snarky96: I have played dk1 all the way through countless times in the past yet after buying the GoG version I had a major time getting past Tickle and I never had that much trouble before. Nevergrim wasn't just a challenge it was a slaughterfest it was like the enemy dungeonkeeper had been there forever before me I didn't even get to the second payday and he had built a bridge over the lava and stormed my half built dungeon with several lvl 4-5 creatures. He had 3 times the creatures and they were already trained. Also how in the world his imps could claim my portal when we were fighting practically on top of it is phenomenal. Is there something I am missing here? Have difficulty settings been added? I am completely mystified by this I have never had any problems playing these realms in the past.

KrankyKat: Sounds like you're seeing the difference between the original AI and the patched AI. The original AI tended to limit their "sight range" for ability to make aggressive moves, or something like that, so if your Heart was far away it'd just mill around uselessly, as well as being just very dumb about building rooms and other things.

The patched AI still has some low level, passive, very stupid AI settings, but mostly enemy Keepers in levels will build rooms faster (and a decent size, or in multiples for tile size requirements, so they may draw more creatures of that type than you) and are often very aggressive about attacking first (dig to you quickly and almost constantly after a point) and digging gold/laying traps. They do, however, have very particular patterns. And they're still pretty darn stupid, once you learn those patterns. ;)

But yeah, in the original DK campaign, that AI switch is tough to get used to at first. All I can say is, if you find the Transfer Creature special, train someone up in that level and use it. A lvl9 Dark Mistress is a beautiful thing. Quite often you can beat Tickle in 10 minutes with one. Lvl 10 DemonSpawns are cute, but they won't get you very far. But I've beaten Tickle in 10 minutes without Transferring, too. Just have to be quick. It's not a leisurely level. Also, pausing a lot when you want to scroll/pan around the map is advised.

Don't worry overmuch about researching everything and building a perfect dungeon (call to arms, healing). In early/mid levels don't even worry about traps/workshops, if you don't want to.

In Deeper Dungeons, enemy Keepers do often start off with already built dungeons of some level. But in the original Dk1 campaign, that's not generally true (outside of the last level maybe). It's just the AI builds faster than you and slaps everyone constantly.

gothicjester: Feel for you, I really do. I have been trying every trick and strategy and I get through maybe 2 waves before I'm into whole sale slaughter. I try selling the bridges, grabbing the extra level part fast, and everything. It is like something got turned on to "Grab your Ankles cause this is gonna hurt" Mode and for someone who just loved playing this game when it was a sit back and relax. It is frustrating now and pissing off.

So outside of someone figuring a way to get the cheats to turn back on, or a patch or something. I think I've hit my point of nearly think I wasted money on this.

GoG, seriously, I play on a Mac, thank you for the port, but for the love of god, If I wanted to be die that easily, I'd go play in traffic on the high way at rush hour.gothicjester: