First (grownup) stab at CSB
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First (grownup) stab at CSB
Hey All,
Been lurking here on and off for a year or two. I found CSBWin a year ago during a fit of nostalgia and spent an awful lot of time browsing the DM forums.
I have stayed mostly out of the CSB forums because I could never come close to beating it as a little kid on my parents' Atari ST, and didn't want spoilers.
I am, however, pretty dang good at DM - I know every level more or less by heart, and exclusively play solo runs, usually with absurd conditions applied (eg: solo run with only a dagger as my weapon and no clothes + no magic) etc.
This presents for me a problem now that I want to play CSB during my less busy (work-wise) summer months.
Should I take a party of four through the DM dungeon and build them up, or is there a combination of CSB heroes that's worthy of a first run? I've never been very impressed with the people (creatures?) in the CSB hall of champions, even though their pictures seemed super-cool as a kid (ok, Plague is still awesome).
Alternately, would I be OK trying a solo run the first time? I'm taking Wuuf through the DM dungeon right now, but I suspect even at high levels he'll be suboptimal so maybe better to start over? (no, I do not have the time/patience to get high-master in multiple stats).
Sorry for the long first post, I'm just super-excited to get into CSB but would like some veteran advice on how to build my party as I know it's a whole different animal from DM.
Been lurking here on and off for a year or two. I found CSBWin a year ago during a fit of nostalgia and spent an awful lot of time browsing the DM forums.
I have stayed mostly out of the CSB forums because I could never come close to beating it as a little kid on my parents' Atari ST, and didn't want spoilers.
I am, however, pretty dang good at DM - I know every level more or less by heart, and exclusively play solo runs, usually with absurd conditions applied (eg: solo run with only a dagger as my weapon and no clothes + no magic) etc.
This presents for me a problem now that I want to play CSB during my less busy (work-wise) summer months.
Should I take a party of four through the DM dungeon and build them up, or is there a combination of CSB heroes that's worthy of a first run? I've never been very impressed with the people (creatures?) in the CSB hall of champions, even though their pictures seemed super-cool as a kid (ok, Plague is still awesome).
Alternately, would I be OK trying a solo run the first time? I'm taking Wuuf through the DM dungeon right now, but I suspect even at high levels he'll be suboptimal so maybe better to start over? (no, I do not have the time/patience to get high-master in multiple stats).
Sorry for the long first post, I'm just super-excited to get into CSB but would like some veteran advice on how to build my party as I know it's a whole different animal from DM.
Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Welcome to the forums! Nice to see people still come back to DM and still hold CSB as a scary memory to beat
Personally I solo'd with one of the CSB characters my first time. The CSB champions are not actually as good as a DM character that's gone through, so if you do import characters you've prepared earlier you would be fine. I wouldn't advise reincarnation of any new characters, because CSB reduces the stats (one of the few differences between the two) and you do want a decent level/stat of character
I personally took Aroc (bird guy) as he had a decent combination of magic and fighter. You know the benefits of a single character, obviously you lose the carryiong capacity and attack/magic potential of a full party. However, once you get to know CSB there are very easy places to put items as a store, and usually easy ways to get back to that store.
If you have a Wuuf with good magic in wizard and priest, and decent fighter/ninja then you should find him a good companion for a first run. At the very least, even if you find a solo game in CSB too hard, exploration is still so important that it would not be a wasted play through, and you could then play with a bigger group knowing the dungeon and resources. CSB is non-linear (in fact its quite circular) so knowing how to navigate around is far more important than knowing the solutions to some of the puzzles.
Personally I solo'd with one of the CSB characters my first time. The CSB champions are not actually as good as a DM character that's gone through, so if you do import characters you've prepared earlier you would be fine. I wouldn't advise reincarnation of any new characters, because CSB reduces the stats (one of the few differences between the two) and you do want a decent level/stat of character
I personally took Aroc (bird guy) as he had a decent combination of magic and fighter. You know the benefits of a single character, obviously you lose the carryiong capacity and attack/magic potential of a full party. However, once you get to know CSB there are very easy places to put items as a store, and usually easy ways to get back to that store.
If you have a Wuuf with good magic in wizard and priest, and decent fighter/ninja then you should find him a good companion for a first run. At the very least, even if you find a solo game in CSB too hard, exploration is still so important that it would not be a wasted play through, and you could then play with a bigger group knowing the dungeon and resources. CSB is non-linear (in fact its quite circular) so knowing how to navigate around is far more important than knowing the solutions to some of the puzzles.
Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Hello, Cincin, and welcome to the forums!
Good that you've decided to beat CSB finally - it's an incredible game and you'll certainly enjoy it, I promise.
Like you, I've also never liked the CSB un-human characters. So I prefer to take my DM character to CSB. I always use a single character only these days, although before I'd used the "proper" number of four and the idea of a solo run occurred to me only later when I wanted to make the game "harded" (as you with the knife only ).
