Completed Let's Play Doom RL: RNG busting edition

[Renegen]

update 28: Hell lvl 3, vault 13

Spoiler

music

Let us access the vaults, its riches shall be ours!

This map is finally perfect for the shotgun. Let's corner shoot the dangerous enemies.

Oh... shit. We get a less than perfect start. A hell baron has us in range and there aren't many places to hide.

The other problem we have is that we dropped the shotgun ammo. Not the first time our crowded inventory skipped the ammo, is it. Without the shotgun, yeah, things won't go down easy.

Somehow I get in place without getting hit, I will use melee.

Spoiler alert: it's all downhill from here.

A new baron of hell, if only we had weapons to handle him.

Another cute one is ready for the ambush.

Going for melee, let's try the dodge.

It's not working. He hits once and we lose 24%.

The situation is this: we have no armor at all vs plasma, and we have no weapons except a slow recharging plasma rifle and melee.

And as for our enemies, they are everywhere.

I wait for melee on this guy. Oops. The company shows itself. There's really no choice, I have to kill him when I have a chance at short range.

Once the arachnotron closes in, he dies easily.

But they like to keep their distance for some reason. I use medpack #1.

When the enemies present themselves to me, it's better, but that's after they ambushed me in open ground.

We must be advancing because the ambushes are now from the next vault area.

The problem with a full plasma clip is it does nothing at all, the melee is still needed to finish them off.

We've been reduced to running around like crazy hoping to get in melee range of some enemies.

I wonder if I'll ever meet an enemy that does fire damage. This is starting to piss me off. There's as many hell barons and arachnotrons as two or three Walls & Spider Lairs.

Hey two more...

Switching from ranged to melee is a slow process, you first have to go through the inventory and equip the new weapon. At all times the Butcher's Cleaver must be equipped in the other hand after all.

And then the fuckers are not aggroed and you have to switch back to ranged, wait for some reload, hope it all goes smoothly...

And before it's all over, you have to get back doing it all over again. I think it's as unnerving as surviving a bombing raid.

No more running, we're sallying forward. CHARGE!

That worked surprisingly well.

This area, thank God, has a shotgun shell box. We'll get to switch to the shotgun finally.

I've never taken those teleporters, you?

Oh fuck, ambushed again. The shotgun can't do it all.

We get a level up, surprise. I'm kind of pressured because I don't know what special item the vault will hold, so I'm not sure what to take. Whizkid lvl 2 it is, I hope it will actually get used.

So we more forward, same old, same old.

How did I get ambushed so bad there?

I don't want to use a medpack.

Shotgun is now getting some use.

We should be safe here.

Wtf? How did that happen. I don't see even my ambusher. Ok, you won. I'll use medpack # 2.

Life is just unfair.

Ah, the shotgun is finally in a position it can be used.

They both die without putting me in danger as they should. I love you shotty, I shall never let you go. And now our hard earned treasure.

The vault (pardon the screenshot) holds....NOTHING. No exotic, no unique, nothing.

Fuck you Vault, fuck you hard.

Final Grade: D+
We got fucked, that much was clear. At least we didn't die, the Vault is known for that.

 

[Damned Registrations]

Yeah, I usually skip the vault. If I'm not trying for an ass kicking marine I'll poke my head in, and if I get a message for a unique, and my equipment could stand to be improved, and I have a ton of consumables, then I'll try to clear it. But 9 times out of 10 it's not worth the trouble. Hard enemies, awful layout, loot easily destroyed by you or the barons. Easily the worst special level.

 

[Destroid]

Next difficulty up it's nothing but Mancubi and Revenants.

 

[Azira]

I actually love the vaults. Haven't died there yet. Died plenty to other levels, especially the mortuary. But the vaults? Nope. Probably because I play on normal difficulty?
Then again, I love my shotguns so much that I make sure to always have ammo for them.

 

[Occasionally Fatal]

Fuck you Vault, fuck you hard.

 

[Destroid]

.

Your illustrations are good and you should do more of them.

 

[Destroid]

I actually love the vaults. Haven't died there yet. Died plenty to other levels, especially the mortuary. But the vaults? Nope. Probably because I play on normal difficulty?
Then again, I love my shotguns so much that I make sure to always have ammo for them.

