This is a bit of a geeky post, but then this is a geeky computer blog, so … so be it. Regular readers of this blog will know that I’m a fan of Nethack, and have been playing it on and off for over fifteen years (mostly off, but recently I’ve rediscovered it again). Well, finally, after all this time, I can say the following:

Goodbye marcw the Demigod...

You went to your reward with 5941448 points,
The Book of the Dead (worth 10000 zorkmids and 25000 points)
Vorpal Blade (worth 4000 zorkmids and 10000 points)
The Heart of Ahriman (worth 2500 zorkmids and 6250 points)
The Bell of Opening (worth 5000 zorkmids and 12500 points)
The Candelabrum of Invocation (worth 5000 zorkmids and 12500 points)
       8 emeralds (worth 20000 zorkmids),
       2 diamonds (worth 8000 zorkmids),
       2 rubies (worth 7000 zorkmids),
       1 amulet of ESP (worth 150 zorkmids),
       1 amulet of unchanging (worth 150 zorkmids),
and 2497 pieces of gold, after 93897 moves.
You were level 22 with a maximum of 95 hit points when you ascended.

 No  Points     Name                                                   Hp [max]
  1    5941448  marcw-Bar-Hum-Mal-Neu ascended to demigod-hood.        95  [95]
  2    2623722  marcw-Val-Hum-Fem-Neu died on the Plane of Fire.
                Dissolved in molten lava (with the Amulet).           129 [287]
  3    1330849  marcw-Val-Hum-Fem-Neu choked on her food in Gehennom
                on level 33.  Choked on a disenchanter corpse.        248 [248]

Interestingly, I almost always play Valkyries, but decided to try Barbarians for a couple of games. The first game, I made it all the way down to level 24 without finding a single altar (except for a non-aligned one in the mines with a nasty priest next to it) before an Arch-Lich and Titan finished me off. The second game was this one. Most of the rest of the time, I do embarrassing things like choke on things or eat something I shouldn’t have. Need to be more careful, I suppose.

Well, that’s all there is to this post, but it’s exciting news for me. I’m still playing, and now trying other classes (read: dying a lot).

You turn the corner, walk to the end of the hall, and open the door. Inside, a giant orange “D” rears its ugly head to attack. You panic and kick the dog! (Argh! You didn’t mean to do that!) It yelps at you, but still attacks the dastardly beast on your behalf. Your sword is useless, and you are gravely wounded.

You have only one option left – that scroll that you found lying in the pile of dust in that last room. You’re not sure what it is, but you’re running out of time and it may just save your neck. You read it and …

All your armour falls off and turns into dust. The orange “D” proceeds to eat you for breakfast. Game over.