A Better Name for LambdaRogue's new "Coffeebreak Mode"

[mariodonick]

This is a poll for helping me finding a maybe better name for the "coffeebreak" mode which I just added to LambdaRogue 1.6.4.

As you maybe know, the usual gameplay of LambdaRogue forces the player to follow a story and doing quests; it's not possible to win the game without doing this. But sometimes, even I just want to hack'n'slay through the dungeon and kill the ultimate evil (which is, in LambdaRogue, Eris, the evil goddess).

So since the new update 1.6.4, we have "story mode" (the traditional full game), and "coffeebreak mode" (where you start in the 1st level, go down to level 20 and kill Eris). Coffeebreak mode is faster than story mode and can be completed (theoretically) during an afternoon.

As I was told by several people, the term "coffeebreak mode" may not be the best. So please vote in this poll for alternatives or post in this thread for additional suggestions.


Answer 8 is a bit ironic, whereas answer 9 is for people who want to express that story/quests are a mistake anyway, and an improved "coffeebreak" mode should be the standard.

[getter77]

Yep, I'll go with my random "The Gauntlet of Eris" suggestion from the other thread, think it bubbled up from a Gauntlet mode that was much the same sort of notion back on one of the Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance games and just kinda stuck.

Also, after the fact, it would open doors for perhaps other eventual Challenge Modes and the like thematically----gotta exploit that Pantheon and such~

[Evropi]

Huh, nice forum. Thanks for introducting me to this through your blog!

Anyway, I think "Casual" mode would be a better option, and that's my vote.
You should also consider "Arcade" mode along the lines of OpenTyrian. Though I'd still prefer the former.

Of course, you should have some kind of pop-up for this unless you just call it "No story" mode. I've been quite busy recently and although I've downloaded and applied the patch, I have yet to play it. Anyway, it's your project. Use these statistics only as a guide.

By the way, this is somewhat off-topic and I hope I'm not mistaken, but the inspiration came from Desktop Dungeons, right?

[mariodonick]

Welcome to this forum. The place where most the roguelike nerds gather ...

Thanks for your suggestion, although both casual and arcade are imo misleading: The game is not easier than in story mode, or less complex in terms of what one can do. It just has fewer levels and, well, no story

The inspiration for LambdaRogue came in 2006 from Angband and Diablo, and later from World of Warcraft. I think this was before Desktop Dungeons. Never played this, too.

The coffeebreak mode was added, because Krice complained that he was forced to play the story to win the game. And sometimes I feel the same.

[Xecutor]

what about 'Fast mode'?
Or m.b. 'Storyless mode'.

[Alex E]

It sounds to make like a "Quick-Play" mode, so why not name it that  ? Unless maybe you're looking for something more original.

[Legend]

None of the alternate names in the poll really pop out to me.

"Gauntlet" mode sounds kinda good. Maybe.

"Arcade" mode might work if you implement the real time mode you mentioned in your blog.

If I had to pick from the list I think I would go with "Hack N' Slay" or "Rogue" mode. (maybe not "Roguelike" mode). "Traditional" mode might work too.

[Krice]

I don't know if it was a good idea to make a hack mode at all. I mean if people can't follow the story it's not the game's problem. I think roguelikes should be more story oriented, but in a way that allows more than one way to proceed.

Anyway if it must be there, call it "Duck".

[Legend]

 I think that the hack/coffeebreak mode is a pretty good idea actually. DCSS has a few different play modes. No reason LambdaRogue can't/shouldn't do it too.

[mariodonick]

I did it for you, Krice, for YOU. ;P

[N]

I like the name "Arcade Mode", I think it conveys the right idea of "story-light" gameplay... which, personally, is something I kind of like to have the option of in a roguelike. So I think I'd probably use this feature.

[Ancient]

I voted Dungeon Crawler but would really like it to be named Dungeon Crawl mode. But! Must admit "Duck" sounds good too.

[guest509]

  Duck mode? I don't get it. Some reference I'm not familiar with.

  I vote for Arcade Mode. Or you can go with Story Mode and Quick Play Mode. Or Campaign or Quick Play as lots of games do something like this and players will know what it means.

  Any of those will communicate what it is effectively I think.

 

[mariodonick]

Campaign and Quick Play, hm? This sounds nice to my (non-native) ears.

[Darren Grey]

I think they have different connotations though.  Campaign and Quick Play are more used in the context of strategy games, where you decide between a multi-battle or single battle game.

I'd probably say "Non-Story Mode" is the most direct and unambiguous thing to call it.