[CYOA?] Let's Play Space Rangers text adventures

[lightbane]

Alrighty, I misread the whole thing. I vote for the first option: Risky tactics and get on top of the spider somehow. What's the worst that can happen?

 

[Nevill]

Our gladiator is neither weak nor stupid, and he is in top shape. Any of the methods would win us the fight... well, almost. The question is, would we have enough left to make it through the rest of the competition?

You know the drill by now. Any of the options can only be chosen once.

If you don't want to do anything - in case you suspect that any stat changes would be less favorable than what you already have, - you can just go back to the arena, to the third and final fight.

 

[MZeta]

Third option, a good massage (from hot Maloq covered in oil) will certainly help our Gladiator.

 

[Kipeci]

Physiotherapy, I guess. We're probably boned.

 

[Nevill]

Third option, a good massage (from hot Maloq covered in oil) will certainly help our Gladiator.

Oh, no. We'll be doing that personally.

There certainly are homo undertones in the Russian version of the choice description, what with it elaborating in excruciating detail how we massage every crevice of Ytzokheng's body... but none of the translators were into that, so the English ones gets a rather generic description. No luck for Fagdex, it seems.

And to add insult to injury, Maloqi, being the proud warrior race, are not very understanding of our deviant urges...

Rule one of the Maloqi tournaments - never piss off the Maloqi judges.

Alright, not only did we manage to fail this mission, but we also did so in a spectacular fashion, as we have died in a quest that should only have been dangerous to the poor bloke who had the misfortune of having us assigned as his coach. My faith in the 'Dex is restored.

At least Ytzokheng died well-rested.

So, what now?
A) Rewind! It was just a momentary lapse of judgement! (pick where to)
B) Redo the whole mission. It's the only way to be sure.
C) This quest is stupid and Maloqs stink! Pick some other adventure to play.

 

[Kz3r0]

C)

 

[Kipeci]

A, I'm sure we're fine! Rewind to the last choice, but just go straight for the fight.

 

[lightbane]

A, I'm sure we're fine! Rewind to the last choice, but just go straight for the fight.

What the bird says.

 

[Nevill]

Spoiler

I will obey my avian masters.

There are 2 votes for continuatuion, anyway. Very well. Meet the Final Challenger - and the current standing champion.

Who is also the best Maloqi fighter EVAR. Ytzokheng's posture says everything you need to know about this fight.

Have fun!

Our choices here are to best the opponent in a fair fight (above average morale and stamina cost); bend the rules and use a dirty trick (below average stamina and a fairly high judge approval cost); or to play a gambit and fake your defeat, striking when the opponent lowers his guard in anticipation of his victory (low stamina, but an ultra-high morale cost). On the other hand, the chief judge proved to be fairly useless so far... maybe we can finally cash in on that favor we supposedly bought with a shiny new boomstick?

 

[Kz3r0]

Fake your defeat.

 

[MZeta]

Let's bravely blackmail the head judge Grock. About time he does something useful.

 

[lightbane]

I say we encourage our warrior to win in a far fight. His high morale may compensate for the lack of stamina. Alternatively, if he wins but dies of exhaustion, it will be considered a stalemate, so it won't be so bad, right?

 

[Nevill]

Alternatively, if he wins but dies of exhaustion, it will be considered a stalemate, so it won't be so bad, right?

Well, we are on a mission, and our contract is pretty unambiguous in its wording:

Spoiler

But you are right, it certainly isn't as bad as having your heart cut out as a prize in a competition. Puts things in perspective.

Let's see if Kipeci resolves the stalemate (or votes for the last unaccounted for option for lulz). If not, the die will show us the way, as usual.

 

[Kipeci]

Fair fight.

 

[Nevill]

I wonder why you guys bought the chief judge off if you never take advantage of him... not that it would have saved you, but at least we would have seen yet another amusing sequence.

Fun trivia - every failing condition in the final fight has a unique descriptor of how and why Ytzokheng lost the battle. To be fair, there weren't any winning options here. The fight with Dreaddy cost us too much.



You know what, I am going to play a little game with you guys.

By now you have already seen the structure of the adventure. Post your grand strategy plan and I will run the adventure for you to see if you succeed.

1. Pick a bonus (Stamina, Morale, Bribe, ???)
* I can reveal the contents of the ??? choice if there is demand. It's the one we get after taking a stroll through the market.
2. Pick a strategy to win the first fight (Ranged Combat, Melee Combat, Dirty Trick, Sumo Fight)

Consequences

Ranged - low stamina, below average morale loss
Melee - below average stamina, negligible morale loss
Dirty Trick - low stamina loss, low morale gain, high judge approval loss
Sumo Fight - ???

