Beta 4: Dr. Demented's Den

[VernJensen]

Post here for comments regarding the built-in mansion Dr. Demented's Den.

[Semi-Native]

It still seems odd to me that the secret count doesn't go up when you FIND the yellow keys. It only counts when you open the yellow doors, which are visible. Seems backward.

16094 Normal and Hard.
Getting all the trolls onto the red platforms at the same time is pretty hard. Could they be slowed down a bit maybe?

[divadnala]

182E262266052A3F223D2E4B0 wrote: It still seems odd to me that the secret count doesn't go up when you FIND the yellow keys. It only counts when you open the yellow doors, which are visible. Seems backward.

Hi Semi-Native,

I made a similar comment about the yellow doors/keys and secrets for Dr. Demented's Den Beta 3. This is what Vern said then:

It seems consistent with itself. Yellow keys themselves are never marked as secret in this mansion. Once you use a yellow key to open yellow doors, however, the area inside is marked as secret. Even if it was clearly visible. Because you had to find the secret key to open the door. I think this is consistent with the sign at the beginning of the mansion that explains that yellow keys are for secrets.

[RobSeegel]

I'm still working on updating Dr. Demented's Den - HARD, and the changes ended up being more involved than light edits. It's going to be quite a bit different than the version that is currently out there. I'll post it as soon as it is ready for testing (hopefully as soon as possible).

Until then, I'd recommend focusing on the Easy and Normal versions or even on other mansions.

[RobSeegel]

784E464206654A5F425D4E2B0 wrote: It still seems odd to me that the secret count doesn't go up when you FIND the yellow keys. It only counts when you open the yellow doors, which are visible. Seems backward.

It did at first to me too, but when you think about it, the player doesn't actually ever see the secret symbol, they just see the tally in the end. In a sense, it allows for the

secrets

to be slightly more challenging - they are rewarded not only for discovering the key which may be tough to find, but also open a corresponding yellow door.

In this mansion

secrets

are actually more like optional mini objectives in the game...  My only complaint for hard is that I couldn't also have numbered keys that corresponded to a single door.

[hawaii]

1F222F1E28282A28214D0 wrote: I'm still working on updating Dr. Demented's Den - HARD, and the changes ended up being more involved than light edits. It's going to be quite a bit different than the version that is currently out there. I'll post it as soon as it is ready for testing (hopefully as soon as possible).

Until then, I'd recommend focusing on the Easy and Normal versions or even on other mansions.

I'm confused, see pic below, the Hard version is in the beta 4 testers mansions, yet you say that you are working on it.  So why is it in there? 
Also, note there is one that is Rob.  Are we to test the Rob one also???

[RobSeegel]

51584E585050390 wrote:
I'm confused, see pic below, the Hard version is in the beta 4 testers mansions, yet you say that you are working on it.  So why is it in there?

OK - I'll try to clarify where I can. In the last round of Beta testing, a number of folks, myself among them, commented that the differences between the HARD and NORMAL versions of a few mansions appeared to be negligible.

Unexpectedly, Vern asked me if I wanted to take a stab at making one or more mansions harder.  I told him I'd be happy to try to modify one, and I told him I'd do it for free.  He (and other testers) may decide that the changes aren't worthwhile, which will be fine - the experience has still been good, though far more work than I anticipated.

I'm not sure why Vern included the Hard version and Rob version (which wasn't ready for anyone aside from him to look at). My guess is that he may have made a few changes to his original one to hedge his bet a bit, in case mine doesn't pan out.  As to why he included the

Rob

version, perhaps it was an oversight - I can't say for sure.

The main reason why I haven't posted much in this round of testing is that I've been working on my version of the Hard mansion like crazy. Vern told me to post the mansion to the forum as soon as I was ready for folks to look at it, which is what I intend. My hope is that I'll post something by next week at the latest. I didn't realize when I started it what the minor changes would turn into, or how much of my free time it would consume. My hat is off to all of you who have created mansions over the years...

I'm only working on the Hard version of Dr. Demented. My version features fairly significant changes though it should still be recognizable. Nearly every room has been modified somewhat, and it has about 60 additional rooms. I guarantee it's more difficult than the Normal version. Knowing what I know now, my changes would have been more modest if I had to do it all over again.

So, having said all that, I was recommending that other mansions be looked at first before looking at the HARD version. Of course, you're free to do whatever you wish. I hope that clears some of it up.

[hawaii]

NORMAL

I forget, but doesn't a statue of Jack remain on the save point?  If yes, well they don't stay. They do for a while but not for long & not in the map

Ok I'm finished the normal.....nothing to report. All is well.

[RobSeegel]

787167717979100 wrote:
Ahhhh, so your still working on Hard & Vern probably forgot to remove it.  I thought, since I came kind of late to the game, it was ready for testing. 
So, is the Rob one to be tested???  Just in case, as you put it, your version is not accepted.?

My hat goes off to you.  Sherry gave me some tips on how to do a CM & I made a real mini one.  But I really didn't know all the tricks of the trade and now forgot most of how to get started.  Yes, I agree.....It is really time consuming.  So take your time.  It's best to keep it fun than a chore. 

The Rob version should not be tested. It isn't really playable and would be a waste of time. It was sent to Vern so he could have an early look at the basic direction I was going. The Hard version that came with the current Beta is all Vern's. I think that it's very close to what went out in the last Beta. It may have different music in some areas.

[Semi-Native]

Easy No problems found, finished with 100% secrets. Difficulty level good.

16300 Normal and Hard (Rob, since you're working on the Hard version, you might want to note this)
The bat platform should be blue, not gray. Jack went to the right to get the secret yellow key but didn't have the space to pick it up. Had to go back, ride the bat platform up to use a shield on the spider, then had to go all the way around again to come up and get that blue key in 16300. If the bat platform had been blue, he could have just gone straight back down.

Other than that, no problems. Difficulty level good.