rothro
Level: Delver

Rank Points: 46
Registered: 06-29-2004
IP: Logged

Hi,

over the many hours I've enjoyed with DROD I noticed that I had
adopted a few habits. Some good (like always pointing your sword
towards the next monster), some bad (like ALWAYS pointing your
sword towards the next monster when you need efficiency) and some
totally pointless. For example, I always walk down exit stairs in
the very center of the stairs, sword pointed ahead. Don't know
why, it just feels wrong to do it differently. Really wrong.

In fact, I even find myself tutting if the exit stairs has an
even number of tiles making me decide which centermost tile is
the best compromise.

So, all you highly individual individualists out there, what are
your personal styles? Good ones, Bad ones and Silly, Pointless
ones? Especially the latter so I don't feel so alone?

Cheers,
Rothro

____________________________
And god spake unto me "Be merry and glad in your heart, for it could be much worse!"
And I was merry and glad in my heart and it got worse!

Maurog
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1501
Registered: 09-16-2004
IP: Logged

Funny you should mention that, but I also use the center tile of the stairs and the sword in front
As for the bad stairs with even width they really feel wrong. I shift the sword and take Beethro+sword to the two center tiles, but that doesn't cut it. I think even width stairs should be banned.

____________________________
Slay the living! Raise the dead!
Paint the sky in crimson red!

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

Yeah, it's actually the same for me. For that reason, I really didn't like the Dugan's level 16 exit room, as I had to come down the side.

Besides, it just doesn't feel right. Beethro descending into the darkness walking backwards? Come on.

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

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

rothro
Level: Delver

Rank Points: 46
Registered: 06-29-2004
IP: Logged

Hooray,

another one who hears the voices: they can't just be in my
head, then. If we get one more to agree we can write an
addition to the architect's style guide saying that exit
stairs need to be an odd number of tiles in width and
petition the forces that are to include it on the page.

Cheers
Rothro



____________________________
And god spake unto me "Be merry and glad in your heart, for it could be much worse!"
And I was merry and glad in my heart and it got worse!

bradwall
Level: Smiter

Rank Points: 423
Registered: 02-12-2003
IP: Logged

I also go down the stairs face forward down the center.

However, there is one other thing that I do. Whenever I play through the end of the game, I, (for some reason or another) HAVE to play the end both ways (for those who have completed the game will know what I mean).

AlefBet
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 979
Registered: 07-16-2003
IP: Logged

Well, I guess it's time for a contrary viewpoint. I generally enter staircases on the square that gives me minimal distance to travel. In case of ties, I prefer straight movements to diagonal movements (so maybe I'm brained, perhaps?), and I only rotate my sword when necessary, so my sword points every which way when I go down the stairs. This may also mean that my sword is pointing pretty far away from an approaching horde of monsters as I approach, until only a few squares away. But I find this allows me more information to decide which angle to take the sword to the monsters at. I can decide whether I'll need to do a lot of backswiping, or whether backswiping would get me killed and I need a diagonal sword for a strategic retreat. In such situations, oftentimes odd/even square counts matter and it's easier to get a good feel for what you have to work with when you're closer to the horde.

Aesthetically, I prefer even widthed staircases, and I expect I often make my staircases powers of two wide. Perhaps that's the programmer in me, but in any event I don't see a reason to officially censure a particular size. I also mostly look on it as a game, a set of puzzles, and from that POV, any square on the staircase is a valid objective and will take you to the same entrance on the next level.

But if you want to create meaning in the staircase dimensions, a two wide staircase could be a mood-setting device in which Beethro must choose whether to go down the right half or the left and deal with the inherent uncertainty.

____________________________
I was charged with conspiracy to commit jay-walking, and accessory to changing lanes without signaling after the fact .

++Adam H. Peterson

rothro
Level: Delver

Rank Points: 46
Registered: 06-29-2004
IP: Logged

AlefBet wrote:
Well, I guess it's time for a contrary viewpoint. [...] In such situations, oftentimes odd/even square counts matter and it's easier to get a good feel for what you have to work with when you're closer to the horde.

If you say odd/even square counts, do I sense a handle on horde movement rules that I'm not aware of?

Aesthetically, I prefer even widthed staircases, and I expect I often make my staircases powers of two wide. Perhaps that's the programmer in me, but in any event I don't see a reason to officially censure a particular size.

nonononono... Maybe I should have slapped a few more smileys on that, its not a serious proposal!

