Difference between revisions of "The Typing of the Dead"
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*Cont '''NOT USED?''' - A "continue", which is the same as in many arcade games. | *Cont '''NOT USED?''' - A "continue", which is the same as in many arcade games. | ||
*Tranq '''NOT USED?'''- A zombie tranquilizer, an item that lowers DL. | *Tranq '''NOT USED?'''- A zombie tranquilizer, an item that lowers DL. | ||
| − | *A1 - "A" followed by a number refers to an "Attack", also could be called "Wave" or something else. Eventually the whole game might be mapped out with the different pathways and this is an envisioned method of referring to attacks, which are mostly neatly separated by camera movements and cutscenes. So we could have | + | *A1 - "A" followed by a number refers to an "Attack", also could be called "Wave" or something else. Eventually the whole game might be mapped out with the different pathways and this is an envisioned method of referring to attacks, which are mostly neatly separated by camera movements and cutscenes. So we could have Ch. 1 A4 = the two Davids right before talking to G in chapter 1. |
*CS/SCS - Cutscene/Skippable Cutscene | *CS/SCS - Cutscene/Skippable Cutscene | ||
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====Zombie Names==== | ====Zombie Names==== | ||
| − | The zombie names are canonical. However, there may be a case for simplifying the taxonomy a bit by combining certain zombie-types into a supertype if their behaviour | + | The zombie names are canonical. However, there may be a case for simplifying the taxonomy a bit by combining certain zombie-types into a supertype if their behaviour is similar (i.e. all the small ones that require three words to be typed). Thumbnails will be included later. For now, look at the HotD wiki page for a more verbose description. |
This needs a table with spaces for the canonical name, possibly supertype name, thumbnails, and a further description of traits (if deemed necessary). Could be useful to add information about the zombie type's minR and maxR. | This needs a table with spaces for the canonical name, possibly supertype name, thumbnails, and a further description of traits (if deemed necessary). Could be useful to add information about the zombie type's minR and maxR. | ||
| + | |||
| + | *Some suggestions for zombie supertype names: | ||
| + | **Small (the ones that take three hits) = Randy, Mickey, Zak, Lance | ||
| + | **Ranged (anything that sometimes throws something at you)= Johnny, Cecil, Bob, Mickey, Ryan, Peter (technically just spawns a Murrer) | ||
| + | **Quick/QTE = Murrer, Moowl, Devilon, Bouere, Mofish, Buyo, Cocoon | ||
| + | **Normal (only melee attack, does nothing special, could also include types that have both ranged and melee attacks) = David, Andrew, Max, Ebitan, Kageo [J], Ken, Keith, Gregory, Ricky, Patrick, Franklin, Eric | ||
David - shirtless with blue jeans, attacks with teeth | David - shirtless with blue jeans, attacks with teeth | ||
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Mickey - small, knives, leaps down, may throw knives, moves around a lot | Mickey - small, knives, leaps down, may throw knives, moves around a lot | ||
| − | Ryan? - face bandaged, brown-red vest, throws two golden blades? | + | Ryan? (where?) - face bandaged, brown-red vest, throws two golden blades? |
Keith - Alligator, underground, tail attack | Keith - Alligator, underground, tail attack | ||
| Line 67: | Line 73: | ||
Patrick - Muscular, military style clothing | Patrick - Muscular, military style clothing | ||
| − | Peter - parasite | + | Peter - has the parasite Murrer |
Zak - small, metallic skin, skully mask, clawed gauntlets, hiding in crawlspaces | Zak - small, metallic skin, skully mask, clawed gauntlets, hiding in crawlspaces | ||
| − | Lance - | + | Lance - Ch. 5 and 6, small, energy blades, teleport |
| − | Franklin - | + | Franklin - Ch. 6, no-clipping, punch |
| − | Eric - | + | Eric - Ch. 6, pulse sabers for hands |
Murrer - annelid | Murrer - annelid | ||
| Line 81: | Line 87: | ||
Bouere - frog | Bouere - frog | ||
Mofish - piranha | Mofish - piranha | ||
| − | Buyo - Clock Tower, parasite ? | + | Buyo - Clock Tower (Ch. 2), parasite ? |
| − | Cocoon - Clock Tower, eggsack ? | + | Cocoon - Clock Tower (Ch. 2), eggsack ? |
=====Which Boss is Which?===== | =====Which Boss is Which?===== | ||
Revision as of 13:56, 27 May 2013
Welcome to the Typing of the Dead (TotD) SDA Strategy Wiki. It is designed to facilitate new runners who wish to gain the required level of understanding about the game mechanics and routes considered optimal without turning into a full-fledged game wiki, but this will involve disassembling the game a bit. This wiki is currently under heavy construction work and does NOT provide you with all the existing knowledge on the game. Some of the information is also not fully confirmed. If you wish to edit the page, make sure to note if your additions are somewhat speculative, and possibly discuss them on the discussion page or bring it up on the forum thread. Also do this if you'd like to discuss the abbreviations and naming conventions.
Here are a few links to get you started.
- The active TotD forum thread Currently the best source of information.