It just depends on if your build can handle the monsters. First time I went in there with a plasma build and wasn't touched, the next time I got raped to an early grave in the first room, melee is very poor vs mancubi and revenants.

 

[Azira]

I hate mancubi. And I love intuition.

Had a nice techie run aiming for scavenger (since intuition is a prerequisite there) but got raped at the wall, due to stupidly punching the final hole while 5 hell barons were just on the other side. Clusterfuck ensued, techie was raped.

When I get to the vaults, I usually have a trusty shotgun and some backup weapons. Careful positioning and intuition really helps. Not having intuition (for my AoM and AoSh builds) made it more nervewracking. Especially when I play at work, since I have sound turned off..
Without intuition, you really need those auditory clues to where the monsters are.

 

[Renegen]

Next difficulty up it's nothing but Mancubi and Revenants.

I kinda got that idea. This is one level that would be that much easier with my build, I mean really, you have Malicious Blades and Fire Angel against fire attacks but you have nothing against plasma.

 

[Damned Registrations]

Hell barons are actually acid damage, not plasma. But you're fucked there too I think.

 

[Renegen]

update 29: Hell lvl 4, so close to the end

Spoiler

music

new level, same enemies.

The RNG had good strategy but bad execution, we were in the grace period.

It must've felt bad about the last level because a large medpack is available. Oh shit, large medpack? Why did I leave it behind.

Our inventory is a bit changed, we now have a lot of power cells and I'll drop one of those.

Yikes.

This time we have the shotgun ammo for them.

I'm beginning to think this is an arachnotron-only level. It's kind of weird after having a mancubus-only level earlier.

The level with its distinctive single blocks definitively feels like a 1 monster level. It's good too since it means another hell level with no ambushes and a lava barrel next to us.

Items are shit as in all 1 monster levels.

Proceeding forward, it seems very quiet, no enemy in sight. The only parts we haven't exploded involve crossing lava, I really don't want to get ambushed in those places.

Here goes nothing...

And nothing happens. The Mortuary is close though, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.

Everything is wonderful and... arffg we get hit hard by an arachnotron standing in the corner.

They need more than 1 rocket to kill, I feel instantly transporter to the spider lair where each of them ambushed me. I didn't learn a thing.

That was lame. 5 arachnotrons, though I managed to lose 34% life.

The rest of the level is shit of course.

And we face the mortuary. I don't really have a plan except I want to save the medpacks for now. We should get hit 1-2 times very quickly and then use a medpack and depending how our armor goes we may use the onyx pack on the fireproof armor. Wish me luck.

Final Grade: C
Because I suck vs arachnotrons

 

[Damned Registrations]

Mortuary next huh...

should be interesting

 

[Occasionally Fatal]

I feel your arachnotron pain.

And we face the mortuary. I don't really have a plan

Hopefully you'll think of something. What's funny is I cleared the mortuary the first time I beat the game, but somehow it was largely uneventful. Went back in on a AoM run, remembering it not being a big deal. Long story short, killed all but 2 of the arch viles, but took way too long and the entire screen turned into monsters. Turns were taking like 10 seconds as all the monsters fired. At least they hurt themselves, too, but that was small consolation for my gibbed corpse.

 

[Renegen]

We'll be meeting our very first arch-vile, hell has been good to us.

 

[Renegen]

update 30: Hell lvl 4, to Hell and back

Spoiler

music

And it starts. First thing that surprised me is how tiny the area we start is in. The good part is that we have Supercharge globes right nearby.

Where did this arch-vile appear from? Well it's perfect, we'll kill him in the grace period.

The arch-viles don't obey grace periods apparently because I was reduced to 18% health and had to run from melee like a little girl straight to the globe for some health.

K good start, let's put on the fireproof armor and equip our spear and charge ahead.
I feel good.

We go straight for the NE corner, as you should always do. It is deserted, very anticlimatic. Maybe our difficulty level will make this an easy level.

The whole eastern side is deserted, wow.

We have made contact with the enemy! Proceed to use our nuclear stockpiles.

Erm, situation is deteriorating, ready BFG 9000.

The enemy was eliminated. We return for a supercharge globe. READY FOR A NEW ATTACK YEAH.

Our nuclear arsenal is limitless, but so does appear the enemy.

Wait a minute, we haven't used our secret weapon, the hatred skull.

We must've eaten over 15 corpses, CHARGE.

