Alternate Reality: The City Competition

[WestofHouse]

Nooooo! And a nice roll on the stats too... except for the stamina. Are you going to try again?

 

I already have tried a couple more games. One ended when the wrapper program crashed my computer (sigh), and the other ended when I encountered a bad guy and hadn't equipped the dagger I'd purchased.

 

I don't know if it's a bug or a known issue, but with my wrapper program I have to equip a weapon twice in order for it to work. The first time I select a weapon as my primary nothing happens. Only when I repeat the procedure do I get the message confirming that it is equipped.

[Xebec's Demise]

Nooooo! And a nice roll on the stats too... except for the stamina. Are you going to try again?

 

I wonder if the low Stamina is what caused him to be so drunk, even after sleeping?

[Xebec's Demise]

My first venture into the city ended in a tragedy.

 

When I first entered the city I managed to make it to the smithy to pick up a dagger, and I stumbled upon a guild that raised my stamina a bit. After walking around for some time it was not yet late but the journey had exhausted me, so I sought an inn.

 

My uneasiness in the strange city made it difficult to sleep, so I left my bed around midnight and took a walk in the dark streets. I feared that the shadows held dangers uncountable, but I found comfort in the feel of my new dagger at my side.

 

I turned a corner and was assaulted by a gremlin. He lunged and snapped his jaws, but I was able to evade his deadly bit. I swung the dagger and landed a fatal blow. I considered myself very lucky. As the gremlin lay dying I noticed a potion he had dropped, and I picked it up and broke the seal. The solution was foreign to me so I carefully took a taste. The orange liquid tasted odd but harmless, so I downed in one more gulp.

 

Within seconds the streets were a blur. I stumbled blindly, spinning this way and that, barely able to stand.

 

 

I stumbled through the dark streets until I found another inn, where I paid for a night's stay. Unfortunately the sleep did me no good, and I still suffered from the effects of the vile potion I had consumed.

 

Before I knew what was happening I was being robbed. I was in no condition to fight back, and the villain left me with only a handful of coppers -- not nearly enough for another night's stay at an inn.

 

Without the safety of an inn I knew my only choice was to simply try to hide in the shadows until the inebriating poison had worked its way through my body. My head pounded and my limbs cried for rest.

 

A dark figure in armor appeared in front of me. I don't know he was looking for a fight or if he simply mistook my condition for unruliness, because he drew his sword without a word and lashed out at me. Unable to dodge I took the full force of his sword. I tried to reach for my dagger but I knew it would be no match for the knight's steel. I tried to plead for my life -- to explain that I was a stranger and helpless -- but no words came out. The sword raised again, and when it dropped -- blackness.

 

Your entry puts you in 14th place. Very well written story!

 

There is a list of potions in the cluebook, which is very helpful to use while playing: http://www.eobet.com/alternate-reality/docs/city_cluebook.html

 

I think maybe your low stamina played a part in you being drunk for so long, even after sleeping. Also, I had a problem with arming a longsword I recently found, after it was already picked up as my secondary weapon. I had a couple of encounters while I was playing around trying to set it as primary. What I realized I eventually had to do was arm my barehands in place of the longsword, which unequipped it, and then I was able to re-equip the longsword as primary. Maybe something along those lines happened? I don't think the wrapper could cause an arming bug could it?

Edited August 19, 2013 by Xebec's Demise

[WestofHouse]

I don't think the wrapper could cause an arming bug could it?

 

I think I figured out what was happening. I think readying a weapon does work on the first try. The message I'm getting when I arm it a second time probably means that it is already ready.

[Jim Norris]

I wonder if the low Stamina is what caused him to be so drunk, even after sleeping?

 

If I remember the disassembly... there's an alchohol level which is just a byte, and it has a chance to go down each hour during the beginning of the hour calculations. I think the chance to go down is better with higher stamina.

[Xebec's Demise]

Here is the first video entry. It shows name entry until Atari800Win or the Microsoft RLE codec began to fail. At the point that the video began failing it was at about 1 hour or 4GB. At this point the video began recording over itself in the beginning, as if it ran out of space and started over within the same file. This is why I'm missing the AR intro. I'm assuming the file size limitation is 4GB for some reason (maybe back when the Microsoft RLE codec was written there were no GB drives). It's not a very efficient codec either. I tried to install x264 but Atari800Win didn't seem to recognize it, is the emulator limited to only the old codecs it has listed? I would appreciate any help on updating the codec to x264. The second video I made was a complete failure, and won't even load in Windows Media Player. Are there any utilities that repair RLE videos?

