DEEKIN'S PIT REVISITED
Overview
In Deekin's Pit, you play a treasure hunter. Your adventure begins in a camp perched above a chasm with caves to explore. The caves' residents have treasure. You'll go down there to find it, but once you do, what then? Will you steal it? Kill for it? Trade? Theft and violence are effective, but make enemies. Trade is more friendly, but less exciting. How the residents respond to your character on subsequent visits depends upon these choices.
When you are ready for a break from the hunt, return to the camp's "Glorious Tent". Sacrifice some treasure to the "Glory Box". The item will be destroyed, and your character will gain 1 XP per GP of the sacrifice's value. Sacrifice enough and you'll level up.
During your quest for gold and glory, dont forget to have fun along the way. Stop and read the area descriptions. Talk to the NPCs. Poke at things. See what happens. There's more to this than treasure.
Choices
Making choices is an important part of play. Choices in Deekin's Pit involve a fair amount of weighing costs against benefits. Choices like ...
Things versus Experience
Do you want to keep using that thing you found or toss it in the Glory Box for XP? Do you drink that potion to improve your chances in this fight or run away to save the XP that the potion represents? Do you buy the masterwork weapons and armor to improve your performance or invest everything in XP to level up faster?
Trade vs Conquest
The residents of Deekin's Pit are divided into many factions. While many start out neutral to your character, your motivations as a treasure hunter risk turning them hostile. Do you refrain from plundering an area to remain in the local's good graces? Can you steal that treasure from them without getting caught? Will you benefit more from trading with them than you would by robbing them?
Well Prepared vs Traveling Light
Treasure can be heavy. Gear can be heavy too. Traveling as light as possible enables you to haul more treasure back to camp. What gear is necessary? What can you skimp on? I recommend not skimping on torches. Each torch only lasts an hour of game time (ten minutes real time). The caves are dark.
Skills vs Violence vs Magic
At every level up, you choose between advancing either skills, combat prowess, or spell casting. This choice is less about cost versus benefit and more about what fits your style. I usually like a little bit of everything.