- Verification page for a rejected Any% SS Original Mode NG+ No Continues run
- List of zombie names in TotD for easy reference - Go to the House of the Dead 2 section
- Peaches' Any% SS Arcade Mode run from SGDQ 2012
- PC version manual courtesy of replacementdocs.com
General Information
Abbreviations and Naming Conventions (this list might evolve)
- TotD - The Typing of the Dead
- HotD - The House of the Dead (which TotD is built on)
- AM/OM - Arcade Mode/Original Mode
- Ch. 1-6 - Chapter 1-6
- ZR - Zombie Rank, i.e. which category of word length a particular zombie's word belongs to. Somewhat connected with zombie type.
- MinR - Minimum rank for a zombie type.
- MaxR - Maximum rank for a zombie type.
- WR - Word Rank, i.e. the "ranking" the player gets for each typed word, from A's to E's. Could also be called "Grade".
- DL - Difficulty Level, manifests in zombie ranks and/or the time the player is given to type a word.
- Life - One of the "braziers" that you have 3-5 of at the start.
- Cont NOT USED? - A "continue", which is the same as in many arcade games.
- Tranq NOT USED?- A zombie tranquilizer, an item that lowers DL.
- A1 - "A" followed by a number refers to an "Attack", also could be called "Wave" or something else. Eventually the whole game might be mapped out with the different pathways and this is an envisioned method of referring to attacks, which are mostly neatly separated by camera movements and cutscenes. So we could have Ch. 1 A4 = the two Davids right before talking to G in chapter 1.
- CS/SCS - Cutscene/Skippable Cutscene
The word "word" is used, for simplicity, for the zombie "typable", i.e. abbreviation, word, phrase or sentence regardless of how long or short it is.
Zombie Names
The zombie names are canonical. However, there may be a case for simplifying the taxonomy a bit by combining certain zombie-types into a supertype if their behaviour is similar (i.e. all the small ones that require three words to be typed). Thumbnails will be included later. For now, look at the HotD wiki page for a more verbose description.
This needs a table with spaces for the canonical name, possibly supertype name, thumbnails, and a further description of traits (if deemed necessary). Could be useful to add information about the zombie type's minR and maxR.
- Some suggestions for zombie supertype names:
- Small (the ones that take three hits) = Randy, Mickey, Zak, Lance
- Ranged (anything that sometimes throws something at you)= Johnny, Cecil, Bob, Mickey, Ryan, Peter (technically just spawns a Murrer)
- Quick/QTE = Murrer, Moowl, Devilon, Bouere, Mofish, Buyo, Cocoon
- Normal (only melee attack, does nothing special, could also include types that have both ranged and melee attacks) = David, Andrew, Max, Ebitan, Kageo [J], Ken, Keith, Gregory, Ricky, Patrick, Franklin, Eric
David - shirtless with blue jeans, attacks with teeth Andrew - like David, but wears shorts and shirt, attacks with arms? Johnny - two axes held high, may throw them Cecil - throws two axes usually from distances, e.g. window
Max - Two chainsaws Bob - Beer belly, kick attack, throws barrels
Ebitan - rotting, charges up from underwater, three variants?: green, black (stronger?), brown (sudden charge, weak)
Kageo - "Mummy", dark areas, punch attack, pale colour Kageo J - like Kageo, dark green, one eyeball Ken - iron mask, claw-gloves, dark areas
Randy - small, masked, wall-ceiling-climing, leap-scratch attack
Mickey - small, knives, leaps down, may throw knives, moves around a lot
Ryan? (where?) - face bandaged, brown-red vest, throws two golden blades?
Keith - Alligator, underground, tail attack
Gregory - Giant sword
Ricky - Muscular, half-exposed brain, "chauffeur" Patrick - Muscular, military style clothing
Peter - has the parasite Murrer
Zak - small, metallic skin, skully mask, clawed gauntlets, hiding in crawlspaces
Lance - Ch. 5 and 6, small, energy blades, teleport
Franklin - Ch. 6, no-clipping, punch Eric - Ch. 6, pulse sabers for hands
Murrer - annelid Moowl - owl, in singles Devilon - bat, in flocks Bouere - frog Mofish - piranha Buyo - Clock Tower (Ch. 2), parasite ? Cocoon - Clock Tower (Ch. 2), eggsack ?
Which Boss is Which?
Hierophant A - Bridge Hierophant B - Jetty Tower A - Tower B Strength A Strength B
[Possible] Run Categories
- Any% - Finish the game as quick as possible
- 100% - Currently has no common definition, but may involve saving all the citizens and completing every mission among other things.
- SS/IL - Ch. 6 is directly selectable in OM after acquiring enough coins from various challenges. This should be done for IL runs because of the dynamic difficulty level.
Game Mechanics
Dynamic Difficulty Level
There is an overarching difficulty level (DL) that adjusts according to the player's skill. It can be observed separately from each particular ZR, but because of the two being intermingled and because of MaxR's and MinR's, this is somewhat difficult. For most speed run categories, purposely lowering the DL should be used to speed up progress.
Lowers the DL
- Losing a life?
- Using a continue
- Finding a tranquilizer in AM
- Getting WR's below C? (likely, but not entirely understood)
Increases the DL
Effect of WR's on DL
Effect of Continues on the DL
Effect of Tranquilizers on the DL
Zombie Ranks
Speedrun-Relevant Items
Speed Running Strategies
Optimal Overall Route
Chapter 1
Miscellaneous
Wishlist
- A bot/hack that allows automatic typing of words at a given pace. E.g. infinite "Golden Hands"-items would be useful. Also if the game can one day be emulated, though Hourglass currently does not support TotD.
