll have to find ledges to jump from onto it or explosives-hop yourself up to reach it.

"The Circumstantial Hotspots of World-As-Known Decision"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that each polygon in the map has a chip, all walls in the map are chip slots, and you earn points by installing the most chips. Unlike "Rubiconic Order-Carver", slots will not disappear after being used, so you can install chips in the same one as much as you want. Not all panels will work, but many will. Sometimes chips will spawn well enough off the ground that you'll have to find ledges to jump from onto them or explosives-hop yourself up to reach them.

"Retriever for the Sepulchral Mountain"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that each polygon in the map has a chip, only one wall on the map has a chip slot (which is limitless), and you earn points by installing the most chips. Sometimes chips will spawn well enough off the ground that you'll have to find ledges to jump from onto them or explosives-hop yourself up to reach them.

2023-12-25 uploads:

"Controlplot Overwreak"

Here's a Yugemas gift for the people, a netgame script meant mainly for standard red-blue team games but that can be played all-against-all too. It functions much like the Domination game mode in Unreal Tournament. Four different random polygons in a level are each assigned a control point that is indicated both in plain-view (with a marking and static floor) and in the overhead map view. Your task is to run over these polygons to "capture" them, which will cause you to earn points even after you've stepped on them and even after you die -- that is, until one of your opponents steps on them and captures them for themselves. So capture as many of these as possible for as long as possible in order to win.

2023-12-04 uploads:

"A Downcast Curse of Heavystone"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, puts a large cylinder scenery object in the center of every polygon in a map, creating a bunch of obstacles to run around and trap your enemies in. This is a more straight-ahead and consistent version of the cylinder-placing mods, since it actually uses Lua tables instead of using hacks with monster classes and physics models like some of the other obstacle-focused mods in this pack do.

"Daggerland of Secret Chiefs (N)"

This netplay mod makes all players constantly have double invisibility.

"Doom-Gambling Power-Learner Adventurism"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, allows all players to teleport at will to a random polygon in the map by pressing the mic button. Sometimes you may wind up in a less-than-ideal spot, but you can always teleport again to get somewhere better. This way you can find creative new ways to escape from attackers and get the drop on them.

"Extreme Self-Cannon of Hardsight and Timing"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that you will die if you try to move, but you spawn with an unlimited rocket launcher that you're immune to, so you can move around purely by rocket jumping everywhere. As such, you can only kill each other while standing, although you'll obviously want to use something aside from rockets or grenades.

"Growing Strength of the Dimension Transector"

This netplay mod makes it so that you earn points by teleporting, so make sure to get on a teleporter more than everyone else in order to win.

"Hiveplunge Into Mass Viddiction"

This netplay mod makes it so that you earn points by toggling the automap, so make sure to hit that button more than everyone else in order to win. Definitely a sillier mod.

"Means-Seizer Dominitude"

This netplay mod makes it so that you earn points by collecting items AND can steal the points of whoever you kill. Hoard as much as you can and stay alive!

"Of A Hunger Once Unique to Phantasms of Yore"

This netplay mod alters standard deathmatch so that you steal the points of whoever you kill. Of course, if they have 0, you get nothing, and if they have negative points, you'll actually lose points. This can be awkward in two-player matches, but with more players it gets more interesting.

"Overflowing of Boundary-Crushing Glory"

This netplay mod makes it so that you earn points by keeping momentum. Specifically, you earn points the fastest when you keep running forward; so try to avoid any other movement or obstacles, kill your enemies on the run so that their momentum is interrupted, and avoid having yours interrupted too.

"Quests of Legitimate Power Seizure in the Cagecraft"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that players spawn solid "large cylinder" scenery objects on their exact position by pressing the mic button. You can hold down the button while running and even going off ledges, and it'll spawn those cylinders in the air. Of course, these cylinders block your path, so be careful not to get trapped in and try to trap in your enemies to kill them better.

"Spire Stakes of Clutch"

This netplay mod makes it so that you earn points by collecting items but will lose all your points if you're killed.

"The Patient Becoming of the Blood-Minded Disciple"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that you will die if you get too much momentum. Basically the only way to move without dying is by walking and not also sidestepping at the same time. See how the dynamic of combat changes when everyone has to be slower!