I also mostly look on it as a game, a set of puzzles, and from that POV, any square on the staircase is a valid objective and will take you to the same entrance on the next level.

That's why I like to call it a SPOS (Silly point of style)

But if you want to create meaning in the staircase dimensions, a two wide staircase could be a mood-setting device in which Beethro must choose whether to go down the right half or the left and deal with the inherent uncertainty.

Ah, but that is easy, because as we all know a roach crossing your path from left to right is bad luck. Oh look, now it's turned toward me.
And it's brought its mates. Aaaagrgqwqwqwqwqwqw[:qw:]

Cheers
Rothro

____________________________
And god spake unto me "Be merry and glad in your heart, for it could be much worse!"
And I was merry and glad in my heart and it got worse!

Malarame
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 220
Registered: 02-04-2003
IP: Logged

Am I the only one who doesn't care what Beethro looks like walking down stairs, or in which direction he does it?

____________________________
Matt O'Leary
Webb Institute
Class of 2007

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception."
-Groucho Marx

rowrow
Level: Smiter
Rank Points: 432
Registered: 08-17-2004
IP: Logged

Maybe. I like to go down stairs from the side if possible.If not I will go down the stairs from the middle with beethro walking backwards.

[Edited by rowrow at Local Time:12-01-2004 at 04:04 PM: dwn]

____________________________
B'hakhgra Du S'tra Moth'ness Ti!

TripleM
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1373
Registered: 02-05-2003
IP: Logged

I don't even watch Beethro walking down the stairs; I move him onto them then press another key and it skips straight to the next level

Doom
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 3226
Registered: 07-05-2004
IP: Logged

My style is pretty much similar with Alefbet's. Can't find anything to add... I usually skip the stair animation but sometimes I want to congratulate myself for finishing the level and listen it till the end. I've never thought about the stairs and I don't want that to bother me in the future either. (hmm... Left side or right side?)

rothro
Level: Delver

Rank Points: 46
Registered: 06-29-2004
IP: Logged

Hi,

the exit stairs was just an example to kick things off:
Does anyone do:

- victory laps in completed tough rooms?
- Sword twirls on exit?
- Preferred sword directions on room entry?
- Compulsive need to try to leave behind as little tar as possible in a room?
- Try to keep as many mimics alive as possible, even after all objectives are achieved?
- Try not to leave a room if a mimic could still be "put back into the bottle"?
- Always try to collapse all (or as many as possible) trapdoors, even if no red doors are present?

I'm guilty of at least three of these, but it seems to be what a hardened dungeon exterminator of Beethro's caliber would do.
None of these are of course required to play or beat the game, but I find it a sign of a great game if a small set of pixels
can make you care about its habits :*) It makes it come alive.

Cheers,
Rothro

____________________________
And god spake unto me "Be merry and glad in your heart, for it could be much worse!"
And I was merry and glad in my heart and it got worse!

Maurog
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1501
Registered: 09-16-2004
IP: Logged

When there are no red doors, I try to collapse as few trapdoors as possible (cutting corners and stuff). I always kill all the mimics I can before leaving the room. And yeah, I try to hack all the tar if I can or at least do my best. When I exit a room, I always exit it sword first, cause, who knows what lurks on the other side.

____________________________
Slay the living! Raise the dead!
Paint the sky in crimson red!

bdwing
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 288
Registered: 02-16-2003
IP: Logged

rothro wrote:
Does anyone do:
{snip}
- Compulsive need to try to leave behind as little tar as possible in a room?
- Try to keep as many mimics alive as possible, even after all objectives are achieved?
- Always try to collapse all (or as many as possible) trapdoors, even if no red doors are present?
Rothro

I usually find myself dropping all the trapdoors before I have even looked to see where the red doors are.
And If the mimics are in the same area as Beethro, I usually slay them as if they were just another roach.
Trying to get rid of all the tar lasted only until I had to replay several rooms because of unreachable tar babies created inadvertantly.

Yes, I need help. It's on my to-do list.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I also like to break all the crumbly-walls.

[Edited by bdwing at Local Time:12-02-2004 at 02:09 PM]

____________________________
In the words of Cyndi Lauper:

"Until it ends, there is no end."

rowrow
Level: Smiter
Rank Points: 432
Registered: 08-17-2004
IP: Logged

- victory laps in completed tough rooms?
- Sword twirls on exit?
- Preferred sword directions on room entry?
- Compulsive need to try to leave behind as little tar as possible in a room?
- Try to keep as many mimics alive as possible, even after all objectives are achieved?
- Try not to leave a room if a mimic could still be "put back into the bottle"?
- Always try to collapse all (or as many as possible) trapdoors, even if no red doors are present?

