Pinnacle
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For reference, the starter pack is in [install path]\Data\Homemade, and contains these holds (secret-ified for space):



This is not a particularly up-to-date list, and being hidden deep in the game files means the overwhelming majority of players have no idea that it exists. So I would suggest a few changes, at the very least it should be something worth discussing.

#1: Have the holds preinstalled. Not sure if there's any major technical barriers to it, but it would certainly help.

#2: In addition to the architect's hold description, include a curator's note, basically a brief summary of the hold's length, what version it was made in, and its difficulty (its existence in the starter pack would vouch for its quality). This way, even if Gigantic Jewel Lost is included in the starter pack -- and being that it's one of the magnum opuses of DROD, it should be -- the curator's note would say something along the lines of "an epic-length adventure designed to challenge even the most skilled DROD players. Playing Advanced Concepts first is highly recommended."

#3: Change up what holds are included in the pack. An AE-era tutorial hold (DROD Tutorials) is a questionable inclusion, and I'm not too sure about Odyssey and Easy or Hard being the only Larrymurk representation, but the rest are pretty solid choices. It could definitely be expanded, and the addition of curator's notes means there's no reason not to include a selection of more challenging holds.

#4: Hold folders! This would allow the collections (described below) to work.


So what holds do I think should be in the pack? I would divide them up into a few collections to further simplify the process of picking a hold from this (much larger) list, as follows. The list of collections (or the holds within them) are by no means complete, and that's one of the things to hammer out in this thread.

The Advanced Concepts Collection - Self-explanatory
Advanced Concepts
Advanced Concepts 2

The Short/Sweet Collection - Holds that can be completed in an evening, or a weekend of casual play. Typically of low to medium difficulty.
Compass Point
Easy or Hard
Odyssey
Uncle Arable's Rooms
Fireballs
3 in 1
Cube of Memories
Down the Grimmish Hole

The Short/Sinister Collection - Difficult holds that are the right length for the Short/Sweet collection, but above the cut for difficulty.
Archipelago
The Pile of Puzzles
Goo
The Room of Humility
SSSLitherin Expert

The [need a name for this] Collection - Mid-sized holds that start easy, but become quite formidable by the end.
Pickle Cellar
Simon's Dungeon (should this go in the Challenge Collection instead?)
Aurora's Palace
Dan's Dungeon

The Challenge Collection - Longer holds, similar in length to the previous collection, but more difficult.
Entropy
Lavender Levels
A World in Miniature
Museum of Ooze
Think Outside the Box
(honestly most Larrymurk holds fit this category)
Choose Your Adventure
Terrakept Resonant

The Epic Collection - Big, sprawling, challenging holds to really sink your brain-teeth into.
Doctor E. Will's Mega Complex
Gigantic Jewel Lost
MetDROiD: Echoes
Homeward Adventure

____________________________
Once (adv.): Enough.
Twice (adv.): Once too often.
~Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

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[Last edited by Pinnacle at 08-23-2015 11:54 PM]

Nuntar
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Excellent idea I just have a few suggestions for changes to the collections/holds list:

3 in 1 is definitely not short/sweet. Maybe it's not all that hard to clear (finding one solution to each room), but getting all three solutions is the whole point of the hold.

Fourth collection could be called "Introductory"? Curiosity, Phil's Dungeon and Beethro and the Cake should go here. Perhaps also Witherwood Castle. And I would move Terrakept Resonant to Challenge.

Is it okay to include Homeward Adventure but not Mysteries of the Deep? I know HA has the "story so far" thing at the beginning, but even so, some players will want to play the holds in order.

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50th Skywatcher

Jeff_Ray...
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I'm honored to see Homeward Adventure categorized as an "epic" hold along the likes of GJL.

As for MotD, it would make sense to have it in, but I personally feel it's perhaps too low-quality for the pack. The grammar is disappointing, and there's a room in particular early on that is basically the worst kind of brick wall (the second room in the first Guide interlude). I guess if I could go back and make some changes to the hold, (Mysteries of the Deep 5.0 anyone?), then perhaps it would be better for inclusion.

EDIT: I hear Dan's Dungeon is a really good easy hold. It should probably be added to the list.

____________________________
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Click here to find out my LPs' progress, and find out what I plan to tackle next!

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-Completed:

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[Last edited by Jeff_Ray... at 08-23-2015 07:45 PM]

Elswyyr
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Dan's Dungeon taught me to play DROD, I highly recommend it.

mrimer
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I'm thinking about this topic carefully in the context of Steam DROD DLC.

____________________________
Gandalf? Yes... That's what they used to call me.
Gandalf the Grey. That was my name.
I am Gandalf the White.
And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide.

elfbutt
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mrimer wrote:
I'm thinking about this topic carefully in the context of Steam DROD DLC.

Like having this be a free dlc pack?

mrimer
Level: Legendary Smitemaster

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Yes, exactly.

For Steam "auto-import" to work, however, this would require tuning some knobs on these holds so they wouldn't be uploadable through the usual channels, as with the official holds. The dev team will have to think more about how to handle that part nicely.

____________________________
Gandalf? Yes... That's what they used to call me.
Gandalf the Grey. That was my name.
I am Gandalf the White.
And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide.

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[Last edited by mrimer at 10-09-2015 02:11 PM]