Tartar

Tartar is a Doom source port for DOS, author aiming for it to be useful to players running pure (as in non-emulated) DOS or Windows 9X on modern machines for retro gaming.

Tartar highlights

• Has better audio compatibility through updated Allegro library from MBF 2.0.4 Maintenance Release and plays 16 bit sound effects (useful if you have SB16 or later)
• Supports additional screen resolutions 640x480 and 1280x1024 with and without upscaling from smaller core rendering resolution and optional aspect ratio correction for non-CRT displays
• Includes numerous quality of life improvements including auto-loading of WAD, DEH and BEX files to include skins, fixes and WAD compatibility packs for specific PWADs
• Offers extended game view size for higher resolutions, new optional "grille" translucency for sprites and textures and new optional "simplified" and more accessible level shading mode
• Contains many bugfixes and PWAD compatibility improvements
• Implements the compulsory blood spat recoloring for "hissies", "bruisers", flemoids, ubermutants and roaches

What to play with Tartar

• Original Caverns of Darkness TC for DOS
• Curios from what remains of the cancelled Eternity TC
• Vanilla Doom 2, TNT Evilution and Plutonia Experiment
  (with animated intermission screens a-la Doom 1 courtesy of Doomworld user @oliacym)
• No Rest for the Living (aka NERVE.WAD), Sigil and Sigil II
  with proper map names, music tracks assignment, levels and secrets
  progression and (for NERVE) intermission backdrops courtesy of @oliacym with helper WAD included in the distribution
• Chex Quest without Doom IWAD - and it will end after level 5!
  (also green slime splashes can be activated by switching on particles)
• Wolfendoom collection by Laz Rojas (MAC versions strongly preferred!) with helper WAD included in the distribution
• Strain TC for DOS - via a compatibility option to change [MBF collisions code] (https://www.doomworld.com/forum/post/2507168)
• Sunlust and maps using uncompressed extended nodes table format
• Eviternity and maps using sprites and textures that are more than 255 pixels tall
• Ancient Aliens and maps with non 9px high fonts, elaborate MUS format music tracks and non power-of-2 wide textures
• Avactor and maps with DeepSea extended node format
• Hydrosphere and maps with higher resolution sky textures, in this case also with proper progression and ending with helper WAD included in the distribution
• The Long Trek Back Home with intermission backdrops by @oliacym with helper WAD included in the distribution
• 2022 A Doom Odyssey with non-episodic linear progression through all maps, proper secrets progression and intermission screens with helper WAD included in the distribution
• ??? and maps with non-Unix line endings in DeHackEd patches, or other DeHackEd patches sheninegans like references to non-existant code pointers (e.g. Rush)
• HACX 1.1 without Doom II IWAD
  (but make sure Tartar is given a PLAYPAL, e.g. by putting one of InstaDoom filter WAD-s into FILTERS directory AND that text mode startup is on!)
• Also - only if you are desperate enough - The People's Doom as IWAD
• ... and last but not least Doom 1.1 with tiled status bar extravaganza and demo playback

Also...

... for some traits "less common among source ports":

• Best effort at loading GENMIDI lump for more accurate music playback
  with FM sound cards
• Arcade play mode where player is resurrected on the spot without level restarting
• Next/prev music track bindable hotkeys and music tracks randomizer
• Screenshots from virtually anywhere in the game with bindable hotkey
• Cycle through InstaDoom filters (or any other PLAYPAL/COLORMAP providing WAD-s for that matter) without restarting the level
• Voltron assembly features: -- drop in SELFIE.WAD and SELFIE.DEH to make selfies in any PWAD and still shoot plasma rifle happily -- drop in JUMPWAD.WAD to switch to "pogo stick" mode in any PWAD and jump around by pressing fire (by the way, you can also load Jumpwad as a PWAD with Tartar)
• Send regards to the loved ones with a bindable hotkey, (e.g. while recording a video)

What Tartar CANNOT do

While these traits may be more common among source ports these days, this is not what Tartar supports:

• Cannot display PNG sprites and textures
• Cannot load compressed extended format node tables or Hexen format maps
• Cannot play OGG, MP3 or FLAC sounds or music
• Cannot process UMAPINFO or singe lump stand alone EMAPINFO lumps
• Cannot cope with MBF21 and DEHEXTRA features and code pointers in DeHackEd patches
• Cannot run Heretic, Hexen or Strife
• Cannot apply EDF or DECORATE extensions from the mods to the game
• Is not guaranteed to play demos in more recent "Boom" or "MBF" formats

