Author Topic: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad  (Read 22306 times)

Kneller

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RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« on: April 20, 2014, 07:43:53 PM »
I recently acquired a netbook, but the max res is 1024x600. I've been playing a lot of Sil and Infra Arcana.  IA is too big for the screen. Considering the number of windows it uses, I'm not even going to try Sil. What's out there that will work on a netbook? Thanks.

sokol815

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2014, 09:26:19 PM »
ADOM is a good bet. It is a pretty deep Roguelike, uses only the single console window at 80 x 25, and runs at 738 x 464 on my screen.

you can use the 1 3 7 and 9 keys for diagonal movement, arrow keys for cardinal movement. It's not ideal, but after you have played for a while, it will become second nature.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2014, 09:35:18 PM by sokol815 »

guest509

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2014, 04:35:36 AM »
Powder is a good one with 4 way movement.

Cardinal Quest is also nice.

AgingMinotaur

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2014, 12:55:25 PM »
Shouldn't IA in ascii mode work? The classics (Rogue, ADoM, DCSS, Nethack …) are all played in a console window, so they would work. Or take it as an opportunity to try out PrincessRL, or of course Caves of Qud (imho one of the best RLs ever made).

As always,
Minotauros
This matir, as laborintus, Dedalus hous, hath many halkes and hurnes ... wyndynges and wrynkelynges.

Kneller

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2014, 04:20:09 PM »
I did manage to get IA to work in ASCII-mode, which was super cool as it's my current favorite. I should try CoQ. I keep hearing about it, but for some reason haven't been able to get into it.

george

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2014, 03:20:24 AM »
Considering the number of windows it uses, I'm not even going to try Sil.

For the record, I play Sil just with the map window on a small laptop, and it's fine (then again I haven't descended past 300' yet ;) )

Kneller

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2014, 03:53:54 AM »
How do you compensate for the other windows, then? I think you can do inventory management from the map window, and I might be able to live without seeing the combat rolls, but the recall window helps me tons with enemy information.

Edit: I tinkered and I see how it's possible now, but it's a little cumbersome for sure.

Vanguard

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2014, 08:16:35 AM »
For the record, I play Sil just with the map window on a small laptop, and it's fine (then again I haven't descended past 300' yet ;) )

I just use the main window too, and I've won the game.  You don't need any of that other stuff.

mushroom patch

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2014, 08:19:23 PM »
I am continually astonished at the way angband variants use this horrible multi-window interface. What is so hard about using a single terminal window? A full screen terminal window on a modern computer is massive, especially in the horizontal. There's tons of room for a map, multi-line (!! take note angband developers) message display, inventory, monster/targeting status bars and so on. Meanwhile, in some, e.g. tomenet you can't even meaningfully resize the windows you have. What a joke.

Vanguard

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2014, 08:22:36 PM »
I am continually astonished at the way angband variants use this horrible multi-window interface.

It's really dumb.

Kneller

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2014, 12:07:24 AM »
Quote
I am continually astonished at the way angband variants use this horrible multi-window interface.

I totally agree. All the effort they spent coding multi-window interfaces would have been better spent optimizing the single window interface they already have. I think Sil is a great game (and I normally don't like fantasy medieval games), but the interface is terrible.

chooseusername

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2014, 04:44:20 AM »
Quote
I am continually astonished at the way angband variants use this horrible multi-window interface.

I totally agree. All the effort they spent coding multi-window interfaces would have been better spent optimizing the single window interface they already have. I think Sil is a great game (and I normally don't like fantasy medieval games), but the interface is terrible.
The interface is that way for a reason. What do you think that reason is?

Kneller

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2014, 05:00:00 AM »
Quote
I am continually astonished at the way angband variants use this horrible multi-window interface.

I totally agree. All the effort they spent coding multi-window interfaces would have been better spent optimizing the single window interface they already have. I think Sil is a great game (and I normally don't like fantasy medieval games), but the interface is terrible.
The interface is that way for a reason. What do you think that reason is?

Redundancy.

Vanguard

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2014, 08:18:24 AM »
I think Sil is a great game (and I normally don't like fantasy medieval games), but the interface is terrible.

1) Close every window except the main window.

2) Enable the option that shows your inventory and equipment whenever you interact with them.

There you go, now the interface is perfect.

mushroom patch

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Re: RL for a 1024x600 netbook and no numpad
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2014, 11:22:11 PM »
Quote
I am continually astonished at the way angband variants use this horrible multi-window interface.

I totally agree. All the effort they spent coding multi-window interfaces would have been better spent optimizing the single window interface they already have. I think Sil is a great game (and I normally don't like fantasy medieval games), but the interface is terrible.
The interface is that way for a reason. What do you think that reason is?

Because it was the easiest thing to do given the existing codebase at the time and the game is written by uncompensated volunteers.

I think Sil is a great game (and I normally don't like fantasy medieval games), but the interface is terrible.

1) Close every window except the main window.

2) Enable the option that shows your inventory and equipment whenever you interact with them.

There you go, now the interface is perfect.

What you describe is the default terminal interface for angband (i.e. what you get if you play the game the way you should). It would be radically improved by a) taking into account the actual height of your terminal (emulator), which is probably much more than 24, and drawing the map to take advantage of that height (maybe this is done in the other interfaces, idk) and b) using the huge horizontal margins to permanently house useful information, of the type available in the various windows.

If I've misunderstood your suggestion and there actually is an option that reasonably approximates the above, I'd like to hear it.
« Last Edit: April 23, 2014, 11:27:53 PM by mushroom patch »