Gauntlet
| An elaborate complex designed to lure foolhardy adventurers seeking riches and glory. Those who enter must choose a path through several combat arenas, each of which contains treasure guarded by dangerous and sometimes exotic creatures. At the end awaits a fearsome minotaur guarding a large hoard of loot taken from the bodies of foolish adventurers.
Beware that powerful magic prevents long-range teleports in Gauntlets. What's worse, some of these complexes offer only one exit...in the minotaur's lair. |
The Gauntlet is a portal branch consisting of a series of small arenas with monsters and various loot items linked by transporters, where the player has a choice of some sort in which path through the arenas they would like to take, and culminating in a fight with the minotaur. It will replace the Labyrinth branch in 0.23.
Layout
There are several different gauntlets which each have a similar layout, consisting of a series of 7x7 or 9x9 arenas which are each surrounded by transparent stone and only accessible through transporters. Each arena has a very specific set of a few monsters (usually of just one to three types) and a few items of loot, ranging from consumables to generic weapons to artefacts. Arenas come in two difficulties, with the last arena in a series often being of the more difficult type, and offering better loot. There is always some choice involved in which path through the arenas you wish to take—this choice may be made before taking on the first arena in some vaults, or after each arena in others.
All paths through the arenas eventually lead to a final area with a minotaur guarding the escape hatch out of the gauntlet and another pile of loot. In addition to this exit guarded by the minotaur, there is also an exit that can be found in the starting area before taking any transporters.
Teleport suppression
All forms of teleportation, including the ring of teleportation, the teleportitis mutation, scrolls of teleportation, and the Teleport Other spell, are suppressed in gauntlets. This is to prevent you from reaching arenas that are not on your chosen path, and getting their loot, as well as to prevent you from leaving via the exit in the initial starting area after having completed one or more of the arenas. All forms of blinking, including the scroll, both the Blink and Controlled Blink spells, and Passage of Golubria, function as normal. In addition to this, some arenas may contain dispersal traps.
Walkthrough
- After entering the portal to the gauntlet, you are placed in a large outside area in which you can see all of the arenas you can choose from and make your choice as to which path you wish to take. This large outside area also contains an escape hatch out of the gauntlet, which you can take if you decide that all paths through the gauntlet will be too difficult for you.
- Assuming you decide to press on through the gauntlet, you will now enter a transporter to take you to your first arena. At this point, there is no way out until you fight the minotaur.
- After having competed your first arena, you will take another transporter to an intermediary area, in which you may or may not be presented with a choice as to which arena you take next.
- This may continue up to a total of between 2 and 4 arenas, after which you will take a transporter to a final area with the minotaur.
- You must then fight the minotaur, or otherwise avoid him, in order to reach the escape hatch up (where you will find another pile of loot as well).
History
- Added in 0.23, replacing the Labyrinth.
