===========================================================================
Advanced engine needed  : Boom Compatible Ports
Primary purpose         : Single + coop play
===========================================================================
Title                   : Resurgence (final version)
Filename                : Resurge.wad
Release date            : 22-09-2014 (critical fixes updated on 07-10-2014)(map27/26 fix on 10-11-2014)
Author                  : Josh Sealy with Guest Mapper Darkwave0000
Email Address           : joshzfield2001@hotmail.com
Other Files By Author   : Speed of Doom, 
                          Community Chest 4 (Map11,19,30), 
                          Claustrophobia 1024 (Map13,26,28),
                          Back to Saturn X - Episode 2 (Map01,31), 
                          NewDoomCommunityProject 2 (Map13,15,27,32),
                          Unholy Realms (Map29),
                          Imperfections Has Its Charm
Misc. Author Info       : Errrr.....

Additional Credits to   : dew, Cynical, Ribbiks, Mechadon, forty-two
                          esselfortium, Seele00textonly, PRIMEVAL

===========================================================================
* What is included *

New levels              : 32
Sounds                  : No
Music                   : Yes
Graphics                : Yes
Dehacked/BEX Patch      : Yes
Demos                   : Yes
Other                   : No
Other files required    : None


* Play Information *

Game                    : Doom 2
Map #                   : 1-32
Single Player           : Designed for
Cooperative 2-4 Player  : Designed for
Deathmatch 2-4 Player   : No
Other game styles       : None
Difficulty Settings     : Yes (except Map28-30)


* Construction *

Base                    : Mostly new from scratch (Exceptions: finishing
                          off Surge and reusing some areas of Speed of Doom
                          in a map)
Build Time              : Surge took 1 month, Resurgence took a year (7 months of non-stop
                          work, 5 months hiatus and then a month of intensive sessions.)
Editor(s) used          : Doombuilder 2, SLADE
Known Bugs              : Not sure
May Not Run With...     : Usain Bolt


* Copyright / Permissions *

Authors may NOT use the contents of this file as a base for modification or
reuse.  Permissions have been obtained from original authors for any of
their resources modified or included in this file.

You MAY distribute this file, provided you include this text file, with no
modifications.  You may distribute this file in any electronic format (BBS,
Diskette, CD, etc) as long as you include this file intact.  I have
received permission from the original authors of any modified or included
content in this file to allow further distribution.

* Where to get the file that this text file describes *

The Usual: ftp://archives.3dgamers.com/pub/idgames/ and mirrors

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    ____  ___________ __  ______  _____________   ______________
   / __ \/ ____/ ___// / / / __ \/ ____/ ____/ | / / ____/ ____/
  / /_/ / __/  \__ \/ / / / /_/ / / __/ __/ /  |/ / /   / __/   
 / _, _/ /___ ___/ / /_/ / _, _/ /_/ / /___/ /|  / /___/ /___   
/_/ |_/_____//____/\____/_/ |_|\____/_____/_/ |_/\____/_____/

By Josh Sealy (aka Joshy)

--------------
C O N T E N T:
--------------

1.  INTRODUCTION            4.  LEVEL INFORMATION
                                
    1.1 Compatibility           4.1 Map List
    1.2 Resources               4.2 Map Info
    1.3 MIDI Music
                            5.  BUGS

2.  STORY
                            6.  AUTHOR INFORMATION

3.  INSTALLATION                6.1 Mappers
                                6.2 Credits/Thanks

----------------
[1] INTRODUCTION
----------------

  Resurgence is a 32 maps megawad project, an upgrade from the unfinished
  Surge project. The maps are similar to Speed of Doom, ranging from
  Scythe/Plutonia-like maps to Speed of Doom to Resurgence-unique. The
  difficulty is considerably less in places but there are several
  challenging maps to plow through with the occasional slaughtermaps.
  (For those who don't like slaughter, avoid Map11,25,27,28,30)
  Sizes vary greatly (for the sake of variety), ranging from quick paced
  maps lasting 5 minutes to a long grind that could last even an hour. The
  project took about a year to complete. Surge was originally a month, and
  Resurgence took 7 months of non-stop work, 5 months hiatus and then a
  month of intensive sessions. The Surge maps that has not been heavily
  modified are Map05,13,14. Although not everyone will like all maps,
  hopefully this megawad offers several things that can be appreciated and
  also offers fun and challenges (I am looking at you demo-recording speed-
  runners...).

