Happy TOMEntines day! This week we choo-choo choose to revisit the traditional roguelike-sphere with an oldie but a biggie. Tales of Maj’Eyal holds a special place in the hearts of old guards of tradrogues, continuing a legacy from an Angband spinoff in 1998. There’s a lot of love stemming from a vibrant community around TOME, if you can look past the ugly duckling presentation. It’s time to use our Chronomancy to turn back the clock, fight back the Spellblaze Scar, and try to charm the master of Dredfell Tower to watch some sappy romcoms with us.

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Transcript

1:57 - game stats

4:31 - one sentence description

6:13 - First impressions discussion and art criticism begins

10:18 - Will’s 60-hour experience and frustration with mechanics

16:41 - Mechanical cohesion: enemies use same systems as players

19:06 - Different starting scenarios for various races/classes

23:37 - Auto-explorer feature and movement controls discussion

30:19 - Game modes: permadeath vs multiple lives system

34:12 - Debate on roguelike length and investment vs permadeath

45:58 - Vault mechanics and elite enemies discussion

50:28 - Controls and UI complexity criticism

56:40 - Music repetition and sound design complaints

59:49 - Graphics critique: “objectively ugly” debate and art cohesion

1:12:32 - Dating quest discovery and bikini character screenshots

1:18:21 - rankings and final thoughts

1:26:38 - similar games

Next episode: Against the Storm

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https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: Thomas Marriott - The Tale of Debauchery

Outro music: Celestial Aeon Project - Virtue Lost