High Score Competition #224 : The King of Dragons

[popsicle]

High Score Competition Rules and Scoreboard



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Game Name : The King of Dragons
ROM Name  = kod (world version)
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Dip Settings:
3 lives, normal (4 or 3, whichever says 'normal') difficulty, bonus life 100k and every 450k, one credit, no continues


Controls:
8 - way joystick, 2 buttons - attack and jump (both together is a special attack but uses a bit of life)


Wiki: King of Dragons


Last day: Sunday, August 27 2017, midnight Pacific Time
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[jasonbar]

Didn't we just play something like this?

Anyway, a non-bad game.
US ROM?
What DIP switch setting for the extra guys?

Disregard scores: played with 2 lives, per original top post.

Played all 5 characters 1x ea., in order from left to right.
Elf: liked him but didn't know the game. Didn't stay on the top 5. 63k or so?
Wizard: blah, no high score, no success
Fighter: much better. 99,100
Cleric: even better! 117,200
Dwarf: even betterer! 127,100.


I don't think the dwarf is truly the best. Probably Fighter or Cleric. Except for the Wizard, my score improved with each game, as I learned how to beat the bosses, what to expect, etc., so I think my scores were more of a function of me knowing what I'm doing rather than the characters being significantly better (but the Wizard was totally lame.).

-Jason

[PL1]

US ROM?

Actually, the US ROM is "kodu" -- a child ROM of "kod".

The ROM specified in OP is the parent ROM "kod" which shows up as "The King of Dragons (World 910805)" in v0.152.

Not sure if newer versions of MAME have a newer version for this parent ROM. 


Scott

[acvieluf]

57,900 - dwarf

Sent from my Casio keyboard

[jasonbar]

OK, I played the world version this time.

Double-checked DIPs. I played w/ 2 guys last time, so I switched to 3 guys. The scores for extra guys were lower on the world version than on the US version. Hooray.

Played elf, then fighter, then got sleepy.

232,200

-Jason

[acvieluf]

OK, I played the world version this time.

Double-checked DIPs. I played w/ 2 guys last time, so I switched to 3 guys. The scores for extra guys were lower on the world version than on the US version. Hooray.

Played elf, then fighter, then got sleepy.

232,200

-Jason

Glad you said so, just noticed the 3 lives thing. I was playing on 2. Argh.

Sent from my Casio keyboard

[acvieluf]

Well that makes a difference. The elf is pretty good if you can avoid damage.

125,500

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[popsicle]

Checked my settings too, just to be sure :
World version
Difficulty 4
2 lives
Extra guy every 100k and every 450k

I had my best game ever last night - got all the way to the last boss (red dragon) and only used the wizard.

1,533,800

[jasonbar]

Please confirm. OP says 3 lives. Latest post says 2.

Thanks,
Jason

[popsicle]

Yes, sorry that game was played with 2 lives setting (I pulled up the dip settings when the game ended to check). I think when I wiped my high scores and/or inadvertently entered the service mode before playing for this competition it changed?

Disregard my score in the above post. I'll play again with 3 lives setting enabled.

I've also clarified World version and bonus life settings in the original post.

[lettuce]

Can i confirm what difficulty we are supposed to be playing on as the default setting is '(3) Normal'?

[popsicle]

What? Are you running the 'world' version simply called kod? I give up.

[lettuce]

Yep.

What version of MAME and Rom set are you using??

[yamatetsu]

Mame .161, kod (world)

THE KING OF DRAGONS

           910805

             ETC


DIP switches :

difficulty 3 (normal)

lives 2

bonus life 200k and every 450k

[popsicle]

Disregard scores: played with 2 lives, per original top post.
-Jason

I thought my original post did say 3 lives? That's why I said to disregard my game played with 2 when it was pointed out. 

[acvieluf]

I'm on mame .151, world rom "kod", difficulty is 3 (normal), and now my lives are set to 3.

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[yamatetsu]

I played w/ 2 guys last time, so I switched to 3 guys.

I'm on mame .151, world rom "kod", difficulty is 3 (normal), and now my lives are set to 3.

Jason and acvieluf are playing with 3 lives, I don't play the game at all, so if lettuce & popsicle also use 3 lives, everything should be golden.

Yes, sorry that game was played with 2 lives setting (I pulled up the dip settings when the game ended to check). I think when I wiped my high scores and/or inadvertently entered the service mode before playing for this competition it changed?

Disregard my score in the above post. I'll play again with 3 lives setting enabled.

I'd say that this score still is valid. Getting this with just 2 lives makes it even more impressive.

[lettuce]

I thought the rules were we were supposed to use the default dip settings?

