Mikko
Level: Master Delver
Rank Points: 276
Registered: 02-04-2003
IP: Logged

If you think that turtles are cute little things that crawl around slowly, think again. These creatures are as fast as everything else found in the dungeons (how convenient!) and have sharp teeth that can easily chew up a reckless delver.

What separates the turtle from other monsters is its shell. It can only be killed with a direct stab, i.e. Beethro or whoever attacking it by moving in the direction of his sword. If the turtle is attacked in any other way, excluding bombs, it will retract into its shell. In this mode it is immobile and cannot be killed even with a direct stab. The turtle returns to normal when the sword(s) are moved away and it will be able to move again the next turn.

A bomb will kill a turtle if it's in normal mode, but not if it's retracted into its shell.

I think that the wubba/golem movement is most convenient for the turtle.

Jatopian
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1842
Registered: 07-31-2005
IP: Logged

So... the only new feature is that this, and only this, monster will impale itself on swords? I am confused.

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Banjooie
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1645
Registered: 12-12-2004
IP: Logged

Nonono.

If your sword is facing north, you have to hit it by moving north. If your sword is facing west, you have to hit it by moving west.
etc, etc.

At least, I think.

Cascade
Level: Delver
Rank Points: 46
Registered: 05-28-2005
IP: Logged

i.e... you can't kill it by pressing Q or W. You can only kill it if there is a single empty square directly between the monster and Beethro, and if Beethro steps into that square, stabbing it. More formally there are only 8 moves which can kill it.
Stepping N when sword is pointing N
Stepping NW when sword is pointing NW
Stepping W when sword is pointing W
...
etc.

I wonder what it would be like to fight a crowd of these. Impossible, isn't it? You'd have to lure them to a 1-wide passageway? But the OP suggested golem AI... so not sure how that would affect it... I'm not very good with golems.

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stigant
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1182
Registered: 08-19-2004
IP: Logged

This one should be implemented if only for the possible death animations - legs, tails and head squirting out of the various sides of the shell.

But seriously - sounds like a good idea.

A bomb will kill a turtle if it's in normal mode, but not if it's retracted into its shell.

Will it also block a bomb blast in this mode? Sort of like a bomb SHELLter? I think this could add an interesting puzzle element - Beethro has to stun rather than kill the turtle to protect himself from the impending bomb blast. I don't have a particular puzzle in mind, but I think it has possibilities.

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Someone Else
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2334
Registered: 06-14-2005
IP: Logged

I dont quite get it. Would it react like this:
B=Beethro
\\=sword
X=empty space
T=turtle
S=turtle in shell

SSSTT
S\\XXT
SXBXT
TXXXT
TTTTT

stigant
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1182
Registered: 08-19-2004
IP: Logged

No, more like this:

TXT
X\\X
XXB

In this diagram, Beetrho can kill the turtle on the left by stepping NW (of course, the turtle on the right would then kill Beethro). However, Beethro can't kill the turtle on the right(ie by stepping NE) since that wouldn't be a direct stab. The turtle would go into its shell and beethro's sword would be on top.


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[Last edited by stigant at 10-20-2005 10:47 PM]

Someone Else
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2334
Registered: 06-14-2005
IP: Logged

ok, thanks

Chaco
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3640
Registered: 10-06-2005
IP: Logged

Hmm... That's an interesting idea. I think it might potentially need some fine balancing, but it just might work...

...if a user version of DROD ever gets out. Somehow I doubt this will be in the official DROD version.

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[Last edited by Chaco at 10-24-2005 12:01 PM]