1=no 2= no 3=no 4= if I am in the mood of it 5=no 6= I only do it if they fit nicely like the nine mimics in KDD level4 7=yes
And a new one: Do you like to kill all the mimics in the room after you completed it?Yes.And if you must know why because I saw whoever did the demos for the demo version (and the regular version as they were the same) of webfoot Drod,for the demo of Level3 3 north,He killed the mimic at the end.And for another question: Do you destroy all the breakable walls? Yes.

[Edited by rowrow at Local Time:12-02-2004 at 03:40 PM: ]

[Edited by rowrow at Local Time:12-02-2004 at 04:19 PM]

____________________________
B'hakhgra Du S'tra Moth'ness Ti!

AlefBet
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 979
Registered: 07-16-2003
IP: Logged

rothro wrote:
Does anyone do:
- victory laps in completed tough rooms?

Occasionally

- Sword twirls on exit?

No, but I sometimes spin aimlessly in empty rooms (when I'm just messing around).

- Preferred sword directions on room entry?

No

- Compulsive need to try to leave behind as little tar as possible in a room?

Frequently, unless it's a room with a lot of tar and I've beaten it several times before.

- Try to keep as many mimics alive as possible, even after all objectives are achieved?

Usually.

- Try not to leave a room if a mimic could still be "put back into the bottle"?

Sometimes.

- Always try to collapse all (or as many as possible) trapdoors, even if no red doors are present?

Usually.

bdwing wrote:
I forgot to mention that I also like to break all the crumbly-walls.

Yes, on the first few times through the room. After that, no.

These are some of my tendencies, but most of them go out the window if I start to have difficulty beating any particular room.

____________________________
I was charged with conspiracy to commit jay-walking, and accessory to changing lanes without signaling after the fact .

++Adam H. Peterson

gamer_extreme_101
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1939
Registered: 03-07-2004
IP: Logged

I'll admit to having extremly weird habits. I have no idea how I picked them up or why I started most of them.

-Choosing a specific tileset depending on mood and hold difficulty (FYI - By tileset I meant mods, such as DRODIS, Neather's Revenge, Default, etc. I usually have DRODIS for fun, DROgue for difficulty, and N.R. for stupidity and weirdness.)
-Using WinAmp with a specific "DROD Music" playlist
-Whenever I get really upset with a room, I'll try attempting the room while wearing sunglasses. I kid you not.
-I doodle a lot while playing, such as drawing a roach laughing at Beethro because he can't beat the room.
-Making sure Beethro is looking in the direction he is moving in empty rooms and corridors

Those are the most noticable, but I'm a very random person who does some weird things at some point. Crazy, ain't it?

[Edited by gamer_extreme_101 at Local Time:12-06-2004 at 10:47 PM]

____________________________
--That guy with a million different aliases since he doesn't like this name anymore.

Malarame
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 220
Registered: 02-04-2003
IP: Logged

I think the only weird thing I do is make sure Beethro's sword is always pointing forward when he's entering a new room. Other than that, I just play and not worry about it.

The strange thing is, I have a lot of little compulsion-type things in real life. I always find it necessary to do certain things in a certain way. I've always known I have a very slight bit of OCD, but it's never bothered me or interfered in my life. I just find it strange that I'm not that way when playing DROD.

____________________________
Matt O'Leary
Webb Institute
Class of 2007

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception."
-Groucho Marx

rothro
Level: Delver

Rank Points: 46
Registered: 06-29-2004
IP: Logged

gamer_extreme_101 wrote:
-Making sure Beethro is looking in the direction he is moving in empty rooms and corridors

Oj, I do that so automatically that it did not even occur to me as strange

Cheers
Rothro

____________________________
And god spake unto me "Be merry and glad in your heart, for it could be much worse!"
And I was merry and glad in my heart and it got worse!

