Next competition

[the Invisible Stalker]

In a regular game dark elves are something of a challenge race. In thrall mode the situation is more complicated. They have a tougher end game, because they never seem to have enough hitpoints, but the early game is much easier, due to their high stealth. In the midgame the two effects sort of balance out. I'd say they're a good choice for the competition, because you'll have a lot of people with little or no experience of thrall mode, and they are likely to get bored quickly if their first twenty or so characters die before reaching town.

[AnonymousHero]

I think Dark-Elf Assassin would work.

Not sure about the Dark-Elf bit, but Assassin is definitely one of the more entertaining classes in FA. Indeed, it's probably my favorite!

[the Invisible Stalker]

The early game in thrall mode is, not surprisingly, quite different from non-thrall mode. To prevent people from getting really frustrated I should probably put together some sort of guide for thralls and post it a separate thread. Other thrall addicts can add their own advice there.

[the Invisible Stalker]

Dark-elf would be good, since they are the stealthiest race and are FA-specific, although heavily based on O's shadow fairy. They are quite fragile, but all thrall characters are fragile. In principle any class of dark-elf is playable, but people are likely to get bored very quickly of any class which doesn't have high stealth or access to the unlight specialty. Assassins and rogues have both. I think either would work well. FA rogues are quite different from V rogues, by the way. V assassins are, of course, not a thing.

[Nick]

I'd be game to try this. What race do you suggest?

I think Dark-Elf Assassin would work.

[debo]

I guess it will be a while before the next FA comp, but when the time rolls around again my suggestion, for what it's worth, is to make it as specifically FA as possible. So,
- Wilderness rather than dungeon.
- A non-V class. Necromancer this time was a good choice. All FA classes have been done at some stage, although some haven't been done for a long time.
- A non-V race? This is less important than class, in my opinion, but just for variety it would be nice.
- Thrall mode. This is really what makes FA unique, so it's a pity that there's only ever been one thrall mode comp: the crazy thrall ironman comp won by Psi back in 2009. To make this viable one would need to choose a very stealthy race/class combination, which is only partly consistent with the previous two points. Thrall mode should really be combined with disconnected stairs. I know that sounds brutal, but otherwise the early game becomes an exercise in stairscumming, and stairscumming is boring. Fleeing for your life, on the other hand, is exhilarating.

I'd be game to try this. What race do you suggest?

[the Invisible Stalker]

I guess it will be a while before the next FA comp, but when the time rolls around again my suggestion, for what it's worth, is to make it as specifically FA as possible. So,
- Wilderness rather than dungeon.
- A non-V class. Necromancer this time was a good choice. All FA classes have been done at some stage, although some haven't been done for a long time.
- A non-V race? This is less important than class, in my opinion, but just for variety it would be nice.
- Thrall mode. This is really what makes FA unique, so it's a pity that there's only ever been one thrall mode comp: the crazy thrall ironman comp won by Psi back in 2009. To make this viable one would need to choose a very stealthy race/class combination, which is only partly consistent with the previous two points. Thrall mode should really be combined with disconnected stairs. I know that sounds brutal, but otherwise the early game becomes an exercise in stairscumming, and stairscumming is boring. Fleeing for your life, on the other hand, is exhilarating.

[debo]

Betacomp should be up in the next 24 hours. Prepare yourselves!

[emulord]

Heres an idea: Poschengband Munchkin fastest turns win. Could be intense!

[krazyhades]

Yay! There goes my RL productivity for the next month!

Oh well, I only work in payroll. It's not like people really mind being paid late. Do they?

You mean here comes your RL productivity! The RL stands for "rogue-like"

[debo]

I'm all for fists of flame - not for the extra damage, after all, it's only 1 extra damage per blow, but because it's cool!

Shoryureppa!!!

[Ingwe Ingweron]

I'm all for fists of flame - not for the extra damage, after all, it's only 1 extra damage per blow, but because it's cool!
Critical hits doesn't make as much sense for me though.

I'm in favor of a little bit of critical hit possibility for a couple reasons. 1) To reflect getting in a liver or kidney shot, gouging out an eye, breaking a bone, etc. and 2) just because the same damage number every time the fist lands just gets boring. Not that it would make must difference in the damage, since the critical from any single blow from a fist wouldn't add up to much. I'm imagining a mechanic like the fist being counted as weighing say 5 lbs (from the momentum) for purposes of calculating a critical hit.

[MattB]

Hey, MattB, should we lobby for a fists only comp? Seriously, though, we should lobby Nick to fix/change fists to have glove bonus damage from acid, flames, etc., branded fists, and possibility of critical hits.

I'm all for fists of flame - not for the extra damage, after all, it's only 1 extra damage per blow, but because it's cool!
Critical hits doesn't make as much sense for me though.

[Ingwe Ingweron]

Yay! There goes my RL productivity for the next month!

Oh well, I only work in payroll. It's not like people really mind being paid late. Do they?

Hey, MattB, should we lobby for a fists only comp? Seriously, though, we should lobby Nick to fix/change fists to have glove bonus damage from acid, flames, etc., branded fists, and possibility of critical hits.

[MattB]

Yay! There goes my RL productivity for the next month!

Oh well, I only work in payroll. It's not like people really mind being paid late. Do they?