E5M3: The Volcano (Shadowcaster)
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E5M3: The Volcano is the third map of Shadowcaster. It was designed by Stephen Clark (The Ultimate DooMer) and uses the music track "Fred" by Kevin Schilder, from Heretic.
Contents
Walkthrough[edit]
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Essentials[edit]
Open the door and go down the steps to some gargoyles who are protecting an ethereal crossbow. Use this weapon to kill the golems and undead warriors on the path to the north, then step across to it and head east down a staircase to a platform overlooking the central chamber, where one or two weredragons protect the red key – taking it allows gargoyles and golems to teleport to the bottom of the stairs. Go back to where you found the crossbow and head east, following the path to a red door with a golem ghost and a switch behind it. Press the switch to raise a bridge over the lava pit, cross it then go forward to a circular path with a dragon claw in the center, between two volcanoes. Continue east to another staircase, noting the nearby iron lich, and follow it down to the ledge with the green key.
Go back down the stairs and deal with any nitrogolems and undead warriors that have appeared, then continue following the path east and north to a green door. Open the door and kill a waiting nitrogolem, press the switch it was guarding to raise another bridge then head north into the “Test of Fire” – like the previous level, you must press four blue switches to clear the path to the blue key. Follow the path to a round cave with fire gargoyles, run to the center of the magma pool in this cave to press the first blue switch, then go south until you cross a bridge and arrive at another magma pool with more volcanoes. Time your run past the first set of volcanoes to get to three crystal vials, then run over a line of volcanoes to get to the second blue switch and a Ring of Invincibility. Run back to the bridge and activate the Ring if you have not already done so, then step west to drop into the lava river and follow it to the third blue switch. Go back to the round cave and enter the north-eastern tunnel, follow it to a cavern with weredragons then go to the west end of the magma river to find an enchanted shield and the final blue switch. Return to the round cave and enter the north-western tunnel, which was blocked by barrels, then push past one or more fire gargoyles to reach the blue key.
Use the teleporters in the main chamber to go back to the red key platform, then go down the stairs and head north to a blue door. Open it, kill a waiting nitrogolem ghost then press the switch to raise a bridge leading to a long, winding staircase. At the top of the stairs, step through the blue glitter to end the level and go to E5M4: Crosswinds Village.
Secret exit[edit]
Every secret in this level contains a numbered switch, and pressing all ten switches will open a passage in the north-east corner of the central chamber. Go through the passage then head north and east along a lava river (make sure you have healing items ready as you cannot fly over the lava) until you reach the very end, where you will find mace spheres and the door to E5M9: Steel Works.
Other points of interest[edit]
The X-shaped room at the west end of the map contains a Hellstaff and ammo, but you will have to fight through a number of undead warriors to claim the items.
Secrets[edit]
- Go down the steps at the start and head east, then south to a quartz flask. Quickly head back on the path and back west to get Time Bombs of the Ancients and the "4" switch. (sector 239)
- In the west room with the voodoo doll, open a wall to the north to find a quartz flask, a map scroll, and the "5" switch. (sector 289)
- In the central chamber, go to the west teleporter and enter it from the north to get Morph Ovums, a quartz flask, and the "10" switch. (sector 221)
- In the central chamber, go to the east teleporter and enter it from the west side to access the rock in the middle. This has a quartz flask and the "6" switch. (sector 229)
- In the north-east cave, look north at the stalagmites and shoot the switch to the north marked "2". After doing this, return to the south room, take the north-west passage (lower the barrels there if you need to) and you will eventually find a Chaos Device. (sector 279)
- Near secret #5, step on the indentation near the voodoo doll. Afterwards, head south-east of the main chamber (just south of the path leading to the green key) and you can get two Wings of Wrath and the "3" switch. (sector 275)
- Head west from secret #6 to the bridge, then use Wings of Wrath to head south and up to a Tome of Power and the "8" switch. (sector 218)
- Head back to the starting point (it is recommended to use the Chaos Device here) and with Wings of Wrath, fly south-west and onto a platform with ammo, a mystic urn, and the "9" switch. (sector 217)
- Head back to the main chamber with Wings of Wrath and fly all the way to the top (over secret #4). Find the "7" switch here. Head back down after flipping it and to the north platform, then go north-west and get the shadowsphere in a small alcove. (sector 280)
- On the north platform of the main chamber, head north-east and use the wall with the "1" next to it. If you found the other nine secrets, you will find a passage leading through to the lava. Head north-east all the way to get to the secret exit. (sector 263)
Bugs[edit]
Demo files[edit]
Areas / screenshots[edit]
Speedrunning[edit]
Routes and tricks[edit]
Current records[edit]
The records for the map at the Doom Speed Demo Archive are:
| Run | Time | Player | Date | File | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SM speed (normal exit) | |||||
| SM speed (secret exit) | |||||
| SM max | |||||
| BP speed (normal exit) | |||||
| BP speed (secret exit) | |||||
| BP max | |||||
| NM speed (normal exit) | |||||
| NM speed (secret exit) | |||||
| NM 100S | |||||
| Tyson | |||||
| Pacifist (normal exit) | |||||
| Pacifist (secret exit) |
The (absence of) data was last verified in its entirety on January 18, 2024.
Statistics[edit]
Map data[edit]
| Things | 434 |
| Vertices | 3248* |
| Linedefs | 2924 |
| Sidedefs | 4222 |
| Sectors | 367 |
Things[edit]
This level contains the following numbers of things per skill level:
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