Release: Escape from the Master's Lair Alpha 0.4! (initial release)

[Kevin Wells]

I am happy to announce the very first public release of Escape from the Master's Lair for Windows and Linux. Downloads, forums, etc. can be found on the game's official site here:

http://cheeseandbacon.org/escape/

If you just want to download the game, or check out the source via Mercurial, you can go straight to the Google Code page located here:

http://code.google.com/p/escape-from-the-masters-lair/

As I said, this is the very first public release of the game. It is still considered alpha, although it is essentially feature-complete. This started as a 7DRL, which failed miserably, but I continued developing it, and I now feel that it is ready for the world.

This is my first (completed) roguelike, and any feedback, questions, comments, bug reports, complaints, etc. are welcome and encouraged!

The game is rather simple, but is a complete game with options, highscores, a game log, save files, etc. It features a template system for creating creature races and items.

A word of warning: the balance is still quite rough, but the game is playable, and I think pretty fun!

Some nice features:

* The player and monsters can all be any race in the game.
* Games can be saved and loaded using bzip2 compression.
* A decent variety of dungeon levels: circular and rectangular rooms, caves, big open rooms, levels full of water, levels full of lava, and the very rare frozen level.
* A full experience system, with attributes, skills, and leveling.
* All creatures (the player and monsters alike) are governed by the same rules (more or less).
* A thirst system, with the need to keep finding water to survive. Water can be found in water bottles and fountains scattered throughout the Lair.
* A lighting system, using libfov. Be wary when your lantern goes out, for terrifying dark spawn and grues will spawn rapidly all around you. If you do get surrounded by such awful beasts, turn on a light, and watch them burn up!
* Rudimentary monster AI. Monsters can wander about, chase and attack the player with melee, flee the player when dying, heal themselves (with potions or just by resting in a safe place), and drink water to stay alive.
* Collect enough Runestones and escape the Lair of Loathing alive!