nethack - Wizard Of Yendor reached
For the 1st time, I have progressed in nethack to finally get to the level where the Wizard Of Yendor is!
Been playing, off and on, over the years, since about year 2005 or so. So, wow! and "yay, me!"
"Speak friend, and enter." -- The Hobbit
Was only able to get to this point, after learning via experience, and many permutations of attempts, and playing the session in explore mode. Only lately do I "see" that the entire game is a set of multi-variable keyhole functions:
If an Adventurer does not have a specific needed item(s), and know how to use/invoke them to get past a critical point, and abilit(y|ies) at certain points of the game, nethack seems designed to make it improbable the Adventurer can continue, even if in explore mode "-X."
At best, the Adventurer is blocked, and can retreat and continue to explore. At worst, will get stuck in a "die?(y/n)" loop, and be stuck.
Kobayashi Maru -- Star Trek
Conversely: If an Adventurer does know the set of items, ways to use/invoke, and has the needed abilit(y|ies) for a keyhole, the game remains easy.
...and...
