PDX Server Complex
From The Nameless Mod
The PDX Server Complex is located inside Goat City, and thus got separated from Forum City in 2003 when it moved to a separate domain. The workers of the Server Complex thus had to live there for around 2 years without contact to the outside world. The complex is made up of two different sections. The Old Server Complex remains from the far past, around the time of the Planetization. Considered useless, the New Server Complex was build above it, which was tasked with several vital tasks of Forum City, basically running it, even from the different domain. Because Despot's admin password can be obtained from the Server Complex, it is heavily guarded. Scara B. King, in an attempt to download the password, sent in an AI called ShadowCode designed for that task. In its attempt to do so it got severely damaged and unstable, but managed to settle in the Old Server Complex before being completely destroyed.
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New Server Complex
The New Server Complex (NSC) is tasked with running Forum City. To facilitate this, it has 4 large server rooms, storing all content, including the admin password. In the WorldCorp storyline, you are tasked with recovering this password, allowing you access to DXI.
In contrast to the Old Server Complex, this is a typical TNM level. Opponents are present to fight or avoid, and you have several different routes towards your goal. Because your opponents consist exclusively of Firewalls and Robots, EMP weaponry can be extremely lethal and helpful when doing this assignment.
Old Server Complex
The Old Server Complex (OSC) was abandoned when it seemed to no longer have any function. However, it still seems to be able to control access to DXI, which forces you to go down there during the PlanetDeusEx storyline and relinquish it from ShadowCode's control. In order to do so, you have to shut ShadowCode from all the remaining servers there, then download him into your mind and upload him to a remote computer with no access to the network.
While the New Server Complex is a standard DX/TNM level, the OSC is clearly an ode to older games like System Shock 2 and Half-Life, being less linear with far fewer options in how to complete it. Most of the time, you have only one way to proceed, and several traps and puzzles must be overcome to continue. Note that the OSC level was severely nerfed with the 1.0.1 patch, as there had been several complaints about its difficulty.
Prominent Locations
New Server Complex
Level 0 (basement)
- Generator room - Watch out for the heat!
The following areas are only accessible during a PDX game.
- Garbage burners - Allow you to power up the elevator. Was accessible to WC players before patch version 1.0.2.
- Elevator to the OSC.
Level 1 (entrance)
- Lobby - During the PDX game ManInBlack will greet you here to brief you for the OSC mission.
The following areas are only accessible during a WorldCorp game
- Cubicles - Here you can find Eric and Jim.
- Cafeteria - If you're careful, T. B. Good can be overheard talking to a firewall on the second level.
- Executive offices - Here you can find several goodies as well as the console that allows you to adjust Jim's salary for his side mission.
- Security offices - From here all cameras in the Server Complex are controlled.
Level 2
- Security checkpoint
The following areas are only accessible during a WorldCorp game
- Server Rooms A, B, and C - Well-patrolled server rooms.
- Mainframe Operations - Contains the computer with the admin password. ManInBlack can be found guarding it.
Old Server Complex
- Entrance hall.
- Mine room - You can find an Augmentation Canister here.
- "Run Forest Run" - One of ShadowCode's traps.
- Box maze - Several mechanical traps and robots on patrol. Watch out for falling containers.
- Nietzsche Room - Jump down the moving platforms.
- Ventilation obstacle course - Blow up fans, and watch out for dropping elevators. Note that in early builds of the map, the fans should have actually sucked you in, but this was dropped during beta because the Unreal Engine 1 does not allow gravity zones to be toggled in-game (meaning the fans would still pull you after they were destroyed).
- Resident Evil hallway - Avoid the moving lasers or be set on fire.
- Fire room - Before the 1.0.1 patch, ShadowCode would set these boxes on fire, giving you a tricky path to move through without being set on fire, or you would have to quickly enable the sprinkler system to put out the fires.
- Electricity room - Move careful, or fast, to avoid taking too much damage. After patch 1.0.1 this room is optional, and has some items as a reward if you enter it. Before patch 1.0.3, entering it from the back allows one to pick up all the goods without taking any damage, but in 1.0.3 and beyond, the items were moved into the middle of the room to prevent this.
- The turret array - Before 1.0.1 this hallway would be filled with turrets, and you would have to use the tunnel beneath it - which contains some Spiderbots - to pass through more safely. After patch 1.0.3, it just contains a few optional goodies if you pick the lock on one of the hatches.
- "Aren't They Cute?" - Introduction to the Hoverbot enemy.
- Gas room - Quickly turn the wheel to stop the damage. Easiest done with Speed Enhancement or by entering from the back entrance.
- SHODAN room (Server Complex 6) - Inspired by the final level of System Shock 2, you have to disable 4 of the electricity boxes (if you do not have 4 multitools, you can find 4 in this room) to open the roof to move up to ShadowCode's console. Before version 1.0.1 there was a golden laser trap here, designed for you to block it with a crate - it was removed because you'd get stuck if you threw the crate down the shaft.
- Offices - You come here after uploading ShadowCode, desperately trying to find a non-networked computer to download him to.
Characters
- ManInBlack - Security supervisor of the Server Complex. In a PDX game, he can be found in the level 1 lobby; in a WC game, he is found in the Mainframe Operations room on level 2.
- Eric - Works at the NSC.
- Jim - Works at the NSC, gives you NSC access and a side mission in the WC storyline.
- T.B. Good - Jim's boss. Has some lines that can never be heard in a normal game because he is hostile.
- ShadowCode