[1.1 Compatibility]

  Resurgence is designed to be BOOM Compatible so it should run
  on BOOM source ports derivatives at least. It will crash on several maps
  if you try to run with BOOM or MBF. Glboom or Prboom-plus is recommended.

[1.2 Resources]
 
   - Textures were taken from:
      + CC4 Texture Packs
      + Some textures and colour palette (from 32in24 series) designed by
        Michael Mancuso (Esselfortium)
      + All three episode skies made by Brett Harrell (Mechadon)

   - New graphics were made by:

      + Brett 'Mechadon' Harrell : Fonts, Status bar, Titlepic
                                   Intermission pic, Credits, Bossback
                                   (Titlepic and interpic source images
				    made by Joshy but made even more
				    awesomer by Mechadon)


        Editors used: GIMP, Photoshop, XWE, SLumpEd, and Imagetool

[1.3 Midi Music]

   Music in Resurgence was mostly composed by:

   Stuart Rynn (aka stewboy, forty-two):
	Map09,10,12,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,26,29,31

   John Weekley (aka PRIMEVAL):
	Map06,07,13,30
        Introduction- "Demon Surge"
        Intermission- "A Victory Earned"
        Read Message- "Demon Resurged"

   ** You may use these Midi tracks provided that you give credit to the
   composer and the project 'Resurgence'. **

   All other music are from other sources such as Heretic, Doom, and vgmusic
  (Check map info for more details)

---------
[2] STORY
---------

   Story? What story? Hell decided to come back resurging from the darkness
   without end just to annoy you for the second time. Waking up from
   the most nourishing sleep, you mutter 'Oh, not again! Where's my shotgun
   and vaseline?'


----------------
[3] INSTALLATION
----------------

  Simply either drag drop resurgence.wad onto a source port executable (i.e. Zdoom or Prboom).
  Alternatively you can type into the command line:

  " boom -iwad doom2.wad -file resurgence.wad "
  
  If you aren't using boom, replace boom with the name of your source port of choice.


---------------------
[4] LEVEL INFORMATION
---------------------
[4.1 Map List]

  MAP01: Awakening
  MAP02: Hell's Lamentation
  MAP03: Cave of the Lost Souls
  MAP04: A Fistful of Imps
  MAP05: Sinister
  MAP06: Fortress
  MAP07: Gauntlet
  MAP08: Obsidian Hotbed
  MAP09: Scorching Savanna
  MAP10: The Courtyard
  MAP11: Twi-Lite Massacre

  MAP12: Homecoming
  MAP13: Assault
  MAP14: Hyper-Spelunking
  MAP15: Nukage Bay
  MAP16: Close Quarters
  MAP17: Underground Barrage
  MAP18: Excavation Project
  MAP19: Quadrilateral Rampage
  MAP20: Waves of Darkness

  MAP21: Ravages of Time
  MAP22: Mt. Katoomba
  MAP23: Claret Tides
  MAP24: Nuclear Winter
  MAP25: Technoprison II
  MAP26: The Library
  MAP27: Where the Poison Ivies Grow Wild
  MAP28: Breaking Point	
  MAP29: The Quiet Before the Storm
  MAP30: Eternal Redemption

  MAP31: Festering Wicked Helix Sectors
  MAP32: Poison Oak


[4.2 Map Info]

-=-=-=--=-=|Map01|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Awakening
Difficulty          : Easy
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Tower of Fire' by Jimmy Paddock (from Plutonia Midi pack)                  
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Scythish Map01s.
Authors comments    : First map I made when restarting Surge. Quick and Simple.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map02|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Hell's Lamentation
Difficulty          : Medium
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Trainwreck (with solo)' by Jimmy Paddock.              
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge
Authors comments    : Map02 of Surge remade.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map03|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Cave of the Lost Souls
Difficulty          : Medium
                      
