Hardcore Happenings

Crimbo Update!

2007-12-20T23:28:00.000+01:00

So, I've been playing a lot of Urban Dead lately, but that hasn't stopped me from also logging into the Ol' Kingdom, just to grab the Crimbo spirit.

In passing, I've also managed to slog through level 12 and 13 of the NS-13 content. And I do mean slog. It all just seems designed to generate immense amounts of clicking and has a very high "go there, fetch that" ProgressQuest feel. I did cut through it and a bit of the content was amusing, although it really is too much. The high-level area's of the Spookyraven Mansion were already somewhat too much for me, so NS-13 really isn't for me.

Anyway, I might even ascend though. Gaining a trophy here or there seems interesting enough a challenge. Also, I renamed my mallstore, in honour of Urban Dead.

Retired!

2007-11-03T22:14:00.000+01:00

This is just the official announcement.

I'm retired. Why? Maybe it was my new job. Maybe it was the game changing so much (less funny, more gamey). Maybe I just lost interest. Maybe it was NS-13. Maybe it was the fact that so many old players had gone and so many new players had come.

It's of no importance, really. KoL has been a game, and more importantly a community that I've enjoyed being part of for the past few years. I'll still be there, visiting on occasion. Maybe banning a spamming noob for old time's sake. I just won't be playing the game at the high performance end like I used to.

Which also leaves this blog, which started as an experiment to document a hardcore run and ended up being a tool for me to really hone my ascension skills, without a clear purpose.

I've decided to officially wrap up this blog. If you've ever read it, I hope you at least enjoyed my prose. If you read it now, I suggest skipping it as source of gameplay tips and only browse it if you're interested in how the game was played before NS-13.

Keypunch out. See you in the chats!

Bounty!

2007-07-14T22:58:00.000+02:00

Since a week, I've been logging in for a bit, mostly to chat.

But gameplaywise, it's fun to gather bounty for the bountyhunterhunter and collect filthy lucre. It's a fun goal even if ascending is old hat.

Although, now I'm getting to the point where new content will truly show up...so I'm kinda curious about it.

I plan to explore it somewhat and ascend into a regular run.

Temporarily Unavailable

2007-05-21T21:24:00.000+02:00

With a weekend being out of the running, after a month of basically using KoLmafia to play the game, I'm kinda out of it. Especially with lots of other stuff eating into my time.

I achieved my goals, but I'm going to discontinue the blog for the near future.

I hope some of you enjoyed it so far, and feel free to give me a shout-out in-game.

Keypunch (#30036), out.

Day 34: The butler did it

2007-05-14T23:45:00.000+02:00

Woot! Trophy. Now to get to level 30 in time for moxie days.

Keypunch
Level 28 Turtle Tamer

Day 30: On the Brink

2007-05-10T10:43:00.000+02:00

So, it's been 30 days. About a maximum of a week before I achieve the Trophy. And I'm on the cusp of Muscle day as well, so that ought to give my mainstat a good boost.

As it is, I've only got 62.7% of required stats. Which is a bit low. And I didn't particularly want to clover, but we'll see where the dual muscle days will get us. The aim is to be done before next Moxie days, so I can try and see if I can put in a decent attempt at a two-dayer...

Wish me luck!

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 26 Turtle Tamer

Day 27: Update

2007-05-07T12:10:00.000+02:00

I really enjoyed the Cinco de Mayo adventuring, and although I've been slacking a bit, I managed to pass the 50% mark of required stats.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 25 Turtle Tamer

Day 21: Whoosh!

2007-05-01T17:05:00.000+02:00

My stats went up to 35% of target. Nice!

Don't know the exact cause of this speed increase, but good, good. Also makes me solidly level 23. ~34k muscle substats to go to 24.

The numbers game is boring though. And I'm starting to think that perhaps the "Butler" trophy is going to be the bottle-neck.

The new IotM is just a toy, if you ask me. Neat for those that weren't around for the Pumpkin bucket, but the bucket is better. You get some funny effect flowers, but except for the "half-orchid" they don't seem particularly useful, nor do the combat-effects seem to make a dent.

Oh well, can't all be winners...maybe next year, it will be the "May Bee".

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 23 Turtle Tamer

Day 20: Averaging

2007-04-30T12:09:00.000+02:00

Over the past few days I averaged about 25k muscle substats per day, which is not bad, considering I haven't been optimally spending all my turns.

I'm banking a bit for tomorrow, when it's a good grimacite day. After all, 20 more monster level, means 4 more stats from the ML alone per fight, +the bonus from the sombrero. Multiply by 150 fights and it gets to an interesting 600-800 or so of extra stats.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 22 Turtle Tamer

p.s. I've got ~29.7% of required muscle now. About 20 more days to go for level 30.

The Next Day!

2007-04-27T11:09:00.000+02:00

134,718

So that's 27,027 muscle substats gained.

Which is shy of the 30k, but not terribly shy. At this rate it will take ~22 days. And I think I've got about that many days left to get Bookbat as well.

Not that bad.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 20 Turtle Tamer

Day 16: No supergym

2007-04-26T12:28:00.000+02:00

I just realised, I don't have access to the muscle supergym.

Sigh.

I've booted up my old excel sheet, in which I can score progress. I've got about 15% of stats gathered.

If I can manage about 5% of stats (that's about 35k substats) daily, I'd be done in 17 days. I think I'm going to fall slightly short of that, but tomorrow is the first real test of progress on a non-stat day.

I start off with 107641 muscle substats. Let's see how it goes.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 19 Turtle Tamer

Day 14: Heavenly

2007-04-24T14:20:00.000+02:00

My 555th post.

And I defeated the Sorceress.

Turns Played (this run): 725
Days Played (this run): 14
Sign: The Marmot

That's not bad for a not-so-paying-attention-to-detail run.

Now I can start the "fun" part. Leveling to 30.

Day 12: As I had foreseen!

2007-04-22T12:22:00.000+02:00

Pixel key is made, I've got a broken skull (and banjo strings). I have two lowercase N (and already received a barbed-wire fence), as well as a photoprotoneutron torpedo. So the NS Tower seems well-covered.

I went up the beanstalk and got 3 immateria, so it's only a slow, but sure plod towards the end. I'm hoping it will go speedily.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Rattlesnake Chief
Turns Played (this run): 611
Days Played (this run): 12
Sign: The Marmot
Path: Oxygenarian (Hardcore)

p.s. I also smithed a sword behind inappropiate prepositions. Ought to speed me up very minorly too!

Day 11: Ridiculous

2007-04-21T12:31:00.000+02:00

Picked up the Wand, got the dictionarrry (but not the facsimile) and got a Sneaky Pete's Breath Spray.

That leaves the pixel key and broken skull.

Tomorrow I expect to be able to chase up the beanstalk...then on day 13 I'll be in the Castle/HitS...day 14, Sorceress?

All quiet on the Western Front!

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Rattlesnake Chief
Turns Played (this run): 560
Days Played (this run): 11
Sign: The Marmot
Path: Oxygenarian (Hardcore)

Day 10: And up to level 10!

2007-04-20T10:06:00.000+02:00

I'm saving the Bonerdagon's chest for tomorrow. Today was fun. My only annoyance is that antiques just don't drop like they used to. Blue snowcone, lavender heart, miner's helmet, phat loot, lucky rabbit foot, mad looting skillz and power of observatiogn...that should add a bit to the drop rate, right? But nooo.

Anyway, I got to level 10, finished 4 vacations, and now should focus on the traditional loose ends:
- a broken skull
- daily dungeon key
- dictionarrry (not really a loose end)
- pixel key
- zapping wand

Seems ideal for mysticality day.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Rattlesnake Chief
Turns Played (this run): 507
Days Played (this run): 10
Sign: The Marmot
Path: Oxygenarian (Hardcore)

Day 9: Amused

2007-04-19T09:31:00.000+02:00

I adventured a bit more and reached level 9. I suffered low antique drop rates, so no filling my spleen, but I did get the Frobozz Instant House and managed to smith a "trapper fur" shirt. It was quite the choice between the Yak Anorak (MP regeneration, and hey, there's also an MP regen. hat!), which also looks pretty detailed, the Tuxedo shirt, which looks just awesome and is also very moxious (+7 moxie!!) and finally, the hipposkin poncho, which looks awful (as intended, it's a poncho made from a hippopotamus skin!) but give +10 to monster level.

I settled for the hipposkin poncho, as it was at this point the most useful to me, but I'm really in awe of the other shirts and see a future in making them on other runs.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Bullfrog Overseer
Turns Played (this run): 447
Days Played (this run): 9
Sign: The Marmot
Path: Oxygenarian (Hardcore)

Day 8: The skinny

2007-04-18T18:08:00.000+02:00

Somewhere I lost the drive to play. That not-withstanding, I did play today, and I must say that the added skins/hides/furs and their recipes, as well as long-anticipated shirt-recipes have added a lot of flavour to the game. In a more enthralled period, I'd be ecstatic, now I'm merely really pleased. I smithed a "clownskin harness", which correctly describes itself as "It is also the single most horrible garment in the entire game." Hahahaha. A demonskin buckler as well, I'd love to make a demonskin jacket, but the clownskin fitted me better (LOL). Maybe I should have made demonskin pants, but I'm going to hold out for the penguin shorts, anyway. Maybe make a nice shirt from the trapper hides?

Anyway, smithing galore, I even sidetracked to South of the Border to make a Super Magic Power Sword X (bit stupid, since I've got a shilly).

All in all, not bad for a day's play:
Keypunch (#30036)
Level 8 Salamander Subduer
Turns Played (this run): 381
Days Played (this run): 8
Sign: The Marmot
Path: Oxygenarian (Hardcore)

Day 4/Day 1: Say no to food and booze!

2007-04-11T12:15:00.000+02:00

So, I, indeed, easily ascended, permed the Seal Clubber Trivial, and am now an Oxygenarian Turtle Tamer.

Having to start the Cheshire Bat from scratch is crap, tho. And I didn't play all that efficiently. Nor was I lucky enough to get a maiden wig, even while I wasted adventures looking for one. Oh well. I unlocked the Wizard of Ego quest, and probably will manage to get the book tomorrow. I'm starting to think that a softcore Oxygenarian lead-in is actually better than a Hardcore lead-in. I mean, the stainless steel is just a gimmick, likely to be able to be used when thinks are already well on their way. The air will give a huge starting boost on day 1.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 3 Frog Director
Turns Played (this run): 80
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Marmot
Path: Oxygenarian (Hardcore)

p.s. And now I start banking turns for stat days? Yawn :-/

Rant: On begging

2007-04-10T14:41:00.001+02:00

“Can sum1 gimme meat plz?" is the iconical representation of the ‘Meat Begz0r’ in the Kingdom. The typical on-line begger is a teen, who's just started the game, and finds it incredulous that he'll be able to afford buying hi mein for himself someday. After all, if you've just started, meat returns are often in the low double digits, rather than triple digits at which most items in the mall start. Never mind that "good" stuff quickly goes to about 10k meat.

This is the first sign of their lack of character and imagination. Any gamer worth their salt will realize that you start out in a weak position in the game, and you'll have to put in some time and effort to become in a well-established position. Do a little research, find out what the best place/item is. In fact, in a way, the typical fashion in which RPG’s work is almost a projection of the so-called “American Dream”. If you work hard, you can go from rags to riches. You start out as a weakling and you end up a well-rounded, powerful individual.

Which makes the practice of begging all the more strange. These kids are undoubtedly affluent. They live in an environment with access to Internet, a decent computer. They’ve got spare time to spend on-line pursuing leisure activity. In fact, I expect these kids probably look down on the homeless, or drug-addicted. Wandering down the city park, I doubt they’d even bother to give a panhandler a friendly smile. You know, acknowledge the existence of a man whose fortune in life has been lesser than yours.

But their knee-jerk reaction on-line, is to expect others to provide them with the items and currency that will make their gameplay top of the game. While they wouldn’t even dream of going out into the street with a hand-made sign and a Styrofoam cup asking for alms. In fact, while they are more likely to assault such a person for their pure entertainment, they will resort to this behaviour themselves in an on-line environment. It sickens me. Their hypocrisy is so blatant, they aren’t even worth to hold a candle to the the ‘bums’ and ‘hobos’ they despise so much.

