Ambrosia Software Web Board: ...So now what? - Ambrosia Software Web Board

Being forced by travel and shipping costs to switch from my mighty G4 down to a PowerBook 1400, I dug out my Ambrosia CD and installed some of the older games which would run on this sluggish beast. While I recall that I disliked Cythera when it first came out, I found that I enjoyed it now. I wound up registering the game, and beating it shortly thereafter.

The question is, now what? What to do to get replay value out of the game? Some thoughts that have occurred to me:

-Try and program some AI scripts. If I could use this feature to program a pathfinding AI that didn't get stuck in empty rooms and behind open doors, I'd be all over this. But the combat is simple enough that I don't really see much to be gained by AI scripting.

-Try different character-building approaches. I've never seen much use to the various "archetypes" - the more specialized ones, such as thief, seem fairly useless, and most of the rest are only a few skill points away from being identical. But maybe I could develop the character along different lines - focus more on spell-casting, build a bare-hand fighter, or the like.

-Create arbitrary challenges. How many quests can I have remaining unfinished when I beat the game? How many quests can I avoid receiving altogether? Can I manage to have Timon, Aethon, Hector, Meleager, Ariadne, and Dryas all in my party simultaneously? Can I beat the game without ever being joined by Hector, Meleager, or Aethon? Can I kill a polyp or Scylla while armed only with a rolling pin, ceremonial axe, or equally useless item? Can I single-handedly depopulate Cademia?

...Anyway, I've rambled enough. My question to you is this - what do you do in playing Cythera to maintain your interest in the game?

------------------
Sometimes I think we're alone.
Sometimes I think we're not.
In either case, the thought is quite staggering.
--R. Buckminster Fuller

Or, you could try posting in the Alraeican Tavern and other team stories; personally, I find that to be much more fun than the game itself - although a good understanding of the game helps.

------------------
Damned if you do, and damned if you don't; can anybody cache a damned cheque?

Yeah. The team stories are great. Anyway, 'pathfinder' AIs and new character classes aren't possible. You can't equip a rolling pin/cleaver. If you were to kill a polyp, get the best defences and upgrade your attack. Hydras are missle attacks only. You can't get Dryas with Aridane in your party. Killing everyone is possible, just if you do it in public everyone comes and attacks you. Also, it would only be possible if you have a , then there wouldn't be someone you kill that you needed to talk to to win.

*distilled full Crolona

------------------
Quote ViaVoice, "Hal Cohen help build Satam sand scratch a flat surface scratches that some scratch that scratches that scratch facts scratcher wraked this scratched tax costs tax this. " Is this ViaVoiceian?

[This message has been edited by ferazel_09 (edited 09-22-2001).]

Quote

[url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/glennfield/cytheracrazy.jpg"]Au contraire.[/url]

Incidentally, it appears that you are right that a cleaver cannot be equipped; at least, I seem unable to equip one. Why, then, does Slayer's site give weapon statistics for it?

------------------
Sometimes I think we're alone.
Sometimes I think we're not.
In either case, the thought is quite staggering.
--R. Buckminster Fuller

[This message has been edited by Jynnan Tonnyx (edited 09-23-2001).]

Cleaver issue - I personally haven't tried, but I would think that it probably takes two hands to hold.

On the weapon equiping issue - is it possible to throw a dagger like the ruffians do?

What I do for fun in Cythera -
This might be a bit dry, but I'm just trying to build the ultimate party (maybe I should've kept Dryas or Ariadne). I've gotten almost all the special items in the game, am in the process of gaining experience for myself and my members, and am about to finish learning all the magic I can learn. I'm also trying to get as much obsidian as I can get (usually via purchases, not harvesting) to improve Hector and Aethon's swords. I've also created a more effective AI script for Timon than the Healer script.

I tried going to the Temple of the Cult of the Scylla and doing the maze of initiation, but to my disappointment all I found was a bunch of polyps and tentacles, which I handily defeated. I've searched for treasure (some can be found in the Temple, as well as in other places). Trying to depopulate Cademia doesn't sound like a bad idea either. Something I've tried was killing Alaric, but he might be invincible (I am too, since I can ask him for help after every time he counterattacks).

------------------
Mike Lee (Firebird)