comments & questions

[Nickman]

Hi everyone,

I just finished Dungeon Master again. I think it's the 3rd time I've beat it. (Once a long time ago, and once last year.) What a great game!

This time I played with just Chani & Gothmog. Gothmog is the coolest!!! Anyway, some comments and observations for the more advanced DM players:

-Suprisingly, I found the game MUCH easier with only two characters rather than my usual four. And I don't think it's just because I'm really getting the hang of everything now. They got real tough real quick and that's all I needed.

-Chani seemed to level up much more quickly than Gothmog at the begining, especially in spellcasting, but Gothmog caught up ok once I got to the deeper levels of the dungeon. Do stats (or maybe some hidden factor) effect how quickly a character will level? (I do realize one obvious factor: more mana and/or wisdom lets you cast more spells more frequently. This alone might account for Chani's quick ascension.)

-Do rabbit's feet increase your luck when they are just in your backpack? Or do they need to be in that little pouch?

-Has anyone ever PROVEN that armor/shields do anything at all?

-Is it really true that the very same spells/actions are worth more experience at the lower levels of the dungeon? As soon as I got to the skeleton key staircase on level 7 I loaded up on water and food and ran all the way down to the dragon level and started casting spells/throwing things at the staircase. It sure seemed like I was leveling faster, but I can't be sure. Anyone know? I actually got Gothmog up to Archmaster in wizard this way, but that's with the Feral Pendant and the +2 skill version of the firestaff. Still, I never got that high before and it didn't take very long. Only about an hour of fireballs and lightning bolts.

-Where do you think is the most efficient place to train as a fighter/ninja? I was thinking it would be that room with the three doors where the spiders regenerate, on level 11. It's deep in the dungeon, plenty of enemies, and safe to rest if you close the doors and just stand on the spot near the doors. I'll try it out when I get some more time.

-I found that you can keep the Firestaff w/ the gem without sealing off the upper levels of the dungeon. You just have to throw it out into the main dragon area and pick it up instead of carrying it out of the gem-in-the-amalgam area. Somebody else told me about this, so I can't take credit, but I can't be sure if I've ever seen this fact mentioned here before.

-Finally, Tiggy is DEFINITELY a girl! I've always thought so, and I don't know why anyone would think differently. She's wearing a skirt and a shirt where you can see her boobs for heaven's sake!!!

I appreciate any responses. I'll probably be loading up CSB pretty soon...

[PicturesInTheDark]

Hi Nickman,

I can confirm most of your questions, although some I cannot verify.

You definitely gain experience in lower levels easier - each level has an "Experience Multiplier" assigned, on which depends what experience points you get for ANY actions. If you want to take a look at it, download CSBwin++ from the CSB for Windows & Linux page - this is a version allowing you to view any XP's gained (and more ;)). Anyway, you gain points faster if there are opponents around than just casting away at empty stairs...

Some people have already looked into the code pretty deeply and there have been threads about the armour and it's value. I'm pretty sure the Dark Armour gives you a serious advantage, but I cannot prove it - maybe someone else will.

Good places to train up fighters/ninjas are the screamer room on level 4(takes longer, less xp), the rat room at the end of level 9 and -as you pointed out- the Oitu Room near the end of level 12.

You can take the firestaff+ back (avoiding sealing up the stairs to level 12) if you throw it over the pressure pad at the door in the dragon level. If you walk over it with the firestaff+, you're stuck. This is an "oversight" in the original game and has so far (except RTC I think) been a feature in every successor or deviant.

As on Tiggy, I will not argue with you and definitely feel similar about Gothmog ;) BTW, Chani's levels are rising faster at the beginning, because her wisdom value is nearly immorally high - she sure is the one to choose if you want a mighty wizard(ess) in your team.

Regards, PitD

[Ulmo]

From CSBwin (very close to original DM) :

Rabbit's feet increase your luck anywhere including in the backback but not in a chest.

-Has anyone ever PROVEN that armor/shields do anything at all?
YES. And shields have a great influence too, and two shields protect you better if needed.

-Is it really true that the very same spells/actions are worth more experience at the lower levels of the dungeon?
Yes.
Going downstairs using the skeleton stairs is a good idea. Thank you for it !

-Where do you think is the most efficient place to train as a fighter/ninja?
Spider are a good choice, probably the best.
Experience multiplier gets up again at chaos and dragon level. So the better monster may be Lord chaos himselfm, as you gain experience zhen hitting him, but you cant kill him. I recognise that receiving fireballs makes things more difficult...

[beowuuf]

As for levelling up, wisodm affects the rate you regain mana too, so better wisodm people regain more mana to cast more spells, plus each level takes more experience to gain the next step. So gothmog gains one level for chiana gaining two to start with - so she catches up with mana and wisdom

[PicturesInTheDark]

Thanks Beo, forgot that. I hope Gambit's new pages will contain those informations all in one - many of them keep floating in and out and never seem to stick even though I play often enough. But there are so many little details and as far as I know nobody yet managed to put them all down on a single site in a consistent way...

Regards, PitD