3 ms·

By sheer coincidence I'd installed this a few weeks ago. It's really well made, but I ended up uninstalling it because—unless I'm really missing something—it is

By sheer coincidence I'd installed this a few weeks ago. It's really well made, but I ended up uninstalling it because—unless I'm really missing something—it is punishingly difficult. Maybe I don't know all the controls? Or there's some sort of mechanic I'm missing? Or maybe my expectations are wrong? This very much seems like the kind of game I'd enjoy, but I find myself getting absolutely obliterated by the first snake or two that I encounter. I've yet to figure out how to sneak up on or by them. I've yet to find or earn any early loot that might help. If anyone knows what I'm doing wrong, please let me know. I'd love to just crank the difficulty down by 50%.

untech 3y ago
Coming from classic Pixel Dungeon and a bit of Nethack, I can suggest the following heuristics: - Don’t leave a level without finding a ration - Identify scrolls and potions as early as possible by using them in a safe context - Use doorframes to fight one enemy at a time
- bastawhiz 3y ago
  I'm rarely even getting to the end of the first level let alone leaving it unprepared!
  - chongli 3y ago
    The real trick to surviving the early game is to abuse the heck out of surprise attacks. Do not fight enemies in the open early on! Throw/zap stuff at them from a distance and then retreat behind a door. As soon as they step through the door, hit them! You should see a yellow ! indicating a surprise attack (guaranteed hit). Now retreat and do it again! This trick works with anything that breaks line of sight. Doors and tall grass are my preferred options. It even works if you step through a door (closing it behind you) or around a patch of tall grass (to the opposite side of the grass from the enemy) and the enemy immediately opens the door or otherwise follows right behind you. See my other reply [1] for more tips! [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39779664 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39779664
    - bastawhiz 3y ago
      I think I'll pass then, that's not my idea of a fun game.
      - lupire 3y ago
        It's an adventure game, not a walking simulator.
kaibee 3y ago
Are you making full use of the items you find, or are you dying with an inventory of wands/scrolls/potions that you were saving for a rainy day? One of the things to do is to identify items when you have some safety. One way to do that is to use the wands on enemies. Sometimes you do end up wasting a charge or empowering the enemy, but then you know what the thing does. And after a few runs you'll have a sense for something like "I've identified a lot of the 'good' scrolls, so its more likely the unidentified ones are 'bad' ones"
- bastawhiz 3y ago
  I'm not getting past the second or third room in most cases, so I don't even have an opportunity to hoard items
  - canadianfella 3y ago
    Use magic on snakes. They can dodge.
lupusreal 3y ago
Get the snake to follow you through a door and hit the snake when they step into the door. This counts as a sneak attack. I think if you inspect the snake with the magnifying glass it will give you this hint (always take your time and do this with new enemies. Alternatively, play as a mage (wands always hit snakes) or as an archer and shoot the snakes when they're still asleep. Most of the game's difficulty curve is in learning tricks like this to cheese enemies. For instance, always fight flies (or any large group) in chokepoints.
- lupire 3y ago
  Sensible battle tactics aren't cheese.
  - lupusreal 3y ago
    I'd say cheese is always a sensible battle tactic.
WaitWaitWha 3y ago
Playing it for over a decade. I primary play the huntress, so all these are from that perspective: * only eat when necessary, that is starving or early on level and likely lot of enemies. * your first upgrade scroll is for your permanent bow, upgrade the scroll, then apply it to the bow * there is a specific path for enemy's approach, always * use the seeds with statues and mimics in there presumed path * ranged attacks where possible * before walking into a well of health, put on all the cursed items, they will become uncursed * in the shop order of buying is next bag/satchel, then food (even with horn of plenty), ankh (unless you are super confident), thereafter as augment your weaknesses with potions of healing, scrolls, rings, wands from the store * when picking up things make sure you pick up in order of most preferred to least preferred. Items last picked up get stolen first. * always try to "trap" enemy in a door. i.e. they stand in the doorway * if you get a plate armour, dump every, single, upgrade into it. No questions. * drink potions early, standing near door and water * a broken honey pot & health potion brewed is worth more than individually * upgrade potion of experience and scroll of transmutation, then use it to pick and improve a tiers of abilities. * the frost and fireblast wands can turn your raw meat into good food. With frost, the meat needs to be against a wall or something. Fireblast just torches everything. * rooms with traps - if they are single target traps, go to the furthest spot, then rest or make noise to bring the enemies in. Throw stuff on the trap triggering attacks on the enemy. for the avalanche rooms, drop something in the doorway, step back then throw stuff on the traps. * enraged gnolls, just walk away. There is no arguing with someone who lost self-control :) Good luck! You will need it.

