So most of the idling-the-time-away-till-the-level-editor-is-released challenges that people have proposed have been along the lines of forgoing use of the fancy new equipment. No shield is the classic, but now, no armor has joined the list.

But what about going at it from another angle... exploiting the new items for all they're worth, in a desperate attempt to save your hide--all while not using rocks! :Rocks: (And, preferably, shield)

So rat and bat-stomping with the boots is encouraged. Swords, crossbows... and getting cross-bowed for that matter. I've done some exploration lately equipped with the sword and it seems to me that most levels are absolutely doable without rocks. Some new strategies are definitely required, though. (The only ones that spring to mind for certain that aren't are Gauntlet and Grand Staircase, since I know of no other way to pass the super-guards).

So, what do you think?

Attached is a really bad concept demo of Firewall 1-3. (missed the jump by a pixel!) It's not very good, or exciting, just shows the concept. Incidentally, in my earlier runs on firewall, before I went and figured out how to actually record, I was able to get up to the chains in Fireball 4, and try two combinations before the eyes combusted me. So definitely doable.

Well, never mind about my demo, it's 52k zipped, so it won't fit here.

The sword works on them too.

Use one of the free file uploading sites for demos over 30k. I suggest MediaFire because they don't have a limit on how long they keep your file uploaded.

OK, I finished the Firewall sequence. Switched from sword to crossbow helped a bit, though luck went my way more than anything. Four elixirs used [maybe the no-rock scoring mechanism?], no rocks. (Well ok, one rock... but it was an accident and I suicided that life!) There's some pretty pathetic deaths in this demo but I'm going to try some other levels rather than perfect this one. Unless someone does it better, at least.

Demo at: [EDIT, URL deleted. Get the demo below instead]

Notice on fireball 3 how the two mutants merged into one? That was quite helpful. Also, I feel like getting the fireball 4 combo on my first try is almost cheating...

That was a nice run, besides all the deaths. I have found jumping the broom easier if you jump when the handle is facing back.

Ok. I made a good version now, without any deaths or elixirs. Disregard the one above.

http://www.mediafire.com/?jgvbbrnp13a
Fireball 1-4, advanced. Just a hair over 120 seconds. No rocks. No elixirs. No shield. Not even any armor used. Crossbow only. It's actually pretty easy with a little practice.

Wow!! Cool!

I love this concept, and you made a really great run. Sure, you were a bit lucky with the chains, but that's how it's supposed to be.

I noticed that it takes some time to kill all four enemies on the level below, since you can only have one bolt in the air at a time. Therefore you need to have a few raft in front of you so that you can speed things up by long-jumping out, once the last mutant is dead. You timed it really well though.

Good job. I really like these runs!

OK, I did the other classic level sequence. Here's Shield 1-4 on advanced without :Rocks: rocks (or :Elixir: elixirs, or shield, or armor... crossbow only). Shield 3 and 4 are easy, as always, but the multitudinous mutants and vultures on 1 and 2 were a fun challenge without having rocks for defense or clearing paths.

http://www.mediafire.com/?e9xcuydrfts

This one could be faster, but it's very random what patterns you get, especially with the birds, so there's some thinking on my toes. I'm happy with it.

Speaking of random though, is this a known problem?: Once I quit the game and replay a Shield demo, the pattern of rats in Shield 3, and the staircase layout in Shield 4 will sometimes be different. This results in rat bites and, in the case of Shield 4, not climbing the stairs and finishing the level! Quiting and restarting DC3 usually gets me back to the patterns I recorded with. Hope a fix is planned for this in 1.3.

yes, it's a known bug unfortunately that the save files don't store enough information. So sometimes they just won't work - end of story. Also, no recordings made against 1.2 will work in 1.3 anyway... so don't go recording too many things!

That said, I suggested that before, because it seemed like the 1.3 patch was near. However given it still hasn't arrived, I guess we may have a few more months of 1.2 before it does.

I'm actually getting worried. We haven't heard from Zack in a month.