Honestly, I really don't know if playing CSB for the first time with one character only is the best idea - two characters seem optimal for the first play, they give you more firepower and carrying capacity but you still don't have so many stomachs to feed ans still can dodge the fireballs. I don't know if Wuuf is the best option either - he should be rather weak. I usually take a stronger character with better carrying capacity. Remember that you'll be carrying a lot of things, and if I say a lot, I do mean a lot.
Anyway, good luck and keep us informed!
Good that you've decided to beat CSB finally - it's an incredible game and you'll certainly enjoy it, I promise.
Like you, I've also never liked the CSB un-human characters. So I prefer to take my DM character to CSB. I always use a single character only these days, although before I'd used the "proper" number of four and the idea of a solo run occurred to me only later when I wanted to make the game "harded" (as you with the knife only ).
Honestly, I really don't know if playing CSB for the first time with one character only is the best idea - two characters seem optimal for the first play, they give you more firepower and carrying capacity but you still don't have so many stomachs to feed ans still can dodge the fireballs. I don't know if Wuuf is the best option either - he should be rather weak. I usually take a stronger character with better carrying capacity. Remember that you'll be carrying a lot of things, and if I say a lot, I do mean a lot.
Anyway, good luck and keep us informed!
Finally playing and immensely enjoying the awesome Thimbleweed Park-a-reno!
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Hey, welcome Cin and good luck on your starting CSB . I did try to solo DM once and did it with Wuuf, then took him through into CSB and got stuck in a room where monsters kept respawning outside when I stepped on a particular square in the corridor and I couldn't kill enough of them before running out of mana in order to escape .
I've never played CSB with a CSB party - I've always taken through my DM party. I always play as a duo now, for pretty much all the reasons stated by Jan above .
I've never played CSB with a CSB party - I've always taken through my DM party. I always play as a duo now, for pretty much all the reasons stated by Jan above .
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Ameena, self-declared Wordweaver, Beastmaker, Thoughtbringer, and great smegger of dungeon editing!
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
So it sounded like two is twice as good as one for a first run. I took Chani and Wutse (Mulan in this game), looking for chars with decent balance across all their abilities in anticipation of needing to survive CSB. Chani is maybe my hands-down favorite DM char for solo runs, but Wutse looked (on paper) comparable if not a little more sturdy. Well turns out Chani ended up the better all-around character, not only in terms of ending stats, but also felt more survivable throughout the game. I'm worried Wutse's constant hunger will be a problem in CSB...but I may have just had her load too close to yellow for most of the game.
Leveled them in constant parity, killed everything on every level just about, but only really trained at the very end in the Dragon's lair to get my magic-user levels up one more notch each. Basically stopped leveling when I ran out of water after completing the firestaff. Here's where I ended up...I have a save just before freeing the power Gem that I could use to level up further if this build is too weak to be viable. They look, to my eyes at least, as sturdy as any of the CSB champions...
Wutse - Expert fighter, Adept ninja, Lo Master priest, On Master wizard
Health - 460
Stam - 141
Mana - 187
Str - 51
Dex - 47
Wis - 64
Vit - 57
AM - 63
AF - 46
Chani - same levels as Wutse
Health - 464
Stam - 196
Mana - 188
Str - 53
Dex - 58
Wis - 72
Vit - 42
AM - 65
AF - 47
Leveled them in constant parity, killed everything on every level just about, but only really trained at the very end in the Dragon's lair to get my magic-user levels up one more notch each. Basically stopped leveling when I ran out of water after completing the firestaff. Here's where I ended up...I have a save just before freeing the power Gem that I could use to level up further if this build is too weak to be viable. They look, to my eyes at least, as sturdy as any of the CSB champions...
Wutse - Expert fighter, Adept ninja, Lo Master priest, On Master wizard
Health - 460
Stam - 141
Mana - 187
Str - 51
Dex - 47
Wis - 64
Vit - 57
AM - 63
AF - 46
Chani - same levels as Wutse
Health - 464
Stam - 196
Mana - 188
Str - 53
Dex - 58
Wis - 72
Vit - 42
AM - 65
AF - 47
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Update:
I've taken them into CSB...mapping this is an adventure unto itself. Chose Neta as my starting way, after a little frustration nabbing all the 'supplies for the quick'. Been exciting and terrifying so far. Nuggets so far have been one area on my map labeled "terrible terrible room" . I also was lucky to guess a useful direction the first time in the . That section of my map simply says "munchers!...lost?" I also really enjoyed but I wish I had figured out how to press that 'inaccessible' button in the same room.
I'm at the entryway to the....probably a good place to take a break and let me nerves have a rest. The hint oracle's "welcome" was menacing enough that I won't be going forward tonight any further.
Man, this is fun.