The enemy is limitless, but we must press on.

Our objective are their generals, the arch-viles.

We have failed to locate them and stage a strategic retreat. Let's take off our fireproof armor to save it and counter attack!

Shit doesn't go so well anymore, even with 15-20+ monsters killed, their firepower is overwhelming.

We shall make another strategic retreat, but before we do, let's raid their supplies and take these plasma cells, they will help our reserves.

I attempt to use the onyx pack on our fireproof armor, guess what, it doesn't work. Whizkid 2 is completely useless, it lied about modifying assembled items! This retreat is now going to be a bit more disorganized.

Back to our stronghold. The last supercharge globe is used, we will hold nothing back this time.

Arachnotrons continue to pester us. I favor BFGs whenever I can to destroy the corpses.

Unfortunately that thing takes forever to reload. We use shotguns and rocket launchers to dispose of these individual monsters.

Arachnotrons hiding in the middle. Here I take the terrible decision to use the BFG 9000 on them, there's no other weapon that's as good really to hurt these long range assassins.

The central cover has been blown. We are doing quite well with the missile launcher.

An arch-vile!

Strategic retreat.

Take that arch-vile, eat this!

What a fight, let's have our nuclear BFG reload, we need it.

These lone arachnotrons are really pissing me off. The plasma rifle is almost useless against them and they are too fast for me, so BFGs is the only way to do a lot of damage in a short amount of time.

Arch-vile #3 has been spotted! Medpack #1 has also been used.

Arachnotrons guard the arch vile. The missile launcher was great but we're out of ammo.

Two last shots actually. We must retreat to constantly avoid their fire.

Mother of god. Did I say that we're out of conventional BFG 9000 ammo? We are out of conventional BFG 9000 ammo.

Strategic retreat back to base.

We shall hide behind cover and pop spiders with our shotgun, then the counter attack!

Whenever hell barons are close, we must equip back the Longinus Spear + Butcher's Clear, war is hell.

The plan works pretty well, our two strongest weapons are melee and shotgun.

Unfortunately, we are now out of shotgun ammo. Supplies are dangerously low.

A sortie to collect the plasma cells doesn't work so well. Back to our trenches and switching to melee, groan.

It looks like we must play defensively like in the Vaults. Ah, the Vaults, sweet memories compared to this.

All we have left for our counter attacks are the nuclear weapons.

I am even forced into the business of using a plasma rifles on hell barons in open ground.

Another medpack used, I hope it's all over soon...

Our supplies are so critical, anything that works for the moment is encouraged.

Melee in wide open terain doesn't work vs arachnotrons however, they are too fast.

I was going to save our last bullets for myself, but it seems we must throw everything we've got at the enemy. They are never ending, where are those damn arch viles.

Oh thank god, ammo!

We get ambushed by arachnotrons again, they are as regular as the shells of artillery.

Precious BFG ammo must be consumed, for the final victory!

Bloody and dispirited, we finally meet our arch-vile.

We must throw it all!

Fuck I must run away.

This battle shall be my graveyard, it just doesn't end and we are already spent.

Ammo, and an arch-vile! Another one.

Fire resistance would help here.

Two of them, luckily the plasma rifle doesn't fail me.

I have nothing left. No way will I destroy the ammo with a BFG, let's deliver the coup de grace!

I should've gone melee, it never comes.

What is that, 3 more medpacks? I have failed my sanity check so I don't even care anymore.

Four now as the demon surprises us.

We kill a hell baron with a BFG shot and luckily he has a fresh medpack for us.

Nothing but arachnotrons after arachnotrons. My flame is extinguished but I cannot look back, I must venture deeper.

We use our last medpack...

A miracle...? Is it over, it's all over.

Armor shards for our armor! a supercharge globe for the next level! It must be a sign from up above.

In my joy, I almost forget about the Angelic armor.

Onyx pack doesn't work on it unfortunately. Here is the final inventory. For the next levels, we are at the RNG's mercy. With no health packs, it's all but over.

