New roguelike: BOSS (v3.0.1)

[PlunderBunny]

I would like to invite you all to play beta test my new roguelike - BOSS (version 3.0). It has been in development (on and off) for almost 10 years.

BOSS was originally a variant of Moria, that I played while at University in the 1990s on the VAX/VMS mainframe. Versions have been ported to other platforms, but there has been no development for more than a decade. BOSS v3.0 is a re-write that uses some of the original data and algorithms, but has many new features. It should be a more causal experience than Moria/Angband, despite its heritage, and hopefully it distinguishes itself with its humour.

This is (hopefully) a beta in the original sense - it is feature complete, and all known bugs have been fixed.

You can download BOSS 3.0 in 64-bit versions for Windows, macOS and Linux (self-contained .net console applications):
80.style/hash/plunderbunny/boss/introduction

I have not been able to test the Windows and Linux ARM versions. If anyone really wants a 32-bit version for Windows or Linux, I can make one.

If you have any suggestions, comments or issues, please feel free to post here or email me directly: richard.drysdall at iCloud dot com.

Thanks, and enjoy!

[getter77]

Congrats on a neat revival. 

[memmaker]

Unfortunately, I couldn't progress because of this bug here.

Nevertheless, I liked what I saw until here.


A fatal error has occurred - please send the message below to the author:. ..  .&&&  ..  . ...  ........  ..... ..
The value must be greater than or equal to zero and less than the console's buffer size in that dimension. (Parameter 'top').&.&...&  .    ... &&..  .......... ....
Actual value was -5... ...... . ... ... .. &.& ...   .. .. .&&&....  . ....  .. ..
   at System.Console.SetCursorPosition(Int32 , Int32 )....&  &. . .... ... .   ..
   at Boss.Scenes.LookConsoleScene.ShowSeen(List`1 sights)&  .. . . .  .... ... .
   at Boss.Scenes.LookConsoleScene.Action()& ..  . .  ....&. . ....   ...  .&&& ..
   at Boss.Acts.MonsterInteractionAct.Action().   . ..    &. .. .  ..  ..... & ..
   at Boss.Program.PlayGame().. ... .      .......... .  .&.     .......  &&   & .
   at Boss.Program.Main(String[] arguments)

[PlunderBunny]

Hi.
Thanks for reporting this. It appears that you were looking at a monster or object when the crash occurred. If you have the 'introductions' option on, then turning it off might help prevent this.

I suspect the problem might have something to do with the console window size, or resizing the console window. Would you mind telling me what the dimensions of your console window are?

Is the crash reproducible? I think I can add some code to prevent this crash even if I don't know what the root cause is, so I'll put that in the next version.

[PlunderBunny]

I believe I have fixed the bug reported by memmaker (above - thanks!)

I have updated all the versions available for download on the web site to correct this issue.

[memmaker]

Yes, I indeed hat the intro text feature turned on.
And I am also one of those people who like to resize their terminals

Thanks for looking into it, gotta grab that new build

[PlunderBunny]

Three minor bug fixes in the latest version (uploaded just now)
- Laser guns don't always hit their target(s)
- All guns (projectile and laser) do more damage (specifically, the damage adjustment for the gun was not being used)
- Some of the starting equipment was incorrect for some professions.

(No version number change because it's still in beta).

[PlunderBunny]

A new version (3.0.1) with a few additional random encounters can be downloaded from the web site. This version is compatible with existing save files, high-score files, and default options files.

Please note that the version number is 3.0.1, but the web page, archives etc don't show the third digit. You can verify you have the updated version by pressing shift-v in-game to see the credits.

[PlunderBunny]

Edit: Looks like I was replying to a bot account, which has been deleted (?)

You're welcome. I'm more than happy to provide more information if anyone has any questions, and I'd really like to read about people's progress in the game and their thoughts.

I'm currently playing around with two new features that might or might not ship, and continuing to write monster and item descriptions whenever I think of something funny.

I'd like to make a graphical version of Boss some day (where the graphics consist of cut-scenes and background rather than graphical tiles). I had a little look at using .Net MAUI as a first step, but I'm not sure I want to commit to that. Anyone out there using .Net MAUI?