Their mental weakness is even furthermore demonstrated by an oft-heard defense of their scandalously sad behaviour: “I wasn’t begging, I was asking.”.

I’ve got this to say to these punks: Next time a guy with a cardboard sign and a Styrofoam cup asks you something, perhaps you could oblige him?

Day 3: Penguin Folly

2007-04-10T13:59:00.000+02:00

I ran so low on meat, that I needed to farm the Peak for a bit. About 20 turns with my Cheshire Bat got me up to the 3k that I needed to move on.

I think I'm ending up disappointed with the Penguin. Even though at a few places I used the contracts to get out of trouble (not paying attention to MP reserves), it's just a gimmicky volleybal. I'm so glad I've got all resistances permed, it spares me the inconvenience of having to cast Elemental Saucesphere :-)

I closed off all the loose ends (including getting the Digital Key, farming it with my Sombrero, who will be taken through the gash). So tomorrow is only a matter of getting the proper stats, and fighting the NS. Seems like a lock-in.

All in all it was a good day, running high ML and getting away with it, but I find it hard to put into words. I'm convinced that if I had been running this run with the Cheshire Bat, it would've been a 3-dayer. On the other hand, this run I have had fun toying around a bit with different familiars, to compensate in places for the Penguin.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Moose Harasser (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 588
Days Played (this run): 3
Sign: The Mongoose

p.s. I've considered which skills I'd like to add (besides trivials). They are:
Springy Fusilli (Pastamancer)
Jabanero Saucesphere (Sauceror)
Stream of Sauce (Sauceror)
Antiphon of Aptitude (Accordion Thief)
Symphony of the Jackass (Accordion Thief)

So, AT/Mysticality runs in the future. Ahoy, MMJ!

Day 2: Capisce?

2007-04-09T13:25:00.000+02:00

Low meatage keeps hurting me. I still see some possibility of this becoming a 3-dayer, although a safe 4-dayer seems way more likely. And smart.

Most importantly, I haven't run the DD yet. And I still need pixels (got some farmed). I did manage to get all the quests up to level 8 finished. Tomorrow I need to shore and visit the Island for a dictionarrry.

I'm already thinking about my next run, and the one after. I'm planning to get two trophies settled in one run (The Butler Did It and Turtle Tamer level 30). That's a full months worth of doing a single run. To ease the pain of non-ascending, I'd like to make it HCOxy. A good lead-in always helps though. So I could do a Pastamancer lead-in, so that I've got that great Solitaire for extra turns. Or I could just do the Seal Clubber lead-in and have a real easy time smashing monsters. Or a Sauceror lead-in to get more stats from fights.

Since the run is allowed to be a bit tardy, I'm going to discount the mathematically most effective option (Solitaire) since it makes life so much harder. Which leaves the Shillelagh and Solitaire. You know what, screw it, I'll go TT next run :-)

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Caribou Smacker (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 374
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Mongoose

p.s. So: Cheshire Bat, Marmot Sign, Turtle Tamer, HC, Oxygenarian. Sold!

Day 8/Day 1: Drowning in paperwork

2007-04-08T13:16:00.000+02:00

Ascending was trivial, I decided to go Seal Clubber, no reason in particular, except upcoming muscle days and to perm yet another skill. Will be a minor achievement to have fully-permed an entire class. I'll probably get the trivial, haha.

I took the Sleazy Gravy Fairy with me through the gash, and decided to use my newly acquired Penguin Goodfella. So far, he's mostly a "flavoured" volleyball. I have no real need for his delevelling capability, nor for the contracts (of which I've got tonnes). I did use his service to terminate the boss bat, haha. But that only costs meat, meat which is scarce without my bat, as scarce as MP is without meat (or a Troll).

I did get him his neat bow tux, and with a little boozing and simple eating (spicy noodles, painful penne pasta, boring spaghetti and 2 enchanted bean burritos) I ended up with 108 adventures to bank for the muscle days.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 4 Ermine Thumper (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 68
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Mongoose

Day 7: Short of a six-pack

2007-04-07T12:36:00.000+02:00

Day 6 was nothing special, nor was day 7. Except that my my boozetefarian runs now have a habit of stranding at the tower. I basically ran out of turns before finishing. Level 6 still needs to be done (let it not be a cow!).

Nothing special furthermore. Just some pondering on what type of run to do next. I'm tempted to get the Yuletide Troll out again. Or perhaps give the new Penguin familiar a try (both volleyball-types).

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 11 Bay Leaf Brujo
Turns Played (this run): 911
Days Played (this run): 7
Sign: The Platypus
Path: Boozetafarian (Hardcore)

Day 5: Obey the Squid

2007-04-05T21:24:00.000+02:00

Thanks to stat day, I reached level 10. Also finished the level 7 and 8 quests. Have to get the bridge/dictionary though. Already have got the swashbuckling getup.

And then, after running the valley, it's the home stretch, through the castle. I expect to spend a bit more time in the gallery to get my offstats in order, but it looks like a smooth ride from here.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Coriander Conjurer
Turns Played (this run): 630
Days Played (this run): 5
Sign: The Platypus
Path: Boozetafarian (Hardcore)

Day 4: Holy crap

2007-04-04T18:32:00.000+02:00

Today is my 3rd kolniversary.

I just gathered a bunch of booze and overdrank before PvP (haha). Tomorrow is the day of action.

Day 3: Don't mention the Squid!

2007-04-03T10:45:00.000+02:00

More suboptimal running, although I did achieve a few key points. Such as opening up the Gallery (sadly, no balls, no access) and getting a Liver of Steel.

I also got the Ancient Saucehelm. Ugh. Ugh. It took about 25 adventures of haiku dungeon alone. Which is just really too much of a waste for the reward.

Also, St. Sneaky Pete's Day! Totally surprising, and I couldn't help myself from participating. I got a bunch of beads and a flashing novelty button. I didn't see the use of getting a glowstick. I had enough "fun" for a day.

I can also now equip my swords of static/FrostBrand(tm) sword and flaming cardboard sword (which I need hot powder to craft for).

All in all, not that bad of a day, haha. Especially considering I won all my PvP fights!

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 6 Thyme Wizard
Turns Played (this run): 358
Days Played (this run): 3
Sign: The Platypus
Path: Boozetafarian (Hardcore)

p.s. Technically, using candy hearts and mojomuscular melody will allow me access to the Gallery! Great, eh?

Day 2: SubOptimal Squidding

2007-04-02T11:27:00.000+02:00

Okay, I should perhaps get my groove on a bit more. I might be squidding, but that doesn't mean I should be slacking.

I got gazing shoes for my squid. I also smithed two swords of static, only to discover I couldn't equip them yet...

I did kill the Goblin King. That's something at least. But I forgot to extract the glass balls from him. And seeing as my main goal should probably be to have the Gallery open by mysticality day, that's a bit of an incorrigible set-back. Also, I forgot to PvP before my nightcap...

At least I've got a decent supply of base booze and garnishes. Not enough mixers, though. I'll have to wait 'till White Citadel opens up.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 5 Rosemary Diviner
Turns Played (this run): 212
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Platypus
Path Boozetafarian (Hardcore)

Day 1: SquidCore

2007-04-01T14:09:00.000+02:00

So, I ascended with the Squid, and with only one gem as lead-in.

With my regular day one pattern broken, I ended up old-fashionedly mucking about on the lower levels, which was pretty amusing, really.

I've jewelcrafted a porquoise necklace, got a dyspepsi-cola uniform, finished the Pretentious Artist's quest, helped the matchless baker and healed the goblin that was attacked by a rock.

On more serious notes, I got full guild access, completed the meatcar, only need a brain for a meat maid, and finished all the Council Quests up to level 4 (take that Boss Bat!).

I've got 3 willer and various cocktailcrafting garnishes, so tomorrow would be an excellent day to check out the Barrel Full of Barrels. And White Citadel seems worth it purely for the hippy outfit.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 4 Sage Sage
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Platypus
Path: Boozetafarian (Hardcore)

Day 2: Ack

2007-04-01T14:04:00.000+02:00

I screwed up it.

I got to the top of the tower with 5 adventures left and a lot of stats to get. I used my last pulls for clovers and clovered the gallery. Then I started autoselling and donating, and then, and then...with 2 adventures left, no drunkeness, no spleen and no pulls left, instead of continuing the autoselling spree, I got stupid, and used one adventure for stats.

DUMB.

The shadow costs 1 adventure and the NS.

Hence I ended up dropping path. Again.

At least it was a mere 331-turn no-pather. Blergh.

Out of frustation, I've decided to go back to hardcore. If after a few days of adventuring the whole thing revolves around an adventure, so be it, but usually there's pretty safe margins.

Since it's April 1st, I've decided to go SquidCore. Taking my Emo Squid with me through the Gash and seeing where I end up with it.

Day 1: Take 2

2007-04-01T00:25:00.000+02:00

Hmmm, hmmmm, hmmmm.

Drinking some booze and the late hour have caused me to make a few minor mistakes...one of them includes leaving the MCD to be set to 7 for a while...oh well. Also, more annoyingly, I forgot to actually *cast* Ode to Booze before drinking my nightcap.

I've got the KGE, so I'm being even more conservative with Meat/MP. Also, what are the odds of getting 2 vampire capes in two consecutive ascensions? For tomorrow, I'm following my pull-list. First priority is to go on holiday and fix myself up with the dictionary. Damn, I hope this works.

It's going to be another offstat hell, of course.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Hurdy-Gurdy Hooligan
Turns Played (this run): 182
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Marmot
Path: Boozetafarian

p.s. At least I've also already got all the wads for tomorrow.
p.p.s. Last run, I could squeeze enough meat together to perm Symphony, that's well worth it. Might look into it for HC as well. Although for softcore Antiphon and Ur-Kel really make a bunch more sense.
p.p.p.s. I hope April's Fool jokes won't run afoul of my attempt.

Day 2: Out of off-stats

2007-03-31T22:43:00.000+02:00

Damnit...so close!

Everything went so well, but it was just that teensy-weensy bit of offstats that wasn't enough. I ended up dropping path and preserving the two-dayer. I had enough to eat two spicy noodles and 3 goat cheese pizzas under milk of mangnesium. And with this effect, I managed to get enough louvres to fix the offstats and beat the Sorceress.

Had two pulls left to pull a white canadian and a tiny plastic for the museum.

For my next run, I had several options:
1. Do the planned ultra-cheap boozetefarian, but with no lead-in
2. Do a not-so-cheap boozetefarian run, with no lead-in
3. Go hardcore and do a boozetefarian emo squid run. (It's April!)

I ended up deciding that 1 would be too hard, that 3 would be too early for pranks, while I still have that score to settle (a fast softcore boozetefar run), so I opted for 2.

Wish me luck!

So much the wiser,
Keypunch, 366 turn, 2-day normal run (AT) under Marmot.

Day 5 and Day 1: Going soft

2007-03-30T14:00:00.000+02:00

The ascending was easy-peasy. Only annoying part was to get a recalcitrant disease. And then leveling up to 12 and getting my sombrero up to par. Yeah, I ended up perming Canelloni Cocoon.

Jumping through the gash with a 19-pound Hovering Sombrero, I found this softcore rather challenging. I really felt I needed to calculate every step and pull, and it was good. I hope that moxie day will make a real difference, because right now I was pulling all the high-level stuff (Jewel Hat, Travoltan Trousers, Ice Sickle, Pilgrim Shield, Plastic Pumpkin Bucket) and it didn't quite speed as I had hoped. I did get the Liver of Steel with a nice amount of turns banked (95), and got a vampire cape, which was a neat bonus, but I had some trouble with the harem girls and ended up pulling a knob goblin perfume. I also skipped out on the knob goblin elite gear, and got a TPS and 2 cherries instead. (Should've premixed that one).

Because I didn't reach level 8, I didn't know what ore to pull, and pulled the legend keys, instead. From the meat I had from pulling and selling the jellybean cheesecake, I even donated so that my mysticality was 30. That way I could equip my solitaire for rollover (and tomorrow can equip my stainless steel scarf).

All in all, an interesting new experience, and let's hope for the best tomorrow.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 6 Squeezebox Scoundrel
Turns Played (this run): 101
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Marmot
Path: Boozetafarian (softcore)

p.s. Mental note for next run: Hairspray early, hairspray often.
p.s.2 Tomorrow begins with opening the Gallery.

