Lights won't go out with 4-way and 3-way switches in any position
Jumpered wires on 4-way to make 3-way circuit


Maybe thats where you went wrong?

There are four wires: two travellers in and two travellers out. If you connected them all together it would have the effect you describe.



The middle switch in one position connects straight across. In the other position it crosses (top left connected to bottom right and bottom left to top right).

If I've misunderstood - please clarify the question. There are several ways of wiring this and practices vary from country to country or from place to place.

See Wikipedia