Also....I was convinced at first that the was immortal. What a beast! After wiping me out once, I decided not to waste my mana and just chopped him into pieces, instead. Throw in a couple , and he went down nicely.
General question....it *is* possible to gain levels in CSB, right? I feel like I've done a lot and not gained any levels at all...but I guess in all likelihood the mapping just makes it feel like more than it really is...
I've taken them into CSB...mapping this is an adventure unto itself. Chose Neta as my starting way, after a little frustration nabbing all the 'supplies for the quick'.
Spoiler
Including at one point taking 200 falling damage and the being asked to surrender all my possessions...I reloaded
Spoiler
the room full of screamers and spiders...I eventually killed them all and don't *think* they respawn
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area with the endless flood of munchers
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herding mummies
I'm at the entryway to the
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Diabolical Demon Director
Man, this is fun.
Also....I was convinced at first that the
Spoiler
little grey vexirx
Spoiler
on fireballs to which he seems to be immune (he took eight MON to the face and kept on ticking!)
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MON poison bolts
General question....it *is* possible to gain levels in CSB, right? I feel like I've done a lot and not gained any levels at all...but I guess in all likelihood the mapping just makes it feel like more than it really is...
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Hehe, of course it's possible to gain levels, don't worry . The levels you have are pretty standard for an end-of-DM party, although I think people's Wizard levels are usually slightly lower (my party tends to be around Expert/Lo Master in everything except Ninja, where they're about Journeyman 'cause I don't bother with that skill too much) so you have a bit of an advantage there (unless that was the levels with the Pendant Feral/Firestaff equiped, which give more free levels, one each unless the Power Gem is added in which case the Firestaff grants two Wizzy levels instead of one).
Anyway, one thing you may or may not know about the DDD -, so it would probably be advisable to .
Anyway, one thing you may or may not know about the DDD -
Spoiler
all four of the Ways (Ku, Ros, Dain, Neta) lead there
Spoiler
complete each Way as far as the DDD first before you tacke that section - it can be pretty tough
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Ameena, self-declared Wordweaver, Beastmaker, Thoughtbringer, and great smegger of dungeon editing!
Ameena, self-declared Wordweaver, Beastmaker, Thoughtbringer, and great smegger of dungeon editing!
Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Funnily Neta is as much about not fighting as fighting. The screamer death summons the Oitu, and the tough Vexirk can be cornered and will 'surrender' giving you things!
You characters sound more powerful than most CSB guys - which also means they won't advance levels that much until you are consistently at the 'top' of the dungeon. There are depth/height multipliers to explierience in DM/CSB and of course each level is twice as difficult to get.
You characters sound more powerful than most CSB guys - which also means they won't advance levels that much until you are consistently at the 'top' of the dungeon. There are depth/height multipliers to explierience in DM/CSB and of course each level is twice as difficult to get.
Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Good start! NETA is one of the easier ways but with not enough food. I'm quite impressed by the speed with which you made it to DDD! Very promising!
By the way,
But there's nothing vitally important there, so don't worry.
Good luck in DDD or wherever you decide to go now!
Cincinnatus wrote:the room full of screamers and spiders...I eventually killed them all and don't *think* they respawn
Spoiler
Wrong.
Spoiler
everytime you kill a screamer in this room, a spider comes to kill you. So if you leave the screamers alone, or lure them into another room and kill them there, the spiders don't appear. And the screamers do respawn.
An access to that button appearsCincinnatus wrote:I wish I had figured out how to press that 'inaccessible' button in the same room
Spoiler
together with opening the door to the continuation of that level (after you've imprisoned all four mummies).
There actually are more human, civilised ways of getting rid of him. These ways are also more rewarding. But it's too late now. Not that if that mattered - you can finish the game anyway, so - again - don't worry.Cincinnatus wrote:and just chopped him into pieces, instead
As Ameena said, indeed. But it's very slow. You already have quite high levels and on NETA you haven't encountered too many strong enemies, believe me. You'll gain your levels later. But CSB is non-linear and gaining levels is not that important here as in DM. You simply progress here in different ways and you can finish the game with gaining only a few new levels.Cincinnatus wrote:it *is* possible to gain levels in CSB, right?
Good luck in DDD or wherever you decide to go now!
Finally playing and immensely enjoying the awesome Thimbleweed Park-a-reno!
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Update:
I cleared out the demons and rock monsters populating the section of the DDD that I ended up in. Explored a bit and mapped the area as best I could. Never got the nerve up to try to blast my way through the...some vorpal blades sure would be nice...
After a bit of falling down holes and backtracking, I got myself back to the junction of ways - apparently Chaos was throwing me a bone when he asked me to "trust him", because it worked out alright for me.