Day 4: Going into overtime

2007-03-29T14:17:00.000+02:00

Too bad, but I saw it coming, no 4-dayer. I did tie up almost all of the loose ends of Day 3, but was desperately short of stats and basically stuck in the Castle.

I need an awful poetry journal to get the quantum egg, and then have to get all the star stuff. I also need about 5 more white pixels.

All of which is easy-peasy for day 5, I imagine, but it will get tricky with the timing for my 2-day cheap-cheap normal Boozetefar run. I might try and squeeze in a not-so-cheap-cheap 2-day normal Boozetefar run lead-in.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Ravioli Sorcerer
Turns Played (this run): 577
Days Played (this run): 4
Sign: The Mongoose
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

p.s. What skill to keep? Springy Fusilli? Manicotti Meditation, or level up to 12 and get Canelloni Cocoon? Heck, I might even get Entangling Noodles. Or keep Chronic Indigestion while I'm at it!

Day 3: Good, but good enough?

2007-03-28T14:23:00.000+02:00

That went pretty well, considering.

I took the advantage of stat day to get my stats well into level 10 territory. I do have a few too many loose ends to think I can pull off a 4-dayer. Also, nuggets are hard to come by. I ended up munching two hi mein, a fettucini inconnu and a grue egg omelette, of which only one hi mein and the fettucini under the influence of goat's milk. And for tomorrow, I've merely got a single elemental nugget ready (but at least I've got a patch now).

Typically enough, my first two adventure in the Louvre both yielded a bottle of Pinot Renoir...haha. But for the rest, it went well enough. Also managed to get the Bonerdagon defeated and the leaflet finished. I was lucky to enter the Gallery due to jarlsberg's earring, but it will get me into trouble zapping, as I haven't got the zappin wand yet.

Loose ends, enumerated
1. Trapper quest: only 2 goat cheeses
2. Valley quest: still need to go on holiday, haven't got the outfit (have got dinghy planks)
3. Garbage quest: I've got 3 immateria.
4. Pixels, only get 5 white ones.
5. Zapping wand, haven't done shit all
So, I also need a lowercase n, heavy d and the Star Stuff.

I'm gonna think about a plan of attack and maybe edit it into this post later. It's all a bit much for a single day of adventuring, especially considering I've also got offstats to balance.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Ravioli Sorcerer
Turns Played (this run): 417
Days Played (this run): 3
Sign: The Mongoose
Path: Teetotaler (hardcore)

p.s. I won all my PvP fights
p.p.s. In the category fun stuff: I'm wielding a hairy staff and wearing a safety vest. That doesn't happen every run.

Day 2: The munchies

2007-03-27T10:52:00.000+02:00

Basically, all I did was get a Stomach of Steel.

That's not entirely true. I killed the Goblin King, hung out in Menagerie level 3 (and got so many Jellyfish that I imagined I was wearing the Cerebral Cloche), and then proceeded to get a Stomach, and then farmed a few turns in the Knob Goblin Kitchen, with not such great succes, but at least I did get a Knob Sausage.

And then I fished a bit around for trinkets.

I managed to bank 56 adventures. Could be worse.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 6 Spaghetti Sage
Turns Played (this run): 197
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Mongoose
Path: Teetotaler

Day 3/Day 1: I'm a sherman tank!

2007-03-26T13:54:00.000+02:00

Actually, I'm not a sherman tank. I managed to neatly finish the Sorceress, although I did have to work a lot at balancing my offstats. I think a succesful 2-dayer is going to require a different approach. Probably will need an Oxygenarian lead-in. And/or Stasis, but I don't wanna go there. In the remaining turns, I managed to get my Cheshire Bat back to full weight (doppelganger and arena).

In the meantime, I've also made quite a neat plan for an "ultra-cheap" boozetefarian softcore run, which I plan to do next moxie days. I'm excited about it, since I haven't dealt with softcore for such a long time.

The start of this run was rather flakey, mostly because of awful fishing returns. Took something like 1 in 5! And then I made the classic mistake of forgetting you can make awesome pasta's, if you can't make reagent food, so focused on making burrito's. Oh well. I'm sure that tomorrow I can get the stomach, and then I can bank the rest of the turns for mysticality day.

Also, what an annoyance that smashing stainless gear only generates a single twinkly nugget. I always think it's at least a wad.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 5 Carbohydrate Cognoscenti
Turns Played (this run): 126
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Mongoose
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Day 2: Not quite there

2007-03-25T14:16:00.000+02:00

Even though I screwed up a lot, even if I take those wasted turns and their synergy in allowing me to perform better, I wouldn't have made it. I got quite far actually. Right into the castle

The biggest problem with the Sombrero is simply not being able to afford anything until autoselling the dictionary. This might be better with a moxie class. I resorted to cheating by NPZR-fishing the shaft a few times when I was at rock bottom. With stasis it's possibly possible to get further, but that's not my cup of tea.

So far for the prospects of a 2-dayer. The 3-dayer should be in the bag, though, if I don't screw up too royally. Let me enumerate the loose ends.
1) Didn't get a wand (did unlock the Dungeons of Doom)
2) I need the Star equipment still (actually the whole Giant Map Quest)
3) Still have to finish pixelfarming (10 white ones gathered)
4) Stat balancing needs to be done
5) I want to get some kills racked up on my Cheshire Bitten, so all the levelling hasn't has to happen during my next run.
6) I don't have enough food/booze for tomorrow, just some depleted left-overs.

The plan:
Start out farming food (Goatlet) and booze (barrel).
Castle then HitS
Wand and pixels.
Balance stats in the Haunted Bedroom.
Most of it with the Cheshire Bat as primary familiar.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Rattlesnake Chief
Turns Played (this run): 466
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Mongoose

Day 6/Day 1: Trolldropping

2007-03-24T13:29:00.000+01:00

I achieved level 14, got the skill and ascended with a full-weight sombrero (Caramba!)

The Teetdrop went succesful, and when I reached the Gallery, the Volleydrop (or Trolldrop) went off nearly without a hitch as well (I forgot to switch the lead necklace, but that was it).

A big problem is just being so incredibly low on meat without a Bitten. And the Troll is just not reliable enough or high-yield enough.
The difference between a Troll and a Bitten is that I can take the Bitten to the Knob Goblin Treasury or Laboratory for a turn, and be certain that that means I can afford more MP. Not so with the Troll.

While playing, I discovered that I actually would benefit from a spellslinging set to pull this off. It might be less MP-intensive than TS/LTS, I think. Especially on the lower levels. This is a tricky one, though, because it might very well be that spellslinging is not powerful enough in some places, and that regular attacks work just as well in others. Anyway, I've taken my first step on perming a spellslinging set, so I'll find out eventually.

Foodwise, I'll have some choices tomorrow, but I'll think it'll end up: Hell ramen, Hell ramen, grue egg, pate, cranberries. Too bad there's not enough room for the Manetwich there.

Boozewise, it's going to be trickier, and depends a bit on summons and drops. I think I'll have to raid the barrel. Let's pray it's kind to me. Bottle of rums that drop could be used for eggnog, and maybe a bottle of whiskey can be turned into a RitH.

I've done the DD today, just to keep the option of a 2-dayer open, although I don't see it happening, really.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 8 Salamander Subduer
Turns Played (this run): 239
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Mongoose

Day 5: Truly day 5

2007-03-23T13:51:00.000+01:00

I beat the Sorceress with some turns to spare too, and I managed to get myself firmly up to level 12.

My sombrero has already gained 218 experience (yay familiar doppelganger and white heart). The plan for tomorrow is to hit the magic 400 mark. And, of course, to hit level 14.

In the meantime, I'll bore you with my 2 top-10 consumption stats.

Except that blogger was annoying, and you'll have to live without.

Day 4: On the March

2007-03-22T13:04:00.000+01:00

[edit] Somewhere...I missed a day, this is actually day 4, not day 3. Odd, that.[/edit]

I think my perception of the "slow" day, has to do with taking all those holidays at the beach (15 turns) and getting a wand. Those really don't add to the stat total, but they truly are necessary to advance the game. Same probably with the pixelfarming.

Today, it all went pretty well, a bit slow in the Valley, but at least I could use the Pygmy Bugbear Shaman with a purple snowcone.

I've got all the Star Items as well, (CLEESH'ed the bloody procrastination giants), and think I could finish tomorrow.

That said, I want to get to level 14 for Immaculate Seasoning, and I also have a devious plan for next run. For which it might be useful to wait for that 6th day (it will be muscle day).

My plan is to teetdrop *and* to "volleydrop". Volleydrop? Yes, I'll take a fully powered sombrero through the gash, yet switch it for a level 1 Ancient Yuletide Troll for the first part of the run.

The idea is that in the beginning, the volleybal will be more useful (including the MP restore), and I will be able to teetdrop using the pate rewards. Then, I'll switch to the sombrero and superspeed my way to level 11, especially considering I'll be using the Stainless Steel Scarf.

Anyway, excitement!

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Coriander Conjurer
Turns Played (this run): 568
Days Played (this run): 4
Sign: The Vole
Path: Teetotaler

Day 2: Black and bruised

2007-03-20T10:57:00.000+01:00

I spent more than half a dozen adventures getting beat up. Ugh. I did reach level 9, got my fair share of antiques, and ended up spending a jackload of meat on marginal stuff.

I got into the gallery early by using dual 5-alarm saucepans...muscle sign myst class has it tough. At least the myst sign can get the knob goblin balls to make life easy (although it reduces damage).

I also made minor headway with the Cyrpt quest, but not enough to finish it today.

Tomorrow I'll eat at least one hi mein, have to look into how to fill up the rest. It promises to be a slow day tomorrow, and a sluggish run in general. My estimate: 5 days. With the possibility of 6.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Basillusionist
Turns Played (this run): 263
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Vole
Path: Teetotaler

p.s. I like how with mysticality classes I don't have to bother with White Citadel. Small boon.

Day 1: Yes, another day 1

2007-03-19T12:09:00.000+01:00

Blogger kinda ate my posts the last few days.
A recap:
Day 2 was way slower
Day 3 could've been the final day, but I blew my wand, then failed to get Sneaky Pete Drunk
Day 4 (today) I got really lucky and got the missing key from the DD, limiting the damage.

There also was a whine about how the community needs to grow up (metaphorically) and professionalize. There's too much friction with the size of the community and how things are still being ran as a small-fry operation.

I've kept Disco Power Nap. This run, I'm a Sauceror, and basically aim to pre-emptively perm the Level 14 skill. Ought to help in upcoming runs. It's a teetotaler run, to get the nice effect in my ascension history going.

I was kinda in a dilemma to shell out 5000 meat for a patch, or rely on hi mein. Seeing as I wasn't particularly speeding, I've shelled out. Tomorrow I can at least eat some gnochetti. I got the dolphin king's crown, which was nice, and also got a barskin tent set up :-)

Tomorrow I gotta run the DD, not forget to make a meat car (still need sweet rims), and if I want into the Gallery, I'd best make myself a 5-alarm sauce pan (or two!). I can always reuse the peppers for potions or food. A meat maid tomorrow would also be nice. Oh yeah, I switched back to a muscle sign. I took the Vole, for fun.

I'm already pondering next run, probably Turtle Tamer, to go for the Skin of the Leatherback. This run ought to be a 4- or 5-dayer, just in time for muscle days.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 5 Rosemary Diviner
Turns Played (this run): 130
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Vole
Path: Teetotaler

p.s. I managed to get 33 flowers at the end of the last run, and 10 today, for a total of 43 flowers!

Day 1: Whoa slow down there!

2007-03-16T22:25:00.000+01:00

I'm going so fast, I'm taking over myself. Relativity theory might come into play.
More seriously, this is one hell of a dash. I've reached level 9, with all the quests up to level 6 completed. No pixels farmed, sadly, but doing great in regards to stats.

And I even made some dumb moves! I had picked a mysticality sign for diversity's sake, and...forgot to set the dial for the boss bat britches. Everything else went pretty smooth, though. I've got a nice baconstone bracelet, and a spiffy hamethyst necklace. Finding a diamond-studded cane was a life-saver, as Disco Bandit. And the flaming crutch gives a neat hot damage bonus.

I've even managed to get a superhuman cocktail mixed and drunk. For tomorrow, I've got the chance of making a mon tiki (need to summon a coconut shell). Otherwise I'd need vodka and gin to make umbrella/tonic drinks. I finished White Citadel, but got neither a dreadsack nor corduroys, which sucks. So, I'm going to dither between using the barrel or using the Booze Giants.

