I had had some REALLY good characters--and came tantalizingly close--but I had never actually won.  Thus on and on the cycle went: I'd start up a character, play well, but get tired of not "getting anywhere," "hog things too fast"---and then get screwed.  I tried more patience---but always, at some point, I'd slip.  Then, I'd get disgusted wid' da' game--and leave it alone [thinking it would be], forever.  Then, I'd end up starting another character. . . .

      There are a LOT of skills required for zangband---both strategy and tactics.  At times, it is actually quite complicated. . . .  In addition, one needs have amassed a *HUGE* body of knowledge about the game: monsters, dungeons, items, etc. . . .  I was proud of my abilities and knowledge; however, I was almost disgusted to learn--that the "final secret" of the game, pretty much necessary to win was . . . wearing a ring of fate---at least in the earliers portion(s) of the games.  That's all there was to it---that's ALL I needed. . . .  If one wears a ring of fate, one gets the items one needs to move forward (and a LOT of "real stinkers," as well (!) ;) ).  Once I had that little piece of "wisdon," it only took two tries.  (. . .)

      Sensing that I was close (to winning [the game]), I kept daily records--of my character's "career." -If you're wondering why I chose my character to be female, well . . . I've found out by experience that--although the programmer "swear up and down" that "gender" has "no significant effect on gameplay"--if one had a female character, the game is easier---sort of like a "virtual 'affirmative action'". . . .  :P :P

      Here they are.  These are links to "pure text files." They should (rap-rap-rap ( :) )) display fine.  -Just use the "back arrow," when yer' finished, 'n stuff.

9/1/06 She moved pretty quickly; here is (the end of) Day 1.

9/1/06 I guess I played some more---Later in the day. . . . I remember the "trump weapon" being . . . rather tedious. . . .

9/2/06 Day 2. -Nice little weapon you've got yourself, there, Alia.

9/3/06 Day 3. POWER DRAGON SCALE MAIL!!!! In all my years of playing, I had only seen it TWICE---and both times in a shop (and at a price I couldn't afford. . . . :P ).  Thus we see---the POWER of the ring of fate. . . .  :) :)

9/4/06 Day 4.

9/5/06 Day 5.

9/6/06 Day 6.

9/7/06 Day 7.

9/8/06 Day 8. The Necronomicon. I found it---just lyin' around. . . .

9/9/06 Day 9. Boots of SPEEEEED! ( :) ) "Ancalagon the Black" put up quite the fight. . . .

9/10/06 Day 10. It [the game] led me on a merry chase--for "Black Channels". . . .  Once I got that [one], things really started to "rock 'n roll." :) (Knowing that I would have "25% off" on all my copies of the book for the rest of the game, I almost shopped around for another one---then I thought, "What am I doing??!!  (And went back and got it.  :) ))

9/11/06 Day 11. For as long as I can remember playing variations of these types of games, I've experienced that one's character goes up 2 levels, per day---after reaching the 40th.  (Unless, of course, one's character gets killed.  :P :P )

9/12/06 Day 12.

9/13/06 Day 13. This was first time that I ever cast "wraithform." :) It's "mighty cool." :) :) I had had a 50th (!!) level priest, before---I just never remembered to learn (and cast) the spell/prayer. . . .  [That's just] Weird.  I do believe this was also the day (I find it *ASTOUNDING* that--already :P :P --I can't seem to remember (for sure). . . .) where I believe I forgot to fully regain my h.p.'s (or cast "wraithform" :) :) ), before casting mass genocide (or was it "omnicide"? ).  My h.p.'s dropped to 8 before the strain of casting the spell let off.  (!!!!) *WHEW*!! :) :) :) :) It was a STUPID mistake---I had been playing too long. . . .

9/14/06 Day 14---I forgot to save a file. . . .

9/15/06 Day 15. I took out The Destroyer.  (!!!!) I had run into The Destroyer before---I just couldn't destroy it.  :) :) When I bested this most egregious beastie, was when this started to get real. . . .

9/16/06 Day 16. The Unicorn of Order!! A little warning, here: if hit by a "blast of light," one can be knocked out of "wraithform" (of course, it hit by a "darkness storm," one actually heals :) :) ;) ;) ).  I didn't know this---The Unicorn of Order was more than happy to demonstrate this for me.  ( :P :) ) -And if the critter in question is faster than you, well. . . .

9/17/06 I took a break.  I went canoeing with Chisato.  :) :) I was playing too much/too OBSESSIVELY, anyway.  I needed a break. . . .

9/18/06 Yo Adrian, I DID IT!!  Oddly enough, after The Destroyer--and The Unicorn of Order--"Oberon" and "The Serpent of Chaos," were pretty . . . anticlimactic.  In fact, they both fell pretty easily to [the spell] "hellfire". . . .

9/20/06 Ripe Old Age. I walked around a bit; I killed some demons in the deep; I discovered some new quests (and completed them).  (At this point, the game seemed more tedious and boring than anything else.) And then I . . . retired.

      Well, I guess that's about it.  Given the *EXTRAORDINARY* level of commitment, dedication, and . . . time it takes to win this game--I can't say I would really recommend it to anyone.  (Maybe American adolescents---they seem to have little choice but to waste their (not-yet-realized) precious time in sybaritic passtimes.) I won the game, because I felt I had to.  -Well, there you have have it.  Party down, dudes.