 

Thomas Anderson rolled some fairly good stats. I always go for WIS, SKL, and STA because these are the stats that cannot be raised through other means and are very helpful. WIS helps determine what valuable potions are, SKL helps prevent you from getting hit and helps in escaping, and STA determines how many Hit Points are gained, and probably how negative effects like alcohol and disease affect you. SKL seems to be the most important stat in the game from my experience. For example, Thomas Anderson has very low HP, but is pretty much able to escape any encounter and usually avoid getting hit.

 

With great luck I found a longsword on a mugger. Later I found a jewel and a gem on a Fighter in front of Granite Bank in the City Square. I'll let the video tell the story. I added in text comments.

 

Watch in HD on youtube.

 

http://youtu.be/7wGdWxKfN10

Edited August 19, 2013 by Xebec's Demise

[WestofHouse]

Un. Be. Lievable.

 

I rolled a new character and got excellent stats. I had 14HP. I made it to Occum's and bought a dagger. Shortly after leaving there I encountered a warrior who decided he didn't like the looks of me. One swing of the sword -- 4HP left. Not 25 feet later I ran into a thief. One swing and I'm dead. I've never seen anything like it.

Edited August 19, 2013 by WestofHouse

[Xebec's Demise]

Life isn't easy in The City. It happens to us all. What was your Skill stat? If you watch my video above, you can see with a SKL of 19-22 I am usually able to escape most encounters and also dodge most attacks. I escape from both warriors and thieves, avoiding fighting them. One of the first guilds I visit is the Assassins guild too, which raises Stealth. Stealth gives you the upper hand in encounters.

[WestofHouse]

My skill was 19, I believe. I just have horrible luck with this game.

 

I had another similar experience later that night. I got my dagger and made it to a couple of guilds, but someone robbed me of all my food and water. I killed several baddies once night fell, but not a single one yielded any treasure so I had no money for food and water or an inn. So I just kept roaming, hoping to stumble upon some money. I was eventually killed by a troll.

Edited August 20, 2013 by WestofHouse

[Xebec's Demise]

I think if the game were easier, I would not have as much respect for it. It's the challenge that makes one appreciate success.

 

There are a couple of strategies that I use. Are you playing a good character? Only attacking those that attack first? And only tricking or charming evil monsters? This will greatly reduce your enemies. Be careful though because warriors and thief types sound evil, but they're not. After buying my first weapon, which I always try to barter down to between 100-120 copper, I always try to stash some coppers away in the bank, even if it's just 10 or 20 coppers. That's enough to buy some food and water or sleep in an inn if you get completely robbed. Rather than just roaming and trying to find money, if I need money I spend the time traveling to the guilds so that I'm raising my stats at the same time I'm roaming. You can get 8 additional hit points from the Star Wizards and Physicians guilds. And I think the Assassins guild actually boosts your Stealth by 20 or so, I don't recall exactly but it's a huge amount. If your stats are going up while roaming, you will be getting tougher. If you have already gone to guilds or are more desperate for hit points, you can camp right outside the Healer. That way you can fight and get healed when needed. The prices go up when used though, so I travel back and forth between the 2 healers on the west side of town. If you're desperate for food and water, then it's usually best to camp outside The Tavern hidden inside the North City Wall. The water is free there, Pemmican is 16 copper, which gives a food packet, and Grams Gold Exchange and the second cheapest Inn is close by to the southeast. Also Jim Norris mentioned a new strategy which I've never used before but sounds promising. If you buy a couple of rounds for the house at a tavern while you have some money and become friends, then they will give you free food and water when you are hungry or thirsty. Of course even at the cheapest tavern it would cost 128 coppers for two rounds, so you would need a little money to begin with. But if your money gets stolen later you can still get food and water.

 

Keep trying, you'll eventually have a character survive - though how long is the question.

[Xebec's Demise]

Lords of Light! This looks fantastic. I've been searching for an original copy of this for my Atari, but the AR Wrapper looks like the next best thing. I'm going to have to give it a shot.

 

Thanks, Xebec's Demise, for pointing out this thread in the Phillip Price thread. I don't know how I missed it before.

 

By the way, I made a blank 64X64 grid for anyone who wants to do their own map. I think I counted those squares right, anyway. I tried to find a good scan of the semi-blank starter map that came with the original game but couldn't.