                      
Music track         : CBLOOD7 [Blood]                  
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge (inspired heavily by Pcorf's vulcana)
Authors comments    : Map03 of Surge remade.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map04|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : A Fistful of Imps
Difficulty          : Medium
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Fire Hive' by Jimmy Paddock (from Plutonia Midi pack)                
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge
Authors comments    : This is a combination of Surge's Map04 and 05.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map05|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Sinister
Difficulty          : Medium
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Suspense' from Doom E1M5                    
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge
Authors comments    : This is probably one of the few Surge maps that is
                      virtually unchanged.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map06|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Fortress
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Behind the Mask' by John 'PRIMEVAL' Weekley (project original)                   
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge
Authors comments    : Map06 of Surge remade.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map07|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Gauntlet
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Chikka Boom DOOM' by John 'PRIMEVAL' Weekley (project original)                   
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Not to recreate SoD map07.
Authors comments    : 

-=-=-=--=-=|Map08|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Obsidian Hotbed
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : From Heretic, E2M3 - The River Of Fire
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge
Authors comments    : Map10 of Surge remade.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map09|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Scorching Savanna
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : '(42.mid) - The Face of Wrath' by Stuart Rynn (project original)              
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : I don't know.
Authors comments    : This was actually originally designed for Back to Saturn X.
                      Naturally, as it was not exactly up to par with the other maps,
                      it was rejected. After retexturing and redesigning several areas
                      due to Boom's flexibility, it fits nicely in Resurgence.
                      Thanks to esselfortium and Seele00textonly for the level name
                      suggestion :P

-=-=-=--=-=|Map10|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : The Courtyard
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Deep Forest' by Stuart Rynn (from Speed of Doom)
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Not sure.
Authors comments    : 


-=-=-=--=-=|Map11|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Twi-lite Massacre
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Waltz of the Demons' from Doom E2M7                    
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Speed of Doom Map28
Authors comments    : Since Darkwave0000 isn't making half the maps here,
                      I thought I'd attempt to make up for that with
                      some Darkwave0000-styled maps. This is one of them,
                      hoping it's not too much of a ripoff.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map12|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Homecoming
Difficulty          : Medium
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Ghost Town' by Stuart Rynn (project original)
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge and a bit of Alien Vendetta.
Authors comments    : Map11 and 12 of Surge integrated.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map13|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Assault
Difficulty          : Medium
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Dead and Gone' by John 'PRIMEVAL' Weekley (project original)               
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge
Authors comments    : Like Map05, this one is virtually unchanged from Surge.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map14|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Hyper-Spelunking
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Abuse06' from Abuse Soundtrack by Robert Prince                    
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge
Authors comments    : Virtually unchanged from Surge as well.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map15|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Nukage Bay
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Coldwires' by Stuart Rynn (from Speed of Doom)                  
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge
Authors comments    : Map15 of Surge slightly remade, mostly in the gameplay
                      department.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map16|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Close Quarters
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         :  '(53.mid) - Corner Club' by Stuart Rynn (project original)         
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge
Authors comments    : Map16 and 17 of Surge combined. Thankfully they fit together
                      like a puzzle.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map17|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Underground Barrage
Difficulty          : Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : '(39.mid) - Basement' by Stuart Rynn (project original)                
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Surge
Authors comments    :

-=-=-=--=-=|Map18|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Excavation Project
Difficulty          : Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : '(44.mid) - Nightfall' by Stuart Rynn (project original)
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Darkwave0000's magnificent cavern maps.
Authors comments    : I'm quite proud of this map, was hoping it'd be a compact sized map
                      but the map kept begging for more attention and care, and it ended
                      up a lot bigger than I intended.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map19|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Quadrilateral Rampage
Difficulty          : Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Drilling by Night' by Stuart Rynn (from Back to Saturn X Episode 1, map03)                 
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Sandboxy maps, playing Unholy Realms (by Snakes) made me think about
                      creating a sandbox map for a change. Also, SoD map11.
Authors comments    :

-=-=-=--=-=|Map20|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Waves of Darkness
Difficulty          : Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : '(29.mid) - Heartbeat' by Stuart Rynn (project original)
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Map02 and 04 of Speed of Doom
Authors comments    : 