Foodwise, I already have two parts of the miner's outfit, and am going for goat's milk, first thing. Two hell ramen and a grue egg can perhaps be improved upon with two white citadel burgers. This leaves a farming chore for the third day, but the goatlet ain't a bad place for it. In fact, I'd best prefarm those goat cheeses on day 2.

Then there's stuff like the Daily Dungeon and the zapping wand, but hey, after such a mad dash, there's plenty of room for catching up...

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Groove Filcher
Turns Played (this run): 236
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Opossum

Day 3: A few stats too far.

2007-03-15T12:13:00.000+01:00

I made it all the way to the top of the tower, I had 3 adventures left...yet over 400 myst substats to get too.

Too bad, otherwise I could have followed up a TT 3-dayer with a Moxie class 3-dayer over moxie days.

I'm in doubt what to do next. I could go for the level 30 trophy (boring!) and get a great boost at days 9 and 10. I could also ascend as a moxie class. Or...
You know, it's really the skills problem. What skill should I the heck keep? Since tomorrow will be such a low number of turns in-run, I'll spend the rest leveling up to 13. Then I can finalise getting all the elemental immunities. And leave Skin of the Leatherback to yet another run.

The Disco Bandit has nothing to offer, except a better healing spell (Disco Power Nap). The Accordion Thief has a few niceties left, like Carlweather's Cantata of Confrontation or "Polka of Plenty". Shanty, Symphony and Antiphon have their uses too, I suppose. And both also have the level 0 skills.

After that, the Magicalness Classes have spellslinging sets, level 0 skills and Springy Fusilli open.

Pondering all this, I see that actually there are quite a few skills left to rack up. None of them however, is bound to have much impact on my gameplay.

My preliminary choice is going to be a Disco Bandit, and get Disco Power Nap.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 11 Crocodile Lord
Turns Played (this run): 666
Days Played (this run): 3
Sign: The Mongoose

Day 2: Eclipsing Day 3!

2007-03-14T14:23:00.000+01:00

In my unposted planning post (blogger issues, grrr), I had divided several stuff between day 2 and day 3. I managed to do all things. Well, except finish the level 9 quest.

I've finished White Citadel, ate my food with goat's milk, defeated the bonerdagon, got myself a meat maid (and a chrome sword, and a dead guys watch), ran the Daily Dungeon (boris key), opened up the island (barbed-wire fence!), opened up the Dungeon of Doom (no wand yet), bought a mushroom patch, got a swashbuckling getup.

I also have enough whiskey (and a bottle of gin) and mixers to not have to worry about booze tomorrow. I hope I can summon a few coconut shells, so I can make fuzzbumps.

This leaves a few necessary chores for tomorrow that won't go on autopilot:
Swashbuckling the dictionary.
running the Daily Dungeon
Getting a zappy-zap wand.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Bullfrog Overseer
Turns Played (this run): 432
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Mongoose

Day 24/Day 1: Chore Completed

2007-03-13T13:48:00.000+01:00

I got there, and managed to get myself a banana trophy too. No luck with the Bookbat trophy, though.

I reascended as Turtle Tamer. I'm not quite sure whether this is going to be *another* level 30 run, or whether to enjoy playing the game for a while.

Having Pate from the previous run was a boon, it's allowed me to reach nearly level 7 and succesfully "teetdrop". I'm right now on the brink of completing the White Citadel quest (got the hang glider, waiting for the drop). I'll think I'll spend tomorrow on finishing the painter's quest and working the Gallery. Finishing the Pretentious Artist's quest? Well yeah, it took me 16 attempts to locate the faucet, and I bothered to waste 3 more to find the Baron. I've got plenty of whiskers to trade in for a minor meat bonus. And heck...I like that quest. It will also give me the chance to get lipstick for my sleazy gravy fairy. I got a lead necklace from the Arena, annoyingly enough.

I did however, smith myself a nice savory sword, which makes a killer combination with the shilly.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 6 Frog Boss
Turns Played (this run): 217
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Mongoose

Day 21: On the brink

2007-03-10T17:19:00.000+01:00

I actually made level 29 today, suprisingly.

About 90k muscle substats to go. Two days to go? Three days, at worst!

You must gain 56 Muscle to advance to level 30.

Says it all really. I'll be counting down...maybe even start thinking about that Banana trophy.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 29 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 5,649
Days Played (this run): 21
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 789 (1403/1579)

83 fullstats of muscle to go! 83 fullstats of muscle!

2007-03-09T11:35:00.000+01:00

I've gone over 80% and am counting down the final 100 fullstats. Down to 83. This should be doable in 3 to 4 days. At worst 5.

It feels like such a relief! Maybe, soon, I will be adventuring again, who knows?!

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 28 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 5,319
Days Played (this run): 20
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 762 (1009/1525)
You must gain 26 Muscle to advance to level 29.

Day 19: Turbo Boost

2007-03-08T14:57:00.000+01:00

Dignity hits, outstanding booze and food, clovering, and some gymming took me up about 150k in mainstat substats. All the way into level 27, close to level 28. (Yay for skipping level 26!)

Now, that's quite a boost, but I'm still shy of 3/4ths completion.

Tomorrow should be another great gymming day, and will definitely break level 28, but there's still a substantial part to go. Today's average (367 muscle substat/turn) is nice on paper. As well as raising the average muscle substat gain per turn for the entire run from about 82 yesterday to 104 today. But that's all just statistics (and sure to drop).

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 27 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 5,009
Days Played (this run): 19
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 725 (17/1451)
You must gain 8 Muscle to advance to level 28.

Day 18: The fast lane

2007-03-07T13:56:00.000+01:00

Spending a relatively low amount of adventures, I did get quite the return. Speed's definitely picking up, and I think that level 26 would've been reached. I could not resist temptation and bought extra clovers for tomorrow (muscle day).

Just going to use a bunch of them to have a huge boost in stats. Either 200 or 300, I have to think about it. That should make up for over a third to half of stats left. I also plan on PvP-ing for dignity. The average return from gymming should be well up after the clovers, so with another muscle day, I should be done with levelling in less than a week.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 25 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 4,610
Days Played (this run): 18
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 615 (677/1231)
You must gain 14 Muscle to advance to level 26.

Day 17: Halfway there

2007-03-06T14:47:00.000+01:00

Although I had already passed the point of no return, I've now reached the halfway point.

Steady gymming is slowly increasing the returns. Tomorrow is going to be a shorter day, because the plan is to bank for muscle day. I'm thinking of speeding things up and spending a bunch of clover then. We'll see.

In other news, a second trophy has appeared. My plan is, since I probably won't finish the run on muscle days, contrary to previous hopes, to get the "Slapstick" trophy after muscle days. Should be a hoot.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 25 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 4,383
Days Played (this run): 17
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 597 (392/1195)
You must gain 32 Muscle to advance to level 26. (!!!)

Day 16: Trophy Storm Warning

2007-03-06T01:35:00.000+01:00

Slowly I’m advancing. I’m starting to think I should have kept spending time in the Gallery for a level longer, but since I forgot to keep exact track of stats, no such luck.

Muscle days are encroaching. Tomorrow I can blow all my adventures (reach level 25), but the day after I’ve got to make sure to bank.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 24 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 4,087
Days Played (this run): 16
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 573 (216/1147)
You must gain 7 Muscle to advance to level 25.

p.s. It's just one Trophy that has been discovered. It has to do with reading. There are some vaguely confirmed hints that it has to do with reading the Manual of Transmission/Labour/Dexterity. The circumstances of reading it and getting the trophy, or numbers of times you have to read it are not clear however. Since I'll be in this ascension for a few days, I'll make sure to read it every day from now on. If it's a set count of reads, I can hope it carries over Ascension.

Day 15: Installing Gull-Wing doors on your Bitchin' Meat Car

2007-03-04T13:03:00.000+01:00

Gull-wing doors look hot. If I get my driver's license, I really ought to look into getting myself a Delorean.

Adventuring was standard. Except that I slept in the wrong clan, so had a ton of pvp fights. Which I all won :-)

Gym stat gains are slightly accelerating, which is nice. I'm up to something like 85 substats/turn. Which is a good average.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 24 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 3,781
Days Played (this run): 15
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 548 (627/1097)
You must gain 32 Muscle to advance to level 25.

Day 14: Boredom is expensive

2007-03-03T12:20:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, I got bored...and lost several millions playing the MMG. *sigh* Will I ever learn? I did make good meat trading, but in no comparison to those losses. It's such a waste, I hope the person(s) who won my meat will do something useful with it.

That's not to say gambling isn't fun. It was exciting while it lasted. It's just no value for money.

Adventuring today, I made a small mistake. I forgot to drink my 2-drunkeness drink. On all other counts I was nearing perfection. Stat gains are slightly on the low side, but this also has to do with me using my drunkeness adventures yesterday, and missing out on that handful of adventures from the 2-drunkeness drink today.

From here on, stat gains will only improve anyway.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 23 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 3,469
Days Played (this run): 14
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 523 (737/1047)
You must gain 10 Muscle to advance to level 24.

Day 13: Sweating like a bugbear

2007-03-02T16:56:00.000+01:00

Ho boy, a lot happened today.

I had a slight problem with getting my high-end adventuring gear (somebody had borrowed from the clan stash, and logged out without returning), but I was able to get a loan on the stuff from other people. It's very good to have friends.

Reaching level 23 was not a big problem, of course. What was more interesting was PvP. There was this person who had been attacking me for dignity. Very annoying. So, I buffed up and hit the person back for dignity. I hope she has gotten the message. Or I might have gotten into an awful vendetta.

After reaching level 23, I finished the White Citadel and Doc Galaktik's quests. That was pretty fun. Useless, but fun. Now I've got a clean Quest Log, except for the suggestion to go and kill myself by jumping through the gash, haha. I even got around to making a pagoda.

After that, I've started gymming. Now, the cool thing about gymming is that it still counts as "spending a turn", so that you'll trigger the MP restore abilities. I've got myself a "gym gear", so that I get maximum restoration and I can fuel my candy heart summoning habit. I think I was quite close to spending 500MP for a single candy heart, haha. And no mana required for Leash and Smooth Movement, of course.

The tricky bit is in estimating the number of adventures to reach the next muscle point, as the returns from gymming are based on your base fullstat.

I don't think I'll be reaching level 24 tomorrow, but it will be mighty interesting to see how many substats I can gain.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 23 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 3,195
Days Played (this run): 13
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 501 (811/1003) (that is a total 251812 muscle substats gained)
You must gain 32 Muscle to advance to level 24.

Day 12: On track

2007-03-01T12:45:00.000+01:00

Everything is on track. Tomorrow I'll reach level 23. I plan to use it as a break and finish up White Citadel and Doc Galaktik's quest. In the meantime, I managed to get my hands on quite a bunch of bananas. The "bungle-in-the-jungle" cocktail is really good! I really love this piece of Tuesday content.

The new familiar looks pretty okay as well. Not a must-have for the jaded player, but definitely something that newer players would want to have in their terrarium. I'll be getting one later in the month.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 22 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 2,868
Days Played (this run): 12
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle:477 (671/955)
You must gain 11 Muscle to advance to level 23.

Day 10: A level a day

2007-02-27T13:17:00.000+01:00

I reached level 21. I'm imagining I can reach level 22 tomorrow.
I made a minor PvP-mistake (eating before fighting), but didn't get punished for it. The fights are getting closer however, as I'm starting to lose the offstat comparison. Maybe I should cheat with a potion.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 21 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 2,265
Days Played (this run): 10
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 412 (538/825)
You must gain 33 Muscle to advance to level 22.

Day 9: 20%

2007-02-26T14:06:00.000+01:00

Level 20 is about 20% of stats acquired. (Actually 19.3%, but let's keep a positive attitude)

One fifth of the way, which feels good. Now there really is no turning back. It's like sailing a ship. At a certain moment your point of departure disappears over the horizon. And that's what reaching level 20 feels like, even if the majority of the voyage is still to go.

All went pretty well, really. Tomorrow is moxie day, so I'll see that offstat get a nice boost. I basically could automate it all, since under nearly all circumstances I manage to one-hit kill the Gallery monsters. It's about 2 or 3 days smooth sailing to level 23 (I've decided to save my clovers, if not for the end of this run, then for the next level 30 run), when the gymming will begin.