Decided to give KU a shot. First thing I did was put my old sword on the ground when I picked up. Had an interesting experience in that my first time through I got to an area with several pits, ended up falling into one, and eventually ended up in a poison trap and died...when I reloaded from the beginning of KU again . I made several abortive runs through KU, each time ending up lost and cornered by one or more Deth Knights. I am not ready for Ku, I think.
Made it back, after a few saves, to the junction of the ways and ended up giving Dain a shot. Much better. After killing the spiders , and bumping my head into a bunch of teleporters while mapping, I ended up in a nice, terrifying area . Turned my trusty Des-Ew gun to repeat and let 'er rip. Never did get that area well mapped, though. I am getting lazy about mapping in areas that feel self-contained within the ways...maybe not the best habit. Anyway, ended up, somehow, back at the DDD. Went up to find all the baddies had respawned, so I cleared a path to the one route I know to lead somewhere useful - back to the starting level.
Got the starting level pretty well mapped out now. Supplies for the quick was nice enough to furnish me with a bunch more swag - though I must say I am carrying a lot of junk around, and am dressed rather funnily at this point in mismatched pieces of epic armor and leather pants, for example. Decide to try my hand at Ku again and quickly find myself back in that Decide I am tired of eating screamer for sustenance, so I down a few KU potions and make short work of . Got some nice gear from it when all was said and done.
Alas, now I am frustrated (with Dain), and terrified (of KU). Taking a break, then maybe I will see what fun ways there are to die in ROS...
Whee
I cleared out the demons and rock monsters populating the section of the DDD that I ended up in. Explored a bit and mapped the area as best I could. Never got the nerve up to try to blast my way through the
Spoiler
room full of Black Flames
After a bit of falling down holes and backtracking, I got myself back to the junction of ways - apparently Chaos was throwing me a bone when he asked me to "trust him", because it worked out alright for me.
Decided to give KU a shot. First thing I did was put my old sword on the ground when I picked up
Spoiler
Biter...and it DISAPPEARED
Spoiler
the area beyond the vi alter was totally different! argh!
Made it back, after a few saves, to the junction of the ways and ended up giving Dain a shot. Much better. After killing the
Spoiler
same
Spoiler
over and over and over
Spoiler
full of laughing pits and pesky ghost-things
Got the starting level pretty well mapped out now. Supplies for the quick was nice enough to furnish me with a bunch more swag - though I must say I am carrying a lot of junk around, and am dressed rather funnily at this point in mismatched pieces of epic armor and leather pants, for example. Decide to try my hand at Ku again and quickly find myself back in that
Spoiler
accursed dragon's lair.
Spoiler
ol' Mr Lizard
Alas, now I am frustrated (with Dain), and terrified (of KU). Taking a break, then maybe I will see what fun ways there are to die in ROS...
Whee
Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Wow! That sounds like some pretty fast ride full of adrenaline there! I do admire your bravery.
Re different ways: if I were you, I'd either finish the NETA path (its upper part behind DDD) now, or go for either KU or ROS. DAIN is pretty damn hard, so I'd leave it for now.
I guess you don't want us to give you any advice and to spoil you your adventure, but I can't resist to make a few comments. Ignore me if you don't want to have it spoiled.
?
!
. , there's basically no need to be
Re different ways: if I were you, I'd either finish the NETA path (its upper part behind DDD) now, or go for either KU or ROS. DAIN is pretty damn hard, so I'd leave it for now.
I guess you don't want us to give you any advice and to spoil you your adventure, but I can't resist to make a few comments. Ignore me if you don't want to have it spoiled.
I wonder where you could findCincinnatus wrote:some vorpal blades sure would be nice.
Spoiler
that sort of supplies
Have you looked at the sword carefully? It'sCincinnatus wrote:I picked up Biter
Spoiler
cursed
Cincinnatus wrote:it DISAPPEARED
I think you might be beginning to understand the nature of the Junction.Cincinnatus wrote:the area beyond the vi alter was totally different!
You are. Just don't panic and be careful.Cincinnatus wrote:I am not ready for Ku, I think.
Yeah, that's quite typical. Personally, I don't bother wearing any armour in CSB at all and I usually end up wearing the same pathetic blue, grey or green clothes from the starting room.Cincinnatus wrote:I am carrying a lot of junk around, and am dressed rather funnily at this point in mismatched pieces of epic armor and leather pants, for example
There'sCincinnatus wrote:make short work of ol' Mr Lizard. Got some nice gear from it when all was said and done
Spoiler
one particular, small item you have to get from him
Spoiler
It's a key. If you have it
although there's still a lot of exploration and fancy stuff left.Cincinnatus wrote:terrified (of KU)
Finally playing and immensely enjoying the awesome Thimbleweed Park-a-reno!
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Hehe, I always do Ku first 'cause I find it the easiest - the Dragon at the bottom is easy with the good ol' step dance, just like the one back in DM . As far as I can remember, the Knights are only at one point in that section of Ku - the room with . If you're quick enough (and know where you're going), you can probably avoid these guys without any major trouble. Alternatively you can take them on one at a time before doing anything else in that room...
