SDC#3 - The Odyssey

Athena · January 5, 2001, 01:00

The People's Choice version of "The Odyssey" may be downloaded from this location:

The Odyssey

The main difference between this and the Contest version is you get the complete musical score, which really makes the scenario much more enjoyable. Please try it and post your thoughts in this thread. And be sure to play "Poseidon" as well! (that link is in the HAC forum)

Athena · January 5, 2001, 22:13

Has anyone tried it yet? I honestly believe The Odyssey is as good - - and maybe better - - than "Spartacus" and "Sword of Shannarra". It can be played to completion in the span of hours, so there's really no reason not to check it out.

Mao · January 6, 2001, 00:18

There's a reason...laziness...extreme laziness...

January 6, 2001, 02:21

I just downloaded it, but I can't play till tomorrow night. I never have time to finish scenarios. I have had a game of Red Front going for 3 weeks.

Paul Hanson · January 6, 2001, 06:57

I`ve given it a go, but I can`t figure out how to get away from the Cyclops! My ship just gets trapped near his lair and I can`t get anyone way from it! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Athena · January 6, 2001, 11:42

These hints may resolve your dilemma:

1) When you looted Ismarus, did you bring the Wine with you? I sure hope so!

2) This message gives a pretty clear hint as to which units (and ONLY which units) should head off to examine the cave:

"Odysseus spies more goats and a large cave on another island. Together with two Sailors and the heady Wine of Ismarus, he departs to investigate this natural wonder."

3) The next message suggests which units should be getting off the ship, and which one has the first action (and exactly what that action is):

"As Odysseus captures some goats, the mists close in behind the ship and all the Sailors take the Wine ashore. One Ithacan sprints ahead, seeking to be the first to investigate the cave."

If this doesn't help, let me know!

Athena · January 6, 2001, 11:49

P.S. The music which kicks in during this sequence of events is intended to instill panic. Did it work?

RobRoy · January 6, 2001, 14:38

Very Impressive!

I've never really liked the quest/role-playing type scenarios. But you really push the envelope here. Yes it is quite entertaining; but quite a departure from your masterpieces.

I think you're lying about finishing in one or two hours, though. Maybe I've just too slow or methodical.

Shadowstrike · January 6, 2001, 16:04

How do you loot Ismarus? There's impassable units all around it!

Athena · January 6, 2001, 16:59

RobRoy: Well, I can finish in 2 hours, but then, I know exactly what to do! Most people will probably take quite a bit longer.

Shadowstrike: Remember what I said in the readme file. EVERY existing civ2 unit capability is featured. Think of a traditional land unit with an unusual ability, different from all others. And think about what those "encampments" really are....

Stefan Härtel · January 6, 2001, 17:30

Oh so THAT'S how to capture Ismarus! I gave up frustrated afer I couldn't get it!

Prometeus · January 6, 2001, 17:51

So you've learned how to use SLPstud, at last

... great work, I'm impressed!!!
[This message has been edited by Prometeus (edited January 07, 2001).]

Kull · January 6, 2001, 18:36

Prometeus: I'm shocked, simply shocked! Me guilty of using a DL?!? Whatever gave you that idea?

Athena · January 6, 2001, 18:42

When you guys complete Chapter 2....in another hour or so (hehehe).....I'd be interested to hear what you think about the Chapter 3 revelation.

Stefan: So perhaps a hint file is in order?

Jim Winchell · January 6, 2001, 19:33

Very entertaining. I took me about four hours over two days to play to completion, but I have a dinosaur computer and it seemed like two hours of that was just waiting for the computer to move.

When loading the other contestant's scenario, I got a message that there was a problem with the event file. I assume this means that the event file didn't even load, so I haven't tried to play it yet. Did anyone else have this problem?

Athena · January 6, 2001, 19:44

Jim: Given your vast experience in playtesting Nemo's complex creations, I suppose my "puzzles" weren't overly taxing! Glad you enjoyed it. The amount of work it took to create and fine-tune this thing was staggering. Easily hundreds of hours!

I checked out "Poseidon" too, and you have to add two END TEXT commands to the last two events. You'll have to do this in all six of the event files. That should solve the problem.

