For the puzzle solution idea:
One must gather at least one longhuzu sphere and either a number of quantum cubes (with computer) or gems. Tan-Ru-Dorem will use its transport device to send you to any co-ordinates you wish relatively close to elysium and give you a transport device to get back. Longhuzu spheres would be needed to activate either transport device. Each of the other items gives you a clue as to the what to input to put in to the transport device to get to a second ring of gates. Thinking more specifically, you have area information and specific information (area code and phone number). Using number ideas (to think of a relative value):
Calligraphy scroll: General 15, Specific 2.
Gem of Sacrifice: General 20, Specific 20. (Ship damaged)
Gem of Contrition: General 0, Specific 10.
Gem of Despair: General 10, Specific 0.
knowledge cube: General 3, Specific 15.
Death cube: General 4, Specific 8.
Luminous Tame: General 0, Specific 4.
Luminous Scare: General 4, Specific 0.
Disable cube (or whatever its called): General 1, Specific 2.
Post Heretic ideas
Another idea for the puzzle solution is a gate in Elysium which leads you to another system similar to Elyisum: there are many gates in orbit around a star, all with random alien names. Each one of these gates leads to a system that is, except for the names, identical. Basically it a maze of twisty little stargates, all alike.
Without a map (which the player must find through some kind of plot thing) it is very unlikely that the player will ever find the right way by chance.
Without a map (which the player must find through some kind of plot thing) it is very unlikely that the player will ever find the right way by chance.
If it's to be a puzzle, why not actually make it one?
The idea is that if the player makes it to Elysium, docks at Tan-Ru-Dorem (dockscreen also having a Use Item command), and having the Calligraphy scroll (or perhaps a new scroll entirely) in the hold-use it to decipher those faint illuminated Hieroglyphics on the walls.
After using the scroll, a doorway opens up in the wall revealing a hidden room (new dockscreen), within it are 3 choices or words the player would need to jot down, type in only one choice word and see what happens. (think CSC wreck weapons vault idea here so as to not make the same repetitive word each game-randomize it)
One choice would undock and jump the player to Heretic, where they'd either have to fight or retreat and search for another scroll to open that hidden room and try again.
Another choice could shut Tan-Ru-Dorem down where only the Undock command remains and finally, the correct choice undocks the player and jumps her into the new system past Heretic.
Sound interesting?
The idea is that if the player makes it to Elysium, docks at Tan-Ru-Dorem (dockscreen also having a Use Item command), and having the Calligraphy scroll (or perhaps a new scroll entirely) in the hold-use it to decipher those faint illuminated Hieroglyphics on the walls.
After using the scroll, a doorway opens up in the wall revealing a hidden room (new dockscreen), within it are 3 choices or words the player would need to jot down, type in only one choice word and see what happens. (think CSC wreck weapons vault idea here so as to not make the same repetitive word each game-randomize it)
One choice would undock and jump the player to Heretic, where they'd either have to fight or retreat and search for another scroll to open that hidden room and try again.
Another choice could shut Tan-Ru-Dorem down where only the Undock command remains and finally, the correct choice undocks the player and jumps her into the new system past Heretic.
Sound interesting?
A little luck based? I don't see why your way is a puzzle.
The other ways suggested be easily made puzzlez. You can complete them any way you wish ranging from pure trial and error to determining the answer by attaining many partial clues.
For the co-ordinate teleport idea you have a map but the scale is unknown. As one gets more general info (say, every 5 points or so), the upper and lower x and y bounds of the map are incrementally revealed. As one gets more specific info (say, every 5 points or so), random points in the middle of said map are revealed, thus giving the player better ability to predict the actual co-ordinate. If the co-ordinate is a three digit number (the first digit being revealed almost entirely by general info), you could miss by around 5 and still be able to see a post-heretic gate.
For the stargate maze, one could collect sequences of gate travel steps (go through the first gate, then the third gate, then the fifth gate... and then have to figure out by either another set of hints or by trial and error what exactly is meant by "first" gate.
The other ways suggested be easily made puzzlez. You can complete them any way you wish ranging from pure trial and error to determining the answer by attaining many partial clues.
For the co-ordinate teleport idea you have a map but the scale is unknown. As one gets more general info (say, every 5 points or so), the upper and lower x and y bounds of the map are incrementally revealed. As one gets more specific info (say, every 5 points or so), random points in the middle of said map are revealed, thus giving the player better ability to predict the actual co-ordinate. If the co-ordinate is a three digit number (the first digit being revealed almost entirely by general info), you could miss by around 5 and still be able to see a post-heretic gate.
For the stargate maze, one could collect sequences of gate travel steps (go through the first gate, then the third gate, then the fifth gate... and then have to figure out by either another set of hints or by trial and error what exactly is meant by "first" gate.
Guess I should have elaborated a little more on what the puzzle would actually entail. That being, translating the hieroglyphics on the wall in order to open the doorway to the hidden room. Could use several methods for the puzzle-solving. And yes, the end result would be based on luck but that could depend on what the given words are.
I like your idea as well. Just throwing out more ideas to ponder on the theme.
I like your idea as well. Just throwing out more ideas to ponder on the theme.
- Fossaman
- Militia Captain
- Posts: 556
- Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2006 12:56 am
- Location: Traveling to the galactic core
I'm against having to find a specific item to solve it, personally. I think any method that can allow you to win the game should be plot-based and intentional.
There are no archaeologists in the game yet. This game needs archaeologists.
There are no archaeologists in the game yet. This game needs archaeologists.

X-ray laser! Pew, pew pew!
> = = = = ۞
> = = = = ۞
Finding an item is fine, as long as you are likely to find it like longhuzu spheres and the QAC in previous versions. Cubes and gems are easy to find. This is grounded in the mysterious station Tan-Ru-Dorem. The plot is to go to the galactic core, it says nothing about the Iocrym Command ship that you are about to encounter. The Iocrym has its own plot. Besides, this is very optional.
As a side not it also allows for a small number of humans to escape the quarantine after it was created without the aliens noticing
As a side not it also allows for a small number of humans to escape the quarantine after it was created without the aliens noticing