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Caravel Forum : DROD Boards : Architecture : 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (210 short but engaging levels, using all DROD elements from the TSS official hold)
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azb
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File: 210 Levels of Terror TSS Edition Levels 9 thru 16.hold (191.9 KB)
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icon 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (0)  
Hello everyone,

This is the last 210 Levels of Terror, dedicated to the final DROD hold, The Second Sky, so do expect scripted challenges as well as the hardest rooms without any scripted challenges to them.

I have the first 4 levels fully done for playtesting per usual, but my plan for the rest of the hold is:

Click here to view the secret text


05/29/2024 UPDATE:

I added levels 5 thru 8.

06/10/2024 UPDATE:

I added levels 9 thru 16, dedicated to the training hall in 9 thru 14 and the Oubillete in 15 and 16.

____________________________
Please feel free to test the ultimate KDD tribute: 210 Levels of Terror: AE Edition today!

[Last edited by azb at 06-10-2024 08:31 PM : 06/10/2024 Update, adding levels 9 thru 16]
05-29-2024 at 12:42 AM
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azb
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icon Re: 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (0)  
I got a comment about duplicates on my TCB thread, so I am going to point out here that level 3 isn't exactly a duplicate of the JtRH edition's level 2 because it has rooms from other levels of the JtRH edition, as well as a secret room that is its own room, and likewise level 4 has cracked orbs in it, unlike the JtRH edition.

Again, I will gladly point out that if the puzzles are the same with no new elements being introduced, it should be fine to re-use rooms because not every room needs a brand spanking new invention from the ground up.

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05-29-2024 at 10:45 AM
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azb
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icon Re: 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (0)  
I added levels 5 thru 8; note level 5 just re-uses rooms from the GatEB and TCB versions directly because of how early in the hold it is, although I think I can change the number of roaches to make it different enough, and levels 6 thru 8 are very similar to the TCB edition levels 6 thru 8, but they're different enough - they're not identical carbon copies.

Note again because of how early in the hold these levels are, I intentionally re-use puzzles from other holds because of how limited the element palette is.

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05-29-2024 at 11:23 PM
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hyperme
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icon Re: 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (+3)  
If you're reusing rooms because you don't have enough elements to work with, you should probably rethink the constraints you're working under. The easiest solution would be to bring forward elements from later versions so you can make meaningfully different rooms more quickly.

That being said, the levels are small enough that I'd think you'd be able to come up with enough distinct stuff for all of them.

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[Last edited by hyperme at 05-30-2024 03:18 PM]
05-30-2024 at 03:18 PM
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azb
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icon Re: 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (0)  
I am intentionally not introducing later elements in the early levels because the original TSS hold didn't either - however I believe the way I changed the rooms from the TCB and GatEB versions should be different enough the solution is different, even if the elements are the same.

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05-30-2024 at 09:37 PM
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azb
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icon Re: 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (0)  
Hi everyone,

I have drafted levels 9 thru 16 for this hold as well as for TCB and GatEB editions, but as always won't actually post them until levels 1 thru 8 are fully tested to make sure the holds are always the highest quality.

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06-09-2024 at 09:10 PM
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Red-XIII
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File: 210 TSS demos.demo (8.4 KB)
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icon Re: 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (+1)  
Hi,

I decided to play this and, at the same time, to download the 210 levels of terror for TSS and GatEB and have a look. I will start with a general and more comprehensive comment, which is about your “210 saga”. I think the concept is good, and the puzzles are fun so far, and beginners/new players friendly.

However, if I were a beginner, I would choose only one of your “210” hold to start with, particularly, TSS one, since it is the most complete in terms of the elements used. Once I complete it, I am not a beginner anymore, so there is no point for me to play again another “210” hold, despite being medium difficulty once you reach certain levels.

