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Level: Legendary Smitemaster
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File: Simons Dungeon 15.hold (56.7 KB)
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Simon's Dungeon should be finished now. Latest version features a few fixes to bugs found at Architecture board and some minor improvements.

Thanks to KevG, Tim and Stefan for testing it.

stigant
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1182
Registered: 08-19-2004
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This was a really good dungeon. There are a couple of rooms I didn't like (L4 1E), but most of the rest of the rooms are fantastic. I especially like some of the roach queen manipulation puzzles. I thought I was good with roach queens, but I had (have?) a lot to learn.

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Progress Quest Progress

larrymurk
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1911
Registered: 12-09-2004
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Yes, this hold is fantastic!

I'd list my favorite rooms, but there are too many excellent rooms to list. The rooms that are not outstanding are still very good. Yes, in a dungeon this size you are bound to find a couple that don't happen to be your type.

This hold has slightly above average difficulty puzzles throughout that will keep you busy for, well, a loooong time

Blondbeard
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1486
Registered: 03-31-2005
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Ohh... This is a really nice hold. It makes the very best out of each game element. Something clever. Some trick you´ll have to figure out.

Good work

jbluestein
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1670
Registered: 12-23-2005
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Just finished this hold, although apparently I left two unrequired rooms unexplored. Still -- excellent hold. Very interesting ideas, well-executed and some devilishly difficult puzzles.

I give it an 8 with 7.5 brains of difficulty.




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"Rings and knots of joy and grief, all interlaced and locking." --William Buck

Ezlo
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1214
Registered: 01-08-2006
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Great hold! I don't quite get the ending though, is it supposed to be an allusion to JTRH?

9 rating and 7.5 brains.

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[Last edited by Ezlo at 02-20-2007 12:19 AM : It deserves a 9, not an 8.]

Blondbeard
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1486
Registered: 03-31-2005
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Ezlo wrote:
Great hold! I don't quite get the ending though, is it supposed to be an allusion to JTRH?

9 rating and 7.5 brains.

Check what other holds Doom has done, and you'll understand. There is a very nice hold named Fortress of Eternety.

Danteslives
Level: Delver

Rank Points: 48
Registered: 11-16-2006
IP: Logged

I finally finished this hold. This is still a little bit more difficult than my experience can manage without help, but the rooms for the most part were awesome although in particular Level 5 3N2E was sort of tedious and annoying. However I cant emphasize how much fun I had beating this hold, even after playing many JTRH and TCB version holds. Thanks a lot!

Rheb
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1211
Registered: 08-04-2006
IP: Logged

Yeah, this is one of my favourite holds ever, and it's one of the first I ever cleared. I remember how proud I was when I mastered Simon's Dungeon.

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Voligner is my very own DROD-like game. Please check it out!

calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
IP: Logged

I've just started this one properly. I have to say that I'm really enjoying it. The difficulty is... just right. It's not the mindbreaking intensity of a larrymurk hold, but nor is it trivial.

Put it this way - I've had to hack away and be puzzled by quite a few rooms on the first level, but not once have I had to consult the Hints and Solutions board - the rooms are within the level of puzzleability. Not so hard that you tear your hair out, but hard enough to be an interesting challenge

I'm also pleased that Doom/Henri has done more holds... I suspect I might be trying them out after this.

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My Holds

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[Last edited by calamarain at 09-27-2007 04:07 PM]

jbluestein
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1670
Registered: 12-23-2005
IP: Logged

calamarain wrote:
I've just started this one properly. I have to say that I'm really enjoying it. The difficulty is... just right. It's not the mindbreaking intensity of a larrymurk hold, but nor is it trivial.

Put it this way - I've had to hack away and be puzzled by quite a few rooms on the first level, but not once have I had to consult the Hints and Solutions board - the rooms are within the level of puzzleability. Not so hard that you tear your hair out, but hard enough to be an interesting challenge

I'm also pleased that Doom/Henri has done more holds... I suspect I might be trying them out after this.

