Robbing the Black Market

[AresRomanGod]

Pretty much. You got the gist of it.

[fsk]

What's the maximum number of shops that can spawn in the game?  Can you get one on every level 2..15, or is there a lower limit?

[Marty]

The other day I tried to rob the ankh salesman. There happened to be a man-eating plant on the ground above him, so I knocked it out, set it on the floor of his shop, and picked up the ankh like I was about to buy it. (When you do this, the shopkeeper will walk over to you, making it more likely that he will eventually get eaten.) I knew that he would soon burst out of the flower, so I ran. I noticed that I automatically picked up bombs from the other stores in the black market, and none of the other shopkeepers tried to chase me! Unfortunately I either died in some stupid way not long after, or got hit by the aggro'd dude's shotgun after he burst from the plant's belly.

[Anifanatic]

What's the maximum number of shops that can spawn in the game?  Can you get one on every level 2..15, or is there a lower limit?

It's a random chance. You could get one after another for several levels, or never see any at all, just like for damsels. I don't know if it's possible to get a shop on every level or on zero levels (I usually die before I can find out though).

[eguee]

I've gotten 0 shops before.

[AresRomanGod]

I've gotten 0 shops before.

The game is unbeatable without shops, isn't it? Or at least when I try. Every game that I've had without shops, I've only made it so far until I'm stuck somewhere and the ghost has to come to kill me.

[johnnoz]

i'm pretty sure you can do it. Thinking about it on successful runs i tend to only use bombs and ropes to get crates, rarely needing them to get out of impossible situations - all of which were avoidable.

[fsk]

The game is unbeatable without shops, isn't it? Or at least when I try. Every game that I've had without shops, I've only made it so far until I'm stuck somewhere and the ghost has to come to kill me.

I saw a YouTube video where a guy won with only the starting items, never picking anything up, and never taking damage.

[Delmion]

The game is unbeatable without shops, isn't it? Or at least when I try. Every game that I've had without shops, I've only made it so far until I'm stuck somewhere and the ghost has to come to kill me.

Uh, hang on: are you asking whether the game is unbeatable without shops, or without the items that you can get from shops-or-crates-or-solid-rock-itself?  Because certainly you don't need shops in order to get lucky and find super-powered whatsits.  And even beyond that, as noted, some people will take it as a challenge to get through the game without using items.  Sure you could do it.

(And, as long as I'm on this subject: the Sceptre doesn't come from a shop, and getting it almost assures that a final-shortcut-run of mine ends in winning the game.)

--Delmion

[GreyMario]

The Scepter is weak because it targets corpses.

The Shotgun is weak because it doesn't shoot through walls.

The Boomerang is weak because it doesn't