Alternate Reality: The City Competition

[dgiors]

This thread has been silent for a while. I was interested in posting a late entry.

I'm a long time player and I found some of the hints in this thread to be very helpful. Thanks to all who have contributed to keeping Alternate Reality alive and well.

 

Until I first saw this thread about a year ago I always used backups of my characters to revive in case my characters got killed. After being inspired by this thread I have created many excellent characters without cheating. Some died early, but I have had an equal number of characters that reached levels 5 though 11.

In fact just a few weeks ago I had a character that reached level 4 before I had even gone to sleep at an Inn for the first time.

 

If it's alright with everybody, now that I am signed up for the forum, I'll put my money where my mouth is

[dgiors]

I rolled a decent character by the name of Fancy Olives.

My confidence was almost immediately dashed when my first encounter was a Mugger whom I could not seem to damage with my bare hands (he was armored) and he sliced me down 2HP at a time to until only one hit point remained.

What a start!

 

The story of Fancy Olives:

With a discouraging feeling I pressed forth through multiple tight situations, being burgled and mauled until I bought a stiletto from Occum's. Desperate for money to eat, I accosted a Merchant who proved my demise. At level 1 and 406 experience I shuffled off this mortal coil never to be seen again.

 

Reroll:

Suddenly I was thrust through the mechanical gate yet again. I was revived. A fresh start with new statistics rolled. This time I would make things right. My stats weren't as high as before but I had a second chance at life! I made my way to Occum's and handily afforded an adequate Dagger. Things went well, for a while.

Unfortunately my aspirations were strangled away from me in the night by a Zombie. At level 2 and 736 experience points I slid into the black embrace of all-encompassing death at the beckon of rotting hands about my neck. A dizzying dance into the gloomy murk with a rather unattractive partner.

 

Reroll 2:

Thrust through the metal gate again I began to wonder if life were infinite and we become newborn at every failed attempt. I couldn't quite remember my past lives or my identity but I knew I had been here before. My stats, oh they were grand. What could possibly stop me this time?

With my naked fists I happily trounced a nearby mugger whom was flaunting a gold piece haphazardly. What an ignominious boob he was!

Fortified in wealth I took the plunge to buy a dagger from the Best Armourers. Rumors abound that this is the most expensive smithy in town. Playing it safe I absorbed the extra cost to expedite my weapon acquisition. My balance being 78 coppers.

The smithy appreciated my offer of 170 copper for the finely crafted weapon. He recognized in me considerable skill of combat for a neophyte. He suggested that I visit the local chapter of the Thieve's Guild to even the odds in my favor.

What has anybody ever done for me in this crazy town? I give no quarter to nobody! Wait, that's a double negative. I give no quarter to not everyone? No quarter to anybody? Do I give quarter to somebody? Aw heck, I'm a merciless tyrant, OK?!?

My trusty dagger secured for me Level 1

I made my way over to the Blue Wizard's Academy and they informed me my physical speed was raised to 15. That meant that I started with either 13 or 14 at Level 0. The cracks in my foundation were beginning to show.

After much indiscriminate killing I became Level 2

I stumbled into the Green Wizards Academy where they improved my Stamina.

The Physician's Guild kindly showed me the benefits of sterile gauze.

Good thing I seem to have a way of divining the locations of Guilds. The Light Wizards found me contemptible but they nonetheless provided me with some wise advice.

After it began raining and I was beginning to feel the onset of weariness, I skillfully defeated one of this world's lesser magic users who was carrying a pair of potions.

One of the potions was Red in colour. I'm not sure what compulsion drove me to do so but I drew a sharp breath and threw the unknown concoction down my gullet.

Relieved that I didn't imbibe a deadly cocktail, I felt my muscles bulge and flit as I bulked up a slight amount.

Level 3. I feel... powerful. My first day in this forsaken place and I've improved my health and abilities by leaps and bounds.

Another shot of strength. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but I'll rip your head off with my bare hands if need be.

I found another potion, this time on the carcass of a Gremlin. Invulnerability Blunt may prove very useful in the challenges that lie ahead.

I also found a Gem after dueling another Gremlin.

These guys love me. That is, until they get a contract to end my life. At least they have prepared me with additional stealth so that I might become the survivor of a contract kill in the future.

No time for delay, I had to make a dash to the nearby Inn through the night's rain, severely wounded and praying for respite.

Weary and beaten up by the denizens of the night I layed myself down into a comfortable bed in the SouthEast of town. Low rent but the rejuvenation of the night's rest was just as good as anywhere else. In the early hours of the morning I had been healed completely by my slumber.

