POWDER

By: Derek Yu

On: April 21st, 2008

POWDER‘s been around for quite a while, but I noticed it just hit version 1.0 this year, so I took it for a spin (it’s currently at version 1.04)! The developer, Jeff Lait, created it so he could have a roguelike to play on his Gameboy Advance, and primitive versions of the game were only available for that platform. Now, however, you can also play the game on Windows, Macintosh, Linux, DS, and even PSP!

POWDER is a graphical roguelike, and it’s much smaller in scope than most games in the genre (which typically try to throw the proverbial or literal kitchen sink in there). The game also includes a mouse-driven interface and a tutorial that walks you through the basics, so I’d recommend it readily to beginners… and to veterans of the genre, too! If you’re looking for some lighter fare (or something to play on the go). It’s quite fun.

But be warned… there’s no diagonal movement!

(Source: Slashie, via Rogue Temple)

Posted in Freeware, Highly Recommended, Linux, Macintosh, Mobile / Handheld, Roguelikes, Windows | Tags: JeffLait

First Post Getter

It is I. First agains.

Better than youse whose all not firsts!
Xotes

Correction, there is no diagonal movement EXCEPT FOR GRID BUGS!!!
FishyBoy

I remember having this on my DS, before I lost the card. :( It was good fun, and it was probably my first roguelike.
gnawingonfoot

This is the only roguelike that I was really able to get into right away. It’s very user-friendly and very intuitive, and to say that it is a good RL for beginners is almost an understatement. In my opinion there is no better RL out there for them to start with.
crukid

Best roguelike for the DS, hands down. I don’t know how it is other platforms, but Powder is a fantastic bit of fun. I especially like the random books you receive at the beginning of the game that determine your skills and what not. The new tileset is awesome so the game really looks great. The interface is very user friendly and easy to navigate. Good save system, easy to get into. Try it!
sinoth

Great game. Veterans and beginners to the roguelike genre should give POWDER a shot. Also, the developer is extremely active on the rgrd newsgroup, which is always good :)
omicron1

You’re forgetting Nethack for DS, crukid. While this may be easy, it doesn’t nearly beat the variety Nethack offers…
http://www.auntiepixelante.com auntie

crawl’s on the ds too. but there’s a notable difference between a game that’s been ported to a platform and one that was designed for won. given the choice, i’ll usually play the latter.
paxromana

While you get random spell and skill books every time you start a new character, they’re more often than not mismatched with your starting gear, which is infuriating after a while. I’d really like to be able to play the sort of character I want right off the bat.
MisterX

Just this week I am going to get my flash cart and some memory for my brand-new DS and this game is definitely on the list :)

Apart from Linley’s Dungeon Crawl (Dungeon Crawl DS) there is also a DS port of Nethack (called Nethack DS, duh!), by the way. Those 3 games are definitely going to be on my DS and hopefully stay there.
Xion

I love this game. I used to be gamist against RLs, but I found this about a month ago and can’t stop. This is a gateway game. It’s drawn me to other RLs.

And I’ve still made it no deeper than floor 5. Hard as hell.

But awesome.
PaperHearts

@Pasta Why don’t you just try some you friggin idiot. Let’s see you make one then we can see who’s laughing. When you make a game and we call it good then you can laugh at them if not SHUT THE HELL UP!

Moving on

This game is awesome! Finally some good homebrew games on the PSP!!! If anyone else knows any other good games on the PSP lemme know! Thx in advance. STFU PASTA
Oob

Please ignore the troll.
http://0xdeadc0de.org Eclipse

Indie games are for people with a brain, not your materia, Pasta.

anyway, this RL is awesome! too bad it have no sound (at least on the gba version)

It’s also written in SDL and have a linux version, so i think it can be ported on GP2X too… also if i’m playing it already on gp2x using the gba emulator would be cool having a non-emulated version that fits better the resolution and maybe with touchscreen support too like the DS one
Lim-Dul

Hell yeah! This game is awesome! I heard people say that it is far too simplistic for a “real” RL and that NetHackDS is better BUT I think this is not the case. It just goes to show that you can make enjoyable RLs with simpler mechanics.
I’m saying that as a RL veteran who finished Angband on an Atari ST with a mad Half-Orc who enjoyed zapping rods and wands more than fighting. :-D
shinygerbil

No diagonal? How will I dance around pillars now? D:

I’m gonna try this when I get home, I’m looking forward to it! :)
haowan

this is good for a go. gonna put it on my psp :D
Rich

This game is all kinds of fun. My first roguelike and I’m loving it! Wish it had music/sound.
c12p5

I’ve tried Nethack on the DS, and I found it nearly impossible to play. The font and graphics were not adapted to the resolution of the screens, so everything is tiny and hard to see.

“Is that a door, or a homunculus? AAAGH! Kill it! Kill it!”
Lim-Dul

*This game is all kinds of fun. My first roguelike and Iâ€™m loving it! Wish it had music/sound.*

He, he – spoiled bastard. :-D

The whole point of RLs is NOT having sound and in many cases not even graphics although nowadays graphical tilesets are very popular. Usually I play RLs in ASCII mode only (leaves much more to the imagination) but in POWDER’s case the default tileset is really sweet and I don’t want to strain my eyes on the DS. ^^
haowan

Dude not having sound is not the point of a roguelike. As time goes by the definition of a roguelike is getting wider and wider – just look at all the commercial roguelikes on the DS (Shiren the Wanderer was even on the SNES, right?).

