[Post Vanilla playing] Recommended variants

[dcztmband]

Hi all,

after playing Vanilla quite a while, I would like to give some variant(s) a try.

Is there a "logical" variant, maybe regarding the learning curve or should I just follow my interests?

I have FAangband, Sangband, NPPAngband, Oangband, Z+Angband (or Zangband?) in my mind.

Any recommendations?

All the best!

[Nick]

I would just go with the first one that comes to mind.

[dcztmband]

I would just go with the first one that comes to mind.

Jep, no doubt about it: The order I wrote reflects my own priority so far.

FAangband looks very promising. This one or OAnbgand will probably my next choice.

[NotMorgoth]

Well, as always, I'll go ahead and recommend Sangband - I think the skill system makes for some interesting strategic choices while maintaining the basic dungeon (without wilderness etc) of V or O.

[Magnate]

Jep, no doubt about it: The order I wrote reflects my own priority so far.

FAangband looks very promising. This one or OAnbgand will probably my next choice.

It's worth knowing that all three of O, S and FA share a lot of common mechanics (e.g. combat, spell realms etc.). Of course FA is far more advanced than the other two ;-)

NPP and Z/Z+ are totally different experiences, from the above three, from V and from each other.

Just so you know.

[buzzkill]

FA is great, but the *wilderness* turns off some players. If you do play FA, USE THE MAP in the main directory to guide your character. Wandering aimlessly is not as much fun as it sounds.

If you're looking for a Vanilla-like experience consider adding DaJAngband to your list.

[myshkin]

I'd also like to recommend Hellband and Steamband for the very different and well-done themes. Neither is all that well balanced (IMO, obviously), but I find both quite fun.

[EpicMan]

I much prefer Hengband over Zangband (Z+Angband is also good).

You should also try TOME 2.X (Tome 3 seems to have died in development and Tome 4 is not really an Angband variant).

Both of these have a "world map" style wilderness and many more races and classes than Vanilla. Tome also has a skill system, somewhat less polished and certainly less balanced than Sangband's.

[dcztmband]

FA is great, but the *wilderness* turns off some players. If you do play FA, USE THE MAP in the main directory to guide your character. Wandering aimlessly is not as much fun as it sounds.

If you're looking for a Vanilla-like experience consider adding DaJAngband to your list.

Thanks! I'm not afraid of the wilderness, so I will go on with FA, but will also see, how SA works.

But I keep all your recommendations in mind.

Thank you all!

[ramela]

How come nobody has mentioned Un?

I personally didn't like it when I tried it. But based on Andrew's blog, it was the clear first choice when I decided to try something besides NPP and V.

[buzzkill]

How come nobody has mentioned Un?

I can't recommend a variant without a 32x32 tileset, except Steamband (which as I understand it was specifically deigned to be played without a tileset, not that I mentioned Steam before, but I second the recommendation now).

[dcztmband]

How come nobody has mentioned Un?

I personally didn't like it when I tried it. But based on Andrew's blog, it was the clear first choice when I decided to try something besides NPP and V.

OK, thanks, I added Unangband to my list.

All the best!

[Antoine]

How come nobody has mentioned Un?

I personally didn't like it when I tried it. But based on Andrew's blog, it was the clear first choice when I decided to try something besides NPP and V.

Go Un - it is one of the more "different" variants out there and has a phenomenal amount of features.

A.

[Zikke]

If you can wait a while, eventually they'll put summoning back into PosBand and you can get some revenge on all those Q's by playing as one and smothering your enemies with minions. }:->

[Fendell Orcbane]

I say give FA a try. Its different enough to seem like a new game and familiar enough so that your V skills help you survive a bit longer than you would coming into it without any V experience. FA is deeper game than V IMO.