Regardless though ill change the default setting from 2 to 3 lives and leave the difficulty on the default '3 (Normal)' setting

[jasonbar]

Agreed. But what MAME shows as default can vary when MAME is revved. Eek!

So, when I make a post, I search as best I can for the defaults on websites, ignoring what my old MAME rev says is default.


Search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=king+of+dragons+default+dip+switch+settings

It turns up several DIP switch tables, but only some have defaults marked:
http://www.solvalou.com/subpage/arcade_dips/T/kod
http://www.arcaderestoration.com/gamedips/9298/All/The+King+of+Dragons.aspx


These both say:
2 guys
They disagree on difficulty & free guys.


So, I propose that it's up to the OP to determine defaults as best as possible & we run with them.


Thanks,
-Jason

[opt2not]

Best thing to do to get default dip settings is to refer to the actual arcade manual:
http://www.gallopingghostarcade.com/qr/kingofdragons/kingofdragons.pdf

I do this every time I get a new board in my collection.

[jasonbar]

Excellent...so, is this World or US?  =O

And i don't see # of guys & scores for extra guys in the tables on p. 13 (p. 15 of PDF).

King of Dragons is hard...

-Jason

[popsicle]

I'm running mame .131 and checked again to make sure I had only the 'world' kod rom in my roms folder (to make sure my front end wasn't showing a rom variation or hack). It states difficulty 4 (normal) in my dip settings. Does everyone else's say 3 is 'normal'? I wonder if the # of difficulty is the same across mame versions or is 'normal' the same?

How do you guys want to proceed? I do really like this game and would rather be discussing game play and such than this stuff, but I do agree that we need to come to a consensus. 

[jasonbar]

Pops-

IMO, you're the boss for this thread, so we run with what you choose for the ambiguous settings.

Thanks,
-Jason

[acvieluf]

Pops-

IMO, you're the boss for this thread, so we run with what you choose for the ambiguous settings.

Thanks,
-Jason

Agreed

Sent from my Casio keyboard

[popsicle]

Ok then,

I kept all of the settings in the original post, but added that it should say 'normal' difficulty, whether that is 3 or 4 for your mame version.

Onward!

And here is a run with the Elf from the other night.
890,300

I think the ranged characters (elf and mage) are way easier to play in the long haul, but harder to get started with.

[acvieluf]

Small improvement...argh

187,800

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[jasonbar]

Pretty forgiving game. Difficulty doesn't ramp up too quickly. Bosses aren't quarter-eaters. Doesn't get repetitive. Rather enjoyable.

368,900 with Cleric, 115u2, 3 lives, difficulty 3 (normal), 100k & 450k free guys.

-Jason

[popsicle]

I got to the last boss again, but just couldn't beat him. So close! I was so excited to grab my phone and take a picture I missed putting my name in

1,404,000

[popsicle]

Random tips and observations
* Wizard and Elf are weak at first, but many enemies can be safely picked off from a distance. The wizard especially gets strong when he gets his lvl 5 staff.
* Food is worth a lot of points (5,000, I think) when you are already full health. This helps to level you up quickly.
* If you level up during a boss fight you can get a few quick swings in while invincible (and you get a health boost).
* Orc King - stand in his middle shadow and he can't hit you. Anticipate his jump across the screen and meet him there to land a few blows when he lands.
* Minotaur - you can hit him when standing a bit below/above when he swings his axe (missing you). Watch his charge, and run to meet him on the other side.
* Wyvern - he'll swoop from the top on the side he disappeared from. Run and jump away from him, swinging behind you when he swoops. When he flaps you away and lands, try to jump over his first fire attack and chop him from the back. He can't turn around.
* Hydra - this is really easy with range guys. Keep hitting the heads as they get knocked to the right. Watch for the swoop attack (go to another head and attack).
* Giant - time his rock throw by going up or down on the screen. I've had luck charging him, even with range characters, his fist charge hurts though, so get behind him.
* Spiders - this is a joke. Jump and swing repeatedly.
* Dragon Rider - see spiders. Jump continuously at his head, swinging away. His trident only attacks your feet.

[acvieluf]

Wait...so first extra life at 100k is the setting? Crap.

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[popsicle]

Wait...so first extra life at 100k is the setting? Crap.

[acvieluf]

Wait...so first extra life at 100k is the setting? Crap.

Haha yes, I just seemed to think that it was the higher setting. My mistake...argh.

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[Titchgamer]

The bonus life settings dont seem to tie up for me :s

I have 80 & 400k or 160 & 450k

[Titchgamer]

Fun game!
154,900

[yamatetsu]

The scoreboard.


      Click on the pic to get a larger view.

acvieluf, your turn to come up with a new exciting challenge.

[acvieluf]

Ok, I'll put something together tonight.

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[acvieluf]

Up!

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=155109