 

I found a scan of the original map inside the manual here: http://mocagh.org/da...city-manual.pdf

 

Also more cool scans of AR docs and packaging here: http://mocagh.org/lo...ompany=datasoft

 

Attached is just the map converted to jpg.

Edited August 20, 2013 by Xebec's Demise

[Xebec's Demise]

First, go for 20 or 21 strength on the roll and pray for either decent stamina or decent dex, and enough copper to buy a dagger. Pray for good speed too.

 

Good wisdom I think helps with finding treasure but this is just a hunch. Wisdom helps with identifying potions and magical armor for sure, but isn't necessary.

 

Good charisma will let you attempt to charm warriors and wraiths when you have some extra hit points and no valuables to lose for faster leveling, but isn't necessary.

 

The only thing this character has going for it is strength and dexterity. (Speed too but I didn't know that yet.)

 

Hit points were a bit on the low side, so after checking to see if there were daggers available at the smithy, I went to the dexterity guild near the square, then the physicians guild for the extra 3 hit points.

 

A dagger at the smithy on the square pretty much means there will be one for sale at Occums. If the smithy on the square does not have a dagger, there is still a small chance that Occums will have one. I think Occums has one more item on the list that the square smithy, or one item of difference. Until I get the dagger I only fight muggers, gremlins, and goblins. If I have a lot of hit points I might fight orcs, skeletons, gnolls, and fighters. If I find a potion I use it right away mainly for the experience. My technique is sip until it says something definitive. If it says 'caution is advised' then I quaff. Otherwise I throw it away. After day one the encounters get harder. In particular it seems some muggers have armor and a lot more hitpoints. If I don't have a dagger and it says 'stopped by armor' fighting a mugger, I break off the fight.

 

After getting the dagger, I add swordsmen and cutthroats to the list. If I have a lot of hit points I might try to take on thieves and imps. If I have charisma, have hit points, gold in the bank, and it's early enough to go get more gold, I'll try to charm warriors and wraiths. If I have a LOT of hit points, and it's early, I'll try to take on gladiators. If I'm in a position where I have extra cash in the bank, or I don't want to chance losing my food because I'm not friended at the tavern yet, I'll fight rats.

 

After this I headed to the stamina guild then over to the warrior's retreat and waited for evening to come. I leveled to 1 on the treasure from a rat. I did get bit so I knew I'd have to hit the healers in a day or so.

 

I leveled to 3 off a jewel while waiting outside of the tavern, but Grahams was already closed for the day. Unfortunately I got a little greedy and decided to wait outside until 7pm instead of waiting it out in the inn. One of the higher end fighting types relieved me of my jewel and my sleeping money.

 

This was the dangerous part of the game where I nearly died. I think managed to get to sleep that night at around 11pm, but next day I was out of money and very hungry. I leveled to four, but hunger and fatigue was beginning to take it's toll. I dropped all the way down to 5 hit points. (I think the game takes your hunger and thirst levels into account during fights. It DOES take your tiredness level into account. You fight best right after waking up, which is why it's VERY important to sleep each night at least during the midnight to 3am time period. I usually try to sleep from 8pm to 6am.)

 

Then this happened... and it lasted 3 days! Which gave me enough cash to visit the healers to preemptively remove any problems those dirty rat teeth leave behind. And enough copper to remove the cursed dagger which I found during this spree. At the end of this run I was level 6 with 1600 coppers in the bank.

 

I have this theory that the banks roll the values of gems and jewels each day and there is a table where the value is based on how many you have on you... So maybe if you appraise and it is worthless, all you have to do is wait until the next day to get another opinion... Either that or it remembers the last appraisal and it sticks until you sell it.

 

I'm guessing this post will be moved or deleted since it's not an official contest entry.

Is there a thread for showing non contest characters somewhere?

 

Thomas Anderson

 

 

It's interesting that we have developed very different strategies.

