Golden Krone Hotel Survival Guide

Here are 18 tips that help me beat the easy mode.

Summary

GKH is a hard but fair chess game. It took me 36 hours to beat the easy mode legitimately. There are limited ways to escape from troubles, so players have to learn from their deaths and foresee dangers in the next run.

Out-of-game Tactics

• Tip 1: Save and quit the game whenever you have cleared a floor/branch or after 10 miniutes' game-play.

Especially above the fifth floor, take every step with a clear mind and a steady hand.

• Tip 2: Build multiple characters at the same time by moving the save file to anther folder.

It works like multiple save slots, not backups. So when you die, your save file will be deleted, but your next high level character will immediately learn a lot from the cause of death. I have brought four characters to the eighth floor before meeting the final boss. The first one was killed (again) by a red robe mage. The second one succeed. I haven't tried the rest yet.

User Interface

• Tip 3: Watch out for red and yellow dots in the mini map.

Enemies and light sources are crucial to your survival.

• Tip 4: Read the log and HP bar in every combat turn.

If you lose a huge amount of HP in a single turn, stop fighting and run for your life.

Potions and Characters

• Tip 5.1: Don't hoard unknown potions.

• Tip 5.2: Figure out the meanings of all potion labels through several runs.

• Tip 5.3: Some potions are hazardrous for Vampires or both Vampires and Humans.

• Tip 5.4: There is one potion that is a one-way ticket to death. Always use scrolls to identify it.

It's OK to waste some unknown potions by drinking so long as you know the risk.

• Tip 6: Raise primary and secondary attributes in a ratio of 2 to 1.

Don't waste points on the third attribute.

• Tip 7: As a Human, if you cannot kill enemies with blade in two truns, use bullets and spells.

Don't wait too many turns to recover HP. Don't be too conservative to use resourses because you cannot always stay in Human form.

• Tip 8: Save Soul Elixirs for emergencies and higher floors.

As a Vampire, when surrounded by a group of Humans, sunlight and water pool, don't hestitate to drink elixir. There are many Humans on the eighth and above floors. I would suggest make peace with them.

Enemies

• Tip 9: Kill Humans on the same floor when you have transformed into Vampires.

Don't get yourself killed, of couse. Killing Vampires on an already explored floor is a waste of time.

• Tip 10: Make a list of elite enemies that you should kill one-by-one.

Here is my list:

• Branch bosses

• Enemies that can poison/burn my character

• Red robe mages

• Crocodiles

Try to lure them away or kill their allies as quickly as possible.

• Tip 11: Beware of mixed type of enemies.

Enemy types	Score
Vampire/Human	1
Elite	2
Others	2

Score	Alert level
1	Cautious
2	Dangerous
3	Very dangerous
4	Life-threatening

• Tip 12: Sometimes you need to let enemies approach you.

Retreat back when facing bats. Don't charge forward to Humans in a lighted room. Go around the corner and let them find you.

Environment

• Tip 13.1: Don't use shift movement when exploring unknown areas.

You might pass by light sources and items or walk into water pools.

• Tip 13.2: Be careful when entering a lighted/dark area as a Vampire/Human.

If there are no red spots on the mini map, rush to the light sources. Otherwise, retreat back into safe zones.

• Tip 14: Don't fight in the sunlight as a Vampire.

Transform into Humans, hide in the shadows or just wait.

• Tip 15.1: Don't open doors as a Vampire.

• Tip 15.2: Open doors as a Human.

There might be enemies lurking behind doors. But Humans should be more aggressive than Vampires.

• Tip 16.1: Use all three upstairs before exploring the next floor.

• Tip 16.2: Use stairs to seperate enemies from their allies.

I learn these tricks from DCSS.

• Tip 17: Try to drink blood during combats.

When fighting in a dark room, you need to retreat back in order to drink blood.

M	#
@	3
1	2

If you(@) move to position [3] directly, the monster(m) will follow you and stand on its blood(#). Take this route instead: [1]->[2]->[3]->[#].

Positon [2] is the closest safe spot between you and your enemy. When entering or escaping combats, take the 2-3 route is possible. Since Humans are twenty percent slower than Vampires, if you are in position [1] and facing a Human enemy, move right along the 1-2 route. On the fifth turn, you will be in positon [2] and you enemy will stay in position [M].

• Tip 18: Choose your form and time wisely when exploring Branches.

Death is a better teacher than me. :)

[bozar]

I beat the normal mode with Light Mage last week. The only locked achievement is Win on Despair Mode. I'm thinking about writing another achievement guide and here is some quick tips:

> Avoid branches, go up stairs until you enemies are too dangerous, and then go back down.

Yes, this is the number one survival guide. I would suggest clear the first seven or eight normal floors before venturing into branches. The game will become easier the moment you get your first ring.

> Go all INT (high level spells will cost you hunger and % of fail will go up).

I choose another approach. I always dump Int and always make sure Dex is 3 points higher than Str. Spells with no more than 25% failure rate are used to nerf the enemy before entering melee combat or to run away from dangers.

[Crestfallen]

First win tip: Scholar is the easieast class to beat the game for the first time. Level up 2 or 3 damage spells, and have some panic button (Inivisibility, Blink, Tele, Haste). Avoid branches, go up stairs until you enemies are too dangerous, and then go back down. Stock on Soul Elixirs, and use them only if you have to. Save spells for difficult foes (hunger will kill you if you cast all the time). Go to Hive when you are low on food. Buy Grimoires from shops. Go all INT (high level spells will cost you hunger and % of fail will go up). Have fun cheesing the final boss.

[Mitchfynde]

Nice guide. The dev shared it.

[Waervyn]

Aaah alright, thanks for the reply (and for the guide) :)

[bozar]

All characters will eventually change into vampires. But one needs potion to become human once again. Some branches, the River or the Greenhouse during daytime, would be safer for a human. So I would recommend save the Soul Elixirs for these branches rahter than go back to an already explored floor.

[Waervyn]

Why is kiling vampires on already explored floors a waste of time? Don't they give exp?