DRL > Discussion
The Journey to 100%
Tormuse:
2 DS spawns on Hell 1? O_o How many times did you do this again?
--- Quote from: Icy on October 22, 2017, 13:15 ---Apparently, it's a rare badge too as the only players confirmed to have it are Papilio and Sereg, though perhaps others quietly have achieved it too. It's another reason I want to get it!
--- End quote ---
I think it's just a generally unpopular challenge because no one likes doing without powerups. (Myself included) :P
Sereg:
True, no one likes doing it - me, especially, because I've made abundant use of Overconfidence in attempting many of my Platinums and Diamonds, and in Overconfidence, well placed powerups are critical for successful runs. Finding a fortuitous Invulnerability, Berserk Pack, or Megasphere/Supercharge on the first floor is almost always the difference between that run lasting past the first floor, or not. Finding them on deeper floors during a stairdive is often the difference between keeping the dive going, or not. Finding them before Dis can often mean winning, or not. Even small health globes are extremely important, if for nothing else then the tactics restoration.
Keep in mind that Maps, Tracking Maps, and Light Amp Goggles are also powerups, and the visibility they grant can help you find a safe path to the stairs - or even find the stairs to begin with.
Powerups are a bigger part of the game then I think most players realize - even runs like Masochism, that prevent powerups from healing you, still benefit heavily from them, because of the additional effects they offer. In my opinion, Purity is easily one of the most challenging game modes, right up there with Humanity and Masochism.
Icy:
Yeah Tormuse, having not just one, but two Dragonslayers spawning directly in my sight at the start of the game, during which I'm not able to get them at all, especially after just strategizing on how to get them was hilarious and irritating. :P
Day 45:
More attempts for Inquisitor Diamond Badge!
On a decent run to floor 4, I had mostly Formers on the left-side of the level and through a pair of rooms, I came across a pair of Homing Phase Devices:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
I got a little excited thinking that this run suddenly had great potential to make it to Dis. Unfortunately, I had terrible staircase luck again where I cleared out the wrong side. Keep in mind, this is also on a floor with 2 staircases, and with Homing Phase Devices, I could have easily accepted Limbo/Mortuary:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
I carefully explored a good chunk of the area, but was running out of safe options:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
So I used one of the Homing Phase Devices:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Sucks.
Here's an interesting crossroad I had:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
As nice as having a nuke is, I went for the stairs since I can still kill the Spider Mastermind anyway. The run, unsurprisingly didn't work out though.
On another run, I had a Pain Elemental cave, which is something I would later have many more times:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
These floors are pretty much the only ones that can be consistently cleared. They're the only ones I ever did anyway. They're great for experience, good chances of extra items, as well as time to buff up for the next floor. The only downside is they cost a fair amount of shells.
This particular run continued some more and I had a very nice setup despite the area being an Arachnotron cave:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Unfortunately, I lost control of the situation:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
The run managed to keep going, and I found a nice pair of items:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
This was my first run to floor 6, but the game put a crashing halt to that with a terrible starting position:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
:(
On another mostly unmemorable run, I got to floor 6 for the second time, and got this:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Suddenly, things got very tense as I had a very real shot at a completion. The game then decided to spawn me on the far right side of a maze for floor 7...
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
With the barrels all over and an acid river, I was actually able to create myself a safe haven:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
The other cool thing is from my angle, I had an Archvile corpse in the front of the other side, with an acid pool behind, creating an awesome spot to destroy corpses! So I slowly lured out enemies and fired away, killing a ton of them:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
I ran out of ammo though, and I needed to save my bullets for the Spider Mastermind, so I started to get worried about what to do. I waited for several minutes to let enough monsters pile on over to the right side of the floor where they can't get me, including a few Archviles sounds in the background, and I ran across the river:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
I was stuck, so out of desperation, I decided my best option was a Phase Device:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
I got very lucky with this and kept going, I went around a corner and got blasted a couple times, now with the stairs in sight!
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
I was running out of options here. If I ran away, I might get swarmed, and if I fired back, I'd run out of ammo. I considered using my Rocket Launcher, but I was worried about knocking enemies towards me, blowing up cover, etc. After a bit of time thinking about everything, I decided to run for the stairs and hope for the best.
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
</3
Literally died one tile away from reaching the Spider Mastermind. :( If I had entered there, I would have easily won the game. If only I had gone around the corner from the bottom side that would have worked. Or if the floor 7 was even just a tiny bit nicer to me and gave me the stairs around the area I actually explored, I could have made it.