"The Sudden Terror of Fake Progress in Malfunction and Indomitable Nature"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that you die if you use a teleporter. I like to imagine that there's a malfunction in the teleportation system that leads to you being teleported in pieces, like in movies.

"To Maintain Its Ascendancy in Serial Death"

This netplay mod makes it so that you earn points by dying, so kill yourself more than everyone else in order to win.

"Tour By Astral Cast of Chaotic Fate"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that you constantly teleport at regular intervals to a random polygon in the level, no matter what.

"Wrester of the Rigidity in the Chance-Tides"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that all players will die if they move but can teleport at will to a random polygon in the level by pressing the microphone button. Naturally, you can only kill your enemies while still, so take advantage of whatever position you can teleport to at any moment.

2023-11-27

"Global Collision in the Invisible Flood"

This mod, meant mainly for netplay, makes it so that all players have a constant external velocity dragging them in one direction, as though every polygon had an invisible liquid conveyor belt on it.

older uploads

"Aperture in Tank Myopia"

This means you cannot turn or look up or down, but are always facing straight ahead as you move. See how you kill each other with this ridiculous shared handicap!

"Armagolem Hellspell Worldstakes"

This mod meant mainly for netplay makes all your weapons shoot out bouncing simulacrum BOBs that hone in on your target. Note that (1) the firing patterns of your weapons are the same, meaning that you can use your fists to summon simulacrums even if you're out of ammo, faster-firing weapons will yield simulacrums at a faster rate, shotguns will shoot them out in clusters, etc. Note also that these simulacrums will not function exactly like the normal ones and may explode sooner than wanted, but their bouncing means that you can get them across chasms depending on the location and angle that you shoot them at. It's your armies against your opponents'!

"As the Dream Seeps Into and Dissolves You"

This turns all textures into landscape ones.

"Betrothing to the Forgotten Root of Potentiate"

This means you are permanently equipped with only a single pistol with unlimited ammunition and no way to dual-wield. This can make for some very interesting net games as you all learn to make do with what is probably the least-used multiplayer fighting option in Marathon history, even below fists. You will become a better player this way and make laughs along the way.

"Binary Switch Runs of Destiny"

You start out with unlimited ammo for all weapons, but you can only use whatever weapon you run over.

"Bringing All Back to the Raw Cult"

This script "flattens" levels into something reminiscent of Wolfenstein 3D (albeit less blocky). Specifically, it makes all floor heights 0, all ceiling heights 1, and all platform heights 0. It also makes all liquids in the level into rapid floors conveyors like you've come to know in NEFX maps. This can make for a new, interesting, and funny multiplayer experience, but may render many singleplayer levels unbeatable, mainly due to issues with platforms.

"Cannontrackslip"

No one can turn, so you're stuck facing forward the whole time.

"Chains of Counteradaptation"

This mod is mainly meant for netplay and you will have to turn on Aliens for it to work. It turns all monster classes into identical large column scenery objects that move around. They can't hurt you and you can't hurt them, but they sure can get in the way of players, so watch out and use that to your advantage to trap your enemies.

"Chainsnipe Celebration Infinite Crafter"

This makes it so all your weapons shoot a different kind of scenery that flies across and sticks where it lands on the wall. Different firing modes shoot different scenery too. This can be good if you want to decorate a place, and especially if you want to have a more relaxing and funny game with other players.

"Collidescoop Summoner"

Meant mainly for multiplayer deathmatch, this turns every polygon into a teleporter. Teleporters in maps generally default to the same location, so this is a way to gather all players together into one spot to duke it out with each other in close quarters all at once. Try this in an 8-player game for total hilarity. Note that in some maps the teleporter will just take you out of the level.

"Current Prison & the Myriad Deceit"

All items are mines in this one, so the way to win is to avoid them and try to rack up points against your enemies with your fist or pistol. Good luck!

"Forcefielder Global Gambit"

This mod is mainly intended for netplay and you will need to turn on Aliens for it to work. It replaces all monster classes with identical large column scenery objects that don't move. You can't hurt them and they can't hurt you -- they can't even move -- but they sure can get in players' way, so be on the lookout and use that to your advantage to trap your enemies.

"Funneled Spatial Remembrance"

This kills and taunts you if you try to save, recharge, access a terminal, or activate the automap. This is the real "Adminn_1's Challenge" to help you train for maximum Vidmaster runs!