Dain is generally acknowledged as being the hardest of the four Ways, so maybe you'll want to leave that one for a while and get Ku and Ros out of the way first.
As noted in the spoiler tags in my last post regarding the DDD -. It's kind of . The idea is that you obtain a particular .
Spoiler
the axe, Executioner, as the back
Dain is generally acknowledged as being the hardest of the four Ways, so maybe you'll want to leave that one for a while and get Ku and Ros out of the way first.
As noted in the spoiler tags in my last post regarding the DDD -
Spoiler
you will find your way back there repeatedly because all four Ways eventually lead there
Spoiler
another Junction of the Ways, linking "Part One" of each Way into "Part Two"
Spoiler
key from each Way before the DDD, which then lets you into "Part Two" within the DDD area
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Ameena, self-declared Wordweaver, Beastmaker, Thoughtbringer, and great smegger of dungeon editing!
Ameena, self-declared Wordweaver, Beastmaker, Thoughtbringer, and great smegger of dungeon editing!
Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Provided, of course, that you know what you're doing and especially where you're doing it and don'tAmeena wrote:the Dragon at the bottom is easy with the good ol' step dance,
Spoiler
spawn a flood of worms
Plus, they (Ameena wrote:As far as I can remember, the Knights are only at one point in that section of Ku - the room withSpoiler
the axe, Executioner, as the back
Spoiler
one or two if you're unlucky / not careful
Spoiler
entrance to the Vexirks' hall
Finally playing and immensely enjoying the awesome Thimbleweed Park-a-reno!
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Back to it after a bit of a break due to real life workload getting in the way (not to mention the Olympics).
Made my way back to Neta for awhile but didn't find much new. Got the from the mummy room this time through. Still don't have the patience/cojones to explore much of the muncher area. Got back to the DDD and fought my way to the stairs down in the room full of black flames...what a bummer that turned out to be...
Made a brief run through KU again, got the. The were much easier taken out one at a time.
Took a shot at ROS. Lots of fun and a nice easy breather relative to the other areas. Made my way (eventually) back to the DDD, now lugging around a , not to mention , as well as . The only area I haven't explored (that I know of) in ROS is the , which from the sound of it is not a place I necessarily want to be spending time if I can help it. I did find it interesting that .
Decided to take a break after a couple hrs of playing (amazing that people can do this game in <1hr, let alone <10 mins). Still perturbed that the DDD seems to rely so much on luck with respect to where enemies spawn to get anything done. Pushing around tends to kill them, so I have to rest again, which wastes food and water...big time killer. I'm also convinced that the has to be a red herring. I can see a key in one corner, but the amount of effort it'd take to get there seems barely worth it, especially if it's just .
Curious where this sudden flood of will come in handy...maybe just dead weight/red herring. Let's hope not for now.
I've been through each of the ways so far and have a variety of neat magic toys, not to mention quite a few magical keys. Still nothing to open the doors in the chamber(s) leading to the DDD, though. Also still haven't. Guess I could take a stab at that, but the in the area make it hard.
Fun fact worth noting - my insistence on carrying around tons of stuff means I am constantly chugging KU potions. As a result my STR is rarely below 100 for either of my characters. Very satisfying to "berzerk" with Executioner and deal triple-digit damage
Anyway, good fun so far. Need to ponder for awhile and come back fresh later.
Made my way back to Neta for awhile but didn't find much new. Got the
Spoiler
staff
Made a brief run through KU again, got the
Spoiler
executioner
Spoiler
deth knights
Took a shot at ROS. Lots of fun and a nice easy breather relative to the other areas
Spoiler
though I did find myself facing quite a flood of worms in the bottom level at one point
Spoiler
chest full of GOR coins
Spoiler
a delightful green gem I've stolen
Spoiler
an awful lot of dragon steaks
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death row
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within two rooms of where I used my onyx key, I found *another* onyx key - I think on a deth knight
Decided to take a break after a couple hrs of playing (amazing that people can do this game in <1hr, let alone <10 mins). Still perturbed that the DDD seems to rely so much on luck with respect to where enemies spawn to get anything done. Pushing around
Spoiler
rock piles with poison clouds
Spoiler
black flame room
Spoiler
another damn gold key, of which I have plenty right now
Curious where this sudden flood of
Spoiler
GOR coins
I've been through each of the ways so far and have a variety of neat magic toys, not to mention quite a few magical keys. Still nothing to open the doors in the chamber(s) leading to the DDD, though. Also still haven't
Spoiler
killed the dragon under the DDD
Spoiler
prolific pits
Fun fact worth noting - my insistence on carrying around tons of stuff means I am constantly chugging KU potions. As a result my STR is rarely below 100 for either of my characters. Very satisfying to "berzerk" with Executioner and deal triple-digit damage
Anyway, good fun so far. Need to ponder for awhile and come back fresh later.
