Dungeon Master done, bring on Chaos!

[Flatearther]

Wow, just finished Dungeon Master on my Amiga 1200, last time I did that was 1989 on my Amiga 500 (back then I was under the influence, so to speak).
Bring on Chaos Strikes Back! I had a devil of a time figuring out how to import my DM party (both games are WHDLoad). I was tempted to post a guide because it's definitely a challenge for plebs like me.
Well, Chaos annoyed me back in the day but I think my patience has grown. We'll see!

[TCD]

Congratulation on finishing Dungeon Master I didn't have the patience. I finished EoB a few times, but Dungeon Master is quite a bit harder (at least for me).

Looking forward to hear how you manage with Chaos Strikes Back. I just remember it felt like running into a solid wall

[Flatearther]

Solid walls and falling down pits!

[Weasel Fierce]

Dang, thats quite an achievement!

[Flatearther]

As an aside there's a certain joy to having this piece of plastic (Amiga 1200) sitting on my coffee table. I don't get that from my MiSter, Amiga Mini, emulation etc.
It sat on my lap while I played DM. Small, silent, cool, comfortable. Yes the 500 was a bit bigger.
I love the thing.

[alexh]

Originally Posted by Flatearther

Bring on Chaos Strikes Back! Chaos annoyed me back in the day but I think my patience has grown. We'll see!

It depends how much you "peek". I felt the dungeons were very unfair. That the only way to complete the dungeon was to die, often. But with a peek at some maps, maps that you would ultimately create yourself, the frustration could perhaps be reduced. OR just prepare to die... a lot

[gimbal]

Originally Posted by TCD

Congratulation on finishing Dungeon Master I didn't have the patience. I finished EoB a few times, but Dungeon Master is quite a bit harder (at least for me).

DM can be made a whole lot easier if you power level though. I don't think many other dungeon crawlers allow you to go as far as DM does in that respect. Put in enough work and your entire party can be slamming fireballs.

[alexh]

In DM there's one room with constantly regenerating screamers. A few hours (days?) in that room upping all your skills and your experience is much more fun.

[Thorham]

No need for power leveling, just use stat boosting potions.

[TCD]

Originally Posted by gimbal

DM can be made a whole lot easier if you power level though. I don't think many other dungeon crawlers allow you to go as far as DM does in that respect. Put in enough work and your entire party can be slamming fireballs.

Originally Posted by alexh

In DM there's one room with constantly regenerating screamers. A few hours (days?) in that room upping all your skills and your experience is much more fun.

I remember there was a way to get unlimited water/food? Need to find some time to get into the game. Dungeon Master and Captive are still on my bucket RPG list.

[gimbal]

Water is unlimited to begin with, there are fountains pretty much everywhere. I never ran out of food in the game myself, its lying around all over the place and respawning enemies drop it too.

[meynaf]

Originally Posted by Thorham

No need for power leveling, just use stat boosting potions.

You won't boost your base health this way. Being a pack of hit-points helps a lot when things are going hot

[Thorham]

Originally Posted by gimbal

I never ran out of food in the game myself

I got close once with four characters. Some kind of area where you're basically trapped until you solve something. Don't remember where exactly.

Originally Posted by meynaf

You won't boost your base health this way. Being a pack of hit-points helps a lot when things are going hot

Indeed, but being able to kill faster helps as well. Boosting dexterity probably helps with not getting hit.

[gimbal]

Originally Posted by Thorham

I got close once with four characters. Some kind of area where you're basically trapped until you solve something. Don't remember where exactly.

Of course, just like any good game it has some selective pressure moments. At that point you'll already have been conditioned to make a save at the start of the floor though

[meynaf]

Originally Posted by Thorham

Indeed, but being able to kill faster helps as well. Boosting dexterity probably helps with not getting hit.

If you want to kill faster and not being hit as well, fighter levels will help more than dexterity.
Of course nothing prevents you from power leveling AND abusing of stats potions. Seems overkill for DM, though...

[Thorham]

Originally Posted by gimbal

At that point you'll already have been conditioned to make a save at the start of the floor though

I actually saved right inside that area

Originally Posted by meynaf

If you want to kill faster and not being hit as well, fighter levels will help more than dexterity.

Are you sure? Seems like high stats are better for some reason.

Originally Posted by meynaf

Of course nothing prevents you from power leveling AND abusing of stats potions. Seems overkill for DM, though...

Using the stat boosting actually reduces the need for lots of leveling because of how effective it is.

[meynaf]

Originally Posted by Thorham

Are you sure? Seems like high stats are better for some reason.

Must be very high stats then.

Originally Posted by Thorham

Using the stat boosting actually reduces the need for lots of leveling because of how effective it is.

But you need some leveling to be able to make the potions themselves

[Thorham]

Originally Posted by meynaf

Must be very high stats then.

Have you seen this in the source code perhaps?

Originally Posted by meynaf

But you need some leveling to be able to make the potions themselves

Yes, but not much. It's actually surprisingly little. Here's a quick test I did with CsbWin using Chani to see how strong you could get before level 3 while using only screamer slices as food:

Apprentice Fighter
Apprentice Ninja
Adapt Priest
Adapt Wizard

Health: 209
Stamina: 181
Mana: 127

Strength: 86/46
Dexterity: 58/58
Wisdom: 133/72
Vitality: 46/46

At this point you can probably keep wisdom and strength up permanently already.

[Solo Kazuki]

I'd finished both Dungeon Masters and Chaos Strikes Back and I can tell You that CSB is for hardcore "dungeon crawlers" gamers.
I'd finished also Dungeon Master II, but after CSB it was a walk in the park.

[meynaf]

Originally Posted by Thorham

Have you seen this in the source code perhaps?

I've seen things, but it was long ago. My memory may be betraying me.

Originally Posted by Thorham

Yes, but not much. It's actually surprisingly little.

Apparently.
There are still two things : used mana isn't available for something else, and you need fighter levels to use the most powerful weapon options.

Btw. Have you tried that in CSB ?