Just so you know, though, Simon's Dungeon is certainly one of Doom's easier holds. He does hold the distinction of being the creator of what I consider to be the hardest hold, bar none, that I have ever played. Beethro's Teacher. There are other hard holds out there, but no other hold beat me down so thoroughly that I was convinced of my own lack of self-worth like BT. Not even Bavato's Dungeon, which is a brutal, brutal hold.

That said, Henri is a brilliant architect and I can't wait to see what his next design is.

Josh

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"Rings and knots of joy and grief, all interlaced and locking." --William Buck

calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
IP: Logged

jbluestein wrote:
Just so you know, though, Simon's Dungeon is certainly one of Doom's easier holds. He does hold the distinction of being the creator of what I consider to be the hardest hold, bar none, that I have ever played. Beethro's Teacher.

Uh-oh... I may be in a spot of trouble then.

I confess that Beethro's Teacher hasn't really enthralled me. It's... too hard. I've not solved a single room on the first level without having to resort to Hints/Solutions. It's a genius hold no doubt, but too hard to really capture my interest.

Not even Bavato's Dungeon, which is a brutal, brutal hold.

That said, Henri is a brilliant architect and I can't wait to see what his next design is.

Josh

Mmmmm. He's good, without a doubt. I only hope to be able to reach his standard eventually. I'm good, but I'm nowhere near the level of those who did TCB and the Smitemasters Selections.

Practice practice practice.

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My Holds

Dex Stewart
Level: Smiter
Rank Points: 355
Registered: 01-19-2007
IP: Logged

I still remember the times before I joined this forum. After finishing about half of level three, I nearly gave up DROD altogether, since I somehow thought this was one of the easier holds out there. And nope, haven't gotten farther now, either .

calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
IP: Logged

Right, am now up to 2/3 of the way through Level 3 and I'm really really liking this hold. I got my first 1st Place high score ever in it.

What endears it to me so much is the difficulty curve. It's *just right*

I have not needed to use a hint from the Hints and Solutions board once. I have posted on it asking for help, yes... but as always happens, I solved it immediately after Posting for help seems to do that.

But I am thoroughly impressed with this hold.

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My Holds

calamarain
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 933
Registered: 03-25-2007
IP: Logged

And... I'm finished.

Absolutely superb. If they'd been around back then, this dungeon would definitely have been a Smitemaster's Selection, it's one of the best Architect's Edition dungeons I've ever seen. Good difficulty curve, fascinating puzzles and well decorated. Damned good job.

If anyone's looking for a nice big dungeon to play, this is the one.

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My Holds

Neather2
Level: Smiter

Rank Points: 406
Registered: 07-18-2006
IP: Logged

fiuuu....long work, good hold.
Is old, with AE, but great.
I give it 6 fun and 8.5 brains

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Nothing to say. I just play the game. And you, sir, should play it too.

Conspiracy, my new hold, has just been released.

CrazyDiamond
Level: Delver

Rank Points: 38
Registered: 06-27-2004
IP: Logged

I'm currently playing the first level of this hold and I'm sure I've already seen rooms 2W and 2E of the first level in some other hold (revisited versions), but unfortunately can't remember which. Could someone help me please?

CrazyDiamond
Level: Delver

Rank Points: 38
Registered: 06-27-2004
IP: Logged

I mastered this one some months ago but hadn't still commented it.

This is probably the best AE hold I've played until now (even if I'm really far from being a hold-completionist), levels are huge but never repetitive and you often have to struggle to understand what's to be done.

Among my favourite rooms: L2 1N2E, L3 3S, L5 2N3E, just to mention three, but there are many more interesting rooms and ideas round there (the earthquake level was a great ending to this hold for example).

Also I think this one is quite harder than Fortress of Eternity, I don't know why FoE has higher difficulty rating, maybe because it was released before and the standard holds around were easier, with few exceptions here and there.

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[Last edited by CrazyDiamond at 12-27-2013 03:34 PM]