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Update:
Cleared out KU pretty thoroughly I think. Did the bottom-to-top, but no sweat there. Left poor Mr Scorpion at the top alive...he seemed lonely.
Back, now, at the DDD.....*sigh*...at some point I'll figure out where I am supposed to go here. Can't seem to get past the first couple rooms in this accursed place.
True story - on one of my attempts at the DDD prior to going back through KU, I fell in a pit and landed on the dragon below. Alas, I was in such bad shape already I ended up having to restart soon thereafter - should have saved immediately and gone a bit slower. Lesson learned. It'd be nice to have him dead.
[edit: update to the update]
Took another swing at the DDD. Finally made my way back past the...I think I'd been back there once before on my first trip into the DDD, and got , then forgot about it.
Got the with little drama. Poor dragons never knew what hit them. was a bit hairier...the was brutal, but I ultimately prevailed.
I'd like to get back to split, but not sure how best to do that. Tried going back through the DDD, and ended up dead-ended at the , the only one for which I don't yet have a key.
I think I'm done for the evening. Quite an adventure.
Cleared out KU pretty thoroughly I think. Did the
Spoiler
fighter's charge
Back, now, at the DDD.....*sigh*...at some point I'll figure out where I am supposed to go here. Can't seem to get past the first couple rooms in this accursed place.
True story - on one of my attempts at the DDD prior to going back through KU, I fell in a pit and landed on the dragon below. Alas, I was in such bad shape already I ended up having to restart soon thereafter - should have saved immediately and gone a bit slower. Lesson learned. It'd be nice to have him dead.
[edit: update to the update]
Took another swing at the DDD. Finally made my way back past the
Spoiler
false wall area
Spoiler
smashed by a golem
Got the
Spoiler
KU corbum
Spoiler
NETA corbum
Spoiler
fireball corridor
I'd like to get back to
Spoiler
where ROS and NETA
Spoiler
DAIN door
I think I'm done for the evening. Quite an adventure.
Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Well done! Your progress is very good!
Re Death Row: don't worry about that - you don't need to go there and, more importantly, you don't want to go there. The door can only be opened from the other side and you only get there if you screw things up on the upper levels.
Re Black Flame Room in DDD: again, you don't have to go there but if you manage to defeat the flames you'll be rewarded. The key you see in the corner is not gold - it's one of the keys that you don't need but that can become very useful. It's the key. Does it ring a bell? It's used to open the door to the (at the ). In turn, this place solves your problems with too many coins.
Re Dragon under the DDD: you don't need to kill him, it's just a trap. However, he can be killed easily if you use a certain trick.. But, as I said, you don't have to do this, you can just ignore the whole place.
Re How to get to the ROS and NETA split: dunno, I just go back to the start, then to the DDD entrance - it's certainly not the fastest way, but I know it.
Re DAIN key: oh, my, we haven't solved the formidable Couatl Room, have we?
Re Death Row: don't worry about that - you don't need to go there and, more importantly, you don't want to go there. The door can only be opened from the other side and you only get there if you screw things up on the upper levels.
Re Black Flame Room in DDD: again, you don't have to go there but if you manage to defeat the flames you'll be rewarded. The key you see in the corner is not gold - it's one of the keys that you don't need but that can become very useful. It's the
Spoiler
Sapphire
Spoiler
"Vending alcove"
Spoiler
one level below
Spoiler
entrance to the DDD
Re Dragon under the DDD: you don't need to kill him, it's just a trap. However, he can be killed easily if you use a certain trick.
Spoiler
Don't enter his lair - kill him exactly from the square with the opening / closing wall. Open the wall, step directly onto it, cast a few fireballs on the dragon, chop once or twice and step back (the wall closes). Rest to gain some mana and repeat it. If you enter the room, the wall closes - then don't use the stairs down, but those up - they lead to the Black Flame Room
Re How to get to the ROS and NETA split: dunno, I just go back to the start, then to the DDD entrance - it's certainly not the fastest way, but I know it.
Re DAIN key: oh, my, we haven't solved the formidable Couatl Room, have we?