-=-=-=--=-=|Map21|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Ravages of Time
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : '(35.mid) - Daybreak' by Stuart Rynn (project original)               
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Trying to create a Tyson map that was not as difficult as
                      Speed of Doom Map21 that didn't involve punching mancubuses.
Authors comments    : This should hopefully be a better tyson map than Speed of Doom
		      Map21 was. I know the map21 tyson idea is overused but it is a
                      very useful way of ensuring variety, especially when Map17-20
                      is quite ammo/monster heavy. Also, don't worry if you don't have
                      ammo when you face the afrit, this is intentional and there's a
                      perfectly simple way of bypassing the afrit.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map22|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Mt. Katoomba
Difficulty          : Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Jail Break' by Stuart Rynn (from Speed of Doom)               
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : The beautiful Australian landscape- The Blue Mountains!
Authors comments    : Definitely a moment where I get out of my comfort zone.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map23|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Claret Tides
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Within Reach' by Jimmy Paddock (from Back to Saturn X Episode 1, map24)                 
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Alien Vendetta's Map05 and PRCP Map16.
Authors comments    : 

-=-=-=--=-=|Map24|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Nuclear Winter
Difficulty          : Medium/Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Icicles' by Jimmy Paddock (from Community Chest 4)                    
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Scythe 2 Map30,32 and Eternal's Memorial.
Authors comments    : I figured it'd be nice to revisit some Speed of Doom maps
                      with a thematic change and to add to the feel of Resurgence
                      as a spiritual sequel to Speed of Doom.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map25|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Technoprison II
Difficulty          : Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Technoprisoners' by Jimmy Paddock (from Community Chest 4)                 
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : CC4's Map19 (the first Technoprison)
Authors comments    : 

-=-=-=--=-=|Map26|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : The Library
Difficulty          : Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Death's Toll' by Stuart Rynn (from Plutonia Midi pack)                   
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : I don't know actually. Maybe a little bit of Skillsaw's Vanguard.
Authors comments    :

-=-=-=--=-=|Map27|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Where the Poison Ivies Grow Wild
Difficulty          : Very Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Great Hall' by Jimmy Paddock (from Community Chest 4)                   
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Poison Ivy theme with a hint of Skillsaw and Mechadon architecture.
Authors comments    :

-=-=-=--=-=|Map28|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Breaking Point
Difficulty          : Very Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Escape the Island' (Resident Evil Code: Veronica X) arranged by Phillip Haynes (vgmusic.com) 
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Death-Destiny's hardcore maps and some of darkreaver's screenshots.
Authors comments    : 

-=-=-=--=-=|Map29|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : The Quiet Before the Storm
Difficulty          : Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Jade Empire' by Stuart Rynn (from Plutonia Midi pack)                  
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Resisting the temptation to make another slaughtermap and to create
                      something more Plutonia-ish, particularly Map08.
Authors comments    : 

-=-=-=--=-=|Map30|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Eternal Redemption
Difficulty          : Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'The Resurgence' by John 'PRIMEVAL' Weekley (project original)
Bugs                :
Inspiration         : Attempting to combine Speed of Doom Map31 and 32. A Techy Pyramidy landscape riddled
                      with pure mindless slaughter.
Authors comments    : There was an initial version of this map, but it sucked massively, so I remade it
                      saving the good bits and decided to keep it simple, and the result was a lot better.
                      Thanks to Ribbiks for suggesting the initial version was a huge steaming pile of
                      excrement and for the level ending suggestions too. It's not exactly a polished map
                      but the version as it is is waaaaay better than the initial one, just be grateful for
                      that. :P

-=-=-=--=-=|Map31|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Festering Wicked Helix Sectors
Difficulty          : Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : '(46.mid) - Day of Mourning' by Stuart Rynn (project original)                     
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Author I imitated
Authors comments    : This was originally designed for the Secret Santa Imitation
		      project runned by Snakes. See if you can work out who I
                      imitated here! The answer plus the post mortem of the mapping
                      process and result is on the bottom of this txtfile.

-=-=-=--=-=|Map32|=-=-=--=-=-
Level name          : Poison Oak
Guest Mapper        : Darkwave0000
Difficulty          : Very Hard
                      
                      
Music track         : 'Vinefort' by Jimmy Paddock                  
Bugs                : 
Inspiration         : Speed of Doom MAP23, "Poison Ivy II"
Authors comments    : A map which has SoD MAP23 as inspiration.
                      Hopefully it is entertaining!



