Competition 64

[Donald Jonker]

Why do Rings of Levitation, although known, keep showing up as un-id'd? Can they be cursed or something?

They can have additional powers, like a "ring of levitation and damage" or some such. Same is true of all rings, so make sure you don't trash rings of stupidity and so forth. Makes id'ing jewelry a bit tiresome, IMO.

The items need better descriptions. "You notice nothing unusual" just isn't cutting it for me.

You get a full description (eg, what a "dagger" looks like..) when you *identify* an object or research it at a library. I agree that this ought to go.

[buzzkill]

Why do Rings of Levitation, although known, keep showing up as un-id'd? Can they be cursed or something?

Is there a way, for our vamp ninja to capture a monster (a horse) short of a capture-ball or charm monster?

I lost a ton of progress recently due to a crash with the Auto destroy query. I'm probably done with this competition, although I did enjoy playing.

From a newb's perspective, my thoughts on the game. There's a lot about it that I like, but it's easier to point out the things that I feel need improvement.

I guess this was originally a Japanese variant, and it shows. The English language needs to be cleaned up quite a bit.
The items need better descriptions. "You notice nothing unusual" just isn't cutting it for me.
The capture-ball concept seems a poke-monish. Keep the concept, but rework in something else, like an Orb of Domination.
The small local/world map transition needs work. I once switched views just to see where I was, and although I was standing on a safe terrain, I was nearly burned to death as on the world map I was on a lava grid. I think I'd prefer eliminating world map movement, though there are plenty of other ways to handle it as well.
Fixed quests, with fixed rewards seems too static.

[chem]

My latest comp try just had his WIS and DEX nexus swapped. Tempted to just let him die. So annoying.

[chem]

This link was posted earlier in the thread, but is worth reposting:

http://www.kmc.gr.jp/~henkma/heng-e/class/ninja/index.html

ninja class details. if you equip a shield, you lose the ninja intrinsic speed boost, and other things too.

[Pete Mack]

Not junk for a Ninja. You can use it to overcome the negatives from a PLITE object.

Shields are bad for Ninjas. But you may need to use it anyway for resists.

[buzzkill]

Two more questions...

The Lantern of Darkness, junk, correct?

I found a shield 'Holy Destiny', with some really nice perks, but it seems to be conflicting with my starting 'Holy Avenger' dagger. It seems to me that these two should be able to 'play nice' together. What's the deal?

My instinct tells me that I'm going to ditch the dagger (which I like) and keep the shield (which I like), but I'm open to advice. See the dump here.

[Pete Mack]

Note:
ToME (and presumably Entro) sets up all random quests at the beginning of a game. They won't change unless you start a genuinely new character.

[Jungle_Boy]

Some comments about Entro.

I like all the choices at character creation but it would definitely be daunting for a new player. There is way too much junk generated but that is a rather common problem and if you are moving to 3.1x anyway a lot of that problem should be fixed or at least mitigated. Overland travel seems kinda unnecessary but I do like all the different dungeons and the dungeon-masters. I like having quests but maybe make them a little more random in the beginning since it gets kinda boring at the start. I would like to see graphics support because that is how I like my *bands.

EDIT: Forgot to put in my thoughts on the auto-destroyer. It's nice because it's can be very specific and easy to add stuff to be autodestroyed but it would be nice if it didn't spam quite so many messages.

[chem]

In the knowledge menu (page 2), under weapon proficiency, what does the ! indicate? I assumed it was a negative indicator of some sort, but now I'm not sure.

My pike (see below) started out as [unskilled] but after the slaughter was complete, it had changed to ![beginner].

I found a Pike of Slay Orc and what could best be described as a small orc pit. I figured what better time to gain proficiency than in this situation. I started hacking away at the sleeping orcs with out much success at first. But soon enough my minus to hit got smaller. I checked it after each and every successful attack, it drops pretty quickly.

It means your skill in that category is maxed out. Ninjas can only achieve top proficiency with certain weapons. Heavy weapons like pikes will cap at lower levels. You can still use them, but it is probably not in your best interest (also check your # of blows with lighter weapons compared to pikes).

[buzzkill]

In the knowledge menu (page 2), under weapon proficiency, what does the ! indicate? I assumed it was a negative indicator of some sort, but now I'm not sure.

My pike (see below) started out as [unskilled] but after the slaughter was complete, it had changed to ![beginner].

I found a Pike of Slay Orc and what could best be described as a small orc pit. I figured what better time to gain proficiency than in this situation. I started hacking away at the sleeping orcs with out much success at first. But soon enough my minus to hit got smaller. I checked it after each and every successful attack, it drops pretty quickly.

[Daniel Fishman]

Baldor's rotting corpse hidden away securely under my floor boards, you make it sound like a bad thing.

And if I may comment, the Kamikaze Yeeks need to be a different color, they blend in too well with the brown variety.

Agreed.

Does the monster of the day also get auto-inscribed, or do I have to check back every day and then remember what it is?

My understanding is that it gets auto-inscribed, but you have to check back every day to see what it is. (If you consider it worthwhile, that is).

What about the special monster ($$big reward$$), does it ever change?

No, but it is irrelevantly rare.

What's with the museum, or is that all too common of a question? I donated to it (???) and even read the help files and I'm pretty sure it's useless, right?

It's like the Mathom-house in ToME, it's a place to put artifacts/interesting items that you don't have room for in your home, but don't want to sell either. Game-play wise, yes it's pointless.

Oh yeah, and the game needs graphics. Though a little rough around the edges I like the new concepts, but I'll probably never play it outside of competition without graphics. I guess I need something to look at, to keep me entertained.

I can't understand how anyone can play *bands other than in ASCII, but to each his own...

[buzzkill]

Dungeon masters, as a rule, aren't a part of any quest. They do, however, drop a guaranteed item. Boldor's drop is particularly crucial for ninjas. If you're the psychotic/sentimental type...

Baldor's rotting corpse hidden away securely under my floor boards, you make it sound like a bad thing.

And if I may comment, the Kamikaze Yeeks need to be a different color, they blend in too well with the brown variety.

Unique corpses are only useful if they're "wanted" - the game will auto-inscribe them if they are, and then you can return them to the sheriff's office in Outpost for a reward.

Does the monster of the day also get auto-inscribed, or do I have to check back every day and then remember what it is?

What about the special monster ($$big reward$$), does it ever change?

What's with the museum, or is that all too common of a question? I donated to it (???) and even read the help files and I'm pretty sure it's useless, right?

Oh yeah, and the game needs graphics. Though a little rough around the edges I like the new concepts, but I'll probably never play it outside of competition without graphics. I guess I need something to look at, to keep me entertained.

[Narvius]

Ninjas can use Ninjutsu on 'm'. Including useful stuff like Darkness, Phase Door, Detection, Attack+Phase Door, Teleport...

[Donald Jonker]

Killed Baldor. I received an in-game message at the time (I don't remember the message exactly) but it doesn't show up as a completed quest.

Dungeon masters, as a rule, aren't a part of any quest. They do, however, drop a guaranteed item. Boldor's drop is particularly crucial for ninjas.

I still have his body stored in my home. Is this normal?

If you're the psychotic/sentimental type...

Unique corpses are only useful if they're "wanted" - the game will autoinscribe them if they are, and then you can return them to the sheriff's office in Outpost for a reward.

[buzzkill]

Killed Baldor. I received an in-game message at the time (I don't remember the message exactly) but it doesn't show up as a completed quest. I still have his body stored in my home. Is this normal?