Heartbroken but not undetermined, I kept going.
Not too long after, I had another run to floor 5, but then the game decided to put an end to that:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
In yet another run to floor 5, I actually got a nice break:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Floor 6 wasn't too particularly awful and I managed to find the stairs not far away. Yet another floor with triple Invulnerability I couldn't use:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Floor 7 starting with stairs in sight...!
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Here we go boys! On my second run to floor 7, I actually made it to Dis! Now, as I had planned, I had around 465 bullets to use with my Combat Pistol against the Spider Mastermind. I did have three Large Med-Packs if necessary, but I still took this super slow and safe. And I mean REALLY super slow and safe. I would wait and cornershoot the Spider Mastermind once, then run back, taking absolutely zero risk. This took close to half an hour, but I'd much rather do this than potentially be playing for this badge for who knows how many more hours.
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)--------------------------------------------------------------
DoomRL (0.9.9.7) roguelike post-mortem character dump
--------------------------------------------------------------
hdtrdfht, level 4 Apostle Marshal Marine,
defeated the Mastermind at the City of Dis.
He survived 47438 turns and scored 70109 points.
He played for 35 minutes and 58 seconds.
He opposed the Nightmare!
He killed 268 out of 482 hellspawn. (55%)
He was an Angel of Purity!
He was also an Angel of Overconfidence!
-- Special levels --------------------------------------------
Levels generated : 4
Levels visited : 1
Levels completed : 0
-- Awards ----------------------------------------------------
Mastermind's Brain
UAC Star (silver cluster)
Inquisitor Diamond Badge
-- Graveyard -------------------------------------------------
###########################################################
####................................#####################>#
###...............####...............######################
##.......####.....####.....####.......#####################
#........####.....####.....####........####################
.........####.....####.....####........%###################
.........####..............####..........##################
..........................................#################
..####............................####....#################
.&####............................####....#################
..####............................####....#################
..####............................####....#################
.....................................X....#################
.........####..............####..........##################
.........####.....####.....####.........###################
#........####.....####.....####........####################
##.......####.....####.....####.......#####################
###...............####...............######################
####................................#####################>#
###########################################################
-- Statistics ------------------------------------------------
Health 54/60 Experience 4104/4
ToHit Ranged +4 ToHit Melee +4 ToDmg Ranged +0 ToDmg Melee +0
-- Traits ----------------------------------------------------
Class : Marine
Eagle Eye (Level 2)
Intuition (Level 2)
EE->EE->Int->Int->
-- Equipment -------------------------------------------------
[a] [ Armor ] red armor [4/4] (89%)
[b] [ Weapon ] combat pistol (3d3) [14/15]
[c] [ Boots ] protective boots [2/2] (96%)
[d] [ Prepared ] 10mm ammo chain (x4)
-- Inventory -------------------------------------------------
[a] assault shotgun (7d3) [0/6]
[b] minigun (1d6)x8 [0/200]
[c] combat knife (2d5)
[d] 10mm ammo (x100)
[e] 10mm ammo (x100)
[f] rocket (x2)
[g] rocket (x10)
[h] power cell (x40)
[i] large med-pack
[j] large med-pack
[k] large med-pack
-- Resistances -----------------------------------------------
Acid - internal 0% torso 0% feet 25%
Fire - internal 0% torso 25% feet 0%
-- Kills -----------------------------------------------------
3 former sergeants
1 former captain
240 lost souls
1 cacodemon
1 baron of hell
1 arachnotron
20 pain elementals
1 Spider Mastermind
-- History ---------------------------------------------------
On level 2 he stumbled into a complex full of revenants!
He left level 2 as soon as possible.
He left level 3 as soon as possible.
On level 6 he ran for his life from lava!
On level 6 he arrived at Mt. Erebus.
He decided it was too dangerous.
He left level 7 as soon as possible.
Then at last he found Dis!
On level 8 he finally defeated the Mastermind.
-- Messages --------------------------------------------------
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You quickly reload the combat pistol.
You hear the scream of a freed soul! Congratulations! You defeated the Spider
Mastermind! Press <Enter>...
-- General ---------------------------------------------------
1505 brave souls have ventured into Phobos:
1191 of those were killed.
3 of those were killed by something unknown.
41 didn't read the thermonuclear bomb manual.