In the past I’ve argued that DF doesn’t need a graphical tileset – I stand by this because I think that it would look really confusing with individual graphics for things, and also because the development of the game might be arrested by working on a system for this. But I’ve got no problem with people trying to make roguelike games with at least some of the modern conveniences we have available to us now.
rainnuo

http://www.gmlvl.com provides professional leveling and cheap WOW gold.
http://www.gmlvl.com
Lim-Dul

Well – I’m an old-schooler when it comes to RLs (see my beating Angband on the Atari ST ;-) but I agree that *some* RLs are nicer with tilesets and/or sounds. Nevertheless the holy grail of RLs for me is still Adom and I would HATE to see it spoiled with graphics and sounds. I get very attached to all my ASCII heroes because I can imagine what they look like etc. myself. When I see a graphical representation of them the immersion is spoiled for me…

By the way: I’m close to beating POWDER. I utterly rock with my pure fighter. A char dump for all those interested (sorry for the huge-ass post – nobody commented on the game for some time anyway so it probably won’t hurt =):

POWDER 104
NDS Version
Name: Lim-Dul
————————————————————————
Physical: 156/31 (max 156)
Mental: 21/0 (max 21)
AC: 56
X: 546
Depth: 19
22538 moves over 3h17m2s
————————————————————————
Intrinsics:
+ Fast
+ Quick
————————————————————————
Spells:
+ Heal
————————————————————————
Skills:
+ Dodge
+ Moving Target
+ Search
+ Evade Traps
+ Endure Hunger
+ Butchery
+ Clean Kill
+ Charge
+ Leap Attack
+ Helmets
+ Shields
+ Body Armour
+ Boots
+ Cloth Armour
+ Leather Armour
+ Iron Armour
+ Exotic Armour
+ Small Weapons
+ Medium Weapons
+ Large Weapons
+ Ranged Weapons
+ Edged Attacks
+ Blunt Attacks
+ Pointed Attacks
+ Bleeding Wounds
+ Disarm
+ Impale
+ True Aim
+ Riposte
+ Parry
+ Knockback
————————————————————————
Equipped Items:
– +4 Iron helm on head.
– Amulet of reflection around neck.
– Holy +2 short sword Omazub in right hand.
– +3 Tower shield in left hand.
– Plate mail Zubtreewang over body.
– Ring of cold resistance on right finger.
– Ring of acid resistance on left finger.
– +1 Iron shoes on feet.
————————————————————————
Artifacts:
The holy +2 short sword Omazub
This artifact grants poison resistance, armour 3.
Melee: 2d3+3 (death), 1d6 (physical)
Thrown 2: 1d2[-2] (physical)

The knife Bazbaz
This artifact grants shock resistance.
Melee: 1d4[+1] (cold), 1d3[+1] (physical)
Thrown 6: 2d3+3[+4] (physical), 1d3+2[+3] (physical)

The warhammer Treetreyorc
This artifact grants regeneration, light radius 2, armour 1.
Melee: 1d4 (light), 2d4+3 (physical)
Thrown 4: 3[-2] (physical)

The holy +7 silver sword Treebrask
This artifact grants cold resistance.
Melee: 2d5+1[+1] (fire), 1d8 (physical)
Thrown 2: 1d2[-2] (physical)

The holy +3 short sword Slugzub
This artifact grants sleep resistance, armour 1.
Melee: 2d7+3 (death), 1d6 (physical)
Thrown 2: 1d2[-2] (physical)

The potion of enlightenment Treyamy
This artifact grants light radius 2.
Melee: 1d2 (physical)
Thrown 4: 1d2 (physical)

The plate mail Zubtreewang
This artifact grants warning, light radius 3, armour 8.
Melee: 1d2 (physical)
Thrown 2: 1d2[-2] (physical)
————————————————————————
Inventory Items:
– Holy boots of water walking.
– Bottle of greek fire.
– Wand of create monster (2).
– Amulet of reflection.
– Evil potion of blindness.
– Holy iron shoes.
– Acid potion.
– Book of bashing (2).
– Holy wand of polymorph (1).
– Staff of death.
– 6 Silver spears.
– Utility staff.
– Holy +2 short sword Omazub.
– Wand of teleport (7).
– Wand of teleport (9).
– Knife Bazbaz.
– 2 +1 Spears.
– 2 Cure potions.
– Glowing y-rune.
– Warhammer Treetreyorc.
– Scroll of remove curse.
– Book of sharp points (5).
– Tower shield.
– Ring of teleportation.
– Jump boots.
– Holy fur-lined boots.
– +3 Tower shield.
– Holy +7 silver sword Treebrask.
– Wand of ice (6).
– 2 Potions of enlightenment.
– Holy cure potion.
– Ring of teleport control.
– Holy ring of regeneration.
– Holy +3 short sword Slugzub.
– Evil wand of sleep (4).
– Tome of acid (3).
– Wand of teleport (3).
– Ring of see invisible.
– +4 Iron helm.
– Wand of light (8).
– Holy wand of invisibility (3).
– Ring of acid resistance.
– Holy ring of invisibility.
– Wand of digging (2).
– Ring of polymorph control.
– Ring of searching.
– Ring of cold resistance.
– Evil smoke potion.
– Potion of enlightenment Treyamy.
– Boots of water walking.
– Heal potion.
– 2 Evil poison potions.
– Plate mail Zubtreewang.
– +1 Iron shoes.