Level messages, monster messages, room messages

[marvalis]

Hi,

For me, a rogue-like is much like reading a good book. Compare it with a graphical game that is more like watching a good movie. One of the big advantages of ASCII symbols is that is forces the user to use his or her imagination. For a game that plays like a book, it make sense to add text right?

What I am suggesting is the addition of messages when you enter certain rooms, perform certain actions, or enter certain levels. When certain conditions are met, monsters should greet you with a message. In addition to adding allot of character and atmosphere to the game, it will help players to anticipate on the dangers that they are facing. A few examples:

* When entering the final level of the minotaur maze, the player could be greeted with the message 'The floor of this dungeon is littered with the skeletons of many adventurers. You never knew fortune seeking could be so deadly.'. And maybe a bit later something like: 'You remove some white dust from your boots, you feel a strong revulsion as you realize that his dust comes from the pulverized bones on the floor. But the many scars on you body remind you that you have been trough much worse.'

* When entering the level where the vampire boss is, you could get a message like this: 'You sense a strong evil. The walls around you are pulsating with the dark agony of uncountable lost souls. You can barely figure out if they are screaming for help, or out of fear. The wailing they produce is almost as evil like a bad heavy metal concert'.

* When you see a skeletons on the first levels, they could greet you with a message like: 'The skeleton screams: Intruder, get him!'. As you go deeper, on the final levels, a vampire could say when you kill him: 'You fool, the master will kill you'.

* Certain rooms could have messages, for example, on the final level with the master vampire there could be a room that gives this description when you enter: 'This room seems really ancient. On the walls you see paintings of a legacy of rules. Judging from the amount of pictures from this lineage, this room has existed for thousands of years.

* Certain locations could have messages too. Suppose there is a fireplace is a room, suggested by light emitting from one of the walls. As you walk in this light, a message could appear. The message might vary from race to race (player-dependent). For creatures that like heat: 'You sense a comfortable heat from the fireplace. You feel at home.' For creatures that don't like heat (frost mage?, undead?) you could generate a message like: 'The heat from the fireplace irritates you.'

* The sandworm lair could generate something like: 'As you walk on the sandy floor, your boots seem to sink into the sand. Luckily it can barely support your weight. Hopefully, these walls wont collapse.'


Cheers.

[darkgod]

Yeah good ideas I wanted to add them but I'm bad at such things
Keep them coming!