 

...to be continued.

 

This is a good start. I did continue playing but I'm going to post the results a little later. This post is already very long.

Edited February 5, 2013 by dgiors

[Gunstar]

Welcome! I've been away from AR myself, as my computer is down and out right now. I've never been a fan of emulators, only the real thing for me. But I'm missing AR so much that I've decided to install an emulator for the first time just to play AR, only until my 1200XL is repaired, then it's back to the real thing with real floppies and real drives.

[dgiors]

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 February 5, 2013 by dgiors

[izarek]

Hi,

 

New member to the forums here. For whatever reason, I recently downloaded a couple of ST emulators and disk images of my favorite games from back in the late 80s/early 90s. One of these is Alternate Reality. Its amazing how many memories it brings back. Anyhow, I've run across a problem that won't allow me to progress very far into the game. I can't seem to eat or drink in taverns. Regardless of what I order, the food/drink sits on the screen and nothing happens. How do I either pick up or consume food/drink in a tavern? No matter what buttons I push or how long I wait, I end up leaving famished and thirsty. By the way, I'm playing the v1.2 image for the ST. Thanks in advance!

 

Izarek

[dgiors]

Hi Izarek,

 

The Alternate Reality FAQ hosted at http://www.eobet.com/alternate-reality/ describes something that isn't exactly like what is happening to you but I'm sure it's related.

 

Quoted from AR FAQ: "Also, if you are using the untrained version 2.0 of The City (should work with any TOS rom)

the game will think you are running a pirated copy of it, and therefor will treat you in that

way. That is, your character becomes extremely evil and you won't be able to enter any taverns

or save the game. Sneaky? Oh, yes indeed!"

 

So I think the answer would be to obtain a trained copy of 2.0 City. http://www.eobet.com/alternate-reality/ check the download section. I'm providing the link because the developers of Alternate Reality have released the games to the public domain and the publishers are long defunct. To the best of my knowledge there is nothing illegal about downloading copies of the AR series.

Edited March 19, 2008 by dgiors

[izarek]

Thanks for the quick reply. I have tried playing the 2.0 and 2.0 cracked versions and, well the 2.0 does have the problem you mention in your post and I cannot get the 2.0 cracked version to even load. (if anyone has a copy that works, I'd really appreciate it!).

 

That being said, the 1.2 version seems to work for sleeping at inns, not being kicked out of taverns, etc. So, I think this is at least a somewhat separate issue (although maybe a bug with the 1.2ST version??)

 

So, does anyone have a 2.0t copy or other ideas to try?

 

By the way, I just picked up a cursed flamesword. I've noticed a reduction in STR, but what other effects does a curse have?

 

 

Edit: I downloaded the PC version of the game to see if I could reproduce the issue. I cannot seem to eat in taverns in the DOS version either. That leads me to believe that I'm just doing something wrong. A side request: Does anyone know how to slow down the DOS version?

 

Thanks again.

Edited March 20, 2008 by izarek

[dgiors]

I didn't think of this during your original post but it's possible that the items you are buying and eating in the taverns are not satisfying your character so you are not seeing any relief to your thirst and hunger. Water is the most effective for quenching thirst and a bowl of chili is the most effective for filling you up. In the taverns food and drink are consumed automatically after ordering. The 8-bit City didn't have any time requirements, meaning you could leave the tavern immediatley after ordering and the food would be consumed. The 16-bit City may require you to stay in the tavern for a few minutes for your character to eat the food. I don't know this for a fact, but it may be worth waiting in the tavern for about one game hour to make sure that your character has time to eat.

 

My advice is to buy water flasks and food packets or the less expensive pemmican (you receive one food packet with every order of pemmican). To eat and drink these you must leave the tavern and press "u" then select the water flasks and food packets from your inventory. Hopefully that will work.

 

The author of the Alternate Reality FAQ recommends using PacifiST to run 2.0t of the City.

 

A good program for running old DOS software is Mo' Slo. The basic version is here http://www.hpaa.com/moslo/basic.asp

It has a nag screen if you don't pay for it.

There is also DOS box which is a freeware DOS system emulator which will approximate the speed of a 386 or 486 PC on a modern PC. http://www.dosbox.com

 

Happy gaming.

[izarek]

Thanks for the reply. I figured it out by downloading a fresh working copy of the 2.0 ST game image. Now I can consume food and buy packets/flasks in taverns 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.

[Xebec's Demise]

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?

 

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.

 

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.

Nice story! I read it all.

