Roguelikes with infrequent, dangerous and interesting combat

[TSMI]

Are there any good roguelikes out there where combat doesn't happen all the time, but when it does it's dangerous? I am not a big fan of the whole "lots of easy/meaningless monsters" style of game, so I'm looking for something different.

[Vanguard]

I don't know of any.

[guest509]

I will think on this...a super hard roguelike is going to have death all around but your speed of play/clicks and the length of the game is going to play a part in how you perceive the game.

[chooseusername]

It is unlikely. In most games, the combat is the content that keeps the player interested, with a thin wrapping of world around it.  I'd say it is easier to add main content related to combat, than to do differently.

Have you looked at Ulimatim Regina Gary Busey or whatever it is called?  Erm, googling something like those words gave me this link.  That has rather a detailed world, so perhaps might have combat approached as being less of a crutch.

[Krice]

Forays Into Norrendrin is something like that. It's not that difficult at least in first levels (might be later?) but each combat is interesting and you can't just walk around bashing monsters.

[TSMI]

I'm looking to mine ideas for good combat. I guess it doesn't have to be infrequent, but i find most roguelike melees boring. Even something that relies on stealth a lot in an interesting way.

Forays Into Norrendrin is something like that. It's not that difficult at least in first levels (might be later?) but each combat is interesting and you can't just walk around bashing monsters.

Forays great, already going to steal some ideas from that

[miki151]

If combat is infrequent, how do you fill in the gaps? With riddles? Exploration? Good topic, I'm interested in it myself.

[AgingMinotaur]

Like miki, I'd be interested in what to replace frequent combat with, as RLs are typically hack'n'slash games. I'd love to play (or make ) something that tones down the psycho killer aspect whilst retaining RL replayability et al. I guess "exploration" is one possible key word to start thinking about features that might make a less combat-focused RL fun and interesting. "Random story" seems still to be more or less a holy grail, though – as in, it would be neat to cure humanity of all ailments, but I don't see it happening anytime soon

URR has been mentioned, I think that is planned as not too combat heavy. The current version is very much alpha, featuring no battle whatsoever. It's got a neat system for random puzzles, though. I guess Dwart Fortress might be a place to look also, although I'm ashamed to say I've yet to play it.

As always,
Minotauros

[Krice]

If combat is infrequent, how do you fill in the gaps? With riddles? Exploration?

How about with nothing.

[Vanguard]

I guess Dwart Fortress might be a place to look also, although I'm ashamed to say I've yet to play it.

Oh yeah, Dwarf Fortress has infrequent and dangerous combat.  I dunno if you'd count it as interesting or not.  It isn't very deep but it's unique.

[jim]

Actually, Wayward might fit the bill here.

http://www.unlok.ca/wayward/

[Samildanach]

If combat is infrequent, how do you fill in the gaps? With riddles? Exploration?

How about with nothing.

Then all you have is gap, which is tedious as hell. Try the first floor of Uushuvud. Might as well be asleep.

[Krice]

Then all you have is gap, which is tedious as hell. Try the first floor of Uushuvud. Might as well be asleep

What is Uushuvud? Never heard of that one. I think gaps can be interesting too. You don't always need continuous action and roguelikes aren't even the best genre for action. If you really want you could put something else than monsters in the game world to fill those pesky gaps between battles. Only the imagination is the limit as I have said many times.

[Paul Jeffries]

Actually, Wayward might fit the bill here.

http://www.unlok.ca/wayward/

Thanks for that link - I played Wayward a long time ago and then completely forgot what it was called when I wanted to find it again!  It looks like it's evolved quite bit since then, and I would agree it seems like the sort of thing the OP is after.  Enemies are relatively rare and anything bigger than a Giant Rat presents a serious danger - even when you do encounter one it's usually wiser to run away than it is to fight it.  The 'gaps' are filled with survival-based resource gathering, crafting, exploration and treasure-hunting.

[Enke]

I guess Dwart Fortress might be a place to look also, although I'm ashamed to say I've yet to play it.

Oh yeah, Dwarf Fortress has infrequent and dangerous combat.  I dunno if you'd count it as interesting or not.  It isn't very deep but it's unique.

What it may lack in depth it makes up for in sheer hilarity.