[PlunderBunny]

Version 3.0.3 improves the 'look' command. You can download the new version from the web site (see first post in this thread). This version is compatible with existing save files, high-score files, and default options files.

Please note that the version number is 3.0.3, but the web page, archives etc don't show the third digit. You can verify you have the updated version by pressing shift-v in-game to see the credits.

[PineappleComputer]

Hi! I think that stealth formula is too cheaty. You simply get 10 stealth at the start of the game for any class and go kill all bosses like a breeze ignoring hardcore robots.

Its possible to make 50str, 50int, melee, dex, con Scientist-Tank to craft experience pills and sell corpses with that str encumbrance (can't find any container yet).

Also all spells are the same for any classes with just their own names. Its boring because wisdom and charisma classes are not so good as scientist that can craft pills.

[PlunderBunny]

These are all really good points. I think the original BOSS game probably wasn't well balanced, and of course I've just copied that lack of balance over to the new version because I didn't know any better. I'm not against having a game with a few exploits - it's meant to be a casual game after all - but I can see the examples you've given would make the game too easy once you know them.

I'd like to hear your ideas on how to fix the stealth and tank-scientist issues. I don't want to, for example, introduce randomness to the effectiveness of stealth, because random failures aren't much fun. Perhaps I could cap the maximum values for stealth and attributes when creating a new character, so that the higher values need to be earned in-game?

Some spells are specific to certain classes - the multi-classes (e.g. soldier) won't get some high level spells of the equivalent single-classes (e.g. scientist). More spells would definitely be good, and I'll try to think of a few.

Thanks.

Hi! I think that stealth formula is too cheaty. You simply get 10 stealth at the start of the game for any class and go kill all bosses like a breeze ignoring hardcore robots.

Its possible to make 50str, 50int, melee, dex, con Scientist-Tank to craft experience pills and sell corpses with that str encumbrance (can't find any container yet).

Also all spells are the same for any classes with just their own names. Its boring because wisdom and charisma classes are not so good as scientist that can craft pills.

[PineappleComputer]

Thank YOU for rewriting this game on c#!

I have downgraded it to .NET 4.0 for running on my AppLocker WindowsRT laptop. Now i can play Grogg istead of Rogue, BOSS instead of Moria, Cryptband instead of Angband and ForaysIntoNorrendrin instead of BRogue.

Also i think that Micro Computer (20%), Laptop Computer(40%) and Mini Computer (55%) are useless items. You never want to waste disks with this chances of success. Better to keep disks and wait for Mainframe Computer (75%) or Matrix Computer (60%) [if you have small encumbrance].

[PlunderBunny]

Thanks for playing the game, and for your feedback!

I'd like to know more about what is involved in downgrading BOSS to .NET 4.0 - I didn't know this was possible.

I agree the implementation of computers isn't great, but I'm at a bit of a loss of how to improve it. If I made it harder to get the better computers, that would just be frustrating. I considered letting the user blank disks and copy them, but thought that would just result in a lot of 'busy work' that wouldn't be fun. If you have any ideas on how to improve the way computers work, I'd be really interested to hear them.

Thank YOU for rewriting this game on c#!

I have downgraded it to .NET 4.0 for running on my AppLocker WindowsRT laptop. Now i can play Grogg istead of Rogue, BOSS instead of Moria, Cryptband instead of Angband and ForaysIntoNorrendrin instead of BRogue.

Also i think that Micro Computer (20%), Laptop Computer(40%) and Mini Computer (55%) are useless items. You never want to waste disks with this chances of success. Better to keep disks and wait for Mainframe Computer (75%) or Matrix Computer (60%) [if you have small encumbrance].

[PineappleComputer]

I'd like to know more about what is involved in downgrading BOSS to .NET 4.0 - I didn't know this was possible.

I sent an archive link to your mail on this forum. AppLocker blocks any unsigned assemblies. So i need to compile it with csc.exe by myself and then hack powershell to load managed dlls from bytes))