Cyningstan

Selling resources on the MS-DOS and ZX Spectrum versions of Barbarians, showing how similar the interfaces are. The graphical Psion versions leaned more heavily on the operating system's own GUI elements, things not available on the ZX Spectrum or MS-DOS.

I worked from the #Psion OPL source code, which is easier to read than the Z80 I used on the #ZXSpectrum. Presentation is a combination of all previous machines, with graphics reminiscent of the Psion versions, and a menu system like the Spectrum. cyningstan.itch.io/barbarians-dos #ibmpc #msdos #cga

The Quiver makes it more practical and useful to carry multiple stacks of arrows. As one stack of arrows is depleted, the next stack will be drawn from. Because Phamart the Ranger is wielding both the bow and the sling, when all the arrows are depleted, he will start shooting with the sling instead. The quiver is enlarged in the inset.

The Quiver is a special container for arrows that makes them easier to fire quickly. With a quiver equipped you need not have arrows equipped; they just need to be somewhere in the inventory. Get The #ChambersBeneath from cyningstan.itch.io/the-chambers... #roguelike #ibmpc #msdos #cga

In the fourth level of Double Trouble, both robots have picked up a data card and are getting ready to rush across the alley of dangerous guard bots, which shoot their phasers every turn.

Level 4 of Double Trouble for #TeamDroid has the two droids crossing a dangerous alley full of guard bots. They must get their timing right to get to safety without being fired upon by the guards! Get the game and the level pack from cyningstan.itch.io/team-droid #ibmpc #msdos #cga

And no superstitious avoidance of room 13 this time! This morning I'll be somewhere where they've done exactly that...

These gun platforms are ready to repel any attack from the sea.

Gun Platforms are static land-based units, useful for defending ports. They're static units, but they have a longer firing range than any other unit in the game, so can keep enemy ships away from your Ports. cyningstan.itch.io/waterworld. #ibmpc #msdos #cga #BarrenPlanet #Waterworld

Our hero finds a banish spell on level 10. These start to appear just before the spectres and daemons, and are some characters' only means of dealing with those monsters. The banish spell is enlarged in the inset.

#Ossuary players with weak magical ability will rely on banish spells to banish the spectres and daemons who are immune to blade weapons. Get the game from cyningstan.itch.io/ossuary #ibmpc #msdos #cga #zxspectrum

Suchyles has found two data cards already, but in a Gathering mission there are bound to be more.

For a Gathering mission you need to stick around a bit longer and find as many data cards as you can. You're scored on the number found and time taken, so you must decide when to stop looking. cyningstan.itch.io/star-cadre-c... #starcadre #ibmpc #msdos #cga

A screenshot from the MS-DOS version of Barbarians, showing off the palette. The thick forest shows the various autumnal shades this palette is capable of through dithering: purples, oranges, browns, and various shades of green.

My #ibmpc #gamedev projects use C. The graphics were based on the version for the Psion Revo, but the 4-greyscale monochrome graphics were recoloured in the most colourful or gaudy of #cga palettes. cyningstan.itch.io/barbarians-dos

Aren the Ranger buys a couple of poultices at the ranger supply shop. These can be used with a skill of Medicine:1, but at that skill level, many will be wasted in unsuccessful attempts to heal. At Medicine:2 skill there's nearly a 50% chance of success, so they become more worth buying. The Poultice is enlarged in the inset.

A preparation of herbs for healing wounds, a Poultice can be applied to wounds to heal them at the rate of 1 hit point per turn. The poultice will often fully heal the character. Get The #ChambersBeneath from cyningstan.itch.io/the-chambers... #roguelike #ibmpc #msdos #cga

In the third level of Double Trouble, Multibot has just shot a forcefield generator, disabling forcefields that extended from it to the north and south. Meanwhile, Strider navigates a corridor full of crates to reach its data card at the top.

Double Trouble level 3 builds on the same theme as level 2. The robot in the bottom half needs to shoot the generator that powers forcefields blocking both robots' paths. Get the game and the level pack from cyningstan.itch.io/team-droid #TeamDroid #ibmpc #msdos #cga

A Battleship, escorted by Cruisers and Destroyers.

Battleships are the largest ships afloat. They have more power and a longer range than cruisers, and are the best units to have in a sea battle. They are also good for offshore bombardment. cyningstan.itch.io/waterworld. #ibmpc #msdos #cga #BarrenPlanet #Waterworld

This amulet on level 8 works well for intelligent characters, warding off blows from the monsters. It is enlarged in the inset.

The magic amulet appears in the mid levels of the #Ossuary. Its magical protection adds +2 to intelligence, and makes intelligence the stat for defence. This and the wand work well together. Download the game from cyningstan.itch.io/ossuary #ibmpc #msdos #cga #zxspectrum

I've never thought about the resemblance between these two before! You can see some rules for Senet at my board games web site: www.cyningstan.com/game/22/senet

Looking for the data card in a Retrieval mission. Predictably, it's not conveniently stored in a cabinet right by the entrance, so the search continues.

In a Retrieval mission you have to find the very important macguffin and get out with it in your possession. It may be in a cabinet or it might be carried by an enemy. cyningstan.itch.io/star-cadre-c... #starcadre #ibmpc #msdos #cga

Portable Barbarians: two pocket computers running the game: a Psion Series 3 running the EPOC16 version from 2010, and a Hewlett Packard 100LX running the new MS-DOS version from 2025.

