Proposal: Picking up runes increases difficulty

[lethediver]

I have seen some proposals floating around to make picking up runes have some convenient, empowering effects for the player, like making you resist hell effect.

I have an alternate proposal: Instead, picking up runes INFLICTS constant hell effect. Well, maybe not that extreme, but have each rune ramp up the difficulty throwing curveballs at the player.

I am inspired to make this proposal because one of the devs recently suggested that the late game of crawl should be harder, and early game easier... actually he didn't say that last part but I logically extrapolated it.

By the time you have 15 runes the game will be very difficult, much more difficult than now, and therefore, only the very best players will be able to ascend it... and crawl becomes a true test of skill... and my other proposal about making early game easier will have not so bad of a time.

[Sar]

What's stopping me from leaving the regular runes until orbrun then?

[kuniqs]

Why don't you people put a difficulty setting instead of 'improving' the game like this

[milski]

Beyond everything else about this proposal, Hell effects are one of the most annoying parts of Crawl and I'm not in favor of turning the entire game into "dive fast to save on frustration."

[dynast]

As much as some devs would like to make the game harder, one of the reason they havent made it so far that you have to understand its that is not THAT simple. I suggest you read the Power Creep thread duvessa made.

[Lacuenta]

Why don't you people put a difficulty setting instead of 'improving' the game like this

There already is, different races/backgrounds.