Why does Demonic Altar gives you a curse when it's a must-activate thing?

[MaxBedlam]

I think it's kinda unfair. Basically if you run into Demonic Altar room you have to take a curse.

It's not a risk-reward option like with cards devil. You HAVE to do it.

I like when the game gives you option to risk for a reward, but don't like it when it pushes me into getting penalty such as curse.

For example I like how Demonic Chest is optional and can be skipped, or you can risk a dangerous fight by opening it.

[Machin Shin]

its fine bad things always can happen

[Shekdog]

Curses can be good sometimes too, like the explosive barrels curse, it gives you more weapons to hurt the mobs.

[undead]

We want to have some "oh cr*p" moments in the game, when randomness just screws you and you cannot do anything about it except to face your unfortunate fate. Altar rooms are mostly positive, but sometimes you simply run out of luck. It's even better in co-op when people must decide, who takes the bullet for the team.

Curses are mostly bad, but sometimes there might be some benefits of them, as Shekdog pointed out. We want to add more options how to work with them in future. For example we plan to add possibility to turn your hero into a demon. In demon form you are going to benefit from curses and suffer from blessings.

[MaxBedlam]

Some curses ruin the entire run if you can't curse removal item in time.

The curse that halves your HP for example can ruin hard mode and definitely makes insane near-impossible.

The curse that constantly does damage to you but gives you weak life steal can also ruin a run.

[Shekdog]

I kinda like how it is, this is roguelike afterall, random events screwing you over is common practice. Sure you are forced to get yourself cursed, but that's how most of the level layouts are designed.

I just had an insane run a minute ago with 5 different curses active including the Foot, Animate and Explosive Barrels, whenever I go into a room literally everything came alive and tried to kill me, I was cursing (no pun intended) the way through, but in the end I managed to turn some of that to my favours, it was hectic but fun.

[Machin Shin]

i had the curse of midas last time... and goldjaw so, perfect curse... :)

but dont complain, the thing about rogue-lite games is rng it would not be so fun and repeatable for most ppl wihtout

[😒]

Yeah if I get the curese that slowly bleeds you but gives meager lifesteal, I pretty much write the run off unless I can get some antidote fast. Sometimes you get screwed, ha.

[Námumaður]

you can also open the room if you got the key spell... so there are possible ways to avoid the curse beside getting holy water afterwards...

[undead]

This is weird. The Crank[www.imdb.com] curse seemed overpowered during testing. Maybe we made the bleeding too fast. I'll look into it.

[Kivina]

My experience with Crank curse is that there isn't enough things to hit for lifesteal, and that you can one hit a monster and only get one hp. Maybe a percent based off strength? (Instead of damage because crank + war paint + achievement's + Barbarian + some other items = basically killing monsters in a hit or two. (More like 3 or 5))

[deepcut]

I got Crank and then the half-health on top of that... it didn't end well.
These kind of events create highs and lows that are important in rogueish game, but maybe the life regained from Crank is a bit low.

[undead]

With Crank it is important to rush forward and not to fiddle too much with chests, shops and other things. Also it is important to hit enemies with as much regular attacks as possible. I try to avoid dashing, kicking and knockbacking the enemies too much.