I lost a pvp-fight today.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 20 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 1,957
Days Played (this run): 9
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 371 (332/743)
You must gain 33 Muscle to advance to level 21.

Day 8: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

2007-02-25T13:55:00.000+01:00

The good news is that I reached level 19.
The bad news is that I've only gathered about 15% of the stat requirements.
The ugly news is that I forgot to wear the Grimacite Guayabera for half the adventures.

I've dropped a lot of meat on Yummy Tummy Beans for contemptible emanations. I don't really know if it's worth it. Also, under the right circumstances, I'm one hit-killing monsters even with regular attack.

I'm thinking of switching to knob sausage chow mein for food, instead of hi mein, since the mainstat substat gains are similar and the number of adventures gained is very close too.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 19 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 1,660
Days Played (this run): 8
Sign: The Mongoose
Muscle: 330 (377/661)
You must gain 35 Muscle to advance to level 20.

Day 7: Level 17

2007-02-24T13:35:00.000+01:00

Did I miss a day? Oh well, it's not important. What is important is that progress is going fine.

Muscle: 277 substats: 524/555
You must gain 16 Muscle to advance to level 18.
According to my calculations: 636,772 substats to go.

I've got a good feeling about managing to go below 600k substats to go, tomorrow. I haven't been keeping such a proper eye on my actual progress.

There's a mathematical optimization problem I'm facing, and it's more complex than I thought, or really care to do the math on. Do I use my clovers *before* muscle day (i.e. now) so that I reach level 23 earlier and get more stats from gymming. Or do I keep my clovers until muscle day, so that the 1.5 multiplier from clovering the Gallery gives me more stats.

I'll have to make a decision soon, but I'm tempted to keep it to a simple model, and going with intuition.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 17 Seal Clubber
Turns Played (this run): 1,359
Days Played (this run): 7
Sign: The Mongoose

Day 5: Start your calculators

2007-02-22T15:34:00.000+01:00

Today I defeated the Sorceress, and the math challenge has started. Typically, I, at first tried to do some bonus questing and such. After all, I don't always have this amount of freedom.

With the help of buffbots, my purity is shot to hell, but that's of not such a big concern. The getting of big stats is. Thanks to white candy hearts and the doppelganger item, my sombrero is already up to 239 kills. Tomorrow I can do some sillyness still, but after that the optimization starts. I'll probably end up using clovers to cut it short again, but we'll see how far I can make it on a budget.

Slightly less than 700,000 substats to go!

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 12 Ox Wrestler
Muscle base: 132 (92/265)
You must gain 16 Muscle to advance to level 13.

Day 4: Not so pure.

2007-02-21T12:00:00.000+01:00

I've got 14 effects running. Admittedly, one of them is Snarl of the Timberwolf, and I got that one accidentally for 25 turns, while I was actually trying to summon five dry noodles.

I was hoping to do even a bit better than this, but beating the Sorceress tomorrow does still seem likely.

I'll still need to get a digital key, the rest of the required tower stuff is in inventory. Although I expect the usual NG/disease/frigid ninja star/barbed-wire fence trouble running up the tower.

For the heck of it, I'm considering using a different familiar to beat the NS than the default Dodecapede.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Moose Harasser
Turns Played (this run): 539
Days Played (this run): 4
Sign: The Mongoose
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Level 30, here we come

2007-02-20T22:19:00.000+01:00

Actually, the fact that I'm muscle sign is a good thing, as this gives me access to the muscle sign gym. Good for the levelling from level 23 or so onward. And a lot cheaper than clovering

I might go for level 30 anyway.

First I'll have to finish this teetotal run, of course. And it will allow me to keep the Musk of the Moose skill. Then I'll have all the Seal Clubber skills of level 11 and above.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Caribou Smacker
Turns Played (this run): 382
Days Played (this run): 3
Sign: The Mongoose
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Thinking about the long haul.

2007-02-18T13:47:00.000+01:00

I finished a 4-dayer Pastamancer run.

The last few times I haven't taken skills that actually help me. I've gained 6 skills in February. I think I won't be off too badly, going for another of the level 30 trophies. The proximity of NS-13 is ever unclear to me. And what's more, 4-day runs are starting to bore me.

I chose the wrong sign (best sign being opposum) however to really make it a good level 30 run, so, I've got to ponder my options for a bit. I do intend to finish this run teetotal.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 5 Penguin Frightener
Turns Played (this run): 111
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Mongoose
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Day 2: Last Day At Work

2007-02-16T14:13:00.000+01:00

Today's my last day that I can play from work. I'm gonna miss getting paid while playing KoL :-)

Life went well, made good progress on a stat day, got to eat hi mein (costly, costly) and drink all-DB drinks. Life looks good for tomorrow too. If I don't forget to do the DD, then I'll probably make this another 4-dayer. And shouldn't forget to buy the Gnome skill, so I complete that set.

Next run maybe I should go for level 30 trophy of the muscle classes.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Linguini Thaumaturge (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 337
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Wombat

.5k posts!

2007-02-15T11:45:00.000+01:00

Well, another Ascension down, and a new one screwed up (I overdrank and forgot to eat, hah!)

This marks my 500th post here.

I'm gonna celebrate this with posting my (Hardcore) skill list. Quite an impressive list, if I say so myself.

Powers of Observatiogn (HP)
Gnefarious Pickpocketing (HP)
Torso Awaregness (HP)
Cosmic Ugnderstanding (HP)
CLEESH (HP)
Thrust-Smack (HP)
Lunging Thrust-Smack (HP)
Super-Advanced Meatsmithing (HP)
Tongue of the Otter (HP)
Hide of the Otter (HP)
Claws of the Otter (HP)
Hide of the Walrus (HP)
Claws of the Walrus (HP)
Eye of the Stoat (HP)
Rage of the Reindeer (HP)
Pulverize (HP)
Double-Fisted Skull Smashing (HP)
Northern Exposure (HP)
Snarl of the Timberwolf (HP)
Armorcraftiness (HP)
Empathy of the Newt (HP)
Tenacity of the Snapper (HP)
Wisdom of the Elder Tortoises (HP)
Amphibian Sympathy (HP)
Hero of the Half-Shell (HP)
Tao of the Terrapin (HP)
Manicotti Meditation (P)
Pastamastery (HP)
Leash of Linguini (HP)
Spirit of Ravioli (HP)
Tolerance of the Kitchen (HP)
Transcendental Noodlecraft (HP)
Sauce Contemplation (HP)
Expert Panhandling (HP)
Advanced Saucecrafting (HP)
Elemental Saucesphere (HP)
Impetuous Sauciness (HP)
Diminished Gag Reflex (HP)
The Way of Sauce (HP)
Nimble Fingers (HP)
Mad Looting Skillz (HP)
Crossbow Fever (HP)
Overdeveloped Sense of Self Preservation (HP)
Advanced Cocktailcrafting (HP)
Ambidextrous Funkslinging (HP)
Heart of Polyester (HP)
Smooth Movement (HP)
Superhuman Cocktailcrafting (HP)
The Moxious Madrigal (HP)
The Magical Mojomuscular Melody (HP)
The Power Ballad of the Arrowsmith (HP)
Fat Leon's Phat Loot Lyric (HP)
The Ode to Booze (HP)
The Sonata of Sneakiness (HP)
Summon Snowcone (HP)
Summon Hilarious Objects (HP)
Summon Candy Hearts (HP)

Post 499: Oh, to be a bandit

2007-02-13T22:44:00.000+01:00

"February 13
Entangling Noodles have been changed -- they now bind the monster up for a number of rounds, preventing it from attacking you.

Also, Disco Bandits can now chain their dance/poke/stab skills together for various neat effects in combat."

I've never been using Entangling Noodles, as I've never been a stasis person. I've understood that the Noodles skill is vital there. There will be some cursing amongst the high-end players about this chance...not too much, though, as it hurts them all equally and they'll all adapt easily to lesser forms of stasis.

The Disco Bandit thing is interesting. Since I had a lot of meat pent up, I splurged on the DB skills "Disco Eye-poke" "Disco Dance of Doom" and Disco Dance II: Electric Boogaloo". I'm too damn drunk, but contrary to the "yoink" roll-out, I'll be able to figure this out for myself. I'm kinda thinking it won't be too different from the chaining of head-, knee- and shieldbutts, but we'll see, I guess.

Day 2: No Goblin Elite

2007-02-13T13:53:00.000+01:00

I decided to see just how hard a KGE outfit was to farm. Very hard.

A dozen pants and polearms, and innumerable shirts, but not a single helmet. Sucky. White Citadel Quest was more succesful, and I've got two swords of static. I salvaged the day by defeating the Bonerdagon, opening the Gallery, reaching level 7.

Tomorrow I can just Gallery grind.

But the KGE, it's just very unviable to actively seek out.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 7 Move Buster (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 381
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Wallaby

Day 3 & 1: SlamDunk

2007-02-12T15:14:00.000+01:00

I didn't even need to touch my booze. I had summoned 4 LPU as well...

With another 3-dayer in the pocket, I started again as DB. Teetdrop worked, even though it was kinda close. I tried to farm a KGE, 6 elite shirts, 4 polearms, a pair of pants later, I'm annoyed at the non-dropping of a helmet. Oh well. That's the idea of taking it slower.

I've been using NPZR-stasis. That is, taking the NPZR into the shaft with safe moxie, waiting for its systems to recharge HP/MP. I feel kinda bad about it, but not too bad.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 6 Sample Swindler (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 176
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Wallaby

Day 2: But what a grind

2007-02-11T22:10:00.000+01:00

Wow, but what a rush stat days can be. Morale still isn't all up there, but this provided a nice boost.

All that seperates me from the HitS is a furry fur.
I also lack a digital key.
I do have a wand.

And I think I might need to backfarm a broken skull (even though I picked up a guitarrr).

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Sub-Sub-Apprentice Accordion Thief (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 451
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Wallaby

p.s.
Diet for tomorrow: 2 hell ramen, grue egg omelette, spicy noodles, dehydrated caviar.
Booze for tomorrow: all depending on the number of LPU's I can summon, really. It'll be a mix of SHC and SHC base. With a flute of flat champagne for if I get lucky with the LPU.

Game Turning A Grind

2007-02-10T19:36:00.000+01:00

I realised I wasn't playing with the proper amount of fun anymore, rereading some earlier posts. I'm getting close to 500 posts, by the way.

With the *grinding* of turns, and ascending (especially that dreaded run up the tower, and then the whole dread of a first day, etc. etc.) I've been slowly losing the fun aspect of it.

So, to hell with getting as much skills permed before NS-13 hits. I'm gone finish this 3-dayer, and then do a deliberate pathed run, maybe even a familiar run. Or, not play or something.

Because, yes, I think I've got another 3-dayer in the making. If I don't forget to get a DD Key, mostly :-)

With the help of pate, I managed to get the Stomach of Steel, then drop the path. Quite a nice trip actually, although it's so much easier on stat days. I could've even been a bit more conservative with the still, and overdrunk on soda water, instead of on a DB drink.

I already have all the foodstuffs and most of the boozestuffs I will be needing ready. I can take all my sweet time to maximize it. I've got 83 adventures banked, so I hope to be able to make a run for the Gallery tomorrow, level up to trapper's quest, get some goat's milk and enjoy getting very far from there.

Should leave a good mopping up operation for monday, after which I could go another moxie class, or a myst class, or a muscle class. Heck, it just depends which skill I want, and there's not any that I crave, and very few that I would really like to have.

Investing in a stasis skillset seems to be the stupidest of options.

Anyway, I'm a bit low on morale, even though it's all looking pretty sweet.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 6 Squeezebox Scoundrel (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 148
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Wallaby

Day 5: Tower 5

2007-02-09T12:00:00.000+01:00

In a stunning balancing act of the universe, just while I'm getting rid of my RL illness, I need a disease in-game. Everything went forward so smoothly (I blame the candy hearts) that I ended up running up the tower and now, stuck at level 5 (in need of that disease), I've already got the required balanced stats.

I've been starting to lose a few more pvp fights. I think this has wholly to do with the removal of inactives. Everybody focused on the dissapearance of Lobengula and DillyDallySally, the typical level 1 flowersuppliers, but there's probably been a lot of jetsam and flotsam on the higher levels as well. I'm also being attacked more often, even though I'm not a preferred target, I imagine.