Now, here’s my point: since every level is pretty small, have you considered joining every level 1, every level 2 (and so on) from the TCB, GatEB, and TSS into one single level, maybe even by making “separate” parts of the level to reflect the game style (lights, weather, room style, layout etc.)? This way you would have a single hold with every level being around 9-10 rooms, all of them of the same difficulty (btw, level 2, going down, is the same for TSS and GatEB for now). This concept could be applied to AE and JTRH holds, but I do not know how they are or how far you are into those. Please note that this is just my opinion and what I would do, but I think many players will get bored or do not play at all 5 different holds with the same concept. However, one (or two?) hold combined with the same concept and puzzles, I would definitely play that, especially because the puzzles so far are fun.

In addition, you could add some easy challenges for the first levels, which could intrigue new players, such as “clear the room facing only E” or “don’t do that” and stuff like that.

That being said, here’s some general and specific comments for the first 8 levels of “210” TSS, see also demos attached.

Click here to view the secret text


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06-10-2024 at 07:10 PM
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azb
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icon Re: 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (0)  
About your Going Down: the room is trivial if you know where to start, IE the bottom most part.

About your Stop N' Go: the room is easy if you back up to the wall behind you when you first start.

I am glad you liked the other rooms though, and it is intentional the polish/aesthetics are the way they are for those levels, because in the original TSS the Older Holding Vats were basically the same design.

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06-10-2024 at 08:10 PM
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azb
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icon Re: 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (0)  
I drafted levels 17 thru 24 as well, but made sure as always to not publish them until levels 9 thru 16 are tested and commented on in full.

Level 17 introduces how shallow water interacts differently with spiders versus roaches and similar monsters like evil eyes, level 18 introduces the staff with Arky taunting you about being a one-trick pony just like how it was in the original TSS hold, level 19 introduces using the staff on more monsters than just roaches and queens, level 20 introduces wubbas and how you can use the staff to push them, level 21 introduces hot tiles, level 22 introduces disarm tokens, level 23 introduces rock golems, and finally level 24 is a harder re-cap level of earlier concepts introduced.

All of levels 17 thru 24 are dedicated to one TSS section, Stuck With a Really Big Stick, but levels 25 thru 32 will be dedicated to more of the TCB progression rather than the TSS progression to introduce briar and sister doors, just like TCB level 4 did.

I am also thinking of using the Pit Thing to talk to you in that section, where he will hint in his obscure way that although King Dugan doesn't trust you directly, there is someone he does trust waiting for you, which you will learn exactly who it is yourself when you reach the surface after level 50.

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06-14-2024 at 06:07 PM
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azb
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icon Re: 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (0)  
I also intentionally kept every hold seperate just because that's how it was in the official DROD progression, rather than merging them all into one hold which would be shorter but not as exciting story development wise for those not familar with the DROD canon already.

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Please feel free to test the ultimate KDD tribute: 210 Levels of Terror: AE Edition today!

[Last edited by azb at 06-14-2024 06:08 PM : "Exciting", not "Excited"]
06-14-2024 at 06:08 PM
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azb
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icon Re: 210 Levels of Terror: TSS Edition (0)  
I didn't add it at first, but I also drafted a flashback level with all of the previous tribute holds in it being recapped/summarized, just like the original TSS hold had; I will only add it after I finish all the other holds first though, to keep things logical.

I also recapped the GatEB tribute in my interpretation, whereas the original TSS didn't show the original GatEB in the optional flashback sequence.

So in this exact order, no other way:

* Gunthro seeing the king get killed

* Gunthro entering Tueno to get revenge

* Gunthro getting thrown in jail after confronting the Captain

* Gunthro confronting the Captain in the Inner Chambers, learning he didn't actually kill the king

* Gunthro confronting the True Court about their secret plans to kill the king and getting expelled because of it

* Beethro clearing level 3 of Dugan's Dungeon

* Beethro clearing level 9 of Dugan's Dungeon

* Beethro clearing level 17 of Dugan's Dungeon, learning the dungeon is deeper than he was told

* Beethro clearing level 24 of Dugan's Dungeon

* Beethro clearing level 25 of Dugan's Dungeon

* Beethro killing the 'Neather in the final room, and learning the stairs take him to a dead end

* Beethro heading back up to level 10 to look more closely at the mysterious yellow door

