KeeperRL (formerly Zagadka)

[Samildanach]

I think the ctrl+direction thing and the importance of roads could do with more emphasis. Both of those things are sufficiently different fromthe majority of roguelikes that they can easily be missed, in my view. So far I haven't been able to defeat an enemy but I've at least found a dungeon, so there's some gameplay going on now.

[miki151]

I'll think about giving the travel concept a whole new interface. Perhaps the game should start in a dungeon too, instead of the elf town, so you can start real play quicker.

Meanwhile, you can try out the 3d feature. To me, honestly, it's more fun than the grid view, but you have to get used to it (which takes about 10 mins). You can toggle it with <control + z>

You can also test archery right from the start, although in the future the skill will only be given as a reward. (you shoot with <alt + direction>).

http://students.mimuw.edu.pl/~makbet/zagadka-bin.zip

[Samildanach]

Road travel works well enough once you know what it's about. No complaints there. I just think it's not as apparent as it could be.

[Samildanach]

Both healing potions and medkits restore health, but the latter with a penalty, but I don't know how to make it more apparent to the player.

What is the penalty? I noticed that my first aid kit was eventually used up but I didn't manage to discern what the penalty for use was.

Also, now I know how to find dungeons etc I'm enjoying it. I like the simple, uncluttered interface. One of the things I like about Brogue is that almost any items can be used with a generic 'apply' command and the same is true here. I personally find that much easier to use than trying to remember what needs to be quaffed, what wielded, what read, and so on.

[Samildanach]

I've played Zagadka almost every day this week. I have a couple more thoughts:

If a dead enemy is on the same space as stairs, it conceals the stairs. This can lead to some frustrating wandering around, trying to remember where you saw the exit.

I like the look of the 3D version but I mostly choose not to use it, for two reasons: the camera swinging round all the time can be a little motion sickness-ish, and it become confusing navigating a dungeon when you're not sure which direction you're facing in. Maybe I just need more practice using it.

In general, I've been increasingly impressed with the game and it's currently one of my go-to roguelikes if I want a short play session or don't feel like fiddling with character creation. I enjoy the way most of the game can be controlled without moving my hands too much. More RLs should condense their keys like that. Also, I like the boulders - mainly because they're dangerous but also give you a warning so you're not just destroyed by them.

Oh, and I've come to appreciate not knowing my health. It forces you to make a judgement call about whether you should heal now or try to tough it out for a couple more turns. I like that.

[TheCreator]

Oh, and I've come to appreciate not knowing my health. It forces you to make a judgement call about whether you should heal now or try to tough it out for a couple more turns. I like that.

I didn't. I like to know exactly how many HP I have. This is probably where ultra-realism should be given up. Some people may like it, but what about people with color blindness? My brother, for example, wouldn't be able to play this game, for the health indicator is always YELLOW for him, no matter how high the actual health level is.

[miki151]

What is the penalty? I noticed that my first aid kit was eventually used up but I didn't manage to discern what the penalty for use was.

The penaulty is that they take 3 turns to apply (actually your health is restored immediately, and then 3 turns are passed). My intention was that you should only use them away from combat, as opposed to healing potions, which take 1 turn, but are less frequent. But I guess it's really hard to figure that out without paying close attention to the turn counter. Maybe the messages should indicate better what's going on.

If a dead enemy is on the same space as stairs, it conceals the stairs. This can lead to some frustrating wandering around, trying to remember where you saw the exit.

I know, I've been thinking about this for a long time. Most likely the zoomed out view will show the bare dungeon.

I like the look of the 3D version but I mostly choose not to use it, for two reasons: the camera swinging round all the time can be a little motion sickness-ish, and it become confusing navigating a dungeon when you're not sure which direction you're facing in. Maybe I just need more practice using it.

After some time I also went back to the normal view, but I still think there is potential in 3d.

In general, I've been increasingly impressed with the game and it's currently one of my go-to roguelikes if I want a short play session or don't feel like fiddling with character creation.

Great, how far did you get? Did you encounter any of the special creatures or found an artifact?

[Samildanach]

Great, how far did you get? Did you encounter any of the special creatures or found an artifact?

Not yet but I'm working on it. 

[miki151]

I'm going to put the following text as an intro to the game (I know, the depth of the plot is amazing). Could anyone good in English correct any mistakes that I've made or maybe make it sound more "book-like"? Thanks.

Roaming the land in search for adventures, you arrive in the valley of XXX. The road takes you to a mountainside where a tunnel carved in stone leads you down and into an open cavern. You have entered some kind of a dungeon.

[getter77]

Perhaps go with "search of adventures" instead of "for".

[miki151]

Thanks. I've actually changed it to something like this (still pretty lame):

Dear Deliodolph

      If you are reading my letter, then you have arrived to the valley of Abaranjan. There is a band of dwarves dwelling in caves under a mountain. Find them, talk to them, they will help you. Let your sword guide you.

Yours, Silvester
PS.: Beware the goblins!

I wanted to make a release last week, but I feel I'm still not there yet. The game is pretty playable I think, and (knock on wood) without too many bugs, but it still needs polish and a proper name (did I mention the contest? I promise a good prize if someone comes up with a good name).

Meanwhile, below is another update. The changes are:
- more interesting levels, with caverns and lakes
- changed geography: I moved the goblin town deep into the dungeon, which became linear now
- the tribe leaders now give you quests to kill eachother
- the starting location is moved to the dwarf town so you can get to the meat faster
- scrolls no longer need to be identified, but I gave them mysterious (=latin) names.
- simplified the key bindings, you now use the stairs or drink from fountains with the pick up/enter key.

http://students.mimuw.edu.pl/~makbet/zagadka-bin.zip

[miki151]

I've just uploaded a fresh version. Among the new things are portals. You can open them with a "ianuae magicae" scroll. You need two scrolls to open two portals, and then you can travel between them for a limited amount of time. This is useful so you can go back to Dwarf Town quickly after doing a quest. The Dwarf Town shop has one of these scrolls guaranteed. What's interesting is that everything interacts with portals, including thrown items and rolling boulders. Monsters that are chasing you will follow into the portal. As a side effect this can cause a goblin invasion on the Dwarf Town or vice versa

I've also started implementing deities. So far there are a number of shrines scattered in the dungeon, and each one is dedicated to a randomly generated god(dess). The interaction with them is yet to be designed. Below is a screenshot.

[Samildanach]

Aha! You also seem to have changed something that always bothered me - I now start with my weapon equipped instead of having to equip it manually every time.

[Samildanach]

I've just been playing some more and I realised I haven't seen stairs up to the surface in the newest version(s). Have you removed that whole surface area?

[RylandAlmanza]

Any chance you could provide the source, or compile a 64-bit version?