 

I used to roll mainly for STR too, along with INT, CHR, Hit Points and Coppers in that order. I think that's because these were the most obvious stats for me. STR obviously results in more damage, INT and CHR are good for Tricking and Charming, and CHR will get you lower prices with bartering, especially good for your first weapon. Hit Points is very obvious and so is Coppers. However, back when I focused on these stats, I was mainly playing evil characters that would try to kill everything. I didn't concern myself with alignment at all. Eventually, I learned that it's much easier to survive by playing a good character though because then there are very few creatures out to get you. However, that means not tricking or charming any creatures except the evil, which are basically only 20 monsters, along with the Assassin. As such, INT and CHR are much less important. I also eventually realized that STR raises faster than all other stats, followed by CHR and INT with potions. And, while STR determines the damage done, it does not determine whether or not you get hit. Surviving many encounters requires not getting hit and escaping easily. The stat that helps with this is SKL. With a high SKL and a low STR it will take a little longer to kill creatures, but they have trouble hitting you, thus preserving your precious Hit Points throughout many encounters. This is why I now consider SKL the most important stat, plus unlike STR it can't be raised with potions or through use. I actually consider STR to be one of the least important stats now for the strategy I play. I don't even look at it while rolling, nor do I look at INT, CHR, HP, or Coppers anymore.

 

I usually look at SKL and WIS while rolling because they are right next to each other. Also, WIS is another skill which does not go up through use, and cannot be increased through potions. I also consider WIS to be a very important skill. This is because two of the most important items of the game are revealed with WIS - potions and cursed/magic items. The difference between using a cursed item and a magic item, or a very bad potion and a very good one, is the difference between life and death. And, WIS determines this. So, I used to write WIS off as not necessary too, until I realized what a huge difference it actually makes in survivability and success. Now I focus on WIS only second to SKL.

 

STA is the third most valuable stat for me now, because it determines the number of Hit Points gained with every single level, and I think overall health against a variety of conditions like thirst, hunger, tiredness, disease, and inebriation. Also STA does not go up through use or potions either. However, I usually don't pay much attention to STA while rolling, but I do appreciate it when it's high.

 

I'm not sure how Speed factors in, but you can't roll for it. I've always sort of thought Speed only determines actual movement speed while walking, since SKL determines dodging ability in combat.

 

From what you wrote it sounds like you only buy daggers? I buy either a dagger or stiletto, as both make a huge improvement and allow damage to be dealt. So, when I arrive at the smithy I will go for a stiletto if one is available. Plus you can get a stiletto cheaper, so sometimes even when a dagger is also available I will by the stiletto instead if I am low on coppers and need some to bank for food or sleep. As you can see in my video above, I get by quite fine with a stiletto and it only cost 108. I only do 1 or 2 points of damage to a mugger for example, but because of my high SKL, I almost never get hit. Here's an example in this portion of my video:

 

http://youtu.be/7wGdWxKfN10?t=18m32s

 

So, playing a good character, I don't try to trick or charm any humans, nor do I attack them unless they attack first. So that sounds very different from your strategy too, because you talk about tricking, charming and killing humans.

 

 

 

Another thing I do differently is that I never bother with Rats, at least at low levels when I am poor, because the risk is just too high. Getting rabies cleansed is usually expensive, and often Rats don't have good loot, sometimes they do, but usually they have nothing, or less than it would cost for cleanse. Isn't Cleanse something like 120 coppers? They just don't seem worth it for a low level character, nor probably even a higher level one, but then it doesn't matter if you're getting potions and money. Plus, if you have high SKL Rats are pretty easy to escape without losing anything.

 

As for potions, I'm more cautious with those too. I used to sip until I got caution, but there are some bad potions you can end up drinking, that will essentially be the end of you. Now I will sip, then examine and taste to figure out exactly what they are. With a high WIS they usually don't go Poof before I figure out exactly what the potion is. This is a great advantage from WIS. I don't ever drink any bad potions anymore unless I just make a mistake. I look them up on a potion list and know exactly what I'm drinking. Also, sipping can result in a the potion taking a minimal effect.

 

You said you waited outside until 7pm instead of waiting inside the Inn? Was that wait simply to try to sleep at the best time? This is something I have not been very particular about. Sleep is usually the lowest priority when I play. I do try to sleep at night when possible, but usually I sleep when most convenient for my gameplay. Maybe usually trying to get a high STA helps with this not being as much of a factor. I'll have to pay more attention to this though. I sleep day, or night, whenever it happens to seem most strategic for current gameplay. Often on the first night I don't sleep at all and end up sleeping later in the next day, usually for lack of funds or food.

 

You had a Treasure Finding potion that lasted 3 days! Wow, I think that is the longest I've heard of. Did you sleep each night at your optimum times? I wonder if things like potions wear off faster without proper sleep?