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Oh dear, now I *want* to kill the flames just to say I've done it. Not sure it seems feasible though. Even with FUL BRO NETA, I get annihilated within seconds. Each flame seems to easily absorb four or so MON DES EW, and my mana pool, prolific as it may be, is not enough to take them all out, let alone fight my way back through them once I get the key (they seem to respawn far more quickly than those in DM did).Jan wrote:
Re Black Flame Room in DDD: again, you don't have to go there but if you manage to defeat the flames you'll be rewarded. The key you see in the corner is not gold - it's one of the keys that you don't need but that can become very useful. It's thekey. Does it ring a bell? It's used to open the door to theSpoiler
SapphireSpoiler
"Vending alcove"(at theSpoiler
one level below). In turn, this place solves your problems with too many coins.Spoiler
entrance to the DDD
I went with Eye of Time + about 12 MON OH VEN. He died *very* quickly.Jan wrote:Re Dragon under the DDD: you don't need to kill him, it's just a trap. However, he can be killed easily if you use a certain trick.. But, as I said, you don't have to do this, you can just ignore the whole place.Spoiler
Don't enter his lair - kill him exactly from the square with the opening / closing wall. Open the wall, step directly onto it, cast a few fireballs on the dragon, chop once or twice and step back (the wall closes). Rest to gain some mana and repeat it. If you enter the room, the wall closes - then don't use the stairs down, but those up - they lead to the Black Flame Room
That may have to be the approach I take. Could be worse.Jan wrote:Re How to get to the ROS and NETA split: dunno, I just go back to the start, then to the DDD entrance - it's certainly not the fastest way, but I know it.
Haven't got there yet. Dain was scawwy without vorpal bladesJan wrote: Re DAIN key: oh, my, we haven't solved the formidable Couatl Room, have we?
Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Oh, I see, you have no Vorpal blades - that also explains your troubles in the Fire Room. Note that there are Vorpal baldes in the game: .
The fires in the Fire Room are spawned by you entering the DDD level - they "queue" (or, to be more precise, AFAIK some of them don't respawn at all). (*) So if you had done that area for the first time you had entered the DDD you would have only met one fire per pit. Now you're in troubles. I suggest you blast them from a distance and when one disappears you wait for some time to make sure there's no other fire "waiting in the queue" in the pit. Note that there are also some "safe spots" in the area - stairs down to the left, stairs up in the front of you and the corridor to the "enter the pit". Perhaps you can use these spots to rest?
(*) Paul Stevens would explain it more correctly.
Spoiler
two
Spoiler
one in the Supplies for the Quick and the other close to the Couatl Room
The fires in the Fire Room are spawned by you entering the DDD level - they "queue" (or, to be more precise, AFAIK some of them don't respawn at all). (*) So if you had done that area for the first time you had entered the DDD you would have only met one fire per pit. Now you're in troubles. I suggest you blast them from a distance and when one disappears you wait for some time to make sure there's no other fire "waiting in the queue" in the pit. Note that there are also some "safe spots" in the area - stairs down to the left, stairs up in the front of you and the corridor to the "enter the pit". Perhaps you can use these spots to rest?
(*) Paul Stevens would explain it more correctly.
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
After several tries, figured out the Couatl Chamber. Got the two keys I think I need from DAIN.
Went back through the DDD and I think I used the cross key in the wrong lock...ended up back in an area I'm already familiar with.
Managed to release a literal flood of demons and creepy black ghosts. I think I did something wrong somewhere. More or less every square on that floor seems to now contain demons, worms, or ghosts...might be bad. All I wanted was to find the route to the DAIN corbum...whoops
Went back through the DDD and I think I used the cross key in the wrong lock...ended up back in an area I'm already familiar with.
Managed to release a literal flood of demons and creepy black ghosts. I think I did something wrong somewhere. More or less every square on that floor seems to now contain demons, worms, or ghosts...might be bad. All I wanted was to find the route to the DAIN corbum...whoops
- Ameena
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
I think you may have gone up one level too far in your search for the Corbum Pillar there .
Just so you know, the key you need from Dain (to get to the Corbum) is the .
Just so you know, the key you need from Dain (to get to the Corbum) is the
Spoiler
Ruby Key
______________________________________________
Ameena, self-declared Wordweaver, Beastmaker, Thoughtbringer, and great smegger of dungeon editing!
Ameena, self-declared Wordweaver, Beastmaker, Thoughtbringer, and great smegger of dungeon editing!
Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
LOL, I think Ameena is right, you're in a slightly wrong place.
Re Cross Key / Lock: It does lead to the DAIN route. If you use it on the DDD level, the route is a little bit complicated but if you keep going to the you should sooner or later come to the DAIN door / lock. If you had used the would have saved you a lot of trouble. Never mind now. Just keep going to the from the DDD entrance now.
I just can't see how you managed to miss the DAIN door AND get to the place where you're now after using the cross key.
Re Cross Key / Lock: It does lead to the DAIN route. If you use it on the DDD level, the route is a little bit complicated but if you keep going to the
Spoiler
southeast
Spoiler
key one level below first (use the stairs where the demon was on a pressure pad) the key wouldn't have disappeared and using it on the DDD level later
Spoiler
southeast
I just can't see how you managed to miss the DAIN door AND get to the place where you're now after using the cross key.
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
What can I say, I'm talented?Jan wrote:
I just can't see how you managed to miss the DAIN door AND get to the place where you're now after using the cross key.