Cam · January 6, 2001, 21:15

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Winchell on 01-06-2001 06:33 PM
When loading the other contestant's scenario, I got a message that there was a problem with the event file. I assume this means that the event file didn't even load, so I haven't tried to play it yet. Did anyone else have this problem?

I'm sorry about this - I am unable to test the scenarios (I can't load Civ2 on my computer) and had to assume they worked OK. Hopefully this might be fixed soon if it is a general problem.

Athena · January 6, 2001, 22:00

I have completed a Hints file for Chapter One, and will try to finish up two more before the weekend is over. It may be a while before they go up on the web site, so if you need one, post here and I'll email it ASAP.

Stefan Härtel · January 6, 2001, 22:29

quote:

Stefan: So perhaps a hint file is in order?

Yes, keep in mind that last year, I think Mike Daumen used one too in his SDC entry.
And if I'm not mistaken, there was also one in Poseidon's entry.

Athena · January 6, 2001, 22:43

Stefan: Sorry about the teasing tone of my comment. I agree completely that a Hint file is VERY much a good idea for a scenario like this! In fact, the one for Chapter 2 is also complete!

January 7, 2001, 00:19

How do you kill the witch? I already used the potion but then I am stuck. That hints file would help alot.

Athena · January 7, 2001, 00:25

CivBaron: I just emailed you the first two! Should have all three up on the web site tonight.
[This message has been edited by Athena (edited January 06, 2001).]

Prometeus · January 7, 2001, 02:19

to Kull

sorry, I'll edit my post...

Athena · January 7, 2001, 03:02

The Hint files are now available for download from the Odyssey web site (see opening post) or simply by clicking HERE. There are three, one for each chapter. Please use them only as a last resort.

Prometeus: Did you see your goat and gate?

Stefan Härtel · January 7, 2001, 09:35

Heck, how do I access square 45,37 ???

[This message has been edited by Stefan Härtel (edited January 07, 2001).]

SCDARS · January 7, 2001, 10:57

quote:

Originally posted by Stefan Härtel on 01-07-2001 08:35 AM
Heck, how do I access square 45,37 ???

[This message has been edited by Stefan Härtel (edited January 07, 2001).]

You want to get to Circe's Palace?
One hint: Remember that the potion you got is an air unit ignoring ZOC...

Athena: Good work, really! I think it was worth the work - it's really enjoyable to play it!

PS: Can one still win in the last part if the backdoor is destroyed? Because I had to withdraw to the entrance door, after all of my units had been seriously injured...
Is this intended that one can stack all units and get them protected by this high defense door and wait unitl the arrows have inflicted major damage to the enemies?
[This message has been edited by SCDARS (edited January 07, 2001).]

Athena · January 7, 2001, 12:00

SCDARS: The Front Door strategy never occurred to me, but I can see how it would work. I hesitate to recommend it, because that means you have to abandon the Bow of Odysseus. Just pray the Suitors don't break through the Back Door!

SCDARS · January 7, 2001, 14:20

quote:

Originally posted by Athena on 01-07-2001 11:00 AM
SCDARS: The Front Door strategy never occurred to me, but I can see how it would work. I hesitate to recommend it, because that means you have to abandon the Bow of Odysseus. Just pray the Suitors don't break through the Back Door!

I just had to find a place for a withdrawal after I had lost Emaemus and even Odysseus was at the verge of dying... Now that the had time to recuperate and most of the suitors have been defeated, I might attempt a second attack - hopefully before they manage to get through the back door...

Giving up the bow is not that critical as one still gets those bows delivered every turn, so you can attack at least two units per turn without any risk...

Athena · January 8, 2001, 11:08

SCDARS: Allowing you (or anyone for that matter) to abandon the Bow is definitely a design flaw on my part. In future versions, I'll probably put in a new event that causes loss of the Bow to generate a 2nd Axe unit, thus doubling the attack on the Back Door.

Jay Bee · January 8, 2001, 19:17

Athena,

Just a minor suggestion for (a) future version(s) of the scen. Please convert the .bmp's into .gif's. This would considerably reduce the size the zip file. In general, the shorter the zip file the happier the user is. Not to mention that here at Apoyton we can't upload files larger than 1 MB in size, and yours is quite close to that