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with posting here about strategies and other characters. I originally posted some characters and strategies in the AR thread, including the first character I entered here (which is how I originally came up with the idea for this competition). What is the reason you're not entering this new character? You restarted from saves more than once?

Edited August 20, 2013 by Xebec's Demise

[Jim Norris]

Surviving many encounters requires not getting hit and escaping easily. The stat that helps with this is SKL.

 

STA is the third most valuable stat for me now, because it determines the number of Hit Points gained with every single level, and I think overall health against a variety of conditions like thirst, hunger, tiredness, disease, and inebriation. Also STA does not go up through use or potions either. However, I usually don't pay much attention to STA while rolling, but I do appreciate it when it's high.

 

I'm not sure how Speed factors in, but you can't roll for it. I've always sort of thought Speed only determines actual movement speed while walking, since SKL determines dodging ability in combat.

 

As for potions, I'm more cautious with those too. I used to sip until I got caution, but there are some bad potions you can end up drinking, that will essentially be the end of you.

You said you waited outside until 7pm instead of waiting inside the Inn?

 

You had a Treasure Finding potion that lasted 3 days! Wow, I think that is the longest I've heard of. Did you sleep each night at your optimum times? I wonder if things like potions wear off faster without proper sleep?

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with posting here about strategies and other characters. I originally posted some characters and strategies in the AR thread, including the first character I entered here (which is how I originally came up with the idea for this competition). What is the reason you're not entering this new character? You restarted from saves more than once?

 

Strength also helps with your defense against non magical attacks... a lot. After the skill based check to see if you parry the monster's attack, the game does a strength based check based on the difference between the character's and monster's strength. If the monster's strength is higher, the highest power of two of the difference is added to the monster's attack roll... and sometimes the monster's attack roll is doubled.

 

Your chance to get away is speed based I think, not skill based.

 

Stamina is checked during the once an hour calculations and I'm not 100% sure but I think it's used for a lot of things including the check to see if you get more hungry, thirsty, and tired. You have a chance each hour to get more hungry, thirsty, and tired. The game doesn't show you the exact level of these things, only when they reach certain threshholds

does it display the 'hungry', 'thirsty', and 'weary' messages.

 

I'm also pretty sure the game uses your fatigue level during the attack and defense calculations. I'll have to look at the code again to be sure. If true, this makes going to bed and sleeping during the nighttime hours one of the most important things you can do. Lately I've adjusted my strategy to going to bed as soon as nighttime falls and sleeping 10 hours to avoid the night altogether.

 

Yes I went to slept at the optimum times each night when the treasure finding lasted three days. I'm not sure if that had any effect on it. It might be that I just got lucky during the once an hour calculations when it rolls to see if the treasure finding level drops. (It is a byte value). I think your stamina is used in this calculation also but I"m not sure. I think higher stamina makes good potions last longer.

 

I haven't restarted this character, it's just he's not as high as the other character I already entered.

 

Oh one last thing... if you want more encounters, drink some booze :-) When you are not on booze, the game checks for an encounter once every 4 seconds. When you are on booze it checks every second.

Edited August 20, 2013 by Jim Norris

[WestofHouse]

I think if the game were easier, I would not have as much respect for it. It's the challenge that makes one appreciate success.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't change the difficulty at all. I would, however, change it so there were separate keys for Leave and Lunge. I can't count how many times I've accidentally started a battle because I thought I was trying to leave.

 

Actually the only thing that makes this game really tough is the rules for this contest. When you take advantage of the game's liberal save system it's very easy to survive. Back when I first played it I remember saving after every successful battle and before trying every potion. I died just as much back then, but I just loaded my last save and off I went again.

 

I always try to visit as many guilds as I can to start off with. I just don't make it very far. Heh.

Edited August 20, 2013 by WestofHouse

[Xebec's Demise]

I know what you mean about Leave and Lunge - critters can switch from disengaged to engaged at any second. And you're right about saving too, re-using saves, anyone can play forever.

[WestofHouse]

Well, I tried again last night and my luck didn't improve at all.

 

I rolled my best stats ever and had plenty of gold. I bought a dagger at Occum's and still had around 70 copper left. I deposited about 50 in the bank, so I was walking around town with head held high, making my way to the guilds. Then I ran into a rat. Not wanting rabies I disengaged rather than fight. "The rat has stolen some of your food and water." Correction, game: The rat stole all of my food and water. One rat.

 

How can a rat carry 3 food packets and 2 water flasks, anyway?