All in all, I'm starting to feel that I should put a little more attention into my PvP. And that's a good thing.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 11 Crocodile Lord
Turns Played (this run): 673
Days Played (this run): 5
Sign: The Wallaby
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Day 4: sniffle cough

2007-02-08T19:22:00.000+01:00

Things are moving on and on and on. Got everything up to level 10 in the pocket. The wheel needs to be turned and a furry fur to be found, but then it's a simple matter of starfarming, a final stint in the Gallery, or perhaps upstairs in order to get the stats right and the good old (or rather, ugh-terrible-not-again) Tower climb.

Looking at my previous turn-counts, an estimated 250 adventures in the coming two days should be enough to at least kill the Sorceress. Then I'll probably just clover, for a lack of a more imaginative way to reach level 13/14.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Rattlesnake Chief
Turns Played (this run): 526
Days Played (this run): 4
Sign: The Wallaby
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Day X, Y & Z: Disease-in-the-box

2007-02-06T17:45:00.000+01:00

Well, not in the box, but surely in the system. I caught a major case of the flu, and am only now recovering. Somehow I did manage to log in during a few relatively lucid periods and ascended (yeah, I know, addict). I didn't play all that well, but considering the headaches, fever-induced illusions and cough attacks I was suffering, oh well.

Consequence of this is a change of plans. I'm going to stick now with a teetotaller path as Turtle Tamer. My goal is to get the level 13/14 skill, rather than making it a quickie 4-dayer and making do with Skin of the Leatherback. After this, it's going to be a 3-dayer attempt as a Disco Bandit or AT (prolly AT). Going to try and catch up a bit of lost time, that way.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 7 Iguana Driver
Turns Played (this run): 253
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Wallaby
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Day 2: Not As Good As The Plan

2007-02-03T19:36:00.000+01:00

White Citadel took long, and on the other hand, getting to 36 mainstat went so fast, I didn’t get the chance to farm pixels. The barrel gave little useful booze, I ended up drinking so-so stuff.

After getting access to Cola for MP restoration, and being able to equip the Solitaire to reduce my MP cost, I’ve been able to sustain myself in the Gallery quite nicely. Reaching level 8 was a bit more troublesome, as was going through the Mine’s quest, but I ended up with about 60 adventures (after eating and drinking) banked for tomorrow. And I filled my spleen.

The chances of making it a 3-dayer are truly slim. Basically I don’t have the turns to pull it off. Tomorrow I will start out by doing some mean PvP, followed by farming a goat’s cheese and goat’s milk to eat Hell Ramen, Fettucini Inconnu, a Manetwich and Stalk of Asparagus. After that, I can focus on finishing quests, interspersed with pumping stats at the Gallery. Boozewise, I’m still going to go with the Barrel.

I’ll probably get pretty far, so I can safely wrap it all up on day 4, without actually needing to go to lengths. We’ll see!

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 8 Otter Crusher (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 341
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Mongoose

Day 2 planning: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

2007-02-02T14:26:00.000+01:00

The main problem for tomorrow is balancing saving adventures for stat day and getting as many of them in the first place.

My thinking is that getting to level 8 by use of the Gallery would be grand, because then I can eat under the influence of goat's milk. That's the point that I should call it a day and save up for stat day.

The Gallery is slightly to tough right now, mostly because of meat issues. There are two approaches I can take:
- take a gamble, and hope to get Louvre to hopskip to unlocking White Citadel.
- go slow, and use the pixelfarm to unlock White citadel.

Since I'll have to spend an x amount of turns pixelfarming anyway, my approach will be to spend a handful of turns getting some meat in the Laboratory. After that I can explore the barrel full of barrels and run the Daily Dungeon. Any stats still required can be gotten pixelfarming.

Once I hit mainstat 36, it's a rush for White Citadel, I expect this quest to be self-funding. After White Citadel, I should try to hit the gallery, fully-buffed, using a Frogade and perhaps even a Tomato Smoothie potion.

Somewhere along the way, probably around White Citadel, I'll run low on adventures, which I primarily will fill with the Barrel Booze. I hope to be able to get to level 8 on booze and wads alone.

At level 8, I rush through the Tr4pz0r quest until I get the first glass of goat's milk. With the Milk of Magnesia effect, I'll eat. I can spend a handful of turns at Menagerie level 3 to get booze to overdrink, if necessary.

A few more turns to finish the quest is worth it, because I can then use the 5k quest reward to buy a mushroom plot, and grow a spooky mushroom (and two knob mushrooms). Otherwise, I'll be forced to farm on day 3.

If it looks clearly like level 8 is nowhere in sight, I'll preempt the whole sherade to just stock up on food and keep maximum adventures till the next day.

Day 4 & 1: Flexing My Muscle

2007-02-02T12:44:00.000+01:00

Ascension was a straight-forward affair. It took forever to get a third astronomer, however. For the heck of it, I sought out a fourth, because I had enough stars and lines to make a star shirt as well.

The tower was mostly cooperative, which was neat. I had bought the skill I had intended to perm "Cosmic Ugnderstanding".

Ascending into Muscle class, I decided not to go for a teet-drop strategy from the get-go. I'm slightly curious myself where I will find the drinks to support this, but we'll see. So far, so good. A black snowcone is considered an annoyance by myself, I rather be able to dictate on my own terms how to distribute the effects of 3 different cones, but, oh well.

At the end, I slightly ran out of steam, or rather more accurately, meat. I had access to the Gallery (even mapped a fair part of the Louvre), but couldn't sustain myself there. I simply couldn't buff/heal enough. I gotta think about how to solve this tomorrow. One of my main steps will be to go to White Citadel. (This will help with the drinks as well, is the hope).

Another waste of turns (and missed meat) was going for the Wizard of Ego quest. I did end up getting a meat maid, but it will hardly offset the cost of adventuring for it. Kinda a bummer.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 6 Malamute Basher (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 192
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Mongoose

p.s. An observation is how much I could've used two critical Turtle Tamer skills that I'm still lacking: Hero of the Half-Shell (got a coffin lid to drop, really nice for Gallery survival) and Cold-blooded Fearlessness (gives protection against spooky damage). Next run, I'll get one of those two.

Day 2 &3: Don't Forget to Buy That Skill

2007-02-01T11:11:00.000+01:00

Recap of day 2 (Blogger acted up, and didn't allow me to post):
Wow, I made a lot of the bad up during mysticality day. The Brewery Special helped, though: snifter of thoroughly-aged brandy. It's only 9 meat more expensive than IPA, it only gives 2 drunkeness and has a slightly higher drunk/adventure ratio already (let alone with Ode to Booze).

I started off somewhat slowly with killing the Goblin King, but zoomed right on with killing the Boss Bat. A little pixelfarming and then getting the Liver was next. After achieving liverhood interesting combinations of Pasta of Peril, Salamander Slurry, Pasta Oneness/Manicotti Meditation, Mojomuscular Melody and hot/twinkly wads made me constantly able to adventure in the Gallery. And then it just went crazy. I ended up someway into level 10, with all the quests from level 7 and up unfinished.

Just wow.

And now for day 3:
I pretty much locked up all the quests that were still standing. Titanium Assault Umbrella is a real nice ingredient for hi mein. I even got to precook my hi mein for tomorrow. The special from the brewery was cool too (caipifruita), and the RNG slightly forgiving. The lack of concentration on the first day and just plain non-optimum acts on my part made sure that it didn't have the chance to be a 3-dayer, but it's gonna be a very comfy 4-dayer. I already go the star hat, and it's only a quetion of balancing my stats to run the Tower.

My next two runs will be Muscle class. If I really push it, I can make it two back to back 3-dayers, one Seal Clubber ending on a stat and a Turtle Tamer over 2 stat days... Otherwise, it will probably be two more 4-dayers.

Of note: I shouldn't forget to buy a Gnome Skill. It's the whole point of going moxie sign, might as well add that minor character boost. I'm thinking of taking the MP one first.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Ravioli Sorcerer (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 546
Days Played (this run): 3
Sign: The Wombat

Day 4/1: Concentration Loss?

2007-01-30T13:39:00.000+01:00

Day 4 was too easy. Without a spleen hit, any fullness or drunkeness, I ascended. I think I even forgot to buy healing potions.

I forgot to get stuffies, but I did simply meatfarm a bit and eat some fruits.

I reascended as Pastamancer with a moxie sign. Just to see how no-farming for food works in practice. My plan was to Teetdrop a myst-class again. After all, Mysticality day tomorrow. Somehow, I was not quite up to the top of my game. Also, I'm starting to question the efficiency of spending the first 10 turns of the game using the Arena. Especially since I only got a lead necklace to show for it.

It also severally hampers the ability to get a stomach on the first day. I ended up dropping Teet ahead of schedule, just to have a nice amount of turns banked for tomorrow.

I also forgot to get flowers, even though I had broken my stone. Concentration loss... PvP will be my first priority tomorrow :-)

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 5 Carbohydrate Cognoscenti (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 100
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Wombat

p.s. A simple bummer is that even though I permed Mojomuscular Melody last run, I didn't get a purple snowcone. That ususally speeds up the first day immensely :-) From this run I plan to simply pick up a Gnomish skill, just to get those done and over with.

Day 3: d1g1t4l pr0bl3ms

2007-01-29T17:02:00.000+01:00

I was looking at the Tower, getting all the way there with stats, cursing the 2 drunkeness from the dictionary and pretty lame overall RNG, but thought I had a slight chance of making the Tower.

Then it dawned upon me, I hadn't fully farmed the bloody pixels yet :-)

Well, that seems to be the task for tomorrow: Farm pixels, defeat the Naughty Sorceress. That easy, with more than enough wiggle room to farm missing tower items.

After defeating her, I can go drink some White Canadians, fill my remaining stomach with souped up fruits (for variety), get a towel, finish Felonia's quest, and more of that type of stuff.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 11 Sub-Apprentice Accordion Thief (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 677
Days Played (this run): 3
Sign: The Mongoose

p.s. On another note, for non-stasis runs, it really *is* necessary to open up "better than soda water" sources of MP. Seeing as how the KGE outfit is too unreliable, and Doc Galaktik quest too cumbersome, I'm thinking of making White Citadel more of a staple. The food is nice filler too, the high chances of hippy suit a big bonus, the rabbit's foot a nice alternative to not killing the Baron. As mongoose sign, I've found I hardly get any cool accessories, like the ones I can make drop/jewelcraft as mysticality sign.

planning day 3: The return to the Peak

2007-01-28T16:29:00.000+01:00

First of all, I should get PvP out of the way, I've got no shore trips and no food eaten, so that will be a boon.

Next up is getting access to the Island, getting the swashbuckling getup, dictionary, and onwards to the valley. Only after I get pr0n legs should I eat, and not before I get the dictionary should I drink.
[edit]
With chefinnaboxlessness, two White Citadel burgers seem to be better than pr0n m4nic0tti. Soooo. Even better with milk of magnesia.
[edit2]
Two pr0n stirfry are even better. We're back to the pr0n plan. Because one pr0n stir-fry and one white citadel is also better.

With 20 adventures saved and 48 from rollover, that leaves me 68 adventures to complete the job of getting the dictionary in. With wads, 73, but I'd prefer to save the wads till the tougher later levels. (Actually, I've only got 12 wads in inventory, so I need to smash some stuff later on, like the drywall axe and giant needle).

The first ten adventures I could spend at the Icy Peak. This should give me the guaranteed supply of meat to shore myself to the Island. I already have the dingy planks. Then I can switch to my sleazy gravy fairy to up the chances of getting the outfit, as well as an acoustic guitarrr.

Right after getting the dictionary is the best time to drink up to the fullness limit, so that I can take the gravy fairy onward into the valley to get scrolls and a lowercase N.

After that happens, the regular Gallery (if necessary) Airship/Castle/HitS maneuvers can be started. See if I can get close to level 11 with enough time to raid the DD as well. An interesting twist would be to use the 8-bit realm to manipulate the queue. I also still need a rhythm musical instrument, so I could also use the Guano Junction for manipulation purposes.

Day 2: Quagmire

2007-01-28T16:03:00.000+01:00

Even though according to some standards, I made considerable progress, personally I felt as if I was quite stuck, and the RNG was dealing me an unfavourable hand.