3. Pick an intermediary action (Call Girls, Show Off, Give Massage, None)

Consequences

Call Girls - gain 2 Morale, lose 2 Stamina
Show Off - gain 1 Morale and 1 Judge Approval, lose 2 Stamina
Give Massage - gain 3 stamina, lose 9 (!) Judge Approval

As you can see, stamina is the most valuable stat that is not easy to replenish

4. Pick a second intermediary action (Negotiate with Dreaddy's master, Complain to the Judges, None)
*A bribe can have an effect on any of the options.
5. Pick a strategy to win the second fight (Strangle, Entangle, Dirty Trick, Rigged Fight)

Consequences

Strangle - low stamina, average morale loss
Entangle - average stamina, low morale loss
Dirty Trick - low stamina and morale loss, average judge approval loss (halved if Grok is bribed)
Rigged Fight - ???

6. Pick an intermediary action you haven't picked before (Call Girls, Show Off, Give Massage, None)
7. Pick a strategy to win the third fight (Disarm, Feign Defeat, Dirty Trick, Blackmail).

Consequences

(Disarm - average stamina, above average morale loss
Feign Defeat - low stamina, ultra-high morale loss (halved if ???)
Dirty Trick - below average stamina, fairly high judge approval loss
Blackmail - ???

*Blackmail is a separate option and is voted in addition to other options in case you picked Bribe as your first step.
8. ???
9. PROFIT.

For example, our current path can be summarized as:
1. Bribe
2. Dirty Trick
3. Show Off
4. None
5. Strangle
6. None
7. Disarm

The one who manages to win will get to decide on the next adventure we play.

 

[MZeta]

1. morale
2. ranged
3. call girls
4. none
5. entangle
6. massage
7. feign defeat

8. ???
9. bury our guy with honours

 

[Nevill]

A brave one, eh?

Spoiler

9. bury our guy with honours

Afraid they don't do that for cowards.

 

[MZeta]

Damn, i hoped the local escort service would be enough for Ytzo to get his shit together...
Best of luck for the next one in the grinder

 

[Kipeci]

??? for every time it's available, and Call Girls for the one where it isn't available. We'll go out with something really special, I'm sure of it!

 

[Nevill]

We'll go out with something really special, I'm sure of it!

Nowhere is it guaranteed that you will live to see most of it.

Spoiler

Taking a walk results in a yet another choice.

And helping the merchant leads to us obtaining a special talisman.

What is the option to kick the trader for? Won't tell.

Aaaand here are the results of fighting fire with fire. Or sumo with sumo.

At least this time the guy died an hero.

Best of luck for the next one in the grinder

Well, you can submit another try. It's not like there are many volunteers. If no others apply, I'll take a look at it.

Someone could probably take a pencil and a sheet of paper, look at the existing screenshots, figure out how much 'low', 'average' and 'high' mean, and solve the adventure mathematically. You only need to find one solution where the total loss of atributes doesn't exceed 9 (or 10 with certain bonuses taken).

 

[Nevill]

No new challengers?

Ah, well, I'll just post the most amusing solution when I get back to my rig and pick the next adventure myself.

 

[lightbane]

What about this:
1. Market (help the trader)
2. Dirty trick
3. Show off
4. Complain
5. Strangle
6. None
7. Disarm
8. Hope for the best

 

[Nevill]

1. Market (help the trader)
2. Dirty trick
3. Show off

I believe we've seen these...

Spoiler

4. Complain

But not this one.

Spoiler

That could have worked better if the chief judge was bribed. How much better? Well...

Spoiler

The judges are furious, fortunately Chief Judge is on your side so Ytzokheng is not thrown off the competition. Nevertheless, the discussion goes on for some time and this allows Ytzokheng to get some rest after the previous fight.

Hint

Gee, guys, I wonder what the talisman is for.

"The salesman thanks you. A conversation starts and he is amazed to find out that you and Ytzokheng are taking part in the contest.

'You need to take this. It will give Ytzokheng more confidence in the final battle', the merchant says and puts a small amulet into your hand."

Disarm - average stamina, above average morale loss
Feign Defeat - low stamina, ultra-high morale loss (halved if ???)
Dirty Trick - below average stamina, fairly high judge approval loss
Blackmail - ???

 

[MZeta]

OK, i'll try again.

0. Revive our gladiator

1. Market (help trader)
2. ranged
3. call girls
4. none
5. entangle
6. none
7. feign

 

[Nevill]

1. Market (help trader)
2. ranged
3. call girls
4. none
5. entangle

This results in...

Spoiler

Which brings us to...

6. none
7. feign

"You are very weak. Try lowering the scoop, leaving the head and shoulders open, as if you are giving in. And when Taron approaches, strike him on his chin with your scoop. The most important thing here is not to get frightened. Put on this amulet, it will give you more courage."

Spoiler

So close!

Both of your strategies are only a single choice away from one of the many possible solutions.

Hint

Look at the final stats. Maybe something could be done there.