 

It was a tough early blow but I was still confident. Then I ran into another rat. He promptly stole all my money.

 

By that time it was dark, I was hungry and thirsty and flat broke, and the bank was closed. So naturally what I needed was an angry mugger. I began the game with 16HP(!), but the fight with the mugger took me down to 2. I knew it was over at that point. I managed to make it to the healing guild for a HP boost of 3, but it wasn't enough to save me from my next encounter.

[Xebec's Demise]

Rats stealing all your food? A Mugger taking you from 16 HP to 2 and you were unable to kill him with a dagger? What were your stats? I think if the Mugger kept doing damage, you probably should have left, especially since you already had your stuff stolen. The Star Wizards is a pain to get to, but it will give you an additional 5 HP. Do you feel you're getting better?

 

There's basically 3 gameplay strategies I use;

 

1. Fight outside healer.

2. Fight outside The Tavern.

3. Visit the guilds, one immediately after the other.

 

Have you tried visiting the Assassins Guild first? Did you read my survival tips in the first post? The Assassin's guild actually gives you +30! That's huge:

 

5. The very next stop should be the Assassin's Guild. A new character starts out with a Surprise modifier of 00. This stat raises slowly per level just like any other stat, but the Assassins Guild will give you +30 to the stat! Yes, that is +30, not +3! This will make a huge difference in your encounters. Also near the Assassins guild is the Sleeping Dragon Inn, the cheapest Inn in town. One of the cheaper taverns, the Flaming Dragon Tavern, is also right across from the Inn. There is no better place to restore your Hit Points if you are low and do not have enough coppers for the Healer. Always consider the healer first though; because sleeping will use up precious Food Packets which cost a minimum of 16 coppers each as Pemmican at The Tavern. Another option is to navigate your way to the Physicians Guild and Star Wizards Guild which will both give you some more Hit Points. These 8 Hit Points from the Guilds may be enough to survive, allowing you to kill that next aggressive mugger in order to gain even more Hit Points from gaining a level.

 

(I need to re-read my notes too, I've forgotten some of that stuff).

Edited August 21, 2013 by Xebec's Demise

[WestofHouse]

I've done all of those except go to the Assassin's Guild first. I should try that next.

[WestofHouse]

My luck finally changed. First, I rolled some pretty nice stats.

 

 

Then I was able to roam about practically unmolested until I was able to get my dagger and visit a couple of guilds (including the Assassin's Guild!). After that I caught some good breaks and didn't run into anyone I couldn't handle -- and no rats! I did have all my food and water stolen again,but thanks to the tavern up north I was able to grab some free water and a couple of cheap bowls of chili once I got hungry and thirsty.

 

The one area I'm not having luck in is treasure finding. I hope I didn't roll a low skill for that. I've found a few potions but not much coin, and I could really use some.

 

I had to quit for the night, so I hope to continue my game tomorrow. Here's where I left off:

 

[Jim Norris]

STA is the third most valuable stat for me now, because it determines the number of Hit Points gained with every single level, and I think overall health against a variety of conditions like thirst, hunger, tiredness, disease, and inebriation. Also STA does not go up through use or potions either. However, I usually don't pay much attention to STA while rolling, but I do appreciate it when it's high.

 

I finally got the disassembly project working properly on my laptop. For those of you who downloaded the version on my website... well let's just say there are some issues with the version of diaperglu included with it and Windows.

You were right about stamina affecting how many hit points you get each level. Here is the level up code:

 

add level mod 32 to ability to surprise or notice

4DB1 lda() 8AAD

4DB4 anda 1F

4DB6 clc

4DB7 adca() 8914 ability to surprise or notice

4DBA bcc 4DBE

4DBC lda FF

4DBE sta() 8914 ability to surprise or notice

 

increment level

4DC1 inc() 8AAD

4DC4 bne 4DD3 add rnd[0 to current base stamina] to hit points and max hit points

4DC6 inc() 8AAC

4DC9 bne 4DD3 add rnd[0 to current base stamina] to hit points and max hit points

4DCB inc() 8AAB

4DCE bne 4DD3 add rnd[0 to current base stamina] to hit points and max hit points

4DD0 inc() 8AAA current level

 

add rnd[0 to current base stamina] to hit points and max hit points

4DD3 lda() 8953 stamina2

4DD6 sta() B0 roll max

4DD8 lda 00

4DDA sta() AF roll offset

4DDC jsr 41A6 roll -- [ae] <= [af] + rnd[0 to [b0]]

