L Too: Another Mathemagical Adventure by DavyB

Comment unapersona373

@DavyB after i started using the panes i realised the keyword i needed was "use", so thank you! that was indeed the problem

Comment DavyB

...assuming @unapersona373 that you have typed USE keypad first!

Comment DavyB

@unapersona373, just type the five digits into the space where you would type a command. No need for anything in front of them.

Comment unapersona373

i feel kind of dumb for asking this. but in the room where everything is ciphered, im trying to type in a 5 digit number but it doesn't know what im talking about. i tried enter, try, press, but it wont let my type my 5 digit number and i'm kind of stuck. can someone tell me the keyword to use so i can try my number?

Comment avengah

I'm playing online. Yeah, entering vest manually with the keyboard works fine but I meant if you click on vest in the pane on the right, it doesn't give the option to just pick vest on its own but wants to add a command to it. I'm playing on quite an old laptop, running Windows 10 in Chrome.

Comment DavyB

In response to your comments @avengah:
> The electrician's lights don't display properly, with the first three visible but the fourth off the right side of the viewport.
This is Quest problem with the map not centering in certain environments, which may be related. Are you playing online or have you downloaded the game. If the latter, what type of machine and version of windows are you using?
> The tree puzzle also doesn't accept rotating the solution 90 degrees which works on the BBC.
Didn't know this was possible. I'll look at making the change but no promises!
> the cellar maze has a spawn rate of guards that is far too high
It's meant to be uncomfortable but I'll tone it down a little.
> On my PC, the map is half off the right side of the viewport
This is connected to the first point. I'll chase it up.
> One other minor thing: when you turn hyperlinks on and try to play by clicking, you can't use the pen with the vest. Trying has it open a menu for the vest, and it will end up trying a command like use pen with look at vest, or something similar, adding a superfluous command in the middle before vest.
That's mysterious. It works okay for me playing online or offline...i.e. switching on links, then clicking 'use' in the offered list for pen, and then entering 'vest'.

Comment DavyB

Hi @avengah, thank you for your comments. I implemented this version of L through playing the original so it is certainly possible that I missed some aspects of the game. Some features I simply couldn't implement the same way. I'll work my way through your messages and produce a summary response.

I bought the PC copy of L when it was available. It is pretty much a direct copy of the original, as far as I can remember. I'll try it again to remind myself of the details. I can only play it on my old PC.

Comment avengah

Sorry, it won't let me edit comments. The electrician's lights don't display properly, with the first three visible but the fourth off the right side of the viewport.

Comment avengah

The tree puzzle also doesn't accept rotating the solution 90 degrees which works on the BBC.

Comment avengah

It seems the PC Windows version is no longer being sold. Is it now abandonware? If so, anyone know where I can acquire a copy please if it's legal and ATM don't mind?

Comment avengah

I forgot to say I found the easter egg and got maximum points, but the cellar maze has a spawn rate of guards that is far too high. They sometimes spawn several times in a row in a single room before you have the chance to move.

On my PC, the map is half off the right side of the viewport - only what's drawn left of the rightmost vertical line appears. The only way to fix this was to turn the panes on on the right. Map without panes didn't work at all for me.

One other minor thing: when you turn hyperlinks on and try to play by clicking, you can't use the pen with the vest. Trying has it open a menu for the vest, and it will end up trying a command like use pen with look at vest, or something similar, adding a superfluous command in the middle before vest.

It says at the end in the epilogue to request the rest of the notes if one is interested. Are they all in the Stardot thread? If so, thanks, they're very interesting! I remember the phone room took 3 tries on the BBC and many players never tried so assumed it was useless. Making it 2 tries here was probably a good compromise.

Comment avengah

I really liked your version, and I think the improvements are spot-on for making sure every puzzle is necessary - even making NEUMANN not work until the pig is caught. However, I did notice a couple of things, maybe bugs if not intended.

For the calculator, the original let you type e.g. 44-7-7-7-4-4-4 as a solution (which you could do all at once or separated like: 44, -7, -7, -7, -4, -4, -4 or similar. This version doesn't let you do 44 or 47 or similar multi-digit numbers.

For the NEUMANN thing, I did work it out but given the word only works one way in this version and only from that one room (i.e. it's not usable anywhere), there's very little by way of a clue for the final puzzle. Also, the warps CROWTHER and WOODS no longer work and I think the six-sided room with the codes is gone, replaced with the spider path in this version. I can understand not wanting the warps in case players skip parts of the game but a similar solution to before could work - only letting you warp once finding the codes and decoding them.