"Global Omnilode Onus - The Wire"

This is a multiplayer game mode in which whoever collects the most items wins. Each item you pick up gives you one point. An interesting thing about this is that items tend to respawn en masse after a player dies, meaning it further helps not only to kill others but also yourself!

"Motherlode Overquench"

Everyone gets all weapons and ammunition from the start. There's probably already a script like this out there, but I figured I'd put one with the other NEFX ones too.

"Obscura in the Celestial Gaze"

All players are always stuck looking up at a 30-degree angle, so you have to somehow get under your enemy to hit them.

"Play Pretexts to New Awareness"

This modifies the fists to drop infinite bouncing bombs that detonate upon settling, modifies grenades to be landmines, and modifies the rocket launcher to fire more explosives in a faster and honing fashion (albeit with one shot per clip).

"Precarious Keeping of the Sigil Code Keys"

You spawn with all weapons, but lose them every time you run over their ammo.

"Realization Through Ensnarement"

In tribute to known historical NEFX practice and reference thereof by many Marathon community members, this script-and-physics combo randomly generates columns that block your way in a level. You can easily adjust the number of columns you want (enemy players) to deal with in the script. The columns are actually Tiny Pfhor that were modded to look and behave like columns -- stationary, completely idle, and not damaged by anything.

"Shapers Transforming Placemeaning By Piece"

This makes it so all your weapons spawn a different kind of scenery right in front of you. Different firing modes shoot different scenery too. This can be good if you want to decorate a place, and especially if you want to have a more relaxing and funny game with other players.

“Spectrallax of Dooming Possibility”

This makes all weapons work under liquid as they would above liquid and makes all monsters fly. This is good for net maps taking place mostly or entirely under liquid such as NEFX will later produce, where you can basically have “flying” deathmatches or survivalmatches, and thus helps to expand the combat possibilities of Marathon.

"Stalactice-Bound Freefinders"

Meant mainly for netplay, this makes every map entirely underwater and equips every player with an SMG with unlimited ammo. See how much more open-ended and freaky maps get when you can swim everywhere!

"The False Promise of Conditioned Currency"

Don't step on items or you'll lose points. It's up to you whether the points you'll get from killing your enemy with the supplies you pick up will offset the cost of picking up the supplies.

“The Full Rounding of Age-Old Collective Drives”

Since the pistols and fists don’t really find use in net games most of the time except for self-challenging purposes, this disables both and replaces them with a fusion pistol of unlimited shots (technically 12,241 per the seeming allowed maximum on ShapeFusion, but you’ll surely die before you run out) -- a "starting blaster" if you will, reminiscent of games like Quake II or Unreal I. See how threatening the invinciwimpsi are now!

"The New Paradigm When the Upper Crust is Removed"

You know how players in netgames usually go right to the shotguns and rocket launcher? Well, this script removes those exact weapons so that everyone has to rely on everything else to get their kills.

"Timeframes Decision Nodes"

This starts all players off with full 3-layer shields, but the shields go down at recharger speed until they reach 0 and you blow up. Make your time and resources count!

"Through the Oblvision"

Meant mainly for multiplayer deathmatch, this makes any map you launch completely underwater with a fairly strong current in one direction. Naturally you will incline towards this direction and move faster if you move with the current, whereas you will move slower if going against the current. See how this changes the way a map and deathmatch flows (heh).

"Victory of Absurdist Balance By Inwardness"

This starts you immediately with a never-ending shield charge, and you will die if you reach full triple-bar (purple) shields. This will make for an interesting net game as all players have to preoccupy themselves with finding ways based on their environment, position, equipment, etc, to die the least amount of times by constantly damaging themselves enough (without going too far). Keep in mind that you can still technically kill others, or at least incapacitate them in such a way that they can't damage themselves fast enough to avoid dying.

"Wargame Gamechanger Pinpoint Changes"

This mod is mainly meant for netplay and you will have to turn on Aliens for it to work. It turns all monster classes into identical large column scenery objects that rapidly teleport between nearby spots. They can't hurt you and you can't hurt them, but they sure can get in the way of players, so watch out and use that to your advantage to trap your enemies. In this one you might suddenly have one appear in front of you.

Thanks,

-Adminn_1 [NEFX]