--------
[5] BUGS
--------

   


--------
[6] AUTHOR INFORMATION
--------

Author	          : Josh Sealy
Also known as     : Joshy
Email address     : joshzfield2001@hotmail.com
Webpage           : n/a
Other files by me : Speed of Doom, 
                    Community Chest 4 (Map11,19,30), 
                    Claustrophobia 1024 (Map13,26,28),
                    Back to Saturn X - Episode 2 (Map01,31), 
                    NewDoomCommunityProject 2 (Map13,15,27,32),
	            Unholy Realms (Map29),
		    Imperfections Has Its Charm
                    
Personal thanks   : To everyone who's helped me, and the Doom community.
                    I hope it stays on dooming!
                    
		    To all my dear friends (Dylan, Poreia, Olwyne)
                    and my family for tolerating my nasty doom
                    habit.

Guest Mapper      : Darkwave0000
Also known as     : Darkwave or Darky
Email address     : Darkwave0000@aim.com

 
[6.2 Credits/Thanks]

  Testers: - Boris 'dew' Klimes
	   - Cynical
           - Ribbiks
           - Michael 'esselfortium' Mancuso
           - Seele00TextOnly


  Musicians: - Stuart 'forty-two' Rynn
             - John 'PRIMEVAL' Weekley
	

  Graphics: - Brett 'Mechadon' Harrell
            - Michael 'esselfortium' Mancuso
	
 
  Many immeasurable thanks to those credited for their contribution and
  support to/for the project.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[Answer to Map31 Imitation + Post Mortem]

Joshy's postmortem of imitating Xaser:

Map name: Festering Wicked Helix Sectors

What can I say... Xaser is a very unique mapper, and from what I see, he seems to never
experience a shortage of original, innovative, and unorthodox ideas that ranges from intricate
or simple vanilla maps to zdoom maps brimming with awesome features within.
Considering that he is very talented in many aspects of doom mapping, I figured that the
starting point is to be selective with certain maps, just to ensure minimal confusion in
knowing what to imitate.

So, by being selective, I could truly pick out the styles inherent in the few maps, and
just follow/imitate the ongoing traits I found. The Xaser maps I used as references
were the two PRCP maps (Helix, and Wicked Garden), the 'Sector' map in some Zdoom community
project, and 'Underneath a Festering Moon' in BTSX Episode 2.

What particularly stood out for me in these maps were the consistent unorthodox shapes of
architectures and sectors: quite often, you do not really see a lot of symmetry. More so,
there are plenty, plenty of height differences visible within his fondness of stairs and
towering architectures. As I thought it'd be foolish to completely imitate his maps (or
maybe that was a way of excusing myself from the hard work), I decided to map in a way that
it'd come as 'what would happen if Joshy and Xaser maps make babbies?', and to try to avoid my usual
mapping tricks as much as I can. Whenever I ran into mapping blockage, I just did what I
would have done in a typical mapping session.

The overall layout is similar to Wicked Garden- there are two main plutonia-like layouts: one with
blood, and the other one drained of blood, with a more ominous feel. The player travels to the other
layout via some sort of time-travelling teleport as was the case in Wicked Garden. The giant tower
was inspired from Helix and Underneath a Festering Moon: That the player could see the tower at the
start, but reaches it eventually. The helix-like structure is an obvious inspiration, albeit it spirals
downwards compared to the upwards-spiral in the original Helix tower. Sector gave me the idea of a
sudden shift in structure and architecture when the player goes into a sector, and after activating
the switch, the tower and the helix emerges from the ground, with monsters teleporting all over the shop.

Some other Xaserish features are the big height differences, difficult monster encounters that encourages
responsible ammo usage for the most part, some abstract architectures, and some unorthodox lightings, such
as the Wicked Garden-like caves (that was a blatant rip-off by the way, apologies for that).

Mapping format is in Boom obviously because I hate worrying about visplanes and HOMs, more particularly so
when you're trying to imitate a freak mapper.

Overall, I am quite pleased with the result. It may not be 100% genuine Xaser (or as good as his maps in 
general), but I think it's a pretty cool map on its own. It was a good experience having to map
differently out of my comfort zone. It has taught me to manipulate different shaped sectors perhaps
more efficiently and creatively, and to be able to create non-symmetric layouts with more flexibility.