I did get the
Spoiler
Ruby Key
What's crazy is I figured out the door with the demon+trapdoor puzzle, went downstairs, saw the cross key lock, and then went back upstairs and tried the key in lock there first. Alas.
I think I'll be finding my way to the SE corner of the safer and more familiar floor to snag that DAIN corbum before I peek my head back upstairs at all again...come to think of it I still need to go back through the DDD for the ROS corbum, too. So that mob of bad guys will just have to chill on the upper floor feeling crowded for awhile....
- Ameena
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
If you got hold of the following keys - , , Ruby (Dain)[/spoiler], and erm, , then you should have all you need to access the upper areas and complete the game. Even then, not all the keys are necessary. It's possible to . I can't remember entirely, but I think the bit where you can do that is .
Spoiler
Solid (Ku)
Spoiler
Emerald (Ros)
Spoiler
Turquoise (Neta)
Spoiler
sneak around the Corbum Pillar via false pits at one point and grab two pieces of Corbum in on visit
Spoiler
from the Ros and Dain sides of the pillar, so good news for you I think
______________________________________________
Ameena, self-declared Wordweaver, Beastmaker, Thoughtbringer, and great smegger of dungeon editing!
Ameena, self-declared Wordweaver, Beastmaker, Thoughtbringer, and great smegger of dungeon editing!
Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Oh, come on, you just can't finish CSB without visiting the upper ROS with its astonishing !
Spoiler
Pit Maze
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- Paul Stevens
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Eventually everybody really should try the 'Alternate' goal
provided by CSBwwin.....kill every creature and collect
every item. Until you have done that, you cannot say
that you have played all of Chaos Strikes Back.
But for now, any method of filling the Ful Ya Pit with
Corbum is one-hundred percent valid. There is no such
thing as 'cheating' the first time through.
provided by CSBwwin.....kill every creature and collect
every item. Until you have done that, you cannot say
that you have played all of Chaos Strikes Back.
But for now, any method of filling the Ful Ya Pit with
Corbum is one-hundred percent valid. There is no such
thing as 'cheating' the first time through.
- MasterWuuf
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
I've been trying this game out again, the last week or so. I've never finished it. spoiler] Was this, in fact, a marketed game in the beginning?)[/spoiler]
I didn't even find the key to open the door to the left of the entrance to the DDD.
I tried it again, a year or two back. I gave up before getting by the energy field behind the fire demons.
This time, I took my time, choosing Toadrot and Ven. Once I gathered a couple of flasks, I ignored water and food, focusing on my fighter weaponry.
Eventually, especially after the 'wimpo' dragon area (many pits and false walls), food was plentiful, so stamina isn't as much a factor.
I blasted the door in the dragons' den, then stood in the doorway, slugging it out with one dragon at a time. Fireshield and healing spells, of course.
(Thanks to the creators, who gave us plenty of dragons in CSB)
I found the key to the door below the DDD, so that was a nice bonus.
I'm actually finding areas I don't even remember, so some of it seems like the first time.
Hope I can get that energy field puzzle figured out this time.
P.S. Hello everyone. It's been awhile since I've had time to visit.
Spoiler
(I believe I even purchased it, when it first came out.[
I didn't even find the key to open the door to the left of the entrance to the DDD.
Spoiler
Talk about missing out on the waterhole
This time, I took my time, choosing Toadrot and Ven. Once I gathered a couple of flasks, I ignored water and food, focusing on my fighter weaponry.
Eventually, especially after the 'wimpo' dragon area (many pits and false walls), food was plentiful, so stamina isn't as much a factor.
I blasted the door in the dragons' den, then stood in the doorway, slugging it out with one dragon at a time. Fireshield and healing spells, of course.
(Thanks to the creators, who gave us plenty of dragons in CSB)
I found the key to the door below the DDD, so that was a nice bonus.
I'm actually finding areas I don't even remember, so some of it seems like the first time.
Hope I can get that energy field puzzle figured out this time.
P.S. Hello everyone. It's been awhile since I've had time to visit.
"Wuuf's big brother"
- Paul Stevens
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Ahhhhh! That's nice. Good choice.choosing Toadrot and Ven.
That is not unexpected. Play it again and you willI'm actually finding areas I don't even remember,
have the same experience again.
- Gambit37
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Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Welcome back MasterWuuf! I hope your maddening exploits in CSB don't make you run away again in terror!
Re: First (grownup) stab at CSB
Oh, welcome back! Goooood that you finally decided to play and finish CSB, gooood, goooood. Good luck with it and keep us informed!
Which version are you playing? CSBWin?
I'm not quite sure what you mean with the "energy field behind demons" - what / where is it?
Which version are you playing? CSBWin?
I'm not quite sure what you mean with the "energy field behind demons" - what / where is it?
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