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File: The Test Of Mind.drh (68.8 KB)
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This is basically the second hold I made. Kudos to Chaco for inspiring me to make this.

Enjoy!

Chaco
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3612
Registered: 10-06-2005
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This new RPG hold doesn't cover a lot of new ground, but is high quality and has a solid structure.

The hold plays rather like the second half of Tendry's Tale, with ATK and DEF gems available for taking. There are seven levels of RPG puzzly action. Starting in the third level, altars begin to be implemented, which should work about the same as they do there. (For the curious, the cost starts at 25 greckles and doubles each use.)

The plot, while not the greatest in terms of quality or in depth, is good enough for the job. We follow the Stalwart Gobardo in his training for the Stalwart army, and he ends up tangling with some hostile forces along the way. Nothing's too tough for our hero with help from the Outside Influence, though!

I would call this hold easier than Tendry's Tale; there's plenty of health available and if you're optimizing the hold might get a bit easy at times, especially starting in the third level. But the hold is fun to play through, in my opinion, and optimizing is a complicated and interesting process.

Overall, this hold is well worth playing and re-playing, and while there are some hang-ups and room for improvement in both aesthetics and design, this is a good hold. Well done Jeff!

____________________________
Quick links to my stuff (in case you forgot where it was):

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[Last edited by Chaco at 09-28-2009 01:57 AM]

CuriousShyRabbit
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3170
Registered: 10-14-2006
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I don't play a lot of RPG holds, so I'm still a beginner at this. I found Jeff's hold very accessible, and I enjoyed playing though it.

Some reasons why I liked it:
* The levels are approachable; big enough to be interesting, but not too big, and not too complicated. After one partial exploratory playthrough of each level, it's easy to identify what my main goal should be on each level.
* There are ample, well-placed autosave points, as well as plenty of health, ATK, DEF, and keys. Even though I'm terrible at remembering to make manual saves, I never had to replay more than one level.
* There's a little "rat race" for accessories, sort of like in the first half of Tendry's Tale. I enjoyed figuring out the small puzzle of how to get them all, even if I ultimately didn't have much need for the final accessory in the sequence.

Overall, this hold is very suitable for beginners like me.

mxvladi
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 2505
Registered: 02-11-2008
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A fun hold, though quite easy one.

The only thing I didn't like is that, because of enormous amount of different gems, keys, HP potions, hold became too easy near the end.

I liked that this hold has altars and accessories - this made optimization more interesting. I also liked the plot.

EDIT after a while: Actually scratch what I've said about this being too easy hold. After not playing DROD RPG for ages I found this hold to be great reminder of how to do it. It *is* simple, but fun, contains almost everything official hold has but doesn't contain any tough choices. You are challenged, especially on last two levels, and have to optimize, but not too much, and if you wasted a couple of keys you still can complete the game. This hold is ideal for newbies and whoever wants a reminder how RPG holds are played.

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[Last edited by mxvladi at 07-07-2010 05:47 PM]

Nuntar
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 4464
Registered: 02-20-2007
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Great hold -- one of those that I just couldn't stop myself playing until I'd completed it! Amusingly, I didn't discover the
until I'd almost finished Levels 5 and 6, so my score could have been much higher if I'd found it sooner. Going to go back and see if I can get the good ending... but not today as I've already spent quite enough time playing this!

____________________________
50th Skywatcher

Lamkin
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 606
Registered: 08-17-2008
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This is (so far) my all-time favorite RPG hold; it is awesome. I very much liked that you are given a superabundance of keys and HP as it's so easy to get stuck in the vast majority of existing holds simply because you lack one or two freaking keys or are short one tiny, inaccessible health potion. Now, having said that, I suppose some would complain that this was "too easy," and I'd agree that it certainly wasn't mind-numbingly difficult, but that didn't in any way detract from how much fun the hold was to play. As Chaco mentioned above, optimizing the hold is a complicated and interesting process, and attempting to do so while not having to worry excessively about conserving one's keys and HP was quite enjoyable.

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[Last edited by Lamkin at 09-30-2009 09:27 PM]

deftriver
Level: Delver

Rank Points: 75
Registered: 07-11-2007
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I agree, this is my favorite RPG hold so far. I really like how many different ways there are to play. You can go for some of the secrets, all of them, even the two exits, it's tons of fun to play over and over.

DealPete
Level: Roachling
Rank Points: 12
Registered: 04-15-2005
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Just played through the hold, and it was fun. It's nice sometimes not having to obsess over optimization.

zex20913
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1721
Registered: 02-04-2003
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This can be a fun introductory romp, once you get past the first level or two. Those are the only ones I had any struggles with, and the later levels provide plenty of upgrades. There are optional secret rooms, which are always fun to find late. Slight sarcasm, but I'm not good at finding them. Ah well.

The later levels lend themselves to powering through, which is my kind of RPG hold. I like the broad path approach, as opposed to the narrow tightrope.

Note to people who look for a Really Big Sword--there isn't one, despite how architectural comments (and some aumtlich placement) would suggest. That's pretty much the only downside I'd say.

4 brains, 8.5 fun. I'll round up if necessary.

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ijack7
Level: Roachling
Rank Points: 13
Registered: 09-20-2008
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Nuntar wrote:
Great hold -- one of those that I just couldn't stop myself playing until I'd completed it! Amusingly, I didn't discover the

Click here to view the secret text

×longsword

until I'd almost finished Levels 5 and 6, so my score could have been much higher if I'd found it sooner. Going to go back and see if I can get the good ending... but not today as I've already spent quite enough time playing this!

I'm getting frustrated. On what level is the longsword hidden.

blorx1
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 920
Registered: 07-18-2009
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You can find what you are looking for

____________________________
If you need to think outside of the box, then you didn't build a good enough box.

ijack7
Level: Roachling
Rank Points: 13
Registered: 09-20-2008
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Thanks for the help. I finished both endings and thought it was a well done hold. I think I found all of the hidden rooms but it would be nice to know just how many there were by level.

Jeff_Ray...
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 962
Registered: 05-16-2005
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Ok, here goes:



Hope this helps.

____________________________
I make Let's Plays too!
Click here to find out my LPs' progress, and find out what I plan to tackle next!

Currently playing:


My Holds:
-Completed:

-Work in Progress:

ijack7
Level: Roachling
Rank Points: 13
Registered: 09-20-2008
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Thanks for the info. Hmmm, I missed a couple. I'll go back and try to find them.

techant
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 854
Registered: 06-08-2004
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I know it has been awhile since anyone posted here but I couldn't think of better place... I just can not a grappling hook to jump the pits with.



____________________________
DROD RPG Released!! You must try it out it is Great!!

Lamkin
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 606
Registered: 08-17-2008
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The grappling hook is in...

Unfortunately, you'll need another accessory item to get into that room.


As for your other request...

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[Last edited by Lamkin at 08-07-2010 09:36 AM]

techant
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 854
Registered: 06-08-2004
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Thanks but, what am I missing cuz...



____________________________
DROD RPG Released!! You must try it out it is Great!!

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[Last edited by techant at 08-07-2010 09:08 AM]

Lamkin
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 606
Registered: 08-17-2008
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You're missing the...

Edit: Seems you've figured it out on your own.

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[Last edited by Lamkin at 08-07-2010 09:29 AM]

techant
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 854
Registered: 06-08-2004
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Yeah, now I will just have to figure out what to use it on, ha ha. Since it didn't work on the red door.



____________________________
DROD RPG Released!! You must try it out it is Great!!

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[Last edited by techant at 08-07-2010 10:25 AM]

techant
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 854
Registered: 06-08-2004
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OK I made it but.... still missing one room on the last level. I have all the secrets but not all the rooms... I used the hint above to get the number of rooms.


____________________________
DROD RPG Released!! You must try it out it is Great!!

Lamkin
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 606
Registered: 08-17-2008
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techant wrote:
OK I made it but.... still missing one room on the last level.

For that last room...

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[Last edited by Lamkin at 08-09-2010 11:44 PM]

techant
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 854
Registered: 06-08-2004
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Thank you so much for that, I did try your solution earlier but I thought it worked differently and didn't know I had to click on its icon. I just kept bumping and that did nothing.

____________________________
DROD RPG Released!! You must try it out it is Great!!

Lamkin
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 606
Registered: 08-17-2008
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Huh, I hadn't known about clicking on an item's icon. You can also use any accessory item by pressing the tab key.

And you're welcome.

Suwako
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 145
Registered: 04-29-2011
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Great hold, I've conquered it with all the secrets, it have a good story and end (i didn't expect what the spook was), and good levels with great size, the only thing I found bad was that is very easy if you know how to pass the levels and know where all the secrets are.

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A moment last forever, an eternity passes in an instant, the time I spent here was inevitable...

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[Last edited by Suwako at 05-10-2011 03:34 PM]

Jatopian
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1842
Registered: 07-31-2005
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I don't understand your complaint, Suwako. You're saying that figuring the puzzles out and finding the secrets are easy if you... already figured the puzzles out and found the secrets?

____________________________
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Suwako
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 145
Registered: 04-29-2011
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Jatopian wrote:
I don't understand your complaint, Suwako. You're saying that figuring the puzzles out and finding the secrets are easy if you... already figured the puzzles out and found the secrets?

No, i said that with all(or some) secrets the hold is very easy. Sorry for my bad english .

____________________________
A moment last forever, an eternity passes in an instant, the time I spent here was inevitable...

Jatopian
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1842
Registered: 07-31-2005
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Oh, I see.

____________________________
DROD has some really great music.
Make your pressure plates 3.0 style!
DROD architecture idea generator

kieranmillar
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 2613
Registered: 07-11-2014
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I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't terribly enamoured by this hold, but I can appreciate it for what it is. For a hold billed as being fairly easy, I found the difficulty to bounce all over the place. Levels 2 and 5 felt significantly trickier than the others, and the sudden introduction of masses of hot tiles in level 5 was maddening as I'd just started feeling comfortable about going back and picking up resources after being temporarily prevented from backtracking in levels 3 and 4.

The altar mechanic fit this level set very well, when things were getting tricky you could pop over and get a stat boost to lighten the load if you weren't optimising too well, but in hindsight I'm surprised the first altar wasn't near the start of the second level and that there wasn't one in the last level, as once you know this you can beeline to the last altar, boost yourself as much as possible and suddenly everything stops being remotely challenging, unless you're like me and holding off until the last level and then wondering where the altar is...

Keys aren't balanced in this hold, you will end up with a enormous surplus of them very quickly and then they stop mattering. It's possible to give players a bit of leeway with key management if you're looking to make things easier but it got a bit sily in this hold, with it possible to end up in excess of 50 spare keys towards the end.

Despite my complaining this hold is not bad. I was entertained until the end, the story is fun and its a nice change to have a long hold that isn't anywhere near the brutal difficulty of many other holds. I'm glad it's around and I will be back to try optimising it at some point.