Unusual for most roguelikes, LR:TBS features a complex story within a detailed game world. More…
Here you can find some frequently asked questions. The first three sections cover technical, interface, and gameplay issues. The fourth section has answers to some typical complaints which I heard either from hardcore roguelike fans, or hardcore cRPG players. If you have a question not covered here, either ask it in the forum, or send me an e-mail at mario.donick [at] live [dot] de.
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1. What do I need to play LambdaRogue?
You need either a computer running Windows XP, Vista or 7, or a Linux system, such as Ubuntu. The game is also availabe for MacOS 10.7 (Lion), although I can't promise that I will always be able to provide ready-to-run packages for future MacOS versions.
For running in default graphical mode, you need a screen resolution of 800x600 or 1024x768. For running in text mode, you need a terminal emulator which is capable of displaying 80x25 characters.
A sound card is recommended for listening sound effects and music.
2. How do I change from graphics to text mode?
Either open the options menu ingame and press the appropriate key, or open lambdarogue.cfg in a plain text editor and change "UseSDL =True" to "UseSDL =False".
3. The game crashes in text mode. Is this a bug?
Make sure that your terminal supports 25 lines. Some terminal emulators are configured for only 24 lines, this is not enough.
4. Where are save games stored?
On Windows and Linux, save games are stored in the subfolder "saves" in the LambdaRogue folder. On MacOS, save games are stored in the subfolder "Contents/Resources/saves" in the LambdaRogue folder.
5. Why don't you provide a real app file on MacOS?
There are some problems with data file access which don't occur when it's simply a folder. MacOS support is very new and still somewhat experimental anyway.
6. Why don't you provide a setup file on Windows?
Most players prefer a simple archive which they can extract and place anywhere they like.
7. Why don't I hear sound or music?
Make sure you have activated sound and music in the options menu.
8. Why do I only hear sounds, but no music?
Make sure you have installed the music files. Music files go into the "music" subfolder in the LambdaRogue folder or, on MacOS, in "Contents/Resources/music" in the LambdaRogue folder.
9. I have already the music files from an earlier LambdaRogue version. Why do I have to download again?
The technical side of music output has changed in LambdaRogue 1.6.1; it now uses SDL and .ogg files for music and sound.
1. Movement using the numerical keypad does not work.
Usually, you have to activate NumLock to use the numberpad.
2. When entering text on MacOS, deleting characters with backspace does not work.
Use the arrow left key instead.
3. In text mode, I need to press ESC twice to close dialogues and menus.
Yes, that's normal.
4. How do I configure the quickbar with items and spells?
You can move the quickbar by right-clicking anywhere on the screen.
You can add potions and food to the quickbar by pressing F1 to F12 in inventory, followed by the number of the item's inventory slot.
You can add spells (songs) to the quickbar by pressing F1 to F12 in songbook, followed by the number of the spell's songbook slot.
You can delete quickbar items and reset the quickbar's position by pressing [C].
5. Where can I view and change keybindings?
To view keybindings, press [?] to open the helpscreen, the press [c].
To change keybindings, open the game menu and press [2] to enter the keyconfig screen. Press the key you want to change, enter the new key and confirm with [Enter].
Please note that you can only use alphanumerical keys, and that letters are case-sensitive.
1. How do I win?
Follow the main quest. You need to read the quest descriptions and in-game texts to find out how to win.
2. I still don't get it.
Really: Read everything at least once and try to remember it.
3. Is there a walkthrough?
You can find a walkthrough in the spoilers section of this website.
4. How do I identify items?
Either use an Identificator potion, or chant the Identify song.
5. How do I combine items?
If two items can be combined, you can simply drop one item onto the other. You have to close the inventory and pick up the combined item.
6. What use has the "grease" option?
You can grease melee weapons, like sword, axes, and lances, with potions, such as poison. The weapon will deal additional poison damage when used the next time. Greasing lasts for 1 turn.
7. What are Psychic Points (PP)?
Basically, this is mana, magicka or simply magic points, i.e. the resource consumed by magic.
8. How do the profession's talent and powers work?
Each profession has one talent. You can invoke the talent by pressing [x].
The talent consists of 1 up to 5 powers. Some powers are active (to be used by the player), some are passive (giving a bonus to certain status values).
When the talent is used, all non-passive powers of the talent, with all the power's effects, are invoked at the same time.
Using the talent consumes distress. The more powers a talent includes, the more distress is consumed.
Each profession starts with 1 power. More powers are learned once the professions ranks are gained.
You can see all current and potential powers by opening the status screen, followed by pressing [p].
9. What is Divine Rage?
Deus ex Machina – by using Divine Rage you request an action of your god or goddess. You can use Divine Rage by pressing [X].
Each deity has a different kind of rage with different effects. Some are offensive, while others heal your health or regenerate your psychic points (mana).
Using divine rage consumes distress.
Effect and distress consumption are based on your Humility skill. The higher your Humility skill, the higher the effect and the lower distress consumption.
10. Why am I addicted to drugs?
You have consumed Vitari (a strength drug), by drinking a Vitari potion or by drinking from an enchanted well.
11. How can I remove my drug addiction?
You can pray, or you can do a withdrawal treatment in hospital.
12. How do I identify a dungeon tile?
Press [I], followed by the direction of the while you want to identify. You will get a description of that tile. If the tile is occupied by a monster, you will also see the name and HP, PP, WP, GP, and AP of that monster.
13. I'm trapped in an antbee web. What should I do?
In the status area, you can see in how many turns the antbee web will be dissolved. You can either wait (should not take longer than 12 to 15 turns), or try to pray.
14. Can I destroy antbee webs?
Not while stuck in it. However, when you see an antbee web somewhere, you can use fire to destroy it.
15. During character generation, it was said that my character can't use magic. Really?
Such characters have been cursed by a jealous enchanter. To overcome the curse, you have to train your Chant skill very hard, to bring it to at least 1.
16. How do I learn new spells?
Find or buy a crystal and study it.
17. How do I gain spell levels?
Find or buy crystals of the spell you want to train and study it.
1. Your game is not a roguelike! It has XYZ!
Certainly LambdaRogue has features which are very uncommon in roguelikes, esp. its heavy emphasis on quests and story. However, it also has randomly generated levels, permanent death, and varied interaction possibilities in the dungeons. You can even use it in ASCII/text mode. Thus, I consider it to be very roguelike-ish.
2. Your game is not a RPG! It lacks XYZ!
There are many definitions of RPGs. Judging from the game mechanics, it certainly has everything a typical cRPG offers (and hopefully with its own interesting tweaks). Judging from the story and quest side, although LambdaRogue's story is very complex for a roguelike, it surely can't be compared to commercial cRPGs.
3. Why are there so few dungeon levels? The game ends way too fast!
I don't want the game to take forever. Especially since it's story driven, players should get a chance to see everything in a reasonable time. If it had 50 or 99 or even more levels, the story either had to be much longer to be perceived as coherent, or much less complex. There are, however, several secondary questlines which add to the overall game time, if followed.
4. The game is too easy! In a roguelike, I expect to die early and often!
Either select a higher difficulty during character generation (not available in quickstart mode) , or try to adhere to certain self-made rules, such as "never use magic".
5. I don't want the story. Can I switch it off?
No. Everything you have to do in order to win the game makes only sense when it's connected by story elements.
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You want to know everything? Find all the monsters, items, spells, and quests in the spoiler section. More…