Dungeons of Skeleton King

Welcome to the Dungeons of Skeleton King !
a D&D turn-based type game for the Kaypro computers.

The game will only work on Kaypro computers with graphic features (post 84). While making my videos about the Kaypro systems (www.youtube.com/c/Olipix/), I noticed that some Kaypros had graphical possibilities, but almost none games were using them. So I decided to program my own game to showcase those features.

The game is inspired by a very old and obscure videogame for mainframes: CHASE

It's not an action game, but more a Dungeon&Dragons turn-based game.

It is written in M-BASIC under CP/M.

PLOT OF THE GAME

Since the skeletons' King stole the magic crown from the humans, the world has gone into madness, sadness and despair.  You are a bold archer willing to restore the human world to its ancient glory. To achieve this you must go deep into the skeletons dungeons, reach level 15 and defeat the skeletons' king to regain his crown.

GAMEPLAY

The game is playable entirely via the numeric keypad of the Kaypro.
To move the adventurer, use the following keys :

[7] = UP LEFT           [8] = UP                [9] = UP RIGHT
[4] = LEFT                [5] = NO MOVE     [6] = RIGHT
[1] = DOWN LEFT  [2] = DOWN           [3] = DOWN RIGHT
[0] = TELEPORT

In each level you will have to confront several skeletons and ghosts, find the key and go to the door to exit the level.

You will also find chests scattered around, that can contain several objects like gold coins, extra lives, showels to build traps, arrows, spells...or nothing !

When the timer begins to reduce at the bottom right of the screen, you will have 5 seconds to make a decision ! If you do nothing, you pass your turn and the monsters start to move again.

MONSTERS

Skeletons : In each level you will encounter many of them. They are attracted towards you and always choose the shortest path. You can kill them by leading them into traps, shooting them with an arrow, or burning them with magic fire balls.

Ghosts : If two skeletons collide, they turn into a ghost. Ghosts cannot be killed by traps, only by arrows and magic fire balls.

Skeleton King : If you reach level 15, you will enter the tomb of the Skeleton King in which you will try to defeat him by throwing arrows, magic fire balls or laying traps onto him.

OBJECTS

Traps : In each level several traps will be layed around the level. Lead the skeletons into the traps to kill them. Don't fall yourself into one of them or you will loose a life.

Chests : Open the chests scattered around the level to find gold, weapons, tools,  pells or nothing...

Key : Get the key in each level to reveal the exit door

Door : Reach the door to enter next level

RIGHT PANEL

In the right panel, you will find some information like the level number, your score (gold coins) and several icons :

Lives : You start with 5 lives. If your life counter reaches 0, you die. You can find extra lives in chests (if you are lucky).

Teleportation : This magic spell can send you anywhere in the level far from danger, closer or right onto an enemy ! Use them wisely. Press [0] to use teleportation.

Showels : Use your showels to set a trap to kill skeletons. It is useless though against ghosts. Press [.] to use a showel. A rotating aim will appear around your adventurer. Press [.] again to set the trap in the chosen direction.

Arrows : Use your bow and arrows to kill enemies. Very effective against skeletons, ghosts and the king ! Press [-] to shoot an arrow. A rotating aim will appear around your adventurer. Press [-] again to shoot in the chosen direction.

Fire balls : This powerful magic spell creates a ring of fire around you and then 10 more fire balls randomly scattered around the level. Press [,] or [+] to use this spell.

KEY SUMMARY

[7] = UP LEFT [8] = UP [9] = UP RIGHT
[4] = LEFT [5] = NO MOVE [6] = RIGHT
[1] = DOWN LEFT [2] = DOWN [3] = DOWN RIGHT
[0] = TELEPORT
[-] = SHOOT ARROW
[.] = LAY TRAP
[,] or [+] = FIRE BALLS SPELL

If you play DUNGEONS OF SKELETON KING and enjoy it, please send me a picture of your Kaypro playing the game, or drop me a note, or send me your hiscore !!