And 155 couldn't handle the stress and committed a stupid suicide.
115 souls destroyed the Mastermind...
12 sacrificed itself for the good of mankind.
99 killed the bitch and survived.
4 showed that it can outsmart Hell itself.
--------------------------------------------------------------
--- End code ---
I got the badge! And reached Chaos Major! This was a huge relief and extremely satisfying to get!
I want to go over some tips about going for this badge since it seems almost nobody has it, but it's way easier than people make it out to be. For the most part, this badge is a lottery, so you have to accept that beforehand. If you wear your heart on your sleeve with your emotions, you'll fall apart after every good run dies. I had one run die on floor 7 as I wrote about, a couple die on floor 6, and probably a dozen or so on floor 5. That's just how it goes when you're pushing your luck so much.
I'd argue that this badge is far more mental than technical. You have to keep focus and stay patient. Every single turn and action can be the difference between life and death, so you have to play carefully once you get a nice run started. I also strongly recommend always going for the stairs once you see them. I had a fair number of good starts die because I got greedy for extra items. Even if you can't hear monsters in the direction of where you're going, others from where you came from can catch up.
I also believe that Overconfidence and Eagle Eye x2 -> Intuition x2 is by far the most viable way to go for this badge. With my strategy of killing the Spider Mastermind with the Combat Pistol, you need all the ammo because you'll often be firing in the darkness, missing your shots half the time, and you absolutely need to know where she is as well as having the increased accuracy from Eagle Eye. You can't expect to fire at her a few hundred times and not expect to avoid taking damage the whole time if you're waiting for her to appear in your line of sight. The only other way is nuking her, but adding another layer of luck to this strategy is not the way to go in my opinion.
All that said, this badge is still incredibly difficult, but is certainly overrated and many more people can get this. In total, I took 353 runs, which seems intimidating, but keep in mind that something like ~90% of those runs lasted about 10 seconds because I had a bad start. It's kind of hard to estimate whether I had good or bad luck in my run count because of all the variables, but I'd argue I was above average in luck in getting the badge in as many runs as I took.
Not sure what's next, but I'll continue progressing as usual! Time to make that signature! :D
Sereg:
Very impressive - and you did it with a standard win, better then my partial. Better strategy with the Int2, I guess, lol.
I suspect you will not have much difficulty in surpassing me from this point. Tormuse will still be giving you a run for your money, though - and then VANDAM, if your end goal is to equal his purported achievements.
Icy:
Thanks! I actually browsed around for players to see how everyone stacks up, and it seems there's a clear gap between the top four players (VANDAM, 2Dev, Papilio, Tormuse), and everyone else (Sereg, Evilpotatoe, myself, and others). I'd like to get myself in between that gap and onward, hopefully motivating more people to play! :) It'd be interesting to see the full medal and badge counts by everyone, but there are many players who don't list all their stats. I'm sure there are lots of great lurkers as well.
Day 47:
Adding onto what I said above, I decided it's time to go for my first angelic badge! The easiest one by far seems to be Shottyman Angelic Badge, which perfectly fits my playstyle too. On top, I planned on getting the Shottyman Diamond Badge as well, which interestingly is harder to get when playing with Angel of Overconfidence. :P My plan was to create a setup where I could safely kill a Shotgun Guy hundreds of times until I had a high enough kill rate to ride out until the end, as well as all the ammo I could ever need.
My first attempt had this setup:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
And here are my stats just as I was about to enter floor 2:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
While I was early into the game, with the ammo I had, Intuition x2 + Hellrunner x2, and the Scout's awesome natural abilities (so much better than playing Marine), I should be fine.
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Unfortunately, the Invulnerability was a bit protected, and I didn't have any source of healing. It was possible it was in another room as well, so I didn't risk getting it. On floor 3, I was greeted with this:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Not good. Then on floor 4...
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
:( It's a pain to spend the time to get the kill rate high enough, only to get bad luck and killed.
I repeated this strategy two more times, and I had atrocious luck each floor afterwards. Very annoying. One of them had me start near the very bottom-right corner, in a room filled with Revenants and Archviles, giving me literally no option to handle the situation.
