Quick questions thread!

[tdef]

how viable are burst builds without MAc? the ammo consumption rate looks ridicolous but on the other hand playing without intuition sounds like a bad joke

[Evilpotatoe]

Intuition is for noobies (I love it :p), but Cateye is a very good build. works well.
I also tried marines with EE instead of MAc, and it's great too.

In all cases, a nuclear or nanomachic plasma/laser rifle will be your best friend, but they are not necessary at all (and it seems all good players will prefer antigrav boots over a nanomachic weapon)

My personnal choice is to alternate with the use of a shotgun (usually, normal or tactical. I don't like 7d3 ones), which has a great ammo efficiency and is always reliable. I hate playing without a shotgun anyway, it makes pain elemental expensive, and sometimes dangerous.

the ammo consumption rate looks ridiculous

That's only true for the plasma gun !
I rarely use a chaingun, but it's quite effective, and you always find tons of bullets.
Also, if you never tried it, craft a gatling gun ! I prefer using my B-mods on nanomachic weapon, tactical RL or BFG, but it's a cheap and effective gun : you won't have the same ammo problems, and the damages are equal to a plasma gun (well, bullet damages still suck a little, and don't divide armor, but it's not that bad)

[tdef]

are special levels actually randomized? when i played HNTR i always got Deimos lab and now that i'm trying to clear HMP i always get hell's armory

[ZicherCZ]

are special levels actually randomized? when i played HNTR i always got Deimos lab and now that i'm trying to clear HMP i always get hell's armory

I scoured through my mortems, and I found at least one of each combination of HNTR/HMP and Armory/DLab. So yes, they are randomized.

[White Rider]

I was mucking around on an ITYTD run when Agony Elemental spawns at Abyssal Plains like it does on other difficulties. IIRC, AE didn't spawn in City of Skulls for 0.9.9.6, so is AE supposed to be spawning at Abyssal Plains on ITYTD?

[LuckyDee]

Yes to both, apparently. Once you know, however, you can prepare for it and have no problems whatsoever.

[tdef]

how do you clear the vaults "by luck" as requested in one of the challenges? by nuke?

[Rajhin]

how do you clear the vaults "by luck" as requested in one of the challenges? by nuke?

By phasing in the middle vault and cracking walls of others.

[AlterAsc]

Guaranteed solution is 4 repeated uses of scythe's alt-fire and you're good unless you're unlucky, then you may require 5. IMO worth only if you desperately need 100%/Conqueror and Scavenger Platinum/Diamond.

[Klear]

Guaranteed solution is 4 repeated uses of scythe's alt-fire and you're good unless you're unlucky, then you may require 5. IMO worth only if you desperately need 100%/Conqueror and Scavenger Platinum/Diamond.

I'd say it's the easiest diamond badge, so that's something. You need to be able to do a YAAM UV run, and have enough medkits in the Vaults.

[grommile]

I'd say it's the easiest diamond badge, so that's something.

No. The easiest diamond badge is Technician (theoretically achievable without ever leaving ITYTD), and the second easiest is Armorer.

[LuckyDee]

and the second easiest is Armorer.

If you know how to wield the DS, that is... I don't think Armorer Diamond is going to be high on my list... :S

[Klear]

If you're like me and don't spoil yourself with the wiki when it comes to assemblies, then Technician Diamond is quite tough. And armorer takes a LOT of time to get. You might as well shoot for another diamond while trying to get it, and you'll likely succeed before you gather 3 of everything.

Also, I believe as of 997, unsuccessfully picking up DS doesn't add it to the list of uniques found? If that's the case, you need to figure it out as well to get the badge... and then find it two more times.

[grommile]

Technician Diamond is not hard even if you do not wish to read spoilers; it is merely tedious.

Armorer Diamond is only hard (rather than just very tedious and a bit tricky) because the DoomRL community likes to pat itself on the back about having secrets.

[Klear]

My point is that if you want to get your first diamond, it's easier to learn to play well enough to get scavenger or gatekeeper diamond badges rather than grind for the others.