Finally, the tree puzzle does not accept my usual solution. Which is:

*T*T*
**T**
*TTT*
**T**
*T*T*

This, as well as the version rotated 90 degrees, are valid solutions on the BBC but not here.

Apart from that, fantastic game!

Comment DavyB

Congratulations Jim on making it to the end! I first played this game in the 1980s when there was no one around to provide hints. It therefore took me a long time to get past the spider but I managed it eventually. Returning in 2015, I couldn't remember what I'd done and so also had to 'cheat' by using the online walkthrough!!

Comment jimbrock

Thanks Davy,

I got to the end, but there was some cheating involved! I didn't understand what left and right referred to when the spider went along the edge to a corner. I had to brute force it to solve that one.

Good game though and thanks for your efforts in producing it.

Jim

Comment DavyB

Hi Jim, you've made great progress! There are actually two ways to find the number to open the chest, both involve following the sequence you have identified...


...One of the numbers you can ring gives a different response on second use...


...or you can work through the 4-digit numbers in the sequence.

Comment jimbrock

Ok I'm stuck, I can't work out how to open the chest in the gloomy room. I've worked out the sequence of the telephone numbers but can't work out how that leads to a 4 digit number to unlock the chest.

I don't want to post any spoilers, please don't look in case, but this what I've got to so far

The following puzzles have been completed successfully. I've hidden the bath holes to avoid spoilers
Finding the Gold Cube (5)
Cutting the Key (50)
Finding the Tightest Snooker Ball Angle (20)
Finding the Right Light Switch Sequence (50)
Baking the Cake to the Right Level (50)
Breaking the Code (50)
Climbing the Shelves (5)
Finding the Bronze Key (5)
Finding the Platinum Tetrahedron (5)
Blocking a Bath Hole(s)
Launching the Bath (10)
Finding the Right Tree Planting Pattern (70)
Finding the Ape to Owl Word Sequence (30)
Catching the Pig (20)
Using the Magic Word (20)

Comment joolzred

Thanks @DavyB, I need to go and solve the computer problem and get myself a vest!

Comment DavyB

Yes, @joolzred, you are nearly at the end, and it sounds as if you have everything you need to finish. Well done! As you are so close, I'll not give too much away...
Hint: If you have the pen and vest, "write on vest" or "use pen on vest" should allow you to put what you like on it. The vest itself is the reward for completing the recursion problem in the Computer Room.

Comment joolzred

@DavyB I have thoroughly enjoyed playing your updated version of 'The L Game' I remember from the mid-1980s! I am stuck on some of the final levels: I have the hat, leggings & sunglasses, the pen and calculator, but I cannot figure out how to write "11" on my chest/vest! I think I've been back through all the previous locations and no further items appear to be findable. Your hints would be very much appreciated, thanks!

Comment DavyB

Try "climb shelves" or simply "up".

Comment Zax_Zax

I get stuck at the large storage room, the hint is to check all the shelves but I can get to eye level and those are empty. I know i need to climb something but i can't. I cant even jump, well i mean I can but nothing happens. What do i do? btw this brings back year 6 memories for me so thank you

Comment DavyB

Sorry @Bluetonguelizard14 you can't update your review though it may be possible to have the first one deleted if you wish? Can you say more about where you are stuck?

Comment Bluetonguelizard14

cant get past the storage room after the kitchen

Comment DavyB

badger_1977, thank you for the kind review and comments. I'm glad you enjoyed the game. L was the first text adventure I played back in the 1980s and it was a pleasure to study it in detail before this re-implementation in Quest. It was out of step with most other games at the time in being completely 'cruelty-free', which is now the only type of game I enjoy playing!

Giantkiller was created as a competitor to L so you might want to have a look at Giantkiller Too as well. It has similar mathematical puzzles and has been converted to a less 'dark' form in the same spirit as L Too.

Review badger_1977

Loved this - have been trying to find it for years as never completed the first time round. A couple of the maths problems were very tricky for me (I have no patience) and the author assisted with finding one of the keys :)
Very addictive though - and wish I hadn't completed it as I miss it!

Comment DavyB

@badger_1977, it does sound like some sort of system problem. Are you playing online through a browser, or have you downloaded the game? If you are playing online, have you saved the game and returned to play later? ...I'm just trying to work out what might have triggered this issue!

Given the severity of the problem, unfortunately there is no choice but to start again. Hopefully it won't take you too long to reach the fail point again.

Feel free to send details in a message, as this may take a little discussion.