It took me a 2nd round of Teleportitis, to get the Oracle, for example. White Citadel took longer than I bargained for too. And all the while, I was desperately low on meat, quite an annoyance as well.

To top it all of, I was clumsy myself as well. Wiping out valuable snowcone-buff turns with cooking and crafting. Not taking the time to get meat yesterday just broke me up, quite simply. And I used the tonic water function of the Still too sparingly, I should've simply gone all out.

At least I got White Citadel completed, so my mana shortages are no more, Cloaca-Cola is a lifesaver, in that aspect. And although tomorrow I'll eat two gnochetti, a grue egg omelette and pr0n m4n1c0tti, (if all goes well), the day after, I can probably eat a White Citadel burger. And, due to a Hippy Suit dropping on the way, I'll also have all the fruit I can mix tomorrow, once I unlock the Island. Mandarina colada, Mae West and prussian cathouse with a snifter seem the way to go. And I'll have room to use one of those to top off too.

Also, I've got +8 adventures for tomorrow (chrome crossbow, dead guy's watch and a meat maid), which should help. I'm not believing in a possible 3-dayer, but a 4-dayer seems quite likely.

What will be interesting to see is where the breaking point will be where I have to switch from crossbow to LTS. Right now, without any moxie buffs, except for Twinklefairy, I'm up to 115 buffed moxie. So, there's some margin there for improvement.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Hurdy-Gurdy Hooligan (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 436
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Mongoose

p.s. And pvp was 25 out of 25. Nice to be able to attack up. I won my last fight purely on the popularity mini.

Day 3 and Day 1: Zoom! Zoom!

2007-01-27T18:15:00.000+01:00

The 3rd day was actually somewhat uneventful, except for a few cases of friendly RNG. I ascended with a decent, although not quite comfortable margin of 20 adventures, bettering my previous record with 1 turn. *grin*

The most amusing was to PvP and try to get some rank, instead of flowers. I didn't fare that badly.

The new run has gone off to a zooming start, due to the continuing friendly RNG. It was rather tight when dealing with the Friar's, but I managed to get the dodecagram with a margin of 8 turns or so left.

After getting the stomach and dropping my path I charged forward, got a 3-turn billiards room, and a slightly less fast Library, but I got into the Gallery and then managed to rack up stats like there was no tomorrow. I barely managed to keep up my soda water habit, and due to expenses failed to get a mushroom patch. I think I'll just farm a few extra goat cheeses tomorrow.

I also picked up some pixels already, but have made no steps to killing the Bonerdagon or getting my mining gear. That all seem to be tasks for day 2. I'm wondering if I can make this a 3-dayer, it seems pretty unlikely, but it should be possible to make it a 4-dayer with comfortable margin. In fact, I've been pondering to go slightly out of my way and do the White Citadel quest and get a hippy suit. That will both give me slighly cheaper MP (Cola, as I didn't get a KGE Outfit) as well as allow me to mix superhuman quality drinks.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 8 Button Box Burglar (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 221
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Mongoose

p.s. Forgot to PvP before drinking.
p.s.2 I might bother with a full-fledged planning post.

Day 2: Not Quite Judgement Day

2007-01-26T16:15:00.000+01:00

Today I was of the mindset that stats, stats, stats wasn't everything, since tomorrow is another stats day. I focused on finishing up the loose ends and quests as well as running around in the gallery. I've got the digital key, wand, swashbuckling gear and more of that type of stuff.

My outlook is good, but I'm somewhat anxious. I spent an inordinate amount of time doing various calculations of best booze/food patterns, taking factors as milk and such into consideration, which is quite a headache if you're trying to calculate down to the adventure. In the end, I decided that they're basically all close enough to optimal. For booze I found the interesting discovery that getting an extra umbrella is more important than getting pirate drunkeness.

Foodplan: 2 gnochetti, 1 grue egg omelette and pr0n m4nicotti (in case of a pr0n legless valley, this is replaced by a spicy enchanted bean burrito and cranberries)
Boozeplan: Gimlet, as much Roll in the Hay as I can summon umbrella's for, filled up with improved bottles and Imp Ales.

Also I'm gonna have Innabox smith a Super Power Sword X tomorrow. I also made a chrome crossbow for that one adventure advantage, haha.

I used my wand to zap a bottle of gin, and got sleepy, confused and drunk spading my ! potions. (I have 2 object detection potions and a muscle potion). Either I have to do activities that wear them off for the first 20 turns (cooking, cocktailing, pirate in disguise), or spent 1800 meat to get "disco power nap".

Tomorrow it's for keeps!

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Vibe Robber (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 406
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Mongoose

Day 1: Trying too hard?

2007-01-25T14:23:00.000+01:00

I managed to get the Patch, Stomach and even a Knob Goblin Elite Outfit, I'm snugly into level 6, although I've got the Goblin King yet to kill.

Still I can't help but feel I might be pushing too hard for a 3-dayer, so that I'm not relaxed enough to just let it all flow and happen.

I took Spirit of Ravioli with me to be a bit sturdier. It's nice. I also got two Hellion Cubes, so I won't be completely choking on the mushrooms. The food for tomorrow looks to be: Two Hell Ramen, Gnochetti and bat haggis.

With the KGE clinched, I perhaps ought to aim for the Gallery already, just make tomorrow about racking up the levels. In any case, I shouldn't forget to visit the DD tomorrow, or else the chances of 3-day are very, very slim indeed :-)

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 6 Sample Swindler (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 163
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Mongoose

p.s. Only after this post, did I realize I forgot to actually *eat* the 5 extra fullness of the Stomach of Steel :-/
Two hot wings and a bat haggis were enough.
And of course, I banked a few turns for tomorrow, although technically speaking, I could have banked about a dozen more.

Day 4: Catching up on Quests

2007-01-24T12:30:00.000+01:00

It mostly went as planned. Except that the day started with real bad luck. I was naught for three with Mr. Klaw, and it took close to 40 turns to get the miner's outfit and 3 ore, although the game was nice enough to give a safety vest. I had to pre-emptively down 15 wads to be sure to have enough turns to cook and such.

From there on, my luck turned, and I got the Wand relatively easy, as well as only needing to spend 2 turns dressed as a pirate. I got a shirt (which is inferior to the Safety Vest) and the dictionary. The Valley was relatively forgiving, as well.

I got into the airship and got 4 immateria before running out of adventures.

Tomorrow will be "hi mein" day, as I smashed some items for nuggets. I've got 3 hot nuggets, 2 stench nuggets, and a spooky nugget. So, statwise, the best will be the go for 3 hot hi mein and a spooky hi mein, I think. In fact, my stats look pretty balanced, from where I'm standing.

This simply leaves the old Airship, Castle, HitS, Tower for tomorrow. (Oh, and a DD, for keys, and a prayer for no NG/barbed wire fence)

A doozy! *knocks on wood*

Afterwards, I can booze up with White Canadians, and figure out the new quest to unlock Fernswarthy. The Tuesday content is quite unclear to me.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Ravioli Sorcerer
Turns Played (this run): 549
Days Played (this run): 4
Sign: The Mongoose
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Day 4: Planning Post

2007-01-23T16:28:00.000+01:00

This day is somewhat tricky. I'll probably reach level 11 easily, but won't be able to finish the Sorceress quest due to Key shortage.

I have to balance finishing quests with gaining offstats. What I preferably want to do is eat all my foods with milk of magnesia, yet, I need to get pr0n legs before I can eat all. And the pr0n legs require 15 turns (1/3 of 45 rollover adventures) of shoring.

Also, I would like to balance the mining quest with getting the wand (to not suffer superfluous teleportitis). Perhaps I should just postpone eating the "supermeal" with grue egg omelette and pr0n m4nic0tti 'till day 5. It would be easier to just eat 3 gnochetti and the cream of pointy mushroom soup, once I get a second goat's milk.

After the trapper, I can then balance teleportitis with taking holidays. After I get the Wand, quickly go down that other Dungeon for a Key. Backfarm pixels, and then finally take on Rofl'Mao. See if I've got turns left to go up the beanstalk (Computer says: Yes).

I could even be *more* lazy, and use the slack of a 5-dayer to farm a 31337 scroll, maybe even a second 31337 scroll, a hippy outfit and (hi) mein ingredients!

I'll just have to see how much turns I can spend tomorrow.

[update]

I never really researched Hi meins. But apparently all it needs is nuggets, and 2k worth of buyable ingredients. I just pulverized a broken sword for 1 stench and 2 hot nuggets. This opens up new food venues. It might also slightly deprecate the value of muscle sign for Myst class. (But not for muscle and moxie!)

[update]
The new dinner plan is to munch as soon as I hit the first goat's milk. On the menu is two hawt hi meins, a stinky hi mein, served with a grue egg omelette and don't forget the veggies: stalk of asparagus

Captain Pantsless

2007-01-23T12:37:00.000+01:00

Yesterday evening, I had a farewell happening for myself and several colleagues, who are all moving on to new jobs and opportunities.

This morning, I spent my KoL turns in a rather trancelike, focused state, just *flowing* through my turns. That was really enjoyable.

Random Observations
- Especially this run, I simply don't have enough turns to make it a 4-day teetotal. I will comfortably make 5 days. If I had gotten stomach on day 2, it would've been better, I suppose.
- Being a muscle sign turns you into some sort of Bubba of mushrooms. Mushroom pasta, mushroom kebab, plain mushroom, stuffed mushroom, mushroom stir-fry, mushroom quesedilla, mushroom soup, mushroom everything.
- During this run, so far, I've had one pair of pants drop. Knob goblin harem girl pants (power: 10, moxie +1). Now, really. Unless you count the pair of mariachi pants (power: 10) from the sewer as a drop. I've been visiting the Armorer for pants, and am currently wearing a troutpiece.
- Meat is plentiful as mysticality class. You don't spend shitwads on soda water. Heck, it's cheaper to Tongue of the Otter myself than go to the Doc. I've managed to spare 9,000 on buying Spirit of Ravioli (a perm-candidate).
- Perming CLEESH was a good move. It gives easier access to the Gallery, and also better survival in the Gallery. While I could only two-hit kill, and the monster got the jump on me, I just CLEESHed him into a frog and squashed it. Hilarious and effective.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Ravioli Sorcerer
Turns Played (this run): 369
Days Played (this run): 3
Sign: The Mongoose
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

p.s. Other perm-skill candidates are Canneloni Cocoon and Springy Fusilli. I'm slowly starting to feel the need to get more +iniative. Both are just too useful over Manicotti Meditation for that to be a serious candidate. It's a good 2nd-tier skill to keep, though.

Recoup

2007-01-22T16:08:00.000+01:00

Blogger has been a meanie, not allowing me to post.

3-day run!

No stasis, no-path lead-in, muscle sign. I'm pretty happy with myself. I didn't spend a turn doing anything after breaking the prism, just for the record. It makes me the #64 in personal records in HC No Path. Pretty impressive, if I say so myself.

For now, I've jumped into a teetotal Pastamancer, hoping to see what a Myst class can make off free Gnochetti. So far, it's not going too well, but it's supposed to be a less hard-charging run. I didn't make Stomach on day 1, and I decided I'd be better off banking on day 2, since day 3 will be a Myst day.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 6 Spaghetti Sage (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 164
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Mongoose
Path: Teetotaler

Yesterday

2007-01-20T21:58:00.000+01:00

I was really, really, really excited about how it went (I teetdropped against all odds, but got lucky with the booze, and succeeded in making it a 5-dayer after having been cowed). But I'm even more excited about today. I'm a total and utter muscle sign convert.

Farming seems trivial with a mushroom patch. The plunger is a real meatsaver in the beginning, as is the general store a fantastic place for being outfitted, having the services of a meatmaid guaranteed and of course the meatcar in a pinch. There's innabox for the basic smithing, should you require some. There's a nice questy all-combat area. It will give the sign-gym for the two muscle class trophies I still need to get. And, to top it all of, there's the bugbear beanie, wich allows you to dick around in the bugbear store for that little zest in your 2-fullness filler.

I plan on working out a preplanned mealplan with the help of mushroom farming and the bakery.

Compared to the Mysticality sign, which has...uhm. Oh yeah, I remember, the MCD which gives a paltry bunch of bonus stats, but mostly gets you beat up. And a handful of trinkets that you have no use for. And I guess Chez's sometimes has something useful to eat. As mysticality class without Melody, the Mysticality sign might be preferable. Except that farming food becomes so easy.

