I have been playing this a bit in the last few weeks and am quite enjoying it. Initially the first dungeon layout turned me off the game, two many diagonal walkways that you dont know are there until you walk one square away from them. But one I got past that dungeon and found my way into the "first" town the game came alive.
One major difference from roguelikes (except for the non-random world) is that NPC interaction is based on talking and questions. Hints at what to do next, who to talk to and random gossip all bring the world alive and drive the player that bit further into the game.
Another major difference is the permenent save game feature, which is needed because this is more a ascii rpg game, redoing the exact same maps over and over each time you die would turn anyone off. Permenent saving is done in inns where the player will be "re-awakened" after death however the game is reverted back to the saved state so exploration and experience will be lost.
Anyway if a rougelike-interactive fiction-rpg game sound good to you then this is for you. Also if you want to see how to make a roguelike profitable check out his website.
Thanks Nathan for a wonderful game.
