tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post624168887810545025..comments2024-03-28T04:44:28.648-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Game 278: Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (1991)CRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-77342524300925427652018-07-13T23:17:33.432-04:002018-07-13T23:17:33.432-04:00Spelljammer has an... Interesting remainre to the ...Spelljammer has an... Interesting remainre to the dimensions. You MIGHT be able to get there as some places normally described as alternate dimensions appear as crystal spheres.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64213559850246340082018-05-05T03:18:03.702-04:002018-05-05T03:18:03.702-04:00Even by 90s standards, I'd say the ability to ...Even by 90s standards, I'd say the ability to rest and save pretty much everywhere keeps EOB2 from being very hard - except for the aforementioned no-resting level, which IS very hard.Radianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03866535042372152723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-453900535043126002018-05-04T21:42:40.294-04:002018-05-04T21:42:40.294-04:00That's a good point. I suppose in a vacuum, EO...That's a good point. I suppose in a vacuum, EOTB2 is pretty hard. But if it's your 250th game, and you've passed through a ton of DM variants, you get either good or jaded.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-2737678405674572572018-05-02T19:26:21.614-04:002018-05-02T19:26:21.614-04:00Thanks for an amazing exploration through this gam...Thanks for an amazing exploration through this game :) I found the site when researching Epic Games' Ancients for a video I'm doing - CRPGs never really clicked with me until Etrian Odyssey's take on remaking them, but I've sort of begun to see how they're meant to be played now.<br /><br />Back in the 90s I thought EOB2 was absolutely brutal, letting you get four levels down before trapping you on a floor with giant ants where you couldn't rest... but apparently it's regarded as being a bit of a mid-difficulty game? What's a hard one like? :)David K Newtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16173695727423766949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-71618504022060158402018-03-17T02:58:58.982-04:002018-03-17T02:58:58.982-04:00A bit late, as I'm quite behind in the blog, b...A bit late, as I'm quite behind in the blog, but attacks of opportunity were present, just not by name. 1st ed. DMG (Efreet cover) pg 70 "Breaking Off From Melee" grants a free attack against an opponent disengaging from melee, with bonuses as a rear attack. Presumably this was the basis for their presence in the Gold Box games. Iirc, later materials softened this somewhat allowing a reduced-speed fighting retreat.<br /><br />Enjoy!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07809241251642539968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-44990714740779622682018-02-02T16:33:32.139-05:002018-02-02T16:33:32.139-05:00http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Prophet...http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PropheticNames<br /><br />?P-Tux7https://www.blogger.com/profile/03201162995038006540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-11362394921979559382018-01-27T03:55:52.737-05:002018-01-27T03:55:52.737-05:00When this game came out, I was in high school and ...When this game came out, I was in high school and watched at least 20 people play it. All of them figured out the square dancing, though not all of them liked playing that way. All of them actively dodged attacks through attack/move combinations, just not all of them felt like doing the square dancing was fun. <br /><br /> If you think these behaviors are meaningfully different in terms of game design, I really don't agree.<br /><br />Incidentally attacks of opportunity did not exist in 1st edition AD&D, nor second really, though there are some very very vague hints of such an idea in the early rulebooks and it was fleshed out in splat books later as optional rules, and only was formalized into clear rules by 3rd edition, many years after these games were released.jrodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06567198770927408479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-91236470605220679442018-01-22T02:57:08.853-05:002018-01-22T02:57:08.853-05:00The fourth comes about if, in vague terms, the pla...The fourth comes about if, in vague terms, the player puts one piece into a sword relief before he has the other two pieces that go in there.