Crawling through the Dungeons of Doom

[fingal]

There are one or two old threads about playing dungeon crawlers, but I felt uncomfortable digging them out (or 'necroing' them) so I thought I'd start a new one. For the last few weeks I've been playing SlashEM, which is yet another Nethack derivative. I would love to say that I've played every class of character, and managed to 'ascend' ... but I haven't.

Nethack is ultimately derived from a much earlier game called Rogue. Despite my rather turgid description it's a lot of fun to play. But traveller, beware! It's probably the hardest computer game ever devised. Did I say 'probably' ... Make that definitely!

I suspect it's deliberately hard. If you manage to brave the hazards of the gnomish mines, battle the evil Demogorgan, find the Amulet of Yendor and avoid insomnia, malnutrition and concerned phone calls from relatives / friends asking 'What happened to you?' then you're doing better than me.

SlashEM is an attempt to extend Nethack, expanding some levels, shortening others and generally adding to the depth of game play. So what's the attraction? Good question pilgrim.

Mainly it's the fun of seeing what happens next and trying to beat the game in the process. This is beyond difficult ... If you die you die, the games don't let you revert to saved 'slots', but you can save it between meals without ruining your appetite.

There are many things I could say about depth of game play, but you'd be bored senseless if I told you all that. So here are some snippets:

Most stupid death: playing a Valkyrie I died on level one after just one move. A rock fell on my head.

Most satisfying moment: while being attacked by a level / life draining vampire I polymorphed my character into a cockatrice, thus turning the bugger to stone.

Strongest characters: I play monks well, but they're the easiest characters to play anyway. Believe me, it's hard enough as it is.

I'm reminded of a few lines from a song by Tom Paxton:

Only a game, only a game,
I'm muttering under my breath.

Only a game, only a game ...
like dying is only death.'

Spot on!

[Freston]

You just know you're a geek when you recognise DnD all over this. Including graphics (dots on paper, no miniatures)









*oh no*
That was another tread...

[fingal]

You just know you're a geek when you recognise DnD all over this. Including graphics (dots on paper, no miniatures).

Yes there's a strong DnD theme in these games. I prefer not to play the ASCII version, and there are some good GUIs out there.

I usually go for long periods where I don't play dungeon crawlers, but right now I'm into them. Actually turn based games are hard to get used to after playing Quake etc ... You need to think harder.

[Freston]

I usually go for long periods where I don't play dungeon crawlers

I like some rpg from time to time, but usually I can't resist cheat mode, which spoils it...

Actually turn based games are hard to get used to after playing Quake etc ... You need to think harder.

Yeah, you can't react on what's happening, but need to anticipate on what's going to happen. At least in DnD, you can ready an action

I prefer not to play the ASCII version, and there are some good GUIs out there.

Morrowwind was really cool. Even with the cheats (running in heavy armor indefinitely).
As fas as ASCII dungeon crawlers go, I've set my mind to completing these: Dungeonman and Dungeonman III (Behold thy graphics)

But most fun I've had (GTA aside) was with Falcon 4.0, where you flew an older issue F16, with a 70's radar system (without IFF). Just flying around in a heavy loaded fighter/bomber with a very realistic radar system that needed 99.9% of your attention, even in dogfights...
Am I a geek or what? Just staring at the dots on the radar screen scanning different altitudes and headings. There is no way to detect an incoming IR missile, except for your wingman yelling: "ARCHER INBOUND", and by that time it was probably to late... an hour of flying, cleverly avoiding enemies, dodging radar stations and hugging the landscape ended, 'cause one North Korean with a stinger missile had a good visual and a clear shot. "ARCHER INBOUND" flare flare BOOM!

Yeah, it was exciting :rock: