krammer
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This is an idea I've had in my mind for a while now. I don't think anyone else has come up with anything similar.

A bat is very like a wraithwing (i.e. it can fly) but with a roach brain and will move straight for Beethro.

The idea is that torches are implemented. Beethro can pick up a torch (signified by a glow around him). The torch will repel bats and cause them to move as far away as possible like a roach queen.

To make this more interesting another kind of similar creature (say, a moth) that is reversed could be implemented, i.e. it is attracted to the light but runs away in the dark. With both types in a room, Beethro would have to decide between picking up the torch and having moths after him, or leaving it and attracting bats.

Some possibilities:

1. The torch will last for 30 turns (to keep in line with spawns) after it is picked up or until Beethro dies or leaves the room.

2. The torch can be dropped and picked up several times as necessary. This does go against DROD rules, needing an extra button to drop, but would allow better defence when being attacked by moths and bats. With this system a torch could last a certain number of turns after Beethro enters the room. (say, 90?)

Other points... Brains will affect these monsters but will not overcome their fear of light/dark. Mimics cannot pick up torches as they would have no effect. Other monsters are unaffected by a torch.

Comments? I know it's not very complex but a monster that you can to some extent control would be quite cool, IMO.


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Sokko
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Nice. 30 turns to line up with the spawning periods wouldn't work, because the player will not necessarily pick it up at the turn that a queen/tar spawns. A certain number of turns after he enters the room is good, but it should be adjustable with a maximum, and the player should know approximately how many turns he has left. (i.e. messages like "Your torch is flaring high!", "Your torch is burnt 1/4 of the way down.", "Your torch is burnt halfway down.", "Your torch is getting low!", and "Your torch is about to go out!".

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krammer
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I was thinking more that the colour of the glow gets fainter rather than actual messages appearing, but I agree that it would be important to have some warning.

Maybe white for full, yellow for half, then orange, and finally red before disappearing?

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mrimer
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File: image.jpg (46.9 KB)
Downloaded 1617 times.
License: Public Domain

krammer wrote:
I was thinking more that the colour of the glow gets fainter rather than actual messages appearing, but I agree that it would be important to have some warning.

Maybe white for full, yellow for half, then orange, and finally red before disappearing?

Yes, I think this is a good idea. Also, it's pretty easy to implement a color intensity multiplier that gradually fades over the length of all the turns it's in effect.

The attached image is new.
We made it!

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[Last edited by mrimer at 09-09-2006 02:46 AM]

Insane
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Maybe there's also a little torch icon somewhere,
and i's like a health bar. The color also changes.

-Insane

AtkinsSJ
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Good idea. Maybe the torch bar could be a picture of a torch, kind-of like this:
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#

Insane
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AtkinsSJ wrote:
Good idea. Maybe the torch bar could be a picture of a torch

that's what I meant with "torch icon"

-Insane

     #.      
    ##:,     
   '###,     
    ##;      
    #        
    =
    =
    =
    =

Red = "Health" left
Black = "Health" gone

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[Last edited by Insane at 12-26-2005 03:44 PM]

Kwakstur
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I wish there was a way to mention this only to those who know, but

krammer
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And you may want to check out the Revenge of Watch the Bar thread in Forum Games.

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Kwakstur
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But I don't quite see why it has a hidden link like that.



What is the significance of it? The number "350" or the sister gates (assuming that's what sister gates look like)?

I guess I'll go check the 56 page Revenge of the bar topic. 350 . . . hm.

Oh, look! A tar baby! Oh, wait. Never mind.

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[Last edited by Kwakstur at 12-12-2006 11:46 PM]

The spitemaster
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Just a question. Shouldn't the moths still be atracted to the torch when beethro isn't carring it? And reverse for bats? This would spawn many interesting oppertunities such as, putting the torch out before the timer is finished, throwing the torch still lit(I dislike this one, makes it feel like D&D games) or just leaving it on the ground.

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Kwakstur
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The spitemaster wrote:
Just a question. Shouldn't the moths still be atracted to the torch when beethro isn't carring it? And reverse for bats? This would spawn many interesting oppertunities such as, putting the torch out before the timer is finished, throwing the torch still lit(I dislike this one, makes it feel like D&D games) or just leaving it on the ground.

Good idea. Although I would say that the time limit for the torch would then be a no-go. Meh, it didn't sound very DROD-like anyways.
But then again, I guess if both the time limit and spitemaster's idea were there, then you could make some interesting mimic-like puzzles. Maybe you could set some torches in order and have the moths follow each one until it burns out so that you can use torches to get moths through twisted paths, or something like that. Or maybe you could drop a torch when you pick it up so that a group of moths (one set up so that it would surround you and kill you if you held the torch) will surround it, and you'll have to kill them all before it burns out.
On second thought, I think the time limit won't turn out so bad with the ability to drop torches.

And there are probably some people who will be able to make very devious puzzles involving bats with the droppable, time-limited torch. You could make some good rooms for SmS with that.

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[Last edited by Kwakstur at 12-15-2006 08:53 PM]

Syntax
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Just a quick note...

I know you may have registered a while back, but I really like your intelligent participation in various threads. Hope you're enjoying optimising coz I'd love to see a few solutions of yours. See you in the HS

Kwakstur
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Well, if that was directed to me, let me just warn you that I don't have CaravelNet or the full version of DROD, so I can't make High Scores. But thank you for the comments. I'm trying to participate in conversation, because for quite a while, all I did was ask questions.

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