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Post by Dave on Jul 3, 2010 15:34:35 GMT
Updated Halls-of-Fame with the latest entries - all no-death runs. Congrats to all!
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Post by Phone Wolf on Jul 8, 2010 0:16:18 GMT
Just finished a 10/20 hardcore survivor run. Made it through on the first try, too. I made a test run by the book to refresh my memory and plan things out, which helped a lot.
I decided to "play it safe" with Healing, Mindblast, Weaponskill, Hunting, and Animal Kinship. For the first time in ages my Weaponskill roll came up Sword (no bloody Short Sword, and especially no bloody Broadsword).
I got a scare from the Ice Barbarian ski-commandos in Book 3. Some lousy rolls meant I lost 17 EP in a CR +0 fight. Fortunately this is right before the long lull when you drop into the caverns of Kalte. That meant Healing had a chance to get me back up to 12 EP for the CR +3 fight against the old men with the Firesphere. And I was back to 21 EP for the CR +1 fight against the Crystal Frostwyrm (CS 15 EP 30), which was the last combat in the book for me. You don't really even have to fight the Crystal Frostwyrm but I wanted the Silver Helmet.
Planning my route to avoid instadeath rolls as much as possible -- there are a couple that can't be avoided -- meant that the closest shave wasn't until the Tomb of the Majhan.
In the final fight, if you know what you're doing, you can choose to fight either the Crypt Spawn (CS 24 EP 40) with the Sommerswerd, or the Dhorgaan (CS 20 EP 40) without. And there are a couple opportunities to pick up a Jewelled Mace in Book 5 which gives you +5 CS against the Dhorgaan.
The Limbdeath route only offers a 70% chance at a Jewelled Mace. Now, the capture route has a Jewelled Mace which you don't have to roll for, but you have to fight for it. And I didn't like the prospect of two Palace Gaolers (CS 16 EP 21/22), both at CR -2, and then the Yas guarding the Jewelled Mace with 28 EP at CR -5. One right after the other without much help from Healing. If only you could pass the chest, go upstairs, get your stuff, slam a Laumspur and Alether, and then go back downstairs to open the Yas's chest! ;D
So I ran the Limbdeath route because it forces only one fight in Part I: the Elix in the Imperial Apothecary (CS 17 EP 32) at CR -2. (CS 10, +2 Sommerswerd, +2 Silver Helmet, +2 Mindblast, +2 Weaponskill, no +2 from the shield because of Limbdeath, and then another -3 from Limbdeath, all equals 15.) I decided to play it safe and chug the Kalte Alether before this fight to be at CR +2 instead.
Unfortunately I got a bad roll later on and missed the 70% chance to give the leper the Oede for a Jewelled Mace... oh joy, a bottle of Kourshah instead... Since I had already used my Alether on the Elix, that put me at CR -2 fighting the Dhorgaan. I got lucky rolls, 2 6 7 0 8 0, but easily could have been killed within inches of victory. If I'd managed to pick up a Jewelled Mace I would have been at a much more acceptable CR +1 instead -- and it would have been a CR +3 cakewalk if I'd rolled Mace for my Weaponskill.
Since section 223 'knows' you have the Sommerswerd and doesn't bother to mention any damage doubling, I don't think the Crypt Spawn should be considered undead. But even if you decide the Sommerswerd doubles up so the Crypt Span effectively has just 20 EP, you're still at CR -4 -- which is getting down into very risky territory. (The rule of thumb is that, at CR -5, an enemy with the same EP as you has a 50/50 chance of killing you. CR -4 isn't as bad but it's still risky to fight that low.)
Anyway, this is a really fun challenge. I didn't think I could do it, never mind on the first try. I'd encourage anyone reading this to go for it!
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Post by Ofecks on Aug 15, 2010 20:18:17 GMT
Hi. I am wondering if you received my deathless hardcore 10/20 file? It was a reply to your confirmation email on my BTB run Aug 2-3. I can resend if you didn't get it.
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Post by Dave on Aug 15, 2010 21:03:51 GMT
Got it - sorry for the delay. Okay, the website is updated with all entries received to date.
(also, check out the Magnakai progress thread to see some brand-new screen shots of the awards system.)
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Post by Dave on Aug 28, 2010 3:52:38 GMT
Once again, The Hall of Fame has been updated with several recent submissions. Congrats to all new entrants.
I am also going to reverse the chronology of the table as it currently stands, so that the most recent is at top. I think I will also split the tables into "regular" and "no-death" categories. And, of course, a 5th, very small Hall of Fame, for insane people's run-throughs (only one entry currently qualifies, but I'm sure we'll get a few more over the years.)
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Post by Dave on Aug 28, 2010 5:06:40 GMT
All of the above mentioned changes to take place in the Halls of Fame page have indeed taken place. Check it out here. I invite your feedback on the changes. I like them - it looks better to me, and has more distinction for the various accomplishments.
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Post by zut on Aug 28, 2010 7:01:47 GMT
I also like the new appearance more - different tables for each type of achievement are easier to orientate in (at least for me).
Just a note: link to this thread at the bottom of the page is broken (there's a superfluous space in the link: ...index.cgi?spaceboard...)
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Post by Dave on Aug 28, 2010 19:10:36 GMT
Just a note: link to this thread at the bottom of the page is broken (there's a superfluous space in the link: ...index.cgi? spaceboard...) Thanks - fixed!
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Post by Dave on Aug 31, 2010 4:38:12 GMT
The Hall of Fame has been updated with all of the lateset entries! Congrats to everyone who completed a successful run!
Special mention must go to Tim McKinstry: He is the second person to ever complete this challenge: 1) Play through on Hardcore with minimum stats (10/20) 2) No deaths 3) No CS-boosting disciplines (neither Weaponskill, nor Mindblast) 4) No Healing!
That, my friends, is an amazingly difficult run! (mckinstry joins kamikaze on the "mythical" table for that one!)
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Post by kamikaze1900666 on Sept 1, 2010 0:00:41 GMT
Awesome job McKinstry and Honza! I know how brutal that was. Good luck on the Magnakai run! Congrats to all who made the Hall of fame!
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Post by Dave on Sept 1, 2010 0:44:48 GMT
As alluded to by kamikaze, Honza just joined Mckinstry on the mythical table as well.
Congratulations! That is a remarkably difficult challenge. I believe Honza said in his email to me that he pulled through at the end with just 2EP left!
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Post by pi4t on Sept 1, 2010 18:02:26 GMT
BTW, an award says 'to view the next hint, complete a BTB run of the Kai series. If you look at the HOH, I have! Doesn't it count the ones before 1.6?
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Post by Dave on Sept 1, 2010 22:47:37 GMT
pi4t - If you don't have a medal for having completed a By the Book Run, the program does not think you've done so. And no, it doesn't count a HOF run before 1.6.
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Post by pi4t on Sept 2, 2010 21:58:42 GMT
Drat.
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Post by Dave on Sept 3, 2010 17:34:14 GMT
Hall of Fame page has been updated with the latest submissions. Congrats to everyone!
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