<br /><br />In specific terms, gur cynlre arrqf gb vafreg gur Rlr, Uvyg, naq Gbathr bs Gnyba vagb gur fjbeq eryvrs ba Grzcyr Yriry 2 gb bcra gur jnl gb gur Pevzfba Gbjre. Cvrprf pna'g or erzbirq nsgre gurl'ir orra cynprq. Gur Rlr vf nyfb arrqrq ba Nmher Gbjre Yriry 2 gb trg gb gur fgnvef gb gur arkg sybbe. Vs gur cynlre svaqf gur Rlr naq onpxgenpxf gb gel vg bhg va gur fjbeq eryvrs orsber bcravat gur qbbe gb Nmher Gbjre Yriry 3, ur'yy or fghpx.Man of Stonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-86072602026958460582018-01-21T23:03:29.601-05:002018-01-21T23:03:29.601-05:00My experience with UU is that the gameplay is anyt...My experience with UU is that the gameplay is anything but "primitive." In equipment, NPC dialogue, economy, role-playing choices, and the magic system, I expect it to beat EotB2. Probably not in combat, though.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-22986896843043542082018-01-21T04:07:19.051-05:002018-01-21T04:07:19.051-05:00Heh, what does implementing better tech matter, wh...Heh, what does implementing better tech matter, when the level design and gameplay is more primitive?PetrusOctavianusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-29101867955139558152018-01-21T00:17:43.774-05:002018-01-21T00:17:43.774-05:00"One view was clearly in the past saying that...<i>"One view was clearly in the past saying that UU had blocky graphics compared to EOB2"</i><br /><br />Well, it does. Underworld's sprites are <i>extremely</i> blocky compared to EOB's, to the point of being down right primitive. The computers of the day simply didn't allow for higher resolution with the free-moving texture-mapped 3D tech.<br /><br />Ultima Underworld is one of those pioneer games, like Virtua Fighter 1 (to think of a random example) that were utterly mind-blowing at the time due to introduction of never-before-seen technology, but have aged like milk since everybody who came after them implemented that technology better. Meanwhile EOB2 is a very polished implementation of an old, tried and true formula, that does nothing special but does it well. Games like that tend to age much better.MOZAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-42940650247379825352018-01-20T23:53:41.808-05:002018-01-20T23:53:41.808-05:00Ah, good old EOB2, probably the CRPG I have the mo...Ah, good old EOB2, probably the CRPG I have the most separate playthroughs in (five). While Dungeon Master is a better game and Captive holds a special place of nostalgia in my heart, I must admit that I <i>enjoy</i> EOB2 more than either of them. It's such a comfortable little game, and such a huge improvement over the first EOB in terms of map design, puzzle design, balance, audio-visuals etc.MOZAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-13698930863950589092018-01-20T23:41:29.688-05:002018-01-20T23:41:29.688-05:00Oh my god, you're right. ADDICT, TAKE NOTE: Ne...Oh my god, you're right. ADDICT, TAKE NOTE: Near the end of the game you will be receiving a number of large red rings (item). When you do, SAVE INTO A NEW SLOT AND NEVER OVERWRITE THAT SAVE. It's quite easy to waste the rings on accident and be permanently stuck. You have been warned.<br /><br />That's the only non-obvious "walking dead" situation. I know of two others, but they're very clear that you're screwed and you probably wouldn't overwrite your save there.<br /><br />Zing: Gur bgure gjb ner gur gencf gung frny lbh va creznaragyl (bar unf n pyrevp va vg, gur bgure unf n pbecfr jvgu rdhvczrag).<br /><br />I don't know what the fourth one Man spoke of is.MOZAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-72165133876051906752018-01-20T09:53:36.090-05:002018-01-20T09:53:36.090-05:00The argument will head towards apocrypha if I make...The argument will head towards apocrypha if I make a distinction between general maneuvering (encouraged, considered by the developers as they were developing) and the combat waltz as a discrete technique (probably not considered during development) and honestly I didn't mean to suggest I knew better than anyone else, I'm just making an informed guess. <br /><br />It's one thing to get scorched by a dragon and ran away further back in the dungeon and quaff your healing potions before re-engaging and it's quite another to be expertly dancing around this dragon in a 4-person turtle formation. The first one I can incorporate in my own storytelling of what's happening in the game, the latter not so much.<br /><br />The spirit of the game is a good, subjective place to let this argument settle. I think it's against the spirit of these games to combat waltz everywhere but others might interpret the spirit of the game differently. I realize my error was to be assertive about how 'of course these games were not meant to be played this way by the developers'. What do I know? I don't mind me playing these games in my way being considered a 'conduct'. It's all good.Helmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00584102280299430293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-20242181954609410622018-01-19T15:11:00.775-05:002018-01-19T15:11:00.775-05:00That's close, but most of the examples are kno...That's close, but most of the examples are known to be evil from the start, they just really look the part. "Obvious Judas" is closer, but even then most of the examples are more about characterization and actions than the simple fact of the character's name.