Final Grade: C+
We survived, I don't know how but we survived, we extended all our energy reserves and we made it, just barely.

poll: blood soaked edition
Ok so I still have an onyx pack and how we use it may determine if this LP ends in a morbid way or if we make it. Should we,
1. Use the pack on the bullet-proof armor, knowing the angelic armor as good as it is won't resist many bursts from the spider mastermind.
2. Use the pack on our boots as Azira suggested which currently contains a technical pack. We will also cheat a little because Whizkid 2 is fucking useless, fuck it and tell me which one of the bulk or power pack I also have to add to the onyx pack to get our killer boots
3. Use the pack on the red armor to get protection in the levels leading up to the spider mastermind.

 

[lightbane]

Whoa, that was truly a bloodbath. Guts approves.

I say 2.

 

[Damned Registrations]

You're underestimating the angelic armor. Equip it, with the longinus blade in your offhand. Do not take that shit off unless it gets to like 25%, which will probably never happen.

 

[Azira]

Onyx pack and boots:

Spoiler

Tech mod pack and onyx mod pack on boots makes you some nifty lava boots that give 100% fire resistance.. You'd have liked to have known that, wouldn't you?
Very handy as you'll not encounter much acid anymore, and being immune to damaging floor tiles is huge.

I agree with DR. Longinus spear and Angelic Armor ftw.

 

[Occasionally Fatal]

This is where the real DoomRL begins.

 

[Renegen]

This is where the real DoomRL begins.

I'm afraid I'm not that good. We're probably not going to make it unless the RNG takes pity. Having a Malicious Blades build when the difficulty doesn't throw any mancubus or revenant at you also has something to do with it.

Here's the things I learned about doing the Mortuary:
- I got incredibly unlucky by having all the monsters on the left side. Usually you have a less dense pack of monsters on both the right side and the left side. If one side is empty, you are in serious trouble, might want to just bail out of there.
- You need tons of ammo no matter what, I didn't have that.
- Intuition is valuable here to reduce ambushes.
- So is speed and dodging. We also would've died if I wasn't a tech and could heal instantly.
- use any cover and don't blow it up.
- Shotguns are useful around cover. Shotguns are good enough to do the whole level, but you'd need 300+ shells.
- Rockets are great vs everyone, but their ammo will probably be in short supply.
- You must have a long range weapon that's very precise and very deadly.
- And of course, when you're surrounded, pull the BFG.
- And for defense, have well-rounded resistances.
- TWO, not one hatred skulls make this much easier.
- The trick is to reduce attrition damage, and take it slow, a bit like a much much more difficult Chained Court.

 

[Renegen]

update 31: Hell lvl 5, one shell at a time

Spoiler

music

The second dungeon starts now, we are ready.

First things first, we assemble the lava boots. For a moment I thought this was an advanced assembly, but a puny basic assembly isn't much metagaming.

The level so far is ok, big open areas, not a lot of lava. We won't pull the switch of course.

Enemies. And we're going back to basics, I will blind fire everywhere with the shotgun.

Er, an arch-vile. What a difference cover and good positioning makes, we should win this.

I try to make sure I don't actually fire on the lava barrels. All those shotgun shells look very nice just about now and I don't want them gone.

Woot. No hits taken.

My blind fire still reveals scream of pains however, so I keep firing. This is getting messy.

What could there be here to have so many enemies? I should also love those barrels out of the way.

A second arch-vile is near. Better be careful.

We're too slow to evade his fire. Ammo was destroyed too, grrr.

Bah, cover is your best friend. More important than a good weapon or a good build. It's a nice contrast to the previous level, it makes you think where your priorities should lie.

Still blindfiring.

Alright! a Superglobe for the next level. That's like a free medpack, if only we had a medpack...

All that remained was a former that needed 6+ shots to die.

There's an armor shard lying around. With it, we'll be back to 100% like nothing ever happened.

Ok, so how about we use our mods? I'd rather not keep them forever given our situation.

On the previous level we had found a second assault shotgun. We upgrade it with the bulk and power mod for a little kick.

The plasma rifle finally gets the accuracy upgrade.

Final inventory. This went rather well, I hope the next level is as easy.

Final Grade: B
One level at a time. We went back to basics and it worked wonderfully.

 

[procrastinator]

Why are these RL LPs always so fascinating?

 

[Occasionally Fatal]

So much blood. Are you planning on doing the lava pits?

 

[Azira]

Lava pits should be easy with the nuclear plasma rifle and lava boots.

 

[Damned Registrations]

Almost level 12 too. You should be able to pick up a very nice trait there if you've been playing your cards right.