4DDF jsr 4E55 add reg a to maximum hit points and hit points

 

set stat roll offset to 127 [minimum fractional stat increase will be this]

4DE2 lda 7F

4DE4 sta() AF roll offset

 

roll for strength increase [max variable increase is half of [255 - strength3 ]]

4DE6 lda FF

4DE8 sec

4DE9 sbca() 8930 strength3

4DEC lsra

4DED sta() B0 roll max

4DEF jsr 41A6 roll -- [ae] <= [af] + rnd[0 to [b0]]

4DF2 jsr 4CF5 increase fractional strength by amount in reg a

 

It's interesting how Phil worried about his variables rolling over back to 0. Most programmers back then didn't bother with that level of detail.

 

What this says is:

Your level is added to your ability to surprise up to level 32... then the bonus wraps back to 0 and goes up again.

rnd(0 to base stamina) is added to your hit points and max hit points

rnd(0 to (0.5 * (255 - stat3))) + 127 is added to the fractional part of each stat.

 

I think stat3 is the visible stat but I'm not sure, could be effective stat too... visible stat is inflated if you are deluded.

The fractional part of each stat goes from 0 to 255. When you go over 255 with the fractional part of a stat, your real stat goes up 1.

 

So the range of increase on the fractional stat is somewhere between 127 and something less than 255. The higher your stat3 is, the lower the something less.

Edited August 22, 2013 by Jim Norris

[Jim Norris]

And level 9...

 

Edited August 22, 2013 by Jim Norris

[WestofHouse]

And level 9...

 

 

Nice!

[Xebec's Demise]

I had to quit for the night, so I hope to continue my game tomorrow. Here's where I left off:

 

And level 9...

 

 

WestofHouse moves up to #11 with Chunk and Jim Norris up to #3 with Newbinator! Congratulations! It looks like your persistence has paid off WestofHouse. And, with 39 Strength, I can see you must have been doing some serious Trolling, Jim! Wow! How many Trolls did that take?

 

My new character Thomas Anderson is currently at level 4, but he has a good chance of surviving after finding a Longsword on a Mugger, and a Jewel worth 36 gold; the struggle for funds and a decent weapon have been overcome, however there are still plenty of opportunities to die. I've visited every guild and I'm currently in the middle of stocking up on Water Flasks and Food Packets at the Tavern. Here is a screen capture from my video:

 

 

I continued recording my progress on video, however, the Microsoft RLE videos were corrupted. I figured out how to repair them so they will play, but the sound is still out of sync and I'm working on that. I will post the video when I have it fixed. Also in the same thread, phaeron posted an excellent update to Atari800WinPlus. It's a ZMBV codec which works really well for recording video in Atari800Win. Check it out!

Edited August 22, 2013 by Xebec's Demise

[Jim Norris]

WestofHouse moves up to #11 with Chunk and Jim Norris up to #3 with Newbinator! Congratulations! It looks like your persistence has paid off WestofHouse. And, with 39 Strength, I can see you must have been doing some serious Trolling, Jim! Wow! How many Trolls did that take?

 

My new character Thomas Anderson is currently at level 4, but he has a good chance of surviving after finding a Longsword on a Mugger, and a Jewel worth 36 gold; the struggle for funds and a decent weapon have been overcome, however there are still plenty of opportunities to die. I've visited every guild and I'm currently in the middle of stocking up on Water Flasks and Food Packets at the Tavern. Here is a screen capture from my video:

 

 

 

I continued recording my progress on video, however, the Microsoft RLE videos were corrupted. I figured out how to repair them so they will play, but the sound is still out of sync and I'm working on that. I will post the video when I have it fixed. Also in the same thread, phaeron posted an excellent update to Atari800WinPlus. It's a ZMBV codec which works really well for recording video in Atari800Win. Check it out!

 

I think just 3 trolls and one strength potion. On each troll I only got 1 level. The rest of the gains were from fighting and leveling. Every 256 hits is a strength up..

 

On the videos... 4 gigs is the size of a 64 bit integer which might have something to do with the problem you are having when the video gets to that size. What about just taking a frame every minute or so?

[WestofHouse]

 

My new character Thomas Anderson is currently at level 4, but he has a good chance of surviving after finding a Longsword on a Mugger, and a Jewel worth 36 gold;