The Year's Most Popular (2012) - By Category

[Z]

HyperRogue III is a game based on a 7DRL, rather than 7DRL

As the designer, I consider Hydra Slayer a puzzle roguelike myself, because it is based on a mathematical puzzle. Keith Burgun would not probably call it a puzzle, though, since puzzle has a single correct answer, according to his definition, and Hydra Slayer allows many valid approaches. Anyway, who cares?

Darren, why is ADOM getting less hacklike with its latest developments?

[guest509]

Hey, my Halls of Mist is a *band, too!

Fixed it, sorry for the omission.

[guest509]

HyperRogue III is a game based on a 7DRL, rather than 7DRL

Darren, why is ADOM getting less hacklike with its latest developments?

Is it a 7DRL that was later expanded? I think I'd still count that.

As for the ADOM and Hack relationship, is ADOM based on Nethack/Hack code? That's kinda how I was envisioning Hacklikes and *Bands. As spin offs using a lot of the same code.

[Darren Grey]

Hacklike used to mean as opposed to the *Band tree.  ADOM was definitely part of the Hack branch since it was directly inspired by Hack and NetHack.

The recent changes move it away from NetHack I think - more emphasis on balance, discussion of interface streamlining, removing spoiler-based gameplay, etc.  A lot of the tropes I associate with NetHack anyway 

[tootboot]

As for the ADOM and Hack relationship, is ADOM based on Nethack/Hack code?

I've seen someone allege as much once.

[Ancient]

The recent changes move it away from NetHack I think - more emphasis on balance, discussion of interface streamlining, removing spoiler-based gameplay, etc.  A lot of the tropes I associate with NetHack anyway 

I find that funny. NetHack is much easier game than ADOM and if it is unbalanced then it must be in player's favor. Spoiler-based gameplay fits NetHack well but it applies somewhat less to hacklikes as a whole.

In my opinion the most important trope to hacklikes is breadth of game element interactions. Multiple-use items are a staple. Reading food, eating weapons, jewelry and armor, throwing gems, drinking corpses ... Very unusual applications of objects, quirky interactions between game elements are the core thing here. Spoiler-based gameplay is a minor item. Kludgey interface is entirely optional!

[bhaak]

In my opinion the most important trope to hacklikes is breadth of game element interactions. Multiple-use items are a staple. Reading food, eating weapons, jewelry and armor, throwing gems, drinking corpses ... Very unusual applications of objects, quirky interactions between game elements are the core thing here. Spoiler-based gameplay is a minor item. Kludgey interface is entirely optional!

For me, this is the feature that differentiates it the most from all other roguelikes. Are there other roguelikes that have this as well?

This of course tends towards needing of spoilers but when well designed, it's not so bad. When not designed well, you get NetHack.

Your posting is another proof that for different people very different parts of NetHack are considered good or bad. The roguelike radio team is reluctant to do a NetHack episode because "What can we say that hasn't been said about it already?". But I think that we finally will get an episode where each other will disagree with each other and some serious ass-kicking will occur. I'm betting on the Australian to win the fight ...  

[Ancient]

In my opinion the most important trope to hacklikes is breadth of game element interactions. (...)

For me, this is the feature that differentiates it the most from all other roguelikes. Are there other roguelikes that have this as well?

<shameless self plug> PRIME! </shameless self plug> It has wearable guns (predator plasmacaster), and melee weapons you can fire (combi-stick extends) among other fun things. Many things can be applied. This is the direction the game goes forward the most. Well, maybe except fast evolving GUI which is a new thing.

The key difference is PRIME is explicit about that. When you identify a canister of napalm (explodes when thrown) it is automatically added to throwing menu suggestions. You still can throw any item if you suspect unknown canister might be napalm. Bionic brain implants (approximate ring equivalent) that do something when applied are listed in apply menu once identified. Items get lore which not only contains fluff text but also explanations on part of mechanics relevant to the inspected object. You can examine weapons to get precise damage ranges. Or not so precise if enhancement ("plus") is unknown.

We also went where NetHack has not. Unidentified items can be listed in different category altogether. The most insidious example I am proud of is lightsabers masking as innocuous flashlights. When you try to apply it and there is 50% chance you held it the wrong way and get burnt. Who bothers to identify candles in NetHack? Well, who bothers to identify flashlights in PRIME? You bet that might change a bit with new release.

In future there are plans to conquer hearts of NetHackers. Especially those thinking SLASH'EM is immensely cool.

Your posting is another proof that for different people very different parts of NetHack are considered good or bad. The roguelike radio team is reluctant to do a NetHack episode because "What can we say that hasn't been said about it already?". But I think that we finally will get an episode where each other will disagree with each other and some serious ass-kicking will occur. I'm betting on the Australian to win the fight ...  

Quite likely. I could propose a drinking game as a rematch. Then Poles would win.

[hudsonK]

  Here is a play through:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=782O8LFoF9w

I enjoyed this video a lot!!! Thanks Jo!