I'v been having this idea kicking around for a while. I'm not sure it's a good fit as a mechanic for DROD, as in DROD every turn corresponds to one and only one move, but maybe it'd be useful for a beginner hold or perhaps a future game designed as a kinder, gentler DROD (in which case it'd be the default, I suspect). It does have some potential as a puzzle element, though it breaks some important rules.
Anyway: the Shield potion causes Beethro to be pushed back one square when he is attacked, instead of him dying. If he is pushed back into a square he is not able to walk on (including a monster), he dies.
The implications of this are obvious, but there are still lots of wrinkles. For instance, Beethro would still be done in when surrounded by roaches. It would give him the opportunity to kill two roaches in one turn, if he moves the right way. More interestingly, it makes small, confined spaces more lethal than wide open spaces, as Beethro can be bumped back further in a wide open space.
There's two options for how often Beethro can be pushed: my preferred option is that Beethro can only be pushed once per turn, and after that he dies, as it means that it's clearer which monster pushed Beethro and thus why he's been moved by the computer. The other option is that everyone gets to push, which certainly makes the game easier but can result in situations where Beethro pinballs around the room, with no clear reason as to why; and can also result in situations where Beethro gets stuck in a loop, for instance with four seep arranged in a square.
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[Last edited by Mattcrampy at 10-16-2007 04:51 AM]