Thanks for replying.
I could play AR on my Atari 800 but I only have one disk drive. It's an Indus GT so it's a nice drive but with the computer's 48K base memory there is a lot of disk flipping and swapping, especially in the Dungeon.
I'm afraid I'm spoiled on the convenience of 4 emulated drives and the ability to shuttle the speed during loading and waiting around in game. I might try playing on the 800 again, but I'm probably a little too impatient at this point. It sounds like your 1200 rig is pretty nice. Maybe I should seek out a used system with more drives.
The story of Fancy Olives continued:
Wandering in the rain I raised to 4th level after a few altercations.
I stumbled into the Guild of Order where I was much enlightened. I remembered that I had been carrying a Gemstone which seemed of some value. I asked the Guildmasters where I could sell such a find. They told me about Grams Gold Exchange.
I cut across town following the directions of the Guildmasters. I arrived at the exchange just before the closing bell. They gave me 5GP for my treasure. A little short I thought, but there was nothing I could do but accept the payment.
Near Grams Gold Exchange is an eatery with exceptional prices. On the way to the Tavern's secret entrance I accosted a snobby looking Merchant. In a belt pouch I found a ruby red gemstone and 4 pieces of gold. The exchange was closed. There would be time tomorrow after stocking up on supplies.
The Tavern makes every gold piece go a long way. I knew I wouldn't need to worry about food and water for many days.
Oh the horror! In the streets just outside the Tavern I was waylayed by a Black Slime. I dodged it's varied attacks but in the process I dropped my tankards and many of the food rations I had just bought. They had to be sacrificed to ensure the black beast would be sated without devouring me.
No use crying over spilt milk. I soon bumped into an Imp. This creature was dexterous. After many missed swings I finally made contact with the diminutive creature, felling it. It was carrying a potion in a pouch. The elixir inside was red!
I impulsively drank the potion, steeling myself for the worst. After a few moments I realized that the potion had not brought me any harm. Thankfully, this potion imbued an uncanny ability to uncover treasure on defeated foes. I counted my blessings and pressed on into the dark night.
Up the road I spotted a drunken Gladiator wandering the streets near the Arena. I clasped my dagger firm as I leaped at the mess of a man. He tried in vain to repel me with his longsword. During the altercation he managed to cut my left arm badly. During the melee I cut him several times until he lay twitching on the dirt. I unbuckled the fine Scale armor he was wearing and put it on. A good fit. I patched my wound and carried forth with renewed confidence.
Not much later I defeated a Thief and felt new vigor as I became Level 5. He dropped a potion of Invulnerability Blunt which proved most useful.
The night wore on and I was battling all manner of foe and finding glistening Jewels and many coin. Along the way I met my match in the form of a Giant. This foe would have been my end had it not been for the Invulnerability Blunt potion I drank and the Scale armor on my bosom. The combination of the two made the Giant's menacing hammer glance off of me without leaving a scratch. It's slow work bringing a Giant down with only a Dagger in hand. When he finally collapsed I searched out 30 gold pieces from the carcass. Would my streak of luck never end?
After battling a Skeleton I found a capable, albeit rusty Shortsword.
The Dark Wizards seemed to like my style. They regretted not being able to accept my application, however they taught me new ways of beguiling with a silver tongue.
Eventually the Treasure Finding potion magic wore off. All told I scored some great loot.
I visited the Star Wizards Guild. Finding this place by trial and error would have been impossible. Luckily I had found a tattered map with instructions on one of my victims.
Just when I had the World on a string, this do-good Wizard approached me with electricity shooting from his fingertips. In a voice raised by magic he swore to me, "YOU SHALL PAY FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE!"
Of course I had no interest in sticking around so I turned tail and ran covering my head from the onslaught. The Wizard blasted me with incantations knocking me off my feet. It seemed like forever I was being knocked about like a cork, my life being drained away by one spell after another. I was slipping on the wet cobblestone but eventually regained my footing. I got away with my life and belongings... but just barely.
My every muscle and all of my bones ached and throbbed. I had to find an Inn to rest and recuperate. The Midnight Inn was nearby, it's not inexpensive but it was too risky to try anywhere else. On my way there I encountered a Fighter. I knew if I left the fracas that this man would steal my treasures. What if I was left penniless with no way to afford a room for the night? I'd be left to die in the chilling rain. It was either pent up rage or desperation that guided my hand during that battle. I survived even though the slightest wound would have injured me mortally. At the Inn I enjoyed a Deluxe Room for the brisk price of 600 coppers.
The night's rest healed me. Although still hurting, I prepared a journey to the Healer on the West side of town. I'd like to visit the bank to sell my jewels and open a bank account, but it's late and the Healer is more important.
On the way to the Healer I defeated a Merchant who was wielding a Magical Sword. This sword will serve me well.
When I arrived the Healer was out. While waiting outside I decided to unseal a few potions I had gathered the night before. The first potion was Red.
My throat tightened as I drank down vinegar. Another potion was Red as well...
How can this one burn worse than the vinegar? Where am I? What is happening?
Am I...
This must be it... No fourth chance. I am truly lost to this world. Into the dance of eternity...
THE END
Player's notes:
Wow. I forgot how much damage DEADLY! Poison does to a character. I think I was honestly not paying attention to the fact that I had only 17HP. Being near the healer I just assumed that if it were poison I could go in and be cleansed.
I felt very disappointed in this character's end. The armor and the Magical sword were great items for a character that was only into his third game day. He was becoming wealthy and well supplied. He was beginning to look unstoppable.
It was also disappointing to survive such a close call with that Wizard only to spoil it the next day by haphazardly drinking the red potions.
Losing this character was very upsetting. I had hoped that I might make a character that could win this contest on the very first attempt. This character was attempt number three. Little did I know that I would wind up making over a dozen more characters before hitting one that had true longevity.
I'm also a little embarrassed about how this character perished. It was completly my fault by making a dumb mistake. Fortunately I played my follow-up characters much more wisely. I was having bad luck with many of them but their fates were brought on by luck of the draw, not poor player choices.
Fancy Olives made it far enough to place in this contest so when I roll a new character it will be with a new name. I'll change character names each time I have a run that surpasses a previous character.
My next character was Feyd Rautha. This character had severe problems getting a good run. I played and rerolled this character a total of eleven times.
Notably, the fourth attempt reached level four with 3,465 XP. This character had very high stamina and already had more than 60 HP.
With 34HP and armed only with a Dagger, this character died in battle versus a Warrior (couldn't escape after battle had soured).
The Eleventh attempt was a nice roll except for somewhat poor Wisdom.
This character attained Level 7 with 23,150XP. He was armed with Sword and Shield but no armor. He fell to a Guard who held on like a pit bull. Feyd did not attack but died trying to run away. He disengaged 3 times but the Guard kept moving in close and hitting Feyd.
So why the comparatively brief rundown of a character that placed higher than my last? That's because I have another character that has attained a very high level.
Sorry for the suspense but I'll post the character's progress in the upcoming days.
Edited by dgiors, Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:11 AM.
4
It is possible I wasn't being sated, as you mention above. However, I was still not able to receive the packets and flasks. Works great now, though.
Or maybe that has to do with the treasure hunting stat - not sure if that is randomly generated on rolling a character or if they all start at zero (don't recall). Does the Treasure Hunting stat start at 0?
Death from a single mistake, no extra lives or reloading (without using external means or cheats) - this surely isn't a nintendo generation rpg. 