Scott
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 578
Registered: 02-12-2003
IP: Logged

I'm much like maralame. The only thing I do is to point beethro towards the next unentered room. If I have already been there I don't care which way he is facing and I certainly don't care when I go down stairs. I go down the stairs are the closest point none of this going down the middle rubbish.

wmarkham
Level: Master Delver

Rank Points: 125
Registered: 12-06-2004
IP: Logged

While watching older replays of rooms that I solved in the past, I've noticed that there have been shifts in my habits. Most specifically, I used to keep the sword between Beethro and the "closest" monster. Even when the enemy was on the other side of a wall, I would only skip the step of orienting the sword if there was some other, more pressing, concern. After completing some of the more efficiency-sensitive levels, I believe I shifted to habits that much more strongly favor the minimization of the number of moves involved. Roughly speaking, I now minimize the number of moves until the "closest" monster is eliminated. I still tend to orient the sword before I move, although the direction that I choose is often the closest one to the previous position that I expect can deliver the killing blow....

I have used spinning and running into walls as fancy ways of passing time, but I don't seem to have any particular habits.

I haven't ever paid attention to the way that I descend the stairs. Offhand, I would expect that I try to minimize the number of moves.

b0rsuk
Level: Smiter

Rank Points: 489
Registered: 11-23-2003
IP: Logged

If possible, I prefer to use LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT mantra instead of q w q w. This way I get less confused. After few dozen qw's I lose concentration and have to stop and start to wonder which key should I press (q or w). leftright is foolproof for me.

____________________________

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20051128/adams_01.shtml

TripleM
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1373
Registered: 02-05-2003
IP: Logged

b0rsuk wrote:
If possible, I prefer to use LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT mantra instead of q w q w. This way I get less confused. After few dozen qw's I lose concentration and have to stop and start to wonder which key should I press (q or w). leftright is foolproof for me.

Definitely. And theres something about the 4 and 6 keys being further apart from Q and W that makes them so much easier to push alternately.

(Though it often takes me a while to realise that the last brained roach is going side to side with me )

[Edited by TripleM at Local Time:12-07-2004 at 08:20 AM]

RoboBob3000
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1978
Registered: 10-23-2003
IP: Logged

Left-Right-Left-Right works a lot better when you're using the arrow keys for swording.

____________________________
http://beepsandbloops.wordpress.com/

bdcribbs
Level: Smiter
Rank Points: 390
Registered: 04-08-2003
IP: Logged

When I'm taking out a horde from a fixed spot, I do the swings in "couplets"... qw qw qw qw, with a little pause between each qw. It makes it much less likely for me to get confused as was described, which used to happen to me a lot, especially on one particular machine I play on which is a little slow to respond. (Due to it's slowness, I named the machine "Ralph", after Ralph Wiggum).

agaricus5
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1838
Registered: 02-04-2003
IP: Logged

If you play a wind (or perhaps string) instrument, DROD is an invaluable form of trilling practice, especially in rooms with lots of hack and slash.

Seriously, though, I do occasionally use "qw" repetition to practice finger coordination for trills. It does, for some strange reason, seem to work quite well.

____________________________
Resident Medic/Mycologist

mrimer
Level: Legendary Smitemaster

Rank Points: 5056
Registered: 02-04-2003
IP: Logged

A friend of mine has a nine-year-old kid who's pretty good at DROD for his age (he's reached L21 in KDD so far). He seems to have learned not moves, but key combinations for movement sequences. He's remarkably adept at, when it doesn't matter whether you press q or w first, just pressing both keys at once repeatedly until the monsters are gone.

____________________________
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.

Malarame
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 220
Registered: 02-04-2003
IP: Logged

Often times, if Beethro is pointing up or down and I could repeatedly hit q and w to kill creatures, I'll just hit 4 and 6 repeatedly instead. I actually find it easier to hit those two really fast (using my first and third fingers) than is to hit the q and w. I can't hit the 8 and 2 fast, though, so if Beethro is pointing to a side I'll just use q and w.

____________________________
Matt O'Leary
Webb Institute
Class of 2007

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception."
-Groucho Marx

ClaytonW
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 961
Registered: 02-04-2003
IP: Logged

If there's a catchy song on my playlist, I sometimes execute key combinations in time with the music. Freaky when its a really fast song. I do the same thing when I'm typing URLs, and I get dissapointed when the end of the URL doesn't coincide with the end of a lyric in the song.

joker5
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 607
Registered: 11-25-2003
IP: Logged

Like DDR... except extra.

Seriously, that's hecka-fun if you've got good songs and good rooms. Some rooms it doesn't work for though... snake loops and minimal-move solution rooms come to mind.

~joker5

____________________________
Criminals, like other people, dislike being shot. ~FBI study on guns

www.badgerbadgerbadger.com

"Two words: Beam Waffle!" -me