Extreme East Spoiler and Discussion Thread

[srid]

That's crazy!
I really hope that you are recording this!

[General_Milky]

I know this is a bit of a step back compared to a freakin' spellcaster curious VGT clear, but I've been dinkin around with some more casual runs to see if I can't find anything interesting, and I've got 2 things on my mind.

First, if anyone's sleeping on the Dispersion Seal, check it out. It's easy to overlook because it's taking a permanent boost and turning it into a once-off bonus, but that bonus is FANTASTIC if used in the right way and at the right times. As a matter of fact, it may just be helpful in Tower's quest, because using it on a mana booster; A. completely refills the mana bar, B. makes next cast totally free, and C. adds mana overheal equal to the cost of last use. It's like a schadenfuede that's 100% better because it's free and offers 2 free casts. Usually well worth the tradeoff when combined with alternative ways to boost the mana bar.

It's not just that, either. Using it on a health booster is an instant, free full heal with max overheal to boot, on top of taking 0 damage from next attack. Obviously, this is a resist fighter's dream, especially if they're using on-hit effects like venom dagger or just being a ratling. The attack booster effect is also pretty good; 100% bonus damage, 100% dodge, and a reasonably powerful poison strike makes for a good boss burster, even if I personally find more value in the health booster's effect. These are definitely worth playing around with!

Second in mind, oh my GOD Namtar's Lair Scrooge is tough as nails. What's worse than fighting all 12 classic bosses at 150% monster difficulty? Having to do it with -30 max HP, -15 base damage, -6 mana, and a load of corrosion and weakness you need to find a way to deal with on top of everything. Not exactly a fight stacked in your favor, there.

[Nurator]

I restarted the mod, because I lost all my saves and the feeling is so fantastic.

"Oh, I have to defeat VGT? Just the normal version? Which nothing on top? Okay! No problem! "

I remember vividly how intimidating that dungeon was and now its just a standard run in your repertoire

[shade_of_ox]

[The Avatar]

[Unidentified Tower]

Where do the Extreme Edition quest items like Cursed Cutlass appear on the Shop Spawn list? At the end of the quest items block, less likely to spawn than Witchalok Pendant?

[srid]

That's a very good question, and the answer is: I have no idea...
I would say that they are added at the end, but since the order is fixed there must be something more to it.
Also, all these items we add really pushed further the probability for ever seeing Elite items.
We'll have to think about that, maybe just give more return slots or more shops, or even change the spawning algorithm?

[Unidentified Tower]

I can't take the scumming anymore. Hours of runs stillborn because a key item didn't spawn. It's too much. I'm making a new kingdom and unlocking fewer items, just to rig the item shop RNG in my favor.

I realize this might make the result seem tainted. I kinda feel the same. But at this point, it's not going to be tainted any more by rigging the RNG with a smaller item pool than by rigging the RNG by resetting whenever the game doesn't give me the items I need.

I'm sorry. I'm too weak. I got Horatio down to 500, I know it's doable, but I just can't bring myself to keep doing this without putting a finger on the scales.

[The Avatar]

[thzfunnymzn]

In lesser news:

Finally beat Fee Fi Fo Fum pt.2, after half a week of failed attempts. Successful run still involved a Yendor prep with some very good early game luck (Platemail, APHEELSIK, Dracul). Preserving blackspace on the top level & fighting Elissha's second form (knockback is useless) proved to be the bottlenecks. Can't even WEYTWUT or Mass Ledger that form. Ugh. JJ was prepped altar (Health Boost, Mana Boost, Chaos Avatar, convert out), also used More Glyphs in hopes of HALPMEH or APHEELSIK.

Won with plenty of resources left, but iunno how much of that is actual improvement vs. great luck. Yendor felt bloody near critical, so sorry Avatar, but I don't feel guilty about prepping it. : p

Now, I did try Ms. Tower's Codex strats. Barely use Codex myself, but nearly won my first serious try at it with EM as my prep (and watching her video a bit). Ms. Tower says that she has a 50/50 win rate with Codex strats, so I wonder if Codex is actually a more reliable strat here, rather than Yendor. May have to start trying out Codex strats myself.

Think I'll take a break with a platformer for a bit before moving on to pt.3.