Competition 104

[soyaki]

Hey, so this is where the thread is?

Hey, I really like this variant. In fact, I almost *like* it. A lot of the changes suggested above sound terrific. Not only am I looking forward to my next Fay character, I kinda wouldn't mind playing another good Star (especially in the next version).

One thing that I really enjoyed in the last competition (DaJ) was the indestructable spellbook versions found later in the dungeon. I always find it annoying balancing weight with spellbook backup counts. Losing the "last copy" of the wrong spellbook is usually either a slow annoying crawl to the nearest exit or a slow annoying death by attrition. Early on, I expect my characters to die from annoying things, but late in the game it doesn't seem fun.

I don't know if the DaJ approach was unique to that variant; haven't even played V lately. I'd love to see it in Fay, though, since I really want to try a few characters here!

[soyaki]

- Replace Potions of Restore Stat with Restore Vigor (STR & CON), Restore Mind (INT & WIS), and Restore Grace (DEX & CHR). To strengthen the flavour, I'm going to change the stat pairings and names for Sustain rings, too. This change should make Restore Potions more attractive to carry "just in case", especially for bad mappers.

How about !Restore Star (STR & WIS)

Seriously, I think the big impact of this is in the Home Inventory, since while I agree with Buzzkill that I would be unlikely to carry this down into the dungeon, especially if it's just two stats. Maybe Vigor. I will carry these UP to my home, however.

[Mikko Lehtinen]

One thing that I really enjoyed in the last competition (DaJ) was the indestructable spellbook versions found later in the dungeon. I always find it annoying balancing weight with spellbook backup counts. Losing the "last copy" of the wrong spellbook is usually either a slow annoying crawl to the nearest exit or a slow annoying death by attrition. Early on, I expect my characters to die from annoying things, but late in the game it doesn't seem fun.

I'll think about this. I have important Fay-specific enhancements in mind for the next few versions, but maybe later.

[Mikko Lehtinen]

I read the competition reports again. I had fun reading them.

So, the squelch by quality doesn't work? Noted.

Also, *Identify* seems too rare, right?

[soyaki]

Throwing powder mechanism?

FWIW, my Star (Staargh) cannot hit anything with powders--she only connects once out of several throws. I am assuming this is due to her hideous DEX and the base throwing system. However, not sure that is what you really would want to see with the powder system--it is basically wasted on Star.

[Mikko Lehtinen]

FWIW, my Star (Staargh) cannot hit anything with powders--she only connects once out of several throws. I am assuming this is due to her hideous DEX and the base throwing system. However, not sure that is what you really would want to see with the powder system--it is basically wasted on Star.

Hmm. Bows and thrown weapons get to-hit enchantment bonuses in the late game, powders do not. I'll increase all classes' throwing skill by +1 per 10 levels to compensate. Let's see if that helps. This should not be an unfair advantage for thrown weapons, because archery actually gets two sets of to-hit bonuses.

Thanks!

[ewan]

*ID*: I still have found far fewer *ID* scrolls than artifacts; that seems wrong, yes, but could be a game choice.

I like the 'non-burnable spellbook' idea. I am also amused that lack of stacking means that spellbooks dropped by different uniques will not stack!

[On a different note, I recently had it brought home how possible, and how silly it would be to die of hunger in the context of no easy return to town: Star has no Satisfy Hunger spell, and there was a distinct lack of food around. Survived by drinking Heroism potions to satiation!]

[Hudstone]

*ID* has to be limited in this version cuz if you *ID* potions, you'll get the alchemical recipe for it. Then you can dial up whatever mix you want.
>Star *Identifies* Potion of Life
Life potion = Cure Critical Wounds + Restore Life Levels
>Star Creates 37 Life Potions by the time she reaches Morgoth.
>Star trades 32 Life Potions to Morgoth for his Hammer, Grond
>Star beats Morgoth to death with his own Hammer.

I like the alchemy part, but the *ID* for recipe might be too strong. Keep *ID* for EQ only. Otherwise people use the *ID* for the potions and the spoilers for the EQ

[soyaki]

[On a different note, I recently had it brought home how possible, and how silly it would be to die of hunger in the context of no easy return to town: Star has no Satisfy Hunger spell, and there was a distinct lack of food around. Survived by drinking Heroism potions to satiation!]

Aren't you finding shrooms everywhere? They're actually pretty useful for me still, and they're food. Staargh is full of shrooms most of the time. (clvl 30)

*ID* has to be limited in this version cuz if you *ID* potions, you'll get the alchemical recipe for it. Then you can dial up whatever mix you want.
>Star *Identifies* Potion of Life
Life potion = Cure Critical Wounds + Restore Life Levels

Is mixing potions controlled by INT? I've traded INT down to zero for the STR boosts.... maybe I should stop!

[Matthias]

A store service for around 5k sounds about right. Money is very limited, even with digging and you'll have to think twice what to *id*. I admit that potion identification is very powerfull (and I used my first 5 *id* on it) but mostly only because mixing mid-level potions doesn't seem to require even a moderate alchemy skill. I maxed my stats almost exclusivly with the mixed blessing potion while at 0 int. Would probably have done the same without the spoilers available. The advantage of mixing those potions (Star got very lucky in the random department here) far outweights the exact knowledge of one artifact that you won't be able to replace for a while anyways.

So maybe a store service that only works on equipment, and keeping the scrolls rare for in-dungeon *id* and for potions.

Two things about !life. The recipe won't be that easy as it isn't random. For example creating a stat potion will almost always require another one. Also I tried mixing !life potion in the last competition and failed 5 out of 5 and that was with the best alchemy class and maximum int

[Matthias]

My bypass trap skill is still 0, is that supposed to be the case?

[ewan]

All fascinating . I gave up on even the concept of potion mixing very early - I knew that I would never bother and didn't have any *ID* in any case. I'm just now (clvl 28, dlvl 76) beginning to gain alchemical knowledge of some recipes, and I'm never going to make one (unless I suppose something like Life or *Healing* randomly happens to be two common potions and I happen to discover that).

Money: Even after buying Holy Infusions from the BM (!) I have 160k gold currently. That would be more than enough for *ID* at 5k - maybe a little pricier. I mined a lot early on, but there are a lot of monsters (Mummys and hydras especially) that drop lots of gold at later levels.

[buzzkill]

I discovered "restore wisdom" by trial and error. "Restore Strength" would have been more helpful. I just mix useless potions I find lying around, or that I can buy with my last few GP. Lot's of explosions makes it fun.

[jens]

Are the recepies new for each game?

[Matthias]

Are the recepies new for each game?

yes, but as i said there are certain restrictions so it's not totally random