In what difficulty 'mode' do you play Death Test?

[larsdangly]

I'm going to tuck into a Death Test solo game tonight and was contemplating the various ways you can go about this that result in quite different levels of difficulty. I would rank them:

Fighters only; no talents; no ITL equipment
Wizards allowed, still no talents or ITL equipment
Add talents and ITL gear; no wizards
Full access to all talents, wizards and gear

In all cases, I assume we can agree that it simply isn't cricket unless you play with 32 point characters and strive to make sound tactical choices for the foes.

[Jeff Lord]

I do prefer the 32 point characters. My favorite 'mode" would be to allow wizards, but no talents from ITL.

Also, I only play with a maximum of four characters. I remember someone posting about surviving with five beginning characters and, after doing a double take, I had to go back to DT to see if the test stipulates no more than four characters. It does; "One to four figures may enter" DT pg.4.

[tomc]

I used 32 point fighters only. I never had a party with a wizard survive.

And back in the day I got DT before I knew about ITL, so it wasn't an option.

[Senturian]

[QUOTE=tomc;2314236]I used 32 point fighters only. I never had a party with a wizard survive.

A wizard is nothing more than a fighter with some additional abilities.
Keep him in the back with a bow (made of wood, could be his staff).
And with an Int of 11, Illusion to create a 5th fighter.

[larsdangly]

Wizards get into trouble in Death Test because they run out of ST quickly, and they are crummy fighters who get bumped off fast if they are used as front line fighters. You already realize that making your staff be a bow is a blatant cheat on the rules in Melee/Wizard, so that doesn't really help if you are trying to play straight.

[RobW]

Ha my solo “mode”:
* Just fighters and fighting talents (eg no physicker)
* Randomly choose direction at junctions, but:
— Never go backwards
— Tweak so that I go through every room
* Attack everyone! Always!
* In the gargoyle room, I think I walk
* Since SJs apparent clarification, I only Defend with 0-1 hex movement

[Shostak]

For the original Death Test, I like:

Four 32-point characters
or
two 34-point ones'
or
a single 36-point character

using the Melee rules only.

[Axly Suregrip]

If I am gonig in, I take 4x 32 point characters.

If the general skill level of the players is lower, I let them take 4x 32 point characters.

I prefer Melee/Wiz over ITL. But sometimes it is fun for a change up and allow talents. This is a boost and fit best with experienced players so, 4 x 32.

I like using the DT2 rule of 1 point of fatigue regen (15 minute rest). Wizards are still too weak but this makes them more viable. If with ITL, I allow physickers (3 healings per room on new wounds as that takes 15 minutes). Note, bring a physicker is usually a bad thing as they seldomly contribute muck to the combat.

If you got a group of experienced players a fun variant is to allow 4 x 34 characters plus ITL but they have to clear every room.

[Skarg]

4 x 32 no talents if I want an interestingly high chance of failure.

4 x 34 no talents, or 4 x 32 with talents if I want probable survival when played well.

When using ITL talents, I also give ITL talents to the opponents who could use IQ 9+ ones (I don't give very many of them Running, though I do tend to give the throwers thrown weapons), but as written, there aren't very many who have IQ above 8.

For more variety/interest/challenge, re-do the opponents a bit.

Bringing wizards can very easily be a liability. For an experienced player who knows what to expect in Death Test, and strategizes accordingly, it can be an advantage. Especially if you let the wizard be a physicker too.

I use the 15-minute allowed rest per room from Death Test 2.

[larsdangly]

I'm trying to imagine how 1 36 point character could survive; does that really work? If so, how did they do it?