 

30 gold pieces off one corpse? Wow, I don't think I've ever seen that much before. Usually you're lucky to get one or two coins. 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?

 

As I read your story, I didn't think you were going to die. Alas, Deadly Poison! How fast does it drop your hit points? It might be affected by Stamina or Strength? I wait outside the healer for the same reasons, but it seems like I've always been able to make it inside to cure Deadly Poison. Maybe, I'm thinking of regular Poison. I need to play some more. Those potions are always very tempting! Especially since they often poof into thin air. I've been there. Death from a single mistake, no extra lives or reloading (without using external means or cheats) - this surely isn't a nintendo generation rpg.

 

I wouldn't feel bad about losing the character, it looks like you had a grand adventure, Fancy had an exciting life, and you took 4th place with him, which only shows you did well for AR The City...

 

Nice adventure with Feyd too, good enough for 3rd place in experience! Those guards can be dangerous for the dark side. I'm trying to play a purely good character now, since you can never repent in The City. I hail all when possible and never attack neutrals first, which really makes pickings slim, but after years of evil maybe there is something to it -- we shall see. At least I won't have guards chasing me down. Somewhere in the game code is the text, "Hail All, Master of Chronos," or something similar...

 

...I've also left a cliffhanger. Did Liah die from the Knight, or was she able escape for further adventures? If you know the game well, there's a hint in the screenshot...

 

Edited April 10, 2008 by Xebec's Demise

[Angry Jedi]

Hello! I had a relatively disastrous experience recently, which is well-documented in blog format here. I've returned to AR after many, many, MANY years. I last played it as a kid who didn't really get what an RPG was. Now I understand it, I still find myself dying horribly on a regular basis.

 

Here's my final screenshot. You'll notice my stats are... uhh... weak. I was rather thirsty by the time I expired and a merciful guard put me out of my misery.

 

I have much to learn, I think.

 

[Xebec's Demise]

Still, in Alternate Reality The City, level 2 is good enough for 9th place!

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=69487

 

Edited May 1, 2009 by Xebec's Demise

[Xebec's Demise]

I just had a thought today, wouldn't it be cool to have an AR: City online server? Where you play and compete in the original game online? The playing, saving, and recording of character high scores would all be done online. Not only would it minimize cheating and improve interaction and competition, but it would make the game highly accessible and many more would play, even those that never played before. I guess you would need a Java emulator or something?

 

But that would really stir things up.

Edited August 31, 2011 by Xebec's Demise

[Dan0]

So I recently posted my screen shots of a level 13 character over in the Main thread and have decided it is time to try my hand in the competition!

 

 

After waking from a deep sleep its all starting to come back to me... my old life... a spaceship... what am I doing standing here at this floating gate?

 

Not knowing much about my strange surroundings or these people from another time I decide it best to arm myself and head out to the local smithy.

 

 

On my way it starts to rain and I can feel the cold bite to the bone as I wrap my meager breach cloth tighter. Soaking wet, and with a bad feeling, I push on.

 

The first smithy in the town center has a small stilleto for sale, but I feel that I'll need more than that to keep me alive in my frail condition.

 

No luck at the Occum's either... just another stilleto. As I'm exiting I run into a man who tells me of another smithy in the southeast part of town, called Sharp's, but warns that it will be a dangerous journey unarmed, and in all this rain. I decide to take my chances.

 

 

I finally reach Sharp's having killed a mugger with my bare hands on the way, but alas, the only weapon in my price range is once again a stilleto. I decide to make due and bargain the smithy down from his original asking price of 200 copper to 101. Leaving the smithy with 106 coppers in my pocket I decide to check out the nearest tavern.

 

I enter to lively music, the kind of which I've never heard before, and take a seat at the bar. Just my luck they are serving pemmican which I quickly buy three pieces of.

 

 

With 28 copper left and a couple of hours to kill before sundown I decide to visit the Assassin's Guild and the Red Wizard's Guild. Having increased my stealth and my strength and not having lost a hit point so far, I'm feeling really good about my start in this new, strange land... but the rain... doesn't stop...

 

As I round the last corner to the Inn I am surprised by a shady fellow who fiercely demands all of my possessions! I refuse and mayhem ensues.

 

I slash the thief with all my might but attacks do minimal damage. Meanwhile he has hit me for all 11 of my hitpoints...

 

 

With the final plunge of his dagger into my chest I see black closing in from all sides...

 

[Dan0]

After 5 attempts (some of which were really good rolls) that didn't make it past the first day I rolled up Daodan.

 

 

Having entered the city it was time for Daodan to see if he could make it to Occum's with coin intact.

