butsam
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 114
Registered: 05-20-2003
IP: Logged

I have a feature request for consideration. It's probably been proposed before...but upon replaying DROD level 5 (eyeball-heavy), I came upon the idea of a "guard" creature. The creature could move in a set pattern, or even no pattern if it's too much effort. Once *one* guard "sees" you (same definition as with eyes for "seeing" you), *all* guards in the room are activated. This could lead to some pretty challenging and new ideas not possible currently, and shouldn't be too difficult to implement. (Of course, I don't expect it by v1.7, but just an idea for the future.) Then again, someone's probably suggested it under a different name, or even the same name. What do you guys think?

sam

DiMono
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1181
Registered: 09-13-2003
IP: Logged

Exact same idea has been proposed in this thread. Great minds think alike, eh?

____________________________
Deploy the... I think it's a yellow button... it's usually flashing... it makes the engines go... WHOOSH!

butsam
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 114
Registered: 05-20-2003
IP: Logged

Great minds think alike, you are right Though I would say that I like the idea of them not having to touch better...leads to more puzzles. I was thinking it could lead to more elaborate timers than currently in play...one guard/group eye sees you; another is activated elsewhere and closing in on you. There are other uses as well. I think this would revolutionize DROD...we could...dare I say...rule the world! OK, maybe not...but still, it'd be cool! I like the ideas

Sam

Ravon
Level: Master Delver

Rank Points: 220
Registered: 02-19-2004
IP: Logged

I agree, our minds think alike, but shouldn't the saying be
"Great minds think" ????

Koro
Level: Delver

Rank Points: 74
Registered: 01-16-2004
IP: Logged

One difference between the two ideas is that butsam's Guards move or patrol. I like that. Sneaking between them when their back is turned and the like. Also, puzzles that are similar to serpent-train puzzles could be possible with guards. However, they would need to be a lot scarier than a roach for this to have affect. Maybe they can't be killed by the sword.

____________________________
Vectors are pretty cool, they take your mind off of girls.

butsam
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 114
Registered: 05-20-2003
IP: Logged

Yes, the patrolling is important...and I thought of something to flesh it out. Guards could be made to:

(1) go to the nearest wall, if not next to a wall
(2) follow the wall (doors counting as walls if closed, but not counting as walls if open)
(3) turn around if reached a dead-end (which is basically still following the wall)

Of course, when activated, they go straight for the player like a roach on brains (or just a roach, if you would prefer, and like a roach on brains with a brain present).

This seems very typical of guard behavior...and is also deterministic, in-line with the game's beliefs.

Sam

PS: To add to the puzzles, too, there could be some switch or something similar that must be hit with the sword to force the guards to return to patrolling...in other words, it deactivates all of the guards, so they then go to the nearest wall and do that jazz until one sees you again.


[Edited by butsam on 04-02-2004 at 11:26 AM GMT]

butsam
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 114
Registered: 05-20-2003
IP: Logged

Vectors took my mind off girls for awhile. Then I got to Fourier Series, and I needed to turn somewhere for help...lol I like the quote, by the way

Sam

The_Red_Hawk
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 783
Registered: 09-02-2003
IP: Logged

Didn't DiMono make an exactly similar feature request a few months back? I think he even called it a Guard.

____________________________
Slashing, whirling, diving, twirling,
Snapping, turning, rising, swirling,
Screeching, flipping, gliding, sliding,
The red hawk's dance of death.

.....the king of the skies.....

butsam
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 114
Registered: 05-20-2003
IP: Logged

Similar, but walking back and forth v. wall-following...I vote for wall-following for more interesting movement to avoid. Then you can trigger them to go to the nearest wall, too. They could always keep the wall to their right...follow it around...this will even solve most mazes, which I envisioned as one of the uses...a one-screen (NO LEVEL 13 REPEATS!) maze that "changes" based on how efficiently you complete it is just one of many possibilities that is thinking "outside the box".

Also, the guardians were not all activated when you moved near one, only one guardian was activated. Also, guardians were activated only when you moved on an adjacent space (so basically, they only would kill you, never would chase you). There is a distinct difference between the two.

This is more of a combination of his Guardian and group-eye posts, with wall-following technology (tm).

I feel this method gives more interesting puzzles.

Sam


[Edited by butsam on 04-02-2004 at 01:53 PM GMT]

DiMono
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1181
Registered: 09-13-2003
IP: Logged

I don't recall making such a feature request. I remember Vorpal Bunnies and things that go back and forth and can activate orbs. Not that I mind having reasonable ideas credited to me, of course

____________________________
Deploy the... I think it's a yellow button... it's usually flashing... it makes the engines go... WHOOSH!

Mattcrampy
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2388
Registered: 05-29-2003
IP: Logged

Hmm...

I'd have to vote a no on this because sneaking past guards and stealth sequences have been done to death. We might be able to approximate it with some stuff we already have (like invisibility potions and brains, and some goblins) though.

Matt

____________________________
What do you call an elephant at the North Pole?

Brickman
Level: Goblin
Rank Points: 17
Registered: 07-07-2004
IP: Logged

I think it is a good idea. The activated guards should move like goblins (the smartest creatures as of yet, and the only ones that you would ever fear facing a large group of) and/or would block your sword with a shield. if that second one went in, then you would have to kill them by backstabbing (or sidestabbing, or not in line of sightstabbing).