But in early 2025 I picked up my old #cga roguelike #gamedev project for #msdos The Chambers Beneath again. That was released in July 2025, and shortly afterwards, the #DOSember game jam was announced. I thought #Barbarians would make a good entry. cyningstan.itch.io/barbarians-dos

Meleel the Ranger picked up a potion down in the dungeon. We won't know what this potion really is till Meleel either drinks it, throws it at a monster, or takes it to the Mage's shop for identification.

The twelve potions in the The #ChambersBeneath give a variety of effects both good and bad. Found in the dungeons, and bought and sold in the Magic Shop. Get the game from cyningstan.itch.io/the-chambers... #roguelike #ibmpc #msdos #cga

Psion Series 3 Handheld computer from 1991

Look at this *gorgeous* little Psion Series 3 handheld computer from 1991! Hinges and screen are perfect, but I like to reinforce the hinges with 3M tape, as this is a key point of vulnerability. 😍

The second level of Double Trouble. At the top, Soldier has jumped over the forcefield with the aid of a spring that's still in its inventory. Meanwhile at the bottom, Multibot has also jumped its forcefield and is preparing to push its data card all the way to the reader.

Level 2 of Double Trouble needs a different kind of cooperation. Neither robot meets nor passes objects to the other, but one robot needs to shoot the forcefield that powers the generator the blocks the other's movement. cyningstan.itch.io/team-droid #TeamDroid #ibmpc #msdos #cga

Cruisers are the more powerful units in this battle.

Cruisers are medium-sized combat ships with a good attack range. They're useful to add extra power to naval battles, and to bombard ports and other land units from off shore. They're slightly slower than destroyers. cyningstan.itch.io/waterworld. #ibmpc #msdos #cga #BarrenPlanet #Waterworld

Back on level 1 our hero found a wand. This is useful for characters whose intelligence is greater than their attack strength. The wand is enlarged in the inset.

Characters with more brains than brawn will want to seek out the magic wand on the first level of the #Ossuary. It adds +2 to intelligence, *and* makes intelligence the stat for attacks. Get the game at cyningstan.itch.io/ossuary #ibmpc #msdos #cga #zxspectrum

In this turn-based roguelike adventure 🎲, you play as a glory-seeking hero ⚔️ tasked by the ruler of a fearful city 🏰 to explore a dangerous subterranean network 🕸️. @cyningstan.bsky.social

youtu.be/BipAVGcqpnk

#msdos #game #gameplay #homebrew #thechambersbeneath

Looks like having two instances of copy trying to copy the same file to the same place confused it. Hopefully the remaining instance should complete successfully. May be worth checking the size of the destination file from time to time to see if/how it's progressing.

On level 10 we see the most powerful blade weapon of all, the battleaxe, which is enlarged in the inset.

The battleaxe is the largest blade in the #Ossuary, useful for combat against more powerful monsters with its +6 bonus on attack strength. cyningstan.itch.io/ossuary #ibmpc #msdos #cga #zxspectrum

Finding the first hostage in a Rescue mission. The scout peeked through the door and retreated, which is why we can see the hostage and their kidnapper currently not in the line of sight.

Rescue missions are subtly different. With multiple hostages to find, some of whom have useful skills, you can recruit the hostages themselves to help. You also score per hostage freed. cyningstan.itch.io/star-cadre-c... #starcadre #ibmpc #msdos #cga

Brand new Spectrum game: Welcome 2 The Machine, by Radical Reflux.

Download:
https://radical-reflux.itch.io/machine

#zxspectrum #retrogaming

A composite image my two games now ported from the ZX Spectrum to DOS. On top, Ossuary, with the Spectrum version on the left and the DOS version on the right. On the bottom, Barbarians, again with the Spectrum version on the left and the DOS version on the right.

By 2024 I decided the time was right for an #msdos version of #Barbarians. I'd already ported my third ZX Spectrum game Ossuary. I decided to start work on an MS-DOS port before the idea gets eclipsed by a more complex game on the same subject. cyningstan.itch.io/barbarians-dos

Upon donning Plate Mail, along with the iron helmet, the shield and the battleaxe, Aniere the Warrior has achieved the ultimate in arms and armament. They are now ready for almost any challenge the dungeons can throw at them. The plate mail is enlarged in the inset.

Plate Mail is solid metal armour providing good protection against body injuries, but requiring skill Dodging:5 to use effectively. Get The #ChambersBeneath from cyningstan.itch.io/the-chambers... #roguelike #ibmpc #msdos #cga

The first level of Double Trouble. The first data card has already been passed out of the middle and taken to its card reader. Carrier is returning to the teleporter to pick up the second card, while Strider pushes it to the teleporter from the inner chamber.

The first DLC for #TeamDroid was Double Trouble, every level having 2 droids, 2 cards, 2 readers. The first level requires droids to cooperate, passing cards out of the middle chamber. Download the game and the Double Trouble level pack from cyningstan.itch.io/team-droid #ibmpc #msdos #cga

Destroyers form the main part of this fleet.

Destroyers are the smallest sea combat units. They have little firepower and a short range, and are lightly armoured. They can navigate deep and shallow water, but they can't navigate too close to the sandbanks. cyningstan.itch.io/waterworld. #ibmpc #msdos #cga #BarrenPlanet #Waterworld

Our hero finds an iron shield on level 8, which will upgrade their ability to block attacks. The shield is enlarged in the inset.

The iron shield adds a +4 bonus to your defence state, parrying blows from the more powerful monsters in the #Ossuary. cyningstan.itch.io/ossuary #ibmpc #msdos #cga #zxspectrum