* Beethro bringing a portable orb to the door to open it

* Beethro meeting the 39th Slayer for the first time

* Beethro meeting the Pit Thing for the first time

* Beethro breaking Halph out of the goblin jail

* Beethro learning from the Pit Thing Dugan has burned down his Roasted Roach Grill and thinks he's a heretic

* Beethro destroying the Poppy Brigade

* Beethro at the Infohut for the first time

* Beethro at the Gate of Namedeness without a proper name

* Beethro meeting 84th Negotiator in the Empire city

* Beethro at the Grand Library for the first time, asking about
the Mothingness the Pit Thing mentioned

* Beethro learning what the Mothingness really means from the
Pit Thing

* Beethro being told the briar infestation at the Library was
the Empire's fault by the Pit Thing, and being told to take the express route back to Dugandy

* 84th Negotiator finishing her negotiation, allowing Beethro to get an Empire name

* Beethro at the gate to the express route, telling the gatekeeper where the briar breakout is so she can reroute the orb

* Beethro being taunted by the Pit Thing that Dugandy still doesn't want him, and that they have an army prepared to kill him on sight

* Beethro stealing a guard disguise to not be spotted

* Beethro taking off the disguise and confronting King Dugan head-on

* Beethro being chased out of Dugandy down the River Dugan by the King's army

* Beethro meeting the 1st Archivist for the first time in the Holding Vats, being taunted he's brewing something worse than the Slayers

* Beethro meeting the Negotiator to be told the negotiation was a success and he can apply at the Naming Office now

* Beethro proving his title as Slayer at the naming office by slaying some other candidates

* Beethro visiting Halph at the DAA, learning Halph doesn't want to go back to Beethro because the Architects are the good guys to him

* Beethro at the Slaymasters' Hall, being told he needs a pass to get in

* Beethro learning more about the 1st Archivist's true nature from the Pit Thing

* Beethro taking the pass by confronting the guy below the Archives with the pass

* Beethro learning firsthand about the Great Removal of all surfacers at the conference

* Beethro blowing up the Slaymasters' Hall so that the Great Removal can't happen, making him 1st Slayer in the process

* Beethro warning the chief of Glotthered about the Great Removal, only to get told to prove his worth first by dealing with an actual threat to the country

* Beethro dealing with the threat

* Beethro confessing the captain of the invasion escaped, and gets kicked out being told he isn't worthy of the chief's attention

* Beethro in the Hall of Answers now that he is 1st Slayer, not getting a proper answer as to where Lowest Point is

* Beethro back at the Infohut, learning there was a fast way directly to Lowest Point this whole time

* Beethro seeing the Stalwart Army get pummeled by the freshly brewed batch of Aumtlich that 1st Archivist made

* Beethro meeting Tendry, and discussing both of their plans to stop the wicked 1st Archivist

* Beethro being riddled in his obscure way what is lower than Lowest Point by the Pit Thing

* Beethro meeting Halph again, being told he was ordered to stop him from reaching Lowest Point for his own good

* Beethro arriving at Lowest Point having bested Halph at his puzzles and tricks, seeing the Second Sky in person and being breathtaken by it

* An Announcer telling the citizens of the Empire to not listen to Beethro's nonsense about 1st Watcher or what is really at Lowest Point

* Beethro meeting Halph again, but rather than being enemies they are both trying to stop 1st Archivist from destroying the surface, just in two different ways/styles

* Beethro meeting 1st Chemist, and learning about the Truth Vessels, one of the Empire's first creations far older than 1st Archivist ever was, basically as old as the Empire itself

* Beethro learning the Truth Vessels can only speak True Tongue and not the Simpuhl English native to the surfacers because the truth only comes in one language, whereas human languages are flexible and ever-changing; it would kill the Truth Vessels to speak anything but the straight truth because they were literally made for the task the same way any other Empire creation is

After this last part, the flashback ends to Beethro and 1st Chemist wanting to stop 1st Archivist from ending the surface too early in the current day, and then the TSS storyline takes place

____________________________
Please feel free to test the ultimate KDD tribute: 210 Levels of Terror: AE Edition today!

[Last edited by azb at 11-21-2024 05:57 PM : Clarified what I meant about when I would actually add the level]
11-21-2024 at 05:57 PM
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