The issue though is Shotgun Guys are kind of rare for being this deep into Hell on Nightmare, but because stairdiving is (usually...) very easy, I decided to grind until I had a floor 7 with them of which I could do the setup. Eventually, I got one:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
I had two setup perfectly and a nuke for the Spider Mastermind ready too, but because I grabbed a Tracking Map, this took forever. Interestingly though as time goes on, the probability of respawning enemies increases. I'm not sure if there's a cap on this, but if there isn't, the entire collection of enemies on a floor would respawn every 10s; very scary! Towards the end of my grinding, I was getting double spawns almost every time, and quickly too. It still took some time.
After that, I nuked Dis and got my first angelic badge!
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)--------------------------------------------------------------
DoomRL (0.9.9.7) roguelike post-mortem character dump
--------------------------------------------------------------
rsegrseg, level 4 Apostle Chaos Major Scout,
defeated the Mastermind at the City of Dis.
He survived 88266 turns and scored 72602 points.
He played for 40 minutes and 53 seconds.
He opposed the Nightmare!
He killed 928 out of 1158 hellspawn. (80%)
He was an Angel of Shotgunnery!
He was also an Angel of Overconfidence!
-- Special levels --------------------------------------------
Levels generated : 4
Levels visited : 1
Levels completed : 0
-- Awards ----------------------------------------------------
UAC Star (gold cluster)
Shottyman Diamond Badge
Shottyman Angelic Badge
-- Graveyard -------------------------------------------------
###########################################################
#>.........................................................
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#...................&......................................
#.................X......................................&.
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#..........................................................
#>.........................................................
###########################################################
-- Statistics ------------------------------------------------
Health 0/50 Experience 5762/4
ToHit Ranged +0 ToHit Melee +2 ToDmg Ranged +0 ToDmg Melee +3
-- Traits ----------------------------------------------------
Class : Scout
Hellrunner (Level 1)
Brute (Level 1)
Intuition (Level 2)
Int->Int->HR->Bru->
-- Equipment -------------------------------------------------
[a] [ Armor ] nothing
[b] [ Weapon ] assault shotgun (7d3) [6/6]
[c] [ Boots ] nothing
[d] [ Prepared ] nothing
-- Inventory -------------------------------------------------
[a] shotgun (8d3) [1/1]
[b] shotgun (8d3) [1/1]
[c] shotgun (8d3) [1/1]
[d] shotgun (8d3) [1/1]
[e] shotgun (8d3) [1/1]
[f] shotgun (8d3) [1/1]
[g] shotgun (8d3) [1/1]
[h] shotgun (8d3) [1/1]
[i] shotgun shell (x50)
[j] shotgun shell (x50)
[k] shotgun shell (x37)
[l] shotgun shell (x50)
[m] blood skull
-- Resistances -----------------------------------------------
None
-- Kills -----------------------------------------------------
1 former human
893 former sergeants
11 former captains
7 imps
3 barons of hell
4 arachnotrons
1 former commando
5 revenants
2 mancubi
1 Spider Mastermind
-- History ---------------------------------------------------
On level 6 he was targeted for extermination!
On level 6 he entered the Lava Pits.
He decided it was too hot there.
Then at last he found Dis!
He nuked level 8!
On level 8 he finally defeated the Mastermind.
-- Messages --------------------------------------------------
There are stairs leading downward here.
You enter the damned city of Dis...
Are you sure you want activate the thermonuclear bomb? [Y/n]
You use a thermonuclear bomb. Warning! Explosion in 10 seconds!
Warning! Explosion in 9 seconds!
Warning! Explosion in 8 seconds!
Warning! Explosion in 7 seconds!
Warning! Explosion in 6 seconds!
Warning! Explosion in 5 seconds!
Warning! Explosion in 4 seconds!
Warning! Explosion in 3 seconds!
Warning! Explosion in 2 seconds!
Warning! Explosion in 1 seconds!
Congratulations! You defeated the Spider Mastermind! Press <Enter>...
-- General ---------------------------------------------------
1595 brave souls have ventured into Phobos:
1268 of those were killed.
3 of those were killed by something unknown.
45 didn't read the thermonuclear bomb manual.
And 163 couldn't handle the stress and committed a stupid suicide.
116 souls destroyed the Mastermind...
12 sacrificed itself for the good of mankind.
100 killed the bitch and survived.
4 showed that it can outsmart Hell itself.
--------------------------------------------------------------
--- End code ---
It seems that every great player outside of the top 4 have only 2 angelic badges, so I definitely want to get there too. I think the next easiest one would be Lightfoot Angelic Badge, and Archangel of Travel actually seems like super fun too! I'll give it some effort and hopefully it goes well!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version