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-41420205724341679532018-01-19T09:13:42.414-05:002018-01-19T09:13:42.414-05:00Perhaps this one? http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwik...Perhaps this one? http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ObviouslyEvilAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-49133106236974497032018-01-19T03:39:23.051-05:002018-01-19T03:39:23.051-05:00There is? Must have been lucky... Do these involve...There is? Must have been lucky... Do these involve throwing away obviously important items? Be gur evatf va gur ynfg gbjre, whf orsber Qena?Zingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-68723751031607862192018-01-19T02:50:08.234-05:002018-01-19T02:50:08.234-05:00Don't give obviously fake Dawn/illusion Scotia...Don't give obviously fake Dawn/illusion Scotia the key when she shows up asking for it. There might still be a bug in the game where it doesn't appear later in Scotia's's castle like it was supposed to.Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10127921392724966349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-13325128569061122752018-01-19T00:02:07.535-05:002018-01-19T00:02:07.535-05:00We, Westwood Studios, were acquired by Virgin Game...We, Westwood Studios, were acquired by Virgin Games. SSI, who were publishing the EoB series, did the 3rd one themselves.Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10127921392724966349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-62411973305494730222018-01-18T16:06:43.183-05:002018-01-18T16:06:43.183-05:00"Hang on a sec, I wanna try something..."..."Hang on a sec, I wanna try something..."Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10192177511156934669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-48296796114808763222018-01-18T13:17:23.433-05:002018-01-18T13:17:23.433-05:00Audible laughter was produced. Someone should do a...Audible laughter was produced. Someone should do a skit like that. CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-1546035082679649202018-01-18T13:13:43.935-05:002018-01-18T13:13:43.935-05:00100% agreed. Good game, would be better if it wasn...100% agreed. Good game, would be better if it wasn't an AD&D game specifically.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-8890118772847649322018-01-18T13:10:44.918-05:002018-01-18T13:10:44.918-05:00I've been trying and failing to find a TV trop...I've been trying and failing to find a TV trope titled something like "Maybe We Should Have Known" that would encompass a lot of CRPG characters and places. "You mean the Bloodwych/Temple Dakmoon/Lord Blackthorn turned out to be EVIL!?"CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-18882031839172761942018-01-18T13:07:58.695-05:002018-01-18T13:07:58.695-05:00Thanks, Joseph! I was kind-of just guessing above,...Thanks, Joseph! I was kind-of just guessing above, but it's good to have confirmation from an era developer. I look forward to playing LoL.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-86339731000418373722018-01-18T13:05:03.153-05:002018-01-18T13:05:03.153-05:00Whether a game CAN BE PLAYED without doing a certa...Whether a game CAN BE PLAYED without doing a certain thing is a different question from whether the developers intended that style of play, and therefore whether a style of play goes against the spirit of the game. By explicitly recommending in the manual that you maneuver in combat, the developers show that that moving and dodging is a perfectly intended form of gameplay. If you can win without it, more power to you. You're playing with a "conduct," the same way I would be if I insisted my characters use only fists or never cast "Fireball" or something.<br /><br />Having a player devoted solely to attacks while someone else moves breaks the rules significantly move than waltzing and should hardly be used as evidence that a single player can get through the game without trying to dodge enemy attacks.<br /><br />"That argument hinges on the idea that you need to do the combat waltz in DM as well. You don't." So to be clear, when you face the dragon, you just stand there and suck up its fireballs? I suppose it's possible. But I don't take naturally to action-oriented combat in the first place, and I'm sure I wouldn't have had the mental or physical dexterity to keep up on healing potions.<br />CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.com