Handy Vandal's Almanac“Thanks for the work you have done to help me better understand the inner workings of worldcraft, and the the utilities that could make my early, more budding career in level design more fruitful.”

I recently received this generous praise from D:

Dear Handy Vandal,

I just wanted to take the time to thank you for your efforts in what you have done, and what you have strived to do on the almanac. this is corny, but you have really really inspired me (since an early age, gosh!) in many ways to try to break into the game industry based on what you’ve shown.

I’ve noticed that you will be discontinuing the almanac for personal reasons, and though I understand it, it saddens me to see it go, at least in a certain nostalgic sense. When I was much younger, I really turned to your site for information regarding the modding of half-life. I’d check your site almost daily, gaining information through the newest tips and tricks for worldcraft, or the latest news on mods or other means of improving my understanding. you were a VERY valuable resource in my learning, and though I cannot count the years since I’ve checked your site last, as I have been out of the loop, I did it tonight out of curiosity so many years later to see what you have done since then (which was maybe 2002 or 2003? damn, it really has been a while).

Things have really changed, game and industry-wise, but I am overjoyed to see that your methods of teaching concepts or at least providing sources to said methods have not.

I merely wish, as an anonymous, but (very) long time reader, that you have only the best of luck in whatever it is that you do, and that this serves as a very long overdue thanks for the work you have done to help me better understand the innerworkings of worldcraft, and the the utilities that could make my early, more budding career in level design more fruitful. it was indeed fun, while it lasted. and I do have you to thank for that regarding the majority of my drive to learn more about what went on in the various systems and tools required to build levels, and make them entertaining. at times I felt I was learning alongside someone, and at others, I felt I was really learning from a peer. they were very helpful, and very entertaining, and in that respect, I certainly owe you a debt of gratitude.

I’ll remember this site, and what it taught me forever, and I do sincerely feel that this was one of the, if not the one single place that helped launch me onto my career path. thankyou so much for everything, and once again, I hope that whatever it is that you do from here brings you success and happiness. A feather in your cap, sir. Because without you, or the sources I gathered from you, I would not be where I am today, or enjoying the things I do.

Very best of luck in your endeavors. I hope that you find happiness in all that you achieve.

sincerely,

a fan, a gamer, and a hopeful industry worker,
-D

You’re welcome, D. Thanks for writing — I’m always pleased to hear from aspiring game designers who used the Almanac and found it helpful.