Today was bliss, my offstats are trailing a bit, but I really, really went forward at an amazing pace. In fact, a 3-day run seems within the realm of possibilities, if not the realm of probabilities.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Rattlesnake Chief (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 400
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Mongoose

Day 4: Silence before the Storm

2007-01-18T18:07:00.000+01:00

In real life, there's a major storm blowing over my country. A construction crane toppled over right on top of the building next to the one I work, and in the afternoon, it was decided that with a worsening forecast, everybody was to be sent home.

It took me two hours of terrible traffic, but I'm safe and sound at home.

Kolwise, I got a key from the Dungeon, cook, ate and drank. Spent some turns sewering and that's about it.

I got 152 turns banked.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Caribou Smacker
Turns Played (this run): 400
Days Played (this run): 4
Sign: The Opossum
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Oh no! More herb brownies!

2007-01-17T19:49:00.000+01:00

Actually, I ate just one. It was the special, and a nice 2-fullness filler.

I saved up a few turns already for the banking tomorrow. Tomorrow I will cook and eat, run the DAILY DUNGEON and that's about it, I think. And PvP, of course. I'm starting to get inklings that it might become a 5-dayer, after all.

I've got the wand, but not the Digital Key. The bonerdagon is still alive, and I have yet to type "yoho" into the Strange Leaflet.

I'll get 116 adventures from rollovers and adventures saved.

That gives me 84 adventures to expect from eating and wads. Or, rather. I should have, at most 155 adventures left at tomorrow's end of day. I could spend the surplus adventures (if there are any) preferably fishing for clover, cooking, or taking a moxie shore trip.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Caribou Smacker
Turns Played (this run): 382
Days Played (this run): 3
Sign: The Opossum
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Day 2: One thing I forgot

2007-01-16T16:11:00.000+01:00

I've managed to get a liver and reach the Gallery today, two feats that have helped my progress greatly. I'm one muscle point away from level 8, so tomorrow I'm eating with goat's milk. Somehow, it still feels like it's gonna be a 6-dayer.

The thing I forgot is that both the Gallery clover as well as the Louvre adventure have a "scaling factor" towards your mainstat. That didn't stop me from getting 10.6 muscle substat average, which is kinda neat, considering how much turns I spent in the Knob Goblin Treasury to get fast meat for MP.

With all being well, I haven't made much quest progress (killed the Goblin King, saved the Friars, but no digital Key, nor investigated any cyrptic emanations) since yesterday.

As I said, feels like a 6-dayer. Still going to bank on day 4 and try for a 5-dayer.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 7 Narwhal Pummeler
Turns Played (this run): 263
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Opossum
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Day 5 & Day 1: Majestic Mysticality

2007-01-15T17:28:00.000+01:00

I did finish easily, managed to neatly slide into level 15, nab a tattoo, a shrimp fork and a towel, buy the skill and jump the gash.

And found myself day 1 of a Muscle Teetotal run. The idea is that at the end of the run I'll have a nice muscle day, hopefully giving me the opportunity to make it a teetotal 5-day'er. Then I can start out on 2 muscle days, and who knows, this will allow for a 4-day Teetdrop Turtle Tamer?

Ah, dreams, anyway.

I started out a bit lazy, by eating my tummy full at Chez's with 5 spicy jumping bean burrito's. Better luck and more edginess next time.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 5 Penguin Frightener
Turns Played (this run): 135
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Opossum
Path: Teetotaler (Hardcore)

Understanding the Clover Nerf

2007-01-14T20:34:00.000+01:00

The mathematical aspects of this game have recently become more clear, due to using mafia and the leveling to 30.

I always had an intuitive sense of how using turns to maximize stat gains was important, but never did I actually calculate such affairs, until now. For example, this run, I've been able to keep up an average of about 11.5 main substats/adventure, including food and booze. If I kept that up, I would reach level 11 after about 940 turns.

Obviously, in the later parts of the game, stat gains dramatically increase. A 700 turn run would require a minimum average of about 15.5 stats/adventure. Usually, there's some overshoot, because Level 11 is merely required to reach the base of the tower, and the tower holds a lot of stat gains.

If you realize that an average volleyballtype familiar of someone with a reasonable number of familiar skills permed gives about 4 main substats bonus (32 pound bat, 2:1:1 distribution) per combat, it becomes quite clear why volleyballtypes are so beloved by speed ascenders. (And the sombrero even more so for SC, but that's another discussion).

And then we get the clover. Assume a muscle class. To reach level 11, a muscle class requires 104*104 mainstat substats. Which is equal to 10816 substat points. A single clover gives 300 substats on a normal day in the Gallery. It gives 450 substats on a stat day. That's 300/10816*100% and 450/10816*100% or ~2.8% and ~4.2% respectively of all muscle substats required for a run.

Assuming a 1 in 3 drop of the worthless trinket. That's 4 turns and 145 meat for an average of 1% advancement of all stats required/turn. Suppose clovers were still unlimited and you were able to reach the gallery at level 7 (1600 muscle substats). That would mean you'd only have to spend 100 turns and 3625 meat (for 25 clovers) to get to level 11 on a stat day. Softcore or Hardcore...no difference. In softcore that kind of meat is easily "pulled", in Hardcore it requires only a modest amount of turns in places like the Treasury, or some saving up of the meat from the boss bat and goblin king.

Thank Jick for the nerf.

Day 4: No shirt, no beard, no worries

2007-01-14T12:53:00.000+01:00

I predicted today would be a great day and then I had an epiphany.
Banking for stat day.

Seeing as how I want the level 15 skill from this run, and I was going to get far, but probably not all the way into the tower, I decided to bank turns for mysticality day, tomorrow.
I decided to do some pre-emptive farming and mixing upping. I did quickly finish the Valley quest, and also did, simply for the sake of it, pre-farm a few items. I will be 15 adventures short of 200 after rollover tomorrow, which I consider an excellent starting point.

I basically have everything that I need for the Tower, except for musical instruments. I suppose I'll have to see to those when I get there. A disco banjo is easily made, and a broken skull shouldn't be too hard to farm.

I secretly had been hoping to get a goat's beard, so I could smith the linoleum staff (bah, linoleum is the suckiest of the three) into a hairy staff, which regenerates MP and also held out hopes for a Pirate Shirt. Alas. No worries, though, I can easily do without.

As a coup de grace, I autosold the facsimile dictionary for "Spirit of Ravioli", so I will have a bit more base HP. And if I end up being dumb and stupid, it will also be a good fallback skill to take with me through the gash :-)

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 10 Ravioli Sorcerer (Harcore)
Turns Played (this run): 695
Days Played (this run): 4
Sign:The Opossum

p.s. Flawless PvP on the attack, so far. And the bat provides enough spare meat for me to spend some on Hatorade.
Ranking:116
Fights Won/Lost: 99/10

Day 3: Pacifism is so Passe!

2007-01-13T17:18:00.000+01:00

After a pretty decent start, I suddenly found myself in a position where I made a wrong choice. I decided I wanted to get a Hippy Outfit. I didn't have that many adventures left, I had only done one shore trip (barbed wire fence!) and wasn't super-wealthy. But I pushed to the Mysterious Island anyway. I got a bunch of little paper umbrella's from my vacations, I used my sewer clovers to get an extra knick-knack for a clover (if it came to that), and then charged hard (19 turns with the gravy fairy, using a green snowcone) to get the Hippy Outfit.

Only then did I start checking which drinks to make, and realized...bottle of whiskey + soda water + LPU = Roll In The Hay. I didn't need fruit, at all, for the best of mysticality drinks. And day 4 and 5 could've been fine with the barrel.

Also, when I later on wanted to fight the Bonerdagon with less risk, I realized the best potion to make required a tomato (already gotten from the kitchens), but I had put my Hippy Outfit on and forgot to switch to the Lihc face and Miner's pants for the fight itself (I still won).

Conclusion: The Hippy Outfit is not really useful in anything except (Boozetefar) moxie runs. I would've been better off spending a bunch of turns at the barrels with suboptimal drinks and saving the snowcone for a different moment.

Otherwise, all went fine, I even managed to get my spleenful of wads at the end of the run, even though the armors did not cooperate. I'm a single moxie-point away from level 10, I got the zapping wand, and access to the Island, including Obligatory Pirate Outfit.

Not much stands in my way to make tomorrow a great day!

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 9 Linguini Thaumaturge (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 606
Days Played (this run): 3
Sign: The Opossum

p.s. Haven't gotten any shirts to drop, yet :-(

Day 2: Gallery!

2007-01-12T13:11:00.000+01:00

Hurray, I managed to get into the Gallery and reach level 8. My main failure was in efficient drinking, but 3 extra-spicy blood maries, a Ducha de Oro, fine wine, Imp Ale and vodka&cranberry as nightcap wasn't *bad*, per se.

The barrels mostly beat me up, but I did also get a clover. Which allowed me to make the Pasta of Peril, which got me into the Gallery (together with the glass balls).

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 8 Vermicelli Enchanter (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 388
Days Played (this run): 2
Sign: The Opossum

For fun, my encounter listing as according to mafia:
Dark Elbow of the Woods (5)
Dark Heart of the Woods (2)
Dark Neck of the Woods (12)
Friar Ceremony Location (1)
Knob Goblin Kitchens (6)
Haunted Billiards Room (4)
Haunted Library (4)
Unlucky Sewer (2)
Beanbat Chamber (1)
Knob Goblin Treasury (1)
Haunted Library (4)
Menagerie 1 (1)
Menagerie 2 (3)
Menagerie 3 (18)
Knob Goblin Treasury (11)
Lemon Party (2)
Menagerie 3 (10)
Knob Goblin Laboratory (11)
Menagerie 3 (1)
Knob Goblin Laboratory (1)
Menagerie 3 (6)
Haunted Conservatory (1)
Haunted Gallery (8)
Knob Goblin Laboratory (12)
Haunted Gallery (36)
Lemon Party (3)

Check the comments for the encounter results.

Day 1: Back in Business!

2007-01-11T17:35:00.000+01:00

Luckily, I managed to clovercard my way to level 30 today!

And now I'm back in business of _playing_ the game.

I chose pastamancer, for no particular reason, except that it would mean a myst day at the end of the run. And the pastamancer has several skills I can use, not least of all Transcendental Noodlecraftery.

The run itself was old-school fun, trying to squeeze the most out of it, and I do say, that with a 1-pound Cheshire Bat, and no rewards except 5 gems and Stainless Suspenders, I've come quite far. I'm level 6, with all quests completed (except level 6, itself). I've got a digital key and a meat car. I've got the baron's monocle. I've got an enormous moxie boost.

Due to today being a moxie stat day, the suspenders and good old madrigal, I might be range-fighting for a bit longer. However my goal is actually to be active in the gallery tomorrow, so I got the glass balls from the Goblin King. We'll see how that pans out.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 6 Spaghetti Sage (Hardcore)
Turns Played (this run): 192
Days Played (this run): 1
Sign: The Opossum

I'd like to spend some time mulling "Pickpocketing for moxie classes". It's one of the most exciting updates since the rumpus room, if you ask me. The boon might seem small, but getting a ratarang while farming for rat appendices would be a great thing! The bonus for backfarming is good too and last but not least: A new familiar!
It's also upped the value of +init skills. I've always been a bit reluctant of them and haven't permed a single one. With this change, however, they become more premium material, especially over-developed etcetera, for the moxie runs.

Up to then, I'll have to get my +init from the penguin shorts/skirt and bonerdagon necklace.

I'm such a numbnut

2007-01-10T13:04:00.000+01:00

I don't know how I do this, but I manage to screw up the simplest of things. I just couldn't be bothered to look up the drunkenness factor of oily mushroom wine, I simply assumed it was 1. It was 3.

3 Mae West + 1 mushroom wine = 15 drunkenness.

And I was doing so well. I had already managed to get to level 28 with just one combat engagement. The clover, clover, clover, dance card waltz had already netted me about 140k substats...

Not all is lost, however. I didn't waste too many adventures, and tomorrow is another moxie day. Shame about the lost PvP-fights and the 35 or so adventures I could have used.

Bugger.

Keypunch (#30036)
Level 28 Accordion Thief
Turns Played (this run): 4,712
Days Played (this run): 18
Sign: The Opossum