Documentation

1. CHANGES - comprehensive list of changes in Tartar milestone release compared to the Eternity Engine version it is based on
2. MAINTAIN - changes in latest maintenance release not covered by the above doc
3. AUTHORS - acknowledgements for authors of the ports Tartar is based on and their work
4. STAGE1 - templated (and outdated ) readme one would expect to accompany any Doom mod
5. BUGS - list of known issues in Tartar
6. EXTRAS - notes on extras and goodies included with the distribution

Obtaining and installing Tartar

Tartar distribution is available following the link below: https://www.moddb.com/mods/tartar/downloads/tartar-distro There, TARTAR directory contains latest version of the port including TARTAR.EXE and additional assets and files required to run it.

Playing Doom with TARTAR

1. Download TARTAR directory contents from the above link

2. For a quick and simple start either

   • put one of the supported WADs (e.g. DOOM.WAD, DOOM1.WAD, DOOM2.WAD, PLUTONIA.WAD or TNT.WAD) into the directory with TARTAR.EXE

   • or put TARTAR.EXE and other files from the directory into your Doom game installation

3. Run SETUP.EXE from directory with TARTAR.EXE and follow on-screen instructions to configure sound and music card.

4. Run TARTAR.EXE to play

5. Also be sure to check EXTRAS for explanation on best way of playing No Rest for the Living Doom II PWAD and for guides on installing extra mods with Tartar.

Playing Caverns of Darkness with Tartar

1. Download Caverns of Darkness TC distribution and unzip the contents into a separate directory

2. Download TARTAR directory contents from the above link and copy everything there to the same directory as COD.

3. Copy DOOM2.WAD into the same directory as COD

4. Run SETUP.EXE from the COD directory and follow on screen instructions to configure sound and music card.

5. Run TARTAR.EXE -file COD CODLEV to play

Installing popular fix packs with Tartar

Tartar's WAD autoloading makes it easy to add fix packs to the installation. Suggested WAD-s to try out include:

• Doom Sound Bulb by @SeanTheBermanator
• Hi Res Doom Sound Effects Pack by @perkristian
• Doom 2 Minor Sprite Fixing Project by @revenant100
• DMXOPL by @sneakernets

Follow the below steps to have them installed with Tartar

1. Install Tartar

2. Drop the desired fix pack WAD and DEH files into FIXES directory

3. Or if Tartar will be used with multiple IWADs drop WAD and DEH files into a subdirectory of FIXES that has name matching the name of the IWAD the fix pack is to be loaded with. For example:

   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\TARTAR.EXE
   ...
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\FIXES\
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\FIXES\Doom_Sound_Bulb.wad
   C:\GMAES\TARTAR\FIXES\DMXOPL.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\FIXES\DOOM\
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\FIXES\DOOM\D1SPFX20.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\FIXES\DOOM\D1DEHFIX.DEH
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\FIXES\DOOM2\
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\FIXES\DOOM2\D2SPFX20.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\FIXES\DOOM2\D2DEHFIX.DEH

4. Start Tartar as you would normally do and enjoy improved Doom experience

5. Should you want to play a certain PWAD without any of the fix packs loaded start Tartar with a command similar to the below one:

   TARTAR.EXE -noload -file NUTS

Playing No Rest for the Living with Tartar

1. Install Tartar with DOOM2.WAD IWAD

2. Drop NERVE.WAD (e.g. from Doom 3 BFG Edition) into the same directory

3. Drop NERVE.WAD (yes, the same name!) from GOODIES\SHIMS directory in the distribution into SHIMS directory where TARTAR is found.

4. Drop INTMAPNR.WAD (required step!) found in GOODIES\OLIACYM directory of the distribution and place into the same same directory as TARTAR.EXE. For example:

   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\TARTAR.EXE
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\DOOM2.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\NERVE.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\INTMAPNR.WAD
   ...
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\NERVE.WAD

5. Run TARTAR.EXE -nodemo -file NERVE to play

Playing Sigil and Sigil II with Tartar

1. Install Tartar with DOOM.WAD IWAD

2. Drop Sigil and Sigil II WAD-s into the same directory

3. Drop SIGIL_II.WAD from GOODIES\SHIMS directory in the distribution into SHIMS directory where TARTAR is found. For example:

   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\TARTAR.EXE
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\DOOM.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SIGIL_v1_21.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SIGIL_II_V1_0.WAD
   ...
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\SIGIL_II.WAD

4. Run TARTAR.EXE -file SIGIL_v1_21 SIGIL_II_V1_0 to play

Playing cancelled Eternity TC with Tartar

... well, what remains of it anyway.