untech 3y ago

Coming from classic Pixel Dungeon and a bit of Nethack, I can suggest the following heuristics: - Don’t leave a level without finding a ration - Identify scrolls and potions as early as possible by using them in a safe context - Use doorframes to fight one enemy at a time

bastawhiz 3y ago
I'm rarely even getting to the end of the first level let alone leaving it unprepared!
- chongli 3y ago
  The real trick to surviving the early game is to abuse the heck out of surprise attacks. Do not fight enemies in the open early on! Throw/zap stuff at them from a distance and then retreat behind a door. As soon as they step through the door, hit them! You should see a yellow ! indicating a surprise attack (guaranteed hit). Now retreat and do it again! This trick works with anything that breaks line of sight. Doors and tall grass are my preferred options. It even works if you step through a door (closing it behind you) or around a patch of tall grass (to the opposite side of the grass from the enemy) and the enemy immediately opens the door or otherwise follows right behind you. See my other reply [1] for more tips! [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39779664 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39779664
  - bastawhiz 3y ago
    I think I'll pass then, that's not my idea of a fun game.
    - lupire 3y ago
      It's an adventure game, not a walking simulator.

kaibee 3y ago

Are you making full use of the items you find, or are you dying with an inventory of wands/scrolls/potions that you were saving for a rainy day? One of the things to do is to identify items when you have some safety. One way to do that is to use the wands on enemies. Sometimes you do end up wasting a charge or empowering the enemy, but then you know what the thing does. And after a few runs you'll have a sense for something like "I've identified a lot of the 'good' scrolls, so its more likely the unidentified ones are 'bad' ones"

bastawhiz 3y ago
I'm not getting past the second or third room in most cases, so I don't even have an opportunity to hoard items
- canadianfella 3y ago
  Use magic on snakes. They can dodge.

lupusreal 3y ago

Get the snake to follow you through a door and hit the snake when they step into the door. This counts as a sneak attack. I think if you inspect the snake with the magnifying glass it will give you this hint (always take your time and do this with new enemies. Alternatively, play as a mage (wands always hit snakes) or as an archer and shoot the snakes when they're still asleep. Most of the game's difficulty curve is in learning tricks like this to cheese enemies. For instance, always fight flies (or any large group) in chokepoints.

lupire 3y ago
Sensible battle tactics aren't cheese.
- lupusreal 3y ago
  I'd say cheese is always a sensible battle tactic.

WaitWaitWha 3y ago

Playing it for over a decade. I primary play the huntress, so all these are from that perspective: * only eat when necessary, that is starving or early on level and likely lot of enemies. * your first upgrade scroll is for your permanent bow, upgrade the scroll, then apply it to the bow * there is a specific path for enemy's approach, always * use the seeds with statues and mimics in there presumed path * ranged attacks where possible * before walking into a well of health, put on all the cursed items, they will become uncursed * in the shop order of buying is next bag/satchel, then food (even with horn of plenty), ankh (unless you are super confident), thereafter as augment your weaknesses with potions of healing, scrolls, rings, wands from the store * when picking up things make sure you pick up in order of most preferred to least preferred. Items last picked up get stolen first. * always try to "trap" enemy in a door. i.e. they stand in the doorway * if you get a plate armour, dump every, single, upgrade into it. No questions. * drink potions early, standing near door and water * a broken honey pot & health potion brewed is worth more than individually * upgrade potion of experience and scroll of transmutation, then use it to pick and improve a tiers of abilities. * the frost and fireblast wands can turn your raw meat into good food. With frost, the meat needs to be against a wall or something. Fireblast just torches everything. * rooms with traps - if they are single target traps, go to the furthest spot, then rest or make noise to bring the enemies in. Throw stuff on the trap triggering attacks on the enemy. for the avalanche rooms, drop something in the doorway, step back then throw stuff on the traps. * enraged gnolls, just walk away. There is no arguing with someone who lost self-control :) Good luck! You will need it.