 

 

Just as I had feared, I was not halfway down the western walkway when I came upon character who was looking to dash my hopes. With bare hands I fought him off, and to my surprise I saw something shiny hanging from my would be assailants pocket! I had found a jewel on my first encounter! I hurriedly tucked the jewel into my breach cloth and proceeded with haste to Graham's Gold Exchange to discover what fortune I might have.

 

 

Having made it to the bank unscathed, and leveling thanks to the jewel, I can't believe my stroke of good luck! 68 gold could give me a real chance at surviving... if I can just make to the smithy...

 

 

Good fortune continued to shine on Daodan. I had made it Occum's welcomed by the ringing of hammer strokes falling on the anvil. The Smithy had a battle axe for sale and was asking more than I had...

 

 

After much haggling he finally agreed and Daodan's chances for survival increased dramatically.

 

 

On my way back to the inn I decided to grab some training and visit the assassin's guild.

 

 

Taking advantage of my new training I actually surprise a fellow wielding a sword. Trying to size up my opponent I wait for him to make a move. Sure enough he thinks nothing about attacking a pauper in a breach cloth, and gets more than he bargained for as my battle axe splits him clean!

 

 

After a long and eventful first day I finally make it to the Inn... exhausted.

 

 

Upon waking I decide to see what the local Tavern has to offer today. My good luck continues... Pemmican and Water Flasks available at the same time! I quickly load up and thank the bartender. Fighting the urge to celebrate and make some new friends I decide I had better get to the bank and visit some guilds along the way.

[Dan0]

 

Tiring of being thoroughly soaked every time it rains I decided to purchase some clothing... now if I could just find some decent pants...

 

 

Next thing on the agenda was to visit every guild in the city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having just over 600 copper left it was time to open an account at the bank and put away the emergency fund.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level 4! I'm now feeling very confident about my chances of survival!

 

 

 

With my last guild visit completed it was time to head back to the inn.

[Dan0]

After my stay at the inn I've decided it is time look for action at night and sleep during the day.

 

 

 

Hoping for treasure finding I quaff 7 potions... no treasure finding, but Invulnerability Fire and Protection +2 will do.

 

 

Several nights go by uneventfully with plenty of experience, but not much loot... till this...

 

 

On my morning stroll to the shops I encounter a thief, dispatch of him quickly, and am rewarded handsomely!

 

 

Needing to wait for the banks to open up I check out the shops in the city center and discover more loot.

 

 

32 Gold... Very nice!

 

 

Leaving the bank I find another jewel...

 

 

This one however is nothing more than costume jewelry.

 

 

I quickly make my way to Graham's Gold Exchange and deposit 4,000 copper. This is now a nice little account... maybe I can even afford to buy some armor sometime soon.

 

 

It's a long walk back to the Inn and I am really starting to tire. I make a quick stop by the Tavern and load up on some water flasks, and then finally reach the Inn exhausted.

[Dan0]

 

 

After a week and a half of scouring the city pantless... I was finally able to find a pair that I could afford... even though they are purple.

 

 

Having finally obtained pants, I was out late one night when a ghoul crept out from the shadows... He reached for my neck, but was easily avoided. Slashing his foul corpse to pieces I noticed he was carrying some equipment that might be usefull.

 

 

The Scale Mail he was wearing was salvageable, and I quickly moved to don my new armor!

 

 

Much to my delight he was also carrying a tower shield!

 

 

Upon closer inspection I realized what a true treasure I had found... it was MAGICAL as well!! I quickly dropped the small shield I had been carrying and equipped my new armament with glee!

 

 

Within moments though, I began to feel a strange sensation, and realized an alarming truth... my new shield was cursed. This would be costly.

 

 

Fortunately I was still able to attack with my battleaxe without noticing any affects... the cursed shield must only affect my defense. Luckily within my next few encounters I found a trinket that just might pay for my pricey mistake.

 

 

My jewel, however, only netted me three gold pieces.

 

 

Reluctantly I withdrew 3000 copper and went to find a guild that I might afford to acquire help from.

 

 

Making my way to the Green Wizard's guild I pay the fee to be free of my burden.

 

 

 

Back at the inn I find a troll to take my aggression out on and bare-knuckle box him to the finish.

 

[Dan0]

 

Hmmmm... what do we have here?

 

 

This one's magical too. (screen shot caught the blinking at the wrong time lol)

 

 

Knowing that there's no possible way the game would be so cruel as to give me two cursed shields back to back I equip my new magical spiked shield only to discover the worst... this one's cursed too... and now I don't have the coin to get the curse removed.

