DEEKIN'S PIT REVISITED
Overview
In Deekin's Pit, you play a treasure hunter. To gain Experience Points, bring treasure back to camp and sacrifice it to the "Glory Box".
Yes, this is a little like 1970's D&D. Ostensibly these games are about killing monsters and taking their stuff, but since you are only rewarded for acquiring the treasure, not for killing the monsters, it is smarter to try to take it without a fight.
You also have other options. For example when you encounter goblins carousing after a hard day's work in the mines, instead of crashing the event with axes and fireballs, you can bring some hooch, and try convincing them to help you on an adventure. Robbing graves with drunk goblins can be fun.
It's up to you.
Choices
Once you get the hang of it, you'll often find yourself weighing costs against benefits, making 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. 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.