Random thoughts from an "Angbander"

[dhegler]

I have played ToME 2 for quite a while as wel, but I have lost many hours to Angband/Moria/Hack, etc... I have beaten Angband and never quite challenged the others...

I really enjoy this new game... The "light" graphics with the cool effects when you fight creatures, etc... It all seems like everything I could want and more...

However, I tend to die continuously, unlike any other roguelike, including ToME 2. There has to be some tricks to figure out why I am dying. I try to rest at regular intervals when my HP are low, I put a lot of early talent points into Health to get extra HP. I have actually done my best with the archer, but then eventually I ran out of gold for arrows and never found any more.

I know what people will say - play carefully not to die. Well, I think I am playing more cautiously than I ever have with any Roguelike and it is starting to frustrate me.

Someone may want to create a thread not even for newbies, but also for Angbanders, et al who need a refresher on how to play this game more successfully, ie what are the major changes between Angband/ToME 2.x and this game... It took me about 5 minutes to figure out "f", or "v" did not fire my arrows.

All in all, this seems like a WONDERFUL game, but lack of documentation in-game makes it really tough, unless I just don't know where any documentation is, which is a distinct possibility!!!

Thanks for the work on this!!!

[losludvig]

Heh, don't worry about the dying part, I myself, wonder if it's time to change my real name to "Sir Dies-a-lot"

Archers have a really nice ability called ammo creation, that enables you to (sometimes) get a good amount of ammo for your currently equipped ranged weapon for a modest stamina investment. The cooldown of ammo creation is 200 turns, but since you can use it everywhere but on the world map, one could easily travel to a city, use it then hold down "5" until it's ready again and repeat. When playing an archer one gets some nice crowd control style talents at level 4 (provided one has the prerequisite).

Also: Pay attention to what stats are important to your class. Bow users will find their damage increased by strength, whereas sling users need cunning...

Playing on easy will also help a bit until you get the hang of it.

[Taxorgian]

Another chime in on Ammo Creation. It is impossible to get enough ammo by buying it to succeed (you only need to invest one point in the skill to make it work -- I'd say more but this is supposed to be spoiler-free).

Dying isn't such a problem especially if you go over to the other starter dungeon. You can unlock a much better race for archers by being lucky when you die (!).

[dhegler]

You guys are no fun! Maybe I cheat all the time by using artifacts spoilers and the like. However, good tip on the ammo creation... I have been using dwarf archers and investing in dexterity and strength and constitution (simply for the health talent)... I'll keep on dying and see if it gets any better soon...

[Taxorgian]

The General Discussion side is supposed to be spoiler-free per DarkGod. There is a spoiler section if you're more curious....

[Gwai]

Also remember that there will be more documentation once the game is further along.

[greycat]

There's basically no documentation yet, other than the in-game text.

I've done pretty well with Archers as well. I maximized Dex, then spread the remaining points between Str and Con. I'm not sure why Str is recommended by the in-game text, when the game says that Dex is used for calculating ranged weapon damage. Con seems more immediately helpful for a class that doesn't favor heavy armor.

(I use the Elf/Nandor race for bow & arrow Archers. Dwarves with bows just seem wrong.)

[Gwai]

greycat, if you want a more spoily answer about why strength is mentioned for archers, I found this post: http://forum.t-o-m-e.net/viewtopic.php?p=84364#p84364 rather enlightening.

[registeringislame]

Dwarves with bows just seem wrong.)

Crossbows.

[greycat]

Aye, a self-respecting dwarf has no qualms about launching a bolt of steel through someone's liver. But the arrows in this game are made of trees! Grown in the open, with nary a stone in sight!

[registeringislame]

Aye, a self-respecting dwarf has no qualms about launching a bolt of steel through someone's liver. But the arrows in this game are made of trees! Grown in the open, with nary a stone in sight!

If you've ever played dwarf fortress, Dwarves have no issues with chopping down trees.

[FACM]

Aye, a self-respecting dwarf has no qualms about launching a bolt of steel through someone's liver. But the arrows in this game are made of trees! Grown in the open, with nary a stone in sight!

If you've ever played dwarf fortress, Dwarves have no issues with chopping down trees.

In Dwarf Fortress, I often chop down the entire forest, just to piss off the elves.

[greycat]

The trees get burnt into charcoal, which fuels the smelter and the forge, to make the steel crossbows and steel crossbow bolts, before you get to the magma. (Except that the military can't actually use crossbows in the current version... oops.)

The trees also get turned into barrels for holding a dwarf's booze. That's important!

Oh, and beds. For some reason, dwarves have to sleep in wooden beds.

But this is supposed to be the ToME forum, right?