 

 

Realizing how much copper I'll need to find get myself out of this predicament I get to work fighting every evil creature that comes my way.

 

 

 

Another session of boxing and I'm feeling fit.

 

 

I have yet to taste the sweet nectar of a treasure finding potion, but am finding jewels just when I need them.

 

 

 

Wow, what finds!

 

 

I feel like I'm beginning to the chaps at the Green Wizard's Guild on a first name basis.

 

 

Weary and drained I begin the march back to the Inn when I am suddenly confronted by a little goblin.

 

 

Having just freed my self from curses and losing stats quickly from exhaustion I decide it better to leave the flail where it is and proceed on.

 

 

I make it to the inn and not a moment too soon. I takes almost 3 days to fully recover from my exhaustion.

[Xebec's Demise]

Nice story telling and screenshots. It was fun to read about your adventures.

 

Your characters earned rankings of #3 and #12. Congratulations!

[Dan0]

Nice story telling and screenshots. It was fun to read about your adventures.

 

Your characters earned rankings of #3 and #12. Congratulations!

 

Thanks for following it! It's been fun. After a 3 month hiatus I have the itch again.

 

Here are some updates from my latest progress.

 

 

After a much needed rest it was time to resume my adventures. It doesn't take long before I come upon an incredible find!

 

 

Feeling confident after reaching level 8 I decide to press my luck and continue to look for skirmishes while waiting for morning.

 

 

It's been quite a fruitful night, which has netted several shiny's and a nice stack of potions.

 

 

I decide to crack open a few and right away come across a potion that should make life easier till I can find better armor.

 

 

Could it be?

 

 

It's looking promising!!! Now just don't "poof" on me!

 

 

What an unfortunate turn of events! At least I have a decent amount of hitpoints and should be able to make it to the healer. Since there is noting left to lose I decide to keep drinking potions.

 

 

I may not have much to show for the 16 potions I had, but am quite pleased to have found this one towards the end.

[Dan0]

 

Another jewel! What fortune might await at the bank?

 

 

 

 

I have secured a small fortune that should be able to see me through the roughest of times and if not eaten away by emergencies, should provide a nice start to some plate mail armor.

 

 

Believing I am stronger than ever, and newly supplied with water flasks, I start to feel funny...

 

 

Upon further examination I know my situation is serious...

[Dan0]

So serious, in fact, that I forgot to post the shot from the Healer... Needless to say I was able to get it cleansed before taking any permanent damage to my stats.

 

 

Having found my way back to the in I encounter a troll and have a bout of fisticuffs lasting a day and a half and netting 6 new points to strength!

 

 

In my encounters prior to the troll I obtained a Tower Shield and am feeling VERY confident about my new equipment. The only upgrade I could make by purchase would be a shiny suit of plate mail!

 

 

Another troll came along, but this one doesn't put up nearly the fight! I smite him with my bare hands after only gaining 1 point of strength.

 

 

I now have a nice stack of potions and decide it is time find out what luck I might have.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It looks promising, but alas, I downed nothing but weak poison. I continue to press my luck and 5 potions later...

 

 

Wow, fortune has truly shined on Daodan!

 

 

Being only weakly poisoned, with plenty of hit points, I decide to battle in front of the inn before heading to the healer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With dawn having found me, and I having found such loot, it is time to head out to the healer and visit the bank with my newly acquired fortune.

[Dan0]

 

I make it to the healer having not lost a single hit point.

 

 

Taking a final look at the small fortune I have amassed I enter Graham's Gold Exchange to turn it into gold!

 

 

 

Having forgot to get the screenshot of the 3rd jewel being worthless I start to wonder if I should have had them appraised at all 3 banks when...

 

 

Surely, this must be the most gold I have ever heard anyone receive for a jewel!!

 

 

After withdrawing 16,000 gold pieces and leaving 3,000 for an emergency fund I should have enough to obtain the best armor money can buy!

 

 

Wearily I trudge by occum's weaponsmithing on my way back to the inn and by chance the smithy has exactly what I'm looking for!!

 

 

After outraging the smithy several times with low offers, the smith gives me the best offer I will receive (man I should have gone back to the other thread and looked at the formula before doing this).

 

 

I decide the purchase is worth it (still have 3,000 gp in the bank) and will not need funds for anything other than rations and clothing.

 

 

I don my new armor and feel as if nothing can stop me now!

[+therealbountybob]

HI Dan0 I'm following your adventure with great interest

I played Ultima III a lot but never really got started on Alternate Reality... I must dig it out and have a go