ToME Wiki
Greg Sweetman (Matryx)
Contents
Information
Alias:
Email:
<tomewiki AT SPAMFREE matryx DOT org DOT uk> Web:
Journal:
Location:
London {en}
Background
ToME Related
I started to play RogueLikes back in approximately 1994 when I got a coverdisk off a magazine with a copy of Moria on it.
I was hooked from the start. Delving down the dungeon, exploring an ever-changing game, was all I could have wanted out of a game at the time.
After months of play, I found UMoria (an improvement on Moria), and switched to that. I also found a copy of Rogue (and thus experienced the origin of all things RogueLike). Rogue was OK as a game in itself, but was (understandably) less enjoyable than the others I played.
Later I came across Angband and I celebrated. Graphics (albeit just redefining the letters on the screen) were available! Suddenly the game became infinitely more enjoyable.
Don't get me wrong, I can use ASCII, I just *far* prefer graphics when they are available.
For a year or so Angband was the business. It didn't matter what people said, that did it for me. And then I hit university.
Suddenly with the internet I was able to discover ZAngband, and I never looked back. Better graphics, sound effects, and wacky never ending discoveries!
As I grew older I eventually grew tired of ZAngband.
I felt distanced from the gameplay of Moria, there was a lack of a sense of achievement, and it was then I ran into PernAngband.
I have been a fan of Anne McCaffrey's books since my GCSEs, when I used to read them as relief between studies, and to find a game which not only combined the game I love, but also the books I loved was surreal. Sadly, representatives from her estate and UbiSoft pressured DarkGod into renaming the game and changing the theme.
It is now several years later. The game has changed and evolved into ToME, but it is still my favourite.
I have been playing variants of this game for over 10 years, and have never won a single one! Not that that would dishearten me or stop me playing. 
Rest of Me
I am a 23 year old Human Male living in the English City of London. (Just in case anyone claims I'm a yeek or otherwise)
I work for a company called DotZinc ltd., where I do database work, web programming, server administration, and a whole slew of other activities.
In my spare time I like to spend time in the company of my better half, or failing that I play games.
As I child, I had an active imagination, and a passion for games of make believe. I remember being about 8 or 9 years old and finding a game tucked at the back of the attic called Dungeons and Dragons. Swords, sorcery, deception, dragons. It was all so much fun!
I grew up in a rural(ish) area, and went to an all boys grammar school for far too long. During my time at the school I studied Maths, Computer Science, and Economics (once past the vagueries that are GCSE subjects and below), and from then it was clear what I wanted to do at university.
Socially, I used to hang out with the geeks at the school. Role-players, computer nerds, collectable gamers... You name it, they all stayed within the same sort of circle.
After I left school, I went on and studied Computer Science at Exeter University, where I obtained a 2.1 BSc for my efforts.
In other news, I have a perpetual hunger which seems to be never satiated. In fact, I'm hungry again right now ![:\](/wiki/tome/img/ohwell.png ":\"){kind=small}
Characters
Winners
- None
Currently Alive
Ederemond the (Level 24) Female Wood Elf Ranger of Yavanna. Just starting the Orc Caves.
Currently surviving by using a self enchanted Longbow for attack, and using Phase Door to escape or Yavanna's grass based regeneration.
Stole a nice Mage Staff of Power (+9) from the Black Market which boosts her spell abilities nicely.
Recent Dead
- None
Ideas
- None
Tips and Tricks (Spoilers)
Archer
As my archers develop, I tend to keep my ammo out of my quiver.
Yes, as a result I lose some flexibility in terms of a lost equipment slot, and thus less space = less options. But on the other hand, I can then set up several macros for the ammo I have with me.
I inscribe plain arrows (magical plusses only) with '@f1' and set up a macro for F1 for 'f1*t'. Then, special arrows can take other slots, with corresponding F-keys, typically F2 being for explosives and F3 being for a powerful generic strike.
I can also be ready for more events this way, without having to chop and change my arrows to suit the situation spending potentially valuable turns shuffling my equipment.As my cash starts to run plentifully, I spend lots of my money on Enchant Weapon To Hit and Enchant Weapon To Dam scrolls.
It is not very well known that these scrolls can enchant above (+10,+10) but the chance is just vastly reduced when you reach that point. My current archer has a (+11,+12) Longbow, but I have had one in the past reach (+15,+12) after many many scrolls.
Typically this can suffice until a good artifact presents itself, or can even be used to bolster an OK but not very powerful artifact to a useful level.
Sentient Weapons
As with most weapons I use, I try to enchant them up with scrolls of Enchant Weapon To Hit and Enchant Weapon To Dam.
I tend to do this on sentient weapons before I level them. Every little helps, and the weapons gain plusses by themselves as they level up. If you enchant it up first, then it can reach higher overall... at least that's my theory.
Links
ToME Related
http://angband.oook.cz - Home of the *band ladder.
http://thangorodrim.angband.org - *band resource website.
http://www.t-o-m-e.net - Homepage of ToME.
Similar
- None
Other
- None
Chatter
SoulWynd: Yep! Nice tip on the sentient weapons. Been a while since I last played a char who depended on weapons but I will test your tip as soon as I can.
MayLith: That's an oldie but a goodie. (Good job on the page, Greg!) I like the archery ideas; I want to try a pure archer soon.
GregSweetman: Thanks MayLith! (I like to keep things organised!) I'll point out again that I've never won a game yet, so take my 'tips' with a pinch of the proverbial SoulWynd: Bear in mind, it took me many thousands of scrolls to enchant that one item up to +15, and that was only on one side! The percentages when you get that high must be ridiculously small.
MayLith: Welcome. Well, I've never won a game either, yet -- though I think *knocks on wood* I may be sitting on a winner, here -- so you are in good company. 
Regarding that enchantment, when I played Moria on the VAX a jillion years ago, I'd regularly bump a dagger up above +10,+10, and I know exactly what you mean.
BTW, Greg, can I officially volunteer you for doc help, seeing as you're helping already?
GregSweetman: You can The reason I hadn't volunteered was that my free time is, um, sporadic But if that isn't a problem then by all means make it official
MayLith: Thank you. My free time is sporadic, too. I just want to minimize chaos here, whatever Neil might say. Have a look on the bottom of my wiki page for introductory info.
GregSweetman: I had already noticed that. I'll get down to reading it in a minute
I'm beginning to wonder if Sauron made a forum when he made that ring.
And it was administered by elves, the fairest of all races, the dwarves were moderators, and the rank of newbie was given to men who above all else desire power.
-- Quote from my friend.