Andor's Trail

Tomcat wrote: Actually, one of my critiques of the game is that there is already too much grinding necessary just to get the first few levels, and gold for survivable gear and enough potions to give you a realistic shot at the tougher dungeons.

You do realize that there were two people that already completed all current content with a level one character and did it in only a few days right?? I love having to grind. It's the difference between Zelda and Zelda II for me. I don't want to be able to speed run this game when it's complete. Tougher stuff is necessary, even for those that haven't been grinding either because of what Pyrizzle and Nyktos showed us, or so they they have something to do until the release after that one.

Oskar posted a while back that he was open to an easy-normal-hard setting for the game... Here's the thread: http://andorstrail.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1132 I finally found myself a lappy I can use in the cab, so as soon as I catch myself up on the game coding, I'll start submitting small fixes like this to oskar... Need something to do when I'm doting around bored waiting for someone to call for a taxi

Chest_Rockfield wrote: You do realize that there were two people that already completed all current content with a level one character and did it in only a few days right?? I love having to grind. It's the difference between Zelda and Zelda II for me. I don't want to be able to speed run this game when it's complete. Tougher stuff is necessary, even for those that haven't been grinding either because of what Pyrizzle and Nyktos showed us, or so they they have something to do until the release after that one.

Yes, I *do* realize that someone has taken a game they have already beaten, figured out all the puzzles, optimized a path, and then ran it through while refusing to level up just for the freak show, presumably saving before nearly every battle and replaying it if they die, until they get lucky enough to win. And it only took 72 hours, wow!

So what? I'm sure it took them alot longer the first time, and I doubt they could do it without the "save cheat". (After being a Nethack guy back in the day, I can't bring myself to do it - my character has never taken a second shot at a battle without having to make it back from the last bed, or gone back to an old save to undo a decision.)

To me, that stunt doesn't make the game a "speed run". Like you, I want this game to take a long time to play through and solve. But to me it's important for the challenge to be new content to solve, not just hours and hours of killing the same monsters in the same places where the puzzles have already been solved. Perhaps we just enjoy different aspects of the game more, but the focus on quests and storyline by the dev team is what attracted me to the game in the first place.

i have played through the game over & over for many reasons...
and trust me, no save tricks on my first play through!

it was a blast, so i decided to start dissecting the game.
in fact i just started working on a guide this evening

our low level run also tested the limits and balances of AT
our results almost instantly hit the code page & they already have a fix

for me, its about character building & storyline...
and AT has what i want - so i keep testing away & contribute when i can
waiting for that wonderful message... [update available]

anyway - way off topic here... so...
(this list is VERY helpful with my guides rough draft!)

Tomcat wrote: Yes, I *do* realize that someone has taken a game they have already beaten, figured out all the puzzles, optimized a path, and then ran it through while refusing to level up just for the freak show, presumably saving before nearly every battle and replaying it if they die, until they get lucky enough to win. And it only took 72 hours, wow!

So what? I'm sure it took them alot longer the first time, and I doubt they could do it without the "save cheat". (After being a Nethack guy back in the day, I can't bring myself to do it - my character has never taken a second shot at a battle without having to make it back from the last bed, or gone back to an old save to undo a decision.)

To me, that stunt doesn't make the game a "speed run". Like you, I want this game to take a long time to play through and solve. But to me it's important for the challenge to be new content to solve, not just hours and hours of killing the same monsters in the same places where the puzzles have already been solved. Perhaps we just enjoy different aspects of the game more, but the focus on quests and storyline by the dev team is what attracted me to the game in the first place.

You're not alone in wanting new content. Everyone wants new content. That takes time, or at least more time than increasing the toughness of the mobs in subsequent updates. Even with save tricks, a level 1 should be completely incapable of clearing all content this far into development, in my opinion. I'm not saying anyone should have to grind as much as me, but it would be nice if there were areas that required a significant amount to be able to make it out alive.

Chest_Rockfield wrote: You're not alone in wanting new content. Everyone wants new content. That takes time, or at least more time than increasing the toughness of the mobs in subsequent updates. Even with save tricks, a level 1 should be completely incapable of clearing all content this far into development, in my opinion. I'm not saying anyone should have to grind as much as me, but it would be nice if there were areas that required a significant amount to be able to make it out alive.

I do agree that the level one trick should not be possible ... there should be dungeons where such a character should be dead on first strike basically every time. But remember that the game is not close to done .. I'm guessing maybe half.

There should definitely be areas that take significant time and advancement to have a chance to finish. But "grinding" through the same mobsters over and over bores me silly. I'd rather play a game that is shorter and easier than a game that takes a long time but is too repetitive. Of close, those are a distant second and third compared to one that ous long and hard with constantly fresh challenges.