Messages

1

Classic Roguelikes / Re: Rogue Password?

« on: December 07, 2010, 03:50:13 AM »

I saw that, and it didn't work on this version.
Ken said that was for the Berkeley version, which almost certainly pre-dated the UNIX toolbox release.
I had actually heard it was "gandalf", other places "wizard", "rodney".
Sadly, none work, at least in this version. (1.1 is a very early version indeed)
I guess this is the itch I'd like to scratch.
I've done just about everything else in the game, so it would be cool to check it out.

2

Classic Roguelikes / Rogue Password?

« on: December 04, 2010, 03:35:40 PM »

Does anyone know the password for Rogue?
If you hit cntl P, you can enter dungeonmaster mode.
However, you need a password!
If you know it, please pass it on
Thanks

3

Classic Roguelikes / Re: Most gold ever in Rouge ?

« on: December 04, 2010, 03:35:03 AM »

I've gotten 5000 a few times.

I have to disagree about the imbalance.  The complete impossibility is what makes Rogue fun.  When there's no reasonable expectation of winning, losing a good game is an accomplishment instead of an annoyance.  You focus on how far you got instead of your failure.

I second that - I completely disagree on the imbalance.
The deal is - you simply have to plan and\or take risks.
Save your stuff so that you can try it when it's "safe".
Haven't seen a blindness potion? Then keep a see invisible or healing potion on hand just in case you get one.
Haven't seen enrage monster scroll? Then read scrolls after you've cleared the level.
In other words, if you always gamble, you'll lose a good deal of the time. Instead, if you manage the risks, you'll come out ahead most of the time.

As for "complete impossibility" of winning, I completely disagree again.
What makes Rogue fun (and unique) is that you CAN win! It's essentially an ASCII video game - the critters keep getting harder, but you can actually win it! I've won it twice this year, so it can be done. Trust me, when you finally DO win after countless games of trying, it's great! Our college CS lab (in the 80s) practically declared a holiday when the game was defeated for the first time!

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Classic Roguelikes / Re: ToTRL Competitions: Recover the Amulet of Yendor!

« on: November 01, 2010, 01:07:22 AM »

Does it count if I beat Rogue Clone?  I cant seem to find the original windows binary I used to use.

I'd count it!

5

Classic Roguelikes / Re: Most gold ever in Rouge ?

« on: October 19, 2010, 03:10:55 AM »

I've had something over 12,000, gained after going down to around L34.
Last night I died with 7646, coming back up. I ran out of food and was finally killed after fainting for the umpteenth time.

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Classic Roguelikes / Re: ToTRL Competitions: Recover the Amulet of Yendor!

« on: October 18, 2010, 06:03:50 AM »

I won without finding I would have thought to be indispensable: a two-handed sword, a slow digestion ring,  a ring of searching (especially for trapdoors - TWO of which I fell down on the way back up!), a regeneration ring, a scare monster scroll, a wand of polymorph

The only thing truly indispensable is high HPs. And luck - that's a huge factor.
I was potzing around tonight, nothing spectacular regarding the game, except I realized I had about 70 hp at L9. Around level 18 I realized I could actually win this time, even though all I had was a staff of slow monster (great), 2x striking (useful vs medusas), and 3x potion of paralysis (throw at monsters). No teleport scrolls, no hold monsters, no polymorph, no scare monster. Oh, strength of 16, +2+2 mace, +2 chain mail.
I made it down to the amulet, but knew I had trouble - no food left, no ring.
I made it back to L18 before I finally croaked, a troll got me after I fainted for the umpteenth time. If I had found just one more ration of food I would have made it out! So yeah, luck is HUGE. Luck gets you good HPs vs crappy ones, a slow monster staff vs haste monster, food vs nada.
Of course, you have to take what you're lucky enough to get and find a way to win - no small feat! As mentioned above, patience and perseverance, since all it takes it a careless move, or forgetting about the lifesaver you have tucked away, and it's all for naught...

7

Classic Roguelikes / Re: Rogue Newbie

« on: October 17, 2010, 08:44:43 PM »

Does anyone else here have an interest in the original game, is anyone playing it, and if you are or if you have, would you share any tips/tricks/hints/advice you have for someone who is brand new to the genre?

Also, does anyone know of a downloadable, playable, earlier version than 3.6.3?

Thanks a bunch!

I'll give you a link to an old file I helped write back in the early 80s.
(I was stunned to see it posted online recently, how it ever survived to see the light of day 28 years later is unreal!)
It may be tied to a different version, but the info contained in it can easily be used for any version (a different scroll or two, a different couple of monsters)

http://www.roguelikedevelopment.org/archive/files/misc/ROGUE.BOO

Change the file name to rogue.txt, open it as a text file, that should do it for you.
Most of your questions should be answered.

And yes, the game CAN be beaten. I've done it a number of times, but it's VERY difficult to do. (if you can copy save files it's simple, but then that's cheating).
The amulet is on L26, you can keep going down indefinitely however. Please note that the same monsters become increasingly tougher as you descend, so that by L30 they are at least 2x as tough, but L35 they are nigh impossible.

If I had one suggestion to give, it's this - HIT POINTS RULE.
Lousy HPs will kill you every time, period
The last time I won I had around 150 hp at the end. It's MUCH easier surviving a dragon with 150hp than 70hp... I've never seen anyone win without loads of HPs.
If you have low HPs in the first few levels, quit and start a new game.

One more suggestion - for most of the game, explore every room, kill everything you find. You need the EPs.
Once you hit around L20, turn that tactic off and start running down to L26.
At that point, the critters get about as tough as they're gonna get, and you're not going to gain more than maybe 1 new level. OTOH, each of those critters could easily kill you. You only have a small number of "lifesavers" (which hopefully you've hoarded through the easier levels), so the more tough fights you get into, the less likely you'll have any left later on when you need them.

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Classic Roguelikes / Re: Rogue Newbie

« on: October 17, 2010, 08:34:37 PM »

Hey Elwin, what is SSH, and how do you play?
Thanks