1. Install Tartar with DOOM2.WAD IWAD

2. Copy all files from GOODIES\TRIBUTE directory of the distribution into the same directory as TARTAR.EXE

3. Run TARTAR.EXE -nodemo -file ETC ETCGFX2 ETCSKIN SWMP2021 ETC.DEH

4. Note that while this map originally by @Quasar has been populated with the TC denizens, and gives a good idea of the surviving bestiary, some of the scripts may be off in current version of Tartar. Also playing with translucency enabled is advised.

Playing classic Wolfendoom with Tartar

1. Install Tartar with DOOM2.WAD

2. Obtain classic Wolfendoom PWAD-s. The recommended way is by downloading WolfenDOOM Collection for Mac (yes, Mac - WolfenDOOM was developed on Mac in the first place!)

3. Optionally get Operation Arctic Wolf SE and Aftermath and its prerequisites. For playing classic Arctic Wolf the following updates may also be of interest: arc_fix.zip Lrbjskin.zip

4. Drop shim WAD with the same name as the PWAD to be player from GOODIES\SHIMS directory in the distribution to SHIMS directory where TARTAR is found. For example:

   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\TARTAR.EXE
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\DOOM.WAD2
   ...
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\SOD.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\ESCAPE.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\FAUST.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\FUHRER.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\CONFRONT.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\SECRET.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\SHIMS\TRAIL.WAD

5. Run TARTAR to play with both PWAD and DEH patch provided via -file command line argument. For example, if the PWAD-s are in the same directory as TARTAR.EXE:

   TARTAR.EXE -nodemo -file SOD SOD.DEH
   TARTAR.EXE -nodemo -file CONFRONT NOCT.DEH
   TARTAR.EXE -nodemo -file ESCAPE ORIGINAL.DEH
   TARTAR.EXE -nodemo -file 2ND_ENC 2ND_ENC.DEH
   TARTAR.EXE -nodemo -file AFTERMTH

   Note that Tartar will pull the other required WAD-s from the directory where the specified PWAD-s sit, so there's no need to type all of them, as long as they have been copied there.

   For original Operation Arctic Wolf:
   TARTAR.EXE -nodemo -file GFX1 ARCTIC1.DEH

   For Operation Arctic Wolf Special Edition:
   TARTAR.EXE -nodemo -file ARCTGFX1 ARCTIC1.DEH

   Note that for Arctic Wolf there is no need to quit and change the way the game is launched midway though. Tartar will automatically reload the required PWAD/DEH combination based on the level being played.

6. Optionally add WOLFMIDI.WAD to play with original Wolfenstein music. The music tracks (courtesy of VGMPF) can be found in GOODIES\WOLFMIDI directory of the distribution.

   TARTAR.EXE -nodemo -file HALTEN WOLFMIDI

7. Optionally Tartar will automatically load B J Blazkowicz skin with Wolfendoom. Obtain it here, and put BJ.WAD side by side with the PWAD-s to be played. Then start the game as normal.

   TARTAR.EXE -nodemo -file 2ND_ENC 2ND_ENC.DEH

Want more? Try extras!

Tartar offers first class support for some of the excellent mods by Doom community. Here's how to enable Doom 2 intermission screen maps created by @olyacim.

1. Install Tartar.

2. Drop INTMAPD2.WAD found in GOODIES\OLIACYM directory of the distribution and place into the same same directory as TARTAR.EXE. For example:

   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\TARTAR.EXE
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\DOOM2.WAD
   C:\GAMES\TARTAR\INTMAPD2.WAD

3. Optional place INTMAPPL.WAD (for PLUTONIA.WAD), INTMAPEV.WAD (for TNT.WAD) in the same directory as TARTAR.EXE.

4. Run TARTAR.EXE. When running without PWAD-s no additional arguments are required. When running with PWADS, enable the intermission maps by adding -wimaps command line argument.

Check out more guides and examples found in EXTRAS.

On the name of the port

The sauce, nuff said.