Hi

I'm doing a first release of Ironband today, hoping to pick up any
problems with the distribution. It works for me but I've not tested it
on any other computer, so now seems like a good time.

The links are:
[Windows binary]  http://orbquest.googlecode.com/files/Ironband_WinBinary_22Nov07.zip
[Source]  http://orbquest.googlecode.com/files/Ironband_Source_22Nov07.zip

Compiling from source should be the same as for NPP (from which
Ironband is forked, all kudos to the NPP developers!) If anyone wants
to submit binaries for platforms other than Windows they will be
gratefully received and distributed.

Any feedback welcome, including but not limited to:
- broken link or unreadable zipfile
- compiling problems (porting issues in general)
- bugs
- immediately evident problems with interface
- anything missing from the distribution package.

Other than that, I hope y'all enjoy playing the game as much as I've
enjoyed developing it. Look forward to YAFVP.

If you're going to play the game I think you should also look at
'IRONBAND-README.txt', as some of the kewl new features could give you
a surprise if you don't know about them in advance. I've copied out
the 'why should you play this game' list from the README below.

Best,
A.

Why should you play Ironband?
===========================

1. No more 'game of shopping' - you never need to pick stuff up just
to sell it.

2. 'Too much junk' is pretty much fixed (with changes to item
probabilities, all characters able to use all items, some crap items
removed, changes to identification, etc - and with no shops you need
to keep a lot more of the stuff you find!)

3. Many of the problems which make normal Ironman games very
challenging are fixed in Ironband (for example, stat drain is a
problem but not a huge one, and spellbooks are more resistant to
fire).

4. No more warriors wielding whips - go for a heavy weapon to do more
damage (if your Strength is high enough).

5. No more boring stat gain period - your stats increase throughout
the entire game without needing to collect potions.

6. Having nine stats is cool especially when you can decide which ones
to raise. No more 'all endgame characters look the same'.

7. Lots of interesting resource allocation issues because your SPs
only regenerate when you go downstairs. Will you use your precious SPs
for a big fight, or to create some food for later, or to identify the
items you found, or...?

8. With many types of escape restricted, you actually have to kill the
monsters :) (or sneak around them).

On Nov 22, 8:45 am, Antoine <antoine.from.r...@gmail.com> wrote:
Nice release. Some of those additions sound very intresting..

The windows version crashs when activating sound. This is also true
for NPP

On Nov 22, 12:04 pm, Matthias <MatthiasNOSPAMRud...@googlemail.com>
wrote:

Made it to level 6. Seems like I am supposed to be a very unlucky but
healthy mage.
After an intense fight with Lagduf my resources are deplented, but I
have a useful sword now...

I think stat increases should come before SP refilling when descending
a level, as I just got a large boost to wisdom but my mana is still at
69/92

On Nov 23, 12:04 am, Matthias <MatthiasNOSPAMRud...@googlemail.com>
wrote:

Well, that's no good, I wonder what we can do to fix it.

NPP devs, do we know the status of this one?

A.

On Nov 23, 1:13 am, Matthias <MatthiasNOSPAMRud...@googlemail.com>
wrote:

Sounds like you're doing well. It is always a relief to get rid of the
starting dagger.

I agree about the SP refilling and will sort that in the next release.

A.

On Nov 22, 8:45 am, Antoine <antoine.from.r...@gmail.com> wrote:

There seems to be a problem with spells costing fractions of 1 SP.
Using a Talisman of Battle, the Wand of Magic Missile is supposed to
cost 1/4 SP. But it is a lot more than that, maybe 3/4 SP

regarding progress I made it to dlvl14. Level12 had a special feeling
caused by a lesser vault with both of Mim's sons. Killing both of them
reduced my mana to zero for the first time in 4 levels, but I got a
wand of mana bolt in return as well as the first ever pair of boots

On Nov 22, 11:33 pm, Matthias <MatthiasNOSPAMRud...@googlemail.com>
wrote:

Also true for wand spells more expensive than 1 SP. Actually all my
spells cast by wands cost more mana than what the inscription sais.
Dual talismaned wands of fire bolt/ball are still very nice weapons,
so maybe it is just the inscription that is off...

On Nov 23, 12:20 pm, Matthias <MatthiasNOSPAMRud...@googlemail.com>
wrote:

Will check and fix in next release.

A.

On 2007-11-22 08:45:10, Antoine <antoine.from.r...@gmail.com> wrote:

As far as installing and bugs and stuff the game works just fine so far on my
computer.

I played six games and never got past dL2.  Everyone starts with just a dagger
and not much magical ability (can only cast spells maybe 3 times on the first
level or two).  If I ever want a very short game ending in death I'll play this
game.

On the other hand I wonder if playing this game might make me a better Angband
player.  

