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File: Auroras Palace.hold (21.8 KB)
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So here's my new 5 level (plus secret level) hold. The big difference is that it's designed in DROD:AE (therefore playable in AE, JtRH or TCB).

Why have I reverted to DROD:AE? Well, some people are limited to using DROD:AE as their screens are not big enough (or of the right resolution) for later versions of DROD, and while there are some great AE holds, there is also a lot of dross and a lot of really hard or frustrating holds. Also, DROD architecture has moved on a lot since those holds were built, so it's an opportunity to introduce a few tricks to AE.

Furthermore, it was a fun challenge to make a hold with a more limited set of elements. I note that a few other AE holds have been made in the post AE era (like Penwielder's Palace and The Old School), and it's interesting to see what can still be done with just those elements.

The hold has some tricky parts, but has been completed by my girlfriend, who had only played about 3 holds up to that point - so it shouldn't be too hard for relative novices. To make it more accessible for beginners there's a hint scroll in each room!

[Obviously, as this hold was made for AE, the graphical styles picked for each level are those from AE. So you may enjoy playing it in AE more for that reason - or you may just want to play it in TCB so you can use undo]

Thanks to Tim, CuriousShyRabbit, Zorglub, SomeoneElse, Penwielder and TripleM for beta-testing.

Also, if anyone's interested (e.g. they're also stuck with just DROD:AE) I found the original AE version of The Domain of the Grinfidel and stuck it on its Holds page for download (not on caravelnet though)

Blondbeard
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1486
Registered: 03-31-2005
IP: Logged

Thanks! This is just the kind of hold we need. Comparativly easy, lynchpin driven, polished and fun.

As always Jacob is the expert of creating holds with maze elements, that are still fun to traverse. Let's see if I can reach the secret level

Edit: Sure I could, and it showcases another of Jacobs strenghts; variation on a theme.

---

[Last edited by Blondbeard at 07-27-2011 08:53 AM]

Tahnan
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2459
Registered: 11-14-2005
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This hold really has been surprisingly approachable. Or at least it was, until I got to a certain level where I can't conquer anything and can only walk around in circles going "wow, if that entrance were accessible...." (OK, back to walking in circles.)

CuriousShyRabbit
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 3170
Registered: 10-14-2006
IP: Logged

This really is a lovely hold. The previous comments and the architect's own description almost say it all.

I'd add that this hold showcases the great variety of fun settings that can be created with only AE elements. Each of these levels has its own distinct personality. Inside the Palace and the secret level include beautiful theme-and-variation puzzle sets. Underground Lake is a set of puzzles where the player traverses narrow bridges over the lake (well, pit, but it totally works as a lake). And Subterranean Sewer System is an ingenious maze level, where conquering a room gives you access to one new passage, and then later dropping all the trapdoors gives access to another.

I recommend this hold to everyone.

slimm tom
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1228
Registered: 10-14-2006
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Really fun hold! I particularly liked the maze level and the secret level.

Overall this deserves a 10 for fun and 6 for difficulty.

noma
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1594
Registered: 11-22-2006
IP: Logged

I was so sad to finish this hold; I wanted more. It has the kind of rooms that are just difficult enough that you make you feel really smart when you solve them. Thank you Jacob; I really enjoyed this hold. 9 for fun, 6 for brains.

larrymurk
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 1911
Registered: 12-09-2004
IP: Logged

Another fine hold by Jacob.

The hold is much easier than Jacob's usual creations. The puzzles are good and help scrolls are included in each room if needed.

Enjoyable medium difficulty diversion.

Rinaldo
Level: Delver
Rank Points: 50
Registered: 04-07-2007
IP: Logged

As an absolute bottom-of-the-heap beginner (I've been around for a couple of years but have never gotten very good, playing as I do in odd available moments, sometimes with long hiatuses), my reaction shouldn't carry much weight.

But I still had to say that I found this an absolutely beautiful hold. The story worked, each level had a personality of its own and made sense, the puzzles were on an approachable level that's just what I'm looking for (I had trouble with a couple, but that's me), and I often felt quite tickled with myself for figuring something out. A few provided a special glow, as I belatedly saw how everything fit together. It also looked great. Well done in every respect.

Rheb
Level: Smitemaster

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

Another great hold by Jacob!

Although easier than most of his other holds, Aurora's Palace definitely carries Jacob's signature style. You'll find several seemingly identical rooms with only some key spot differing to create very different puzzles. And of course a whole level that is a puzzle in itself with several rooms containing multiple puzzles depending on when and how you enter them.

Strongly recommended!

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

Rinaldo
Level: Delver
Rank Points: 50
Registered: 04-07-2007
IP: Logged

VIPCOOL wrote:
... you can only come in through the bottom right entrance after completing 1N1W.

Ha. I once thought the same thing, as apparently have others. We were suitably chagrined to be awakened to the ease of getting the bottom right route unlocked immediately.

disoriented
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 2386
Registered: 08-07-2007
IP: Logged

A little typo on a scroll in Sewer System 1S1E.

____________________________
34th Skywatcher

Best to PM me, since I might miss your message on CaravelNet chat.

martz
Level: Smiter
Rank Points: 414
Registered: 08-19-2005
IP: Logged

Another excellent hold from Jacob. This is an AE hold which limits the hold to resources from that engine but it is beautifully designed with a nice selection of lynchpin puzzle rooms.

It could be argued that this hold should be played in AE for the full effect but my first DROD experience was finishing KDD in AE (and then doing a load of the user holds) so I have no intention of returning to it...

My favourite level was the sewer maze - the lake level before it gave a kind of taster of what was to come. Even though I had to redo the entire level (since the first room I cleared was 1S1E) I wasn't too fussed about doing it again.

I would definately recommend this to anyone and maybe we'll see a few more AE holds in the future?

My verdict:

Difficulty: 5.5
Fun: 8

____________________________
Without struggle, there is no progress, so get up, get out, and go make the rest of your life the best of your life; you deserve to live the life that YOU want to live...

Progress - Gavin G

Panther
Level: Smiter

Rank Points: 402
Registered: 03-19-2006
IP: Logged

Even though all of my reactions simply reiterate various opinions above, I still want to add my voice to the chorus.

Jacob has been my favorite architect for years now, and this hold is another beautiful example of why. A real bonus for me here is that now I have a (public) Jacob hold I can recommend to people who find my other favorites of his to be a bit too difficult.

Completely unsurprisingly (to me), and completely in-character for Jacob, this hold was incredibly fun to solve, incredibly fun to optimize, and beautiful and elegant in structure. I also feel that the latter is especially noteworthy due to the self-imposed constraint of only using AE elements.

Jacob, if you read this: it was mainly due to you, starting with BatSS, that my enjoyment of drod was elevated to a full-blown addiction. Thank you.

west.logan
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 608
Registered: 03-09-2011
IP: Logged

What can I say? It's an exquisite hold and I was sad that it ended. Every puzzle felt finely crafted and even places that looked like you couldn't get to you actually could, if you worked out the puzzle. It just goes to show that some brilliant things can be done with only a few elements. One of my favourite holds I'd have to say.

Thank you very much for having a girlfriend, Jacob. Now make her some more holds

____________________________
-Logan

CrazyDiamond
Level: Delver

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

Great hold, I liked especially the sewer level and I recommend anyone to play it in AE if you want more challenge, it's really harder to solve these kind of holds when you can't undo the last move.

kieranmillar
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 2670
Registered: 07-11-2014
IP: Logged

I don't give 10 ratings very often but this is one of those. The design is excellent, the style is simple and elegant, yet the puzzles are very clever despite not being too difficult. An absolutely wonderful hold.