Comment badger_1977

Actually I can get out of the snooker room. I can just no longer see my comments - the comment feed is stuck back in the snooker room.
I can type the words but not see them once I've pressed return, nor can I see the response. Only the last comment I made in the snooker room.
Must be my computer....

Comment DavyB

Can you send me more details? Are you saying you can't get out of the snooker room or is it a problem with playing the game (e.g. use cue)? ...after which a number is expected?

I've just played online and not found anything wrong?

Comment badger_1977

The game has got stuck in the snooker room. I can type in the box but when I press return, the comment disappears...it's been like this since Friday. I've come in and out of the game, switched off but it remains stuck...
Do I have to start all over again?

Comment DavyB

This updated version of a classic 1984 game now allows players to optionally use the map, hyperlinks and game panes. I hope there is a suitable combination for everyone...do let me know!

Comment DavyB

Sorry, this is a general site problem. If you are using Windows, it is much better to download the game before playing. If not, some times of the day are quieter than others but it still means saving away regularly. I'll raise this point again on the forum to see if some improvement is in sight.

Comment jordanrichards320

Why does my session keep timing out?

Comment DavyB

Hi Cyeborg, I've just uploaded a revised version of the game that separates the making of the key from the display of the keyholes (now look at door or keyholes for details). Is that better?

Comment DavyB

Hi Cyeborg, are you are using a device with a relatively small screen? I developed the game on a desktop machine but also tried it out on a 14inch laptop. I can see, however, that as the screen gets smaller a point would be reached where there is insufficient space to present everything without scrolling, as you are finding. Is that the issue?

Comment Cyeborg

During the puzzle, every time I do an action it forces the page to scroll down and show me the four keyholes, making it impossible to type until I scroll back up so that I can see the typing box. The problem is that after the puzzle, the keyhole image doesn't go away, and every time I try to do something it scrolls back down, making it very annoying to try to navigate.

Comment DavyB

Hi Cyeborg, I've just tried playing online and after completing the puzzle the player is moved into the next room and the map reappears. Completion means typing 'c' to check the key. Can you tell me anything more about exactly what happens? It is possible to break out of the puzzle but that should move the you backwards to the earlier room. i.e. I can't find the problem!

Comment Cyeborg

After the key puzzle in the drawing room, every action I take shows me the keyhole pictures, even after I beat it. Help?

Comment DavyB

Small update. Use 'about' for details.

Comment DavyB

Hi SunraeRF, assuming you have all three keys and typed 'unlock piano', you respond giving the sequence separated by commas. The example of a valid sequence (though not the right one!) is:
gold, left, silver, middle, bronze, right
which can be simplified to
g, l, s, m, b, r
Spaces in the sequence should make no difference. Happy to give stronger guidance if you are not sure of the sequence needed.

Comment SunraeRF

Thank you for the advice you gave about the third key, that's a great help. But I can't get the program to understand me when I try to use them. I've tried a comma after 'right', no comma, full stop, space and no space! Please can you tell me what the format should be?

Comment DavyB

The latest version reworks the prison puzzle, bringing it closer to the original and making it a bit simpler as originally intended.

Comment DavyB

Hi Foucault5, I was actually trying to make the prison puzzle a bit easier but I obviously need to look at it again. It is very helpful to have contact with someone who played the original game. Feel free to complain about any of the changes I've made. Some are a consequence of the implementation platform but others are probably just my own preferences. We may need to chat through the messaging system to avoid giving too much away!

Comment foucault5

Thanks @davyb that involved a combination of commands I hadn’t expected. I was beginning to try and find ways to crack the ebony sphere as I thought that was the only place it could be.

By the way, the Drogo prison in your version seems a lot more hostile than the original - I tried a lot of waiting, looking and shouting to get a guard to appear so I could get back to the pig room but nothing happened - is that as intended?

Comment DavyB

Hi Foucault5, you are indeed doing well! To find the bronze key, have another look at the store room where you found the abbot.

Comment foucault5

It was all going really well until I tried to find a bronze key to open the piano, but have now walked around every location 3 or 4 times and can't find anything else to solve. Can anyone help?

Comment DavyB

Hi Hormus, did you try the 'hint' (by typing HINT)? ...if so, I can be more direct!

Comment Hormus

How do you catch the pig?

Review rcsjr1951

Great remake of an older game. Lots of new twists and some great improvements. A lot of fun for those who like to deal with math or who want to have a break from the typical text adventure games. Good idea to take notes as you go. Fun game for those who want to spark the interest in math in their students or might want to test their own skills.
Not to worry if any of the problems become to troublesome you can find answers searching the internet or by contacting the author. He was of tremendous help to me, giving me hints in the right direction.