My main problem is this:  In vanilla Angband, every starting character has
something he is good at (unless you pick a really bad class/race combo), warrior
has melee, ranger has his bow, mage has magic missile..  In Ironband everyone
starts out bad at everything and with poor equipment (except for the scrolls,
which is nice).  

In conclusion, I don't see anything wrong with Ironband except that I'm
apparently just not a good enough Angband player to get anywhere in it.  I knew
it would be harder than vanilla, but didn't expect every character to start with
nothing better than a dagger and a sling.  Also, In vanilla I never go past dL2
without at least a potion or two of CSW or better for healing.  In Ironband, we
get 10hps from the heroism potion and a spell of cure light wounds which you can
only cast a couple times per level.  Also, I don't understand the reason for
making light sources last a shorter time.
Even in vanilla, I usually die before reaching dL15, and have only gotten past
dL20 with one of the few great race/class combos (dunedain paladin, high-elf
ranger, half-orc warrior. -haven't played much with dwarf priest yet and always
die very quickly as a mage with any race.).  Well, I've gotten a little past
dL20 a couple times with a kobold paladin which was my favorite combo for
awhile.

I see the dump of Ironband in the ladder and I think how in the world did he get
that far on one of his first games (possibly his very first game) of this hard
variant.

um.. I hope this doesn't sound like a pity party.. maybe it is, maybe I should
shut up..

Feature request for Ironband:  Skill levels which mostly just effect your
starting equipment and maybe mana.
A lot of things in the Ironband readme file sound like cool features for a fun
game, so I'd like to be able to play the game at not quite such a high skill
level.. or maybe this game just isn't for those who've never won vanilla.

may I have permission to ramble a little?
  I said in a message in some thread (I've forgotten which) that I was trying to
win vanilla before getting much into other varients, and someone said I
shouldn't do that.  I have tried a couple other varients and never got very far.
 I probably should have given them more of a chance and played them more, but I
keep feeling like I shouldn't get used to a varient until I've won vanilla.  And
I'm also playing a considerable amount with my modified .txt files 'cause I want
to test them and make them available for download sometime soon (which is why I
haven't posted anything on the ladder recently).

On Nov 23, 10:07 pm, will_asher <will_as...@yahoo.com> wrote:

The start is indeed very difficult, and your life is at gamble there.
A good weapon makes a big difference. Trust the RNG, and won't be
betrayed.

This is (I think) because the character is supposed to be able to
develop in all directions. Give him a bigger sword or a long bow or a
wand of magic missile and most will chose the path of the warrior/
ranger/mage. The way it is now it is all in the hands of a RNG and
what stats are increased or what items you find on the first levels.

While I don't think you should give up yet, you do indeed need to know
your ways around the dungeon. Ironman mode is always a completely
different game.

That's mine. Feel free to ask specific questions over there. I'm
always happy to get comments :) It is indeed my very first Ironband
character, but far from my first character overall. Click 45. "for
this player" to see some of my other ones :)
One lonely dump is nothing to draw conclusions from. The same is true
for me, with only one character I still can only guess how the next
one would end. For the early levels, ignore all spells but bless. Use
that sling, then finish them with the dagger. If you have to heal it
is likely too late. I started with 2.2 blows.

For that one character it was basically a gamble until level5. Could
have died any time (, but I didn't, maybe thanks to playing
experience). When facing Lagduf and around 15 cave orcs, I was using a
rapier with ~2.5 blows had 3 !speed, one or two !clw, a berserk, a
hero, my starting sling with some good ammunation, the second book and
six mana left. I survived, using all resources, and got a broad sword
(+6 +8) and some armor as a reward. Not too many problems from that
point up to now at 23, again with the right item drops here or there.

Once again I don't want to drive you away from playing Ironband, as
every learning experience is a good one, but in that message would
have disagreed with "someone" and agreed with you that beating vanilla
first is the best approach to general *banding.

For ironband, I'd suggest you post at least your best character to the
ladder, then replace the dump with a new guy with the same name after
you die. This way it's easier to see a progress, and Falach is no
longer all lonely on there :)

Matthias

will:
i Always knew that IRONMAN in any *band is tough.

Ironband just makes it in your face!

i have died 14 times since playing it.... mostly to wimpy 'i's and
'o's ...
right now on DL 4 ... have a good whip and a good spear. the last two
times i made it down here ... i got offed by Brodda the Easterling and
a herd of 'o's , respectively.

also i am inclined to dump anything from the inventory as soon as i
get anything better.

Antoine:
i hope *ID* will not be a rarity?

ARE there any artifacts ?

regards,
dD

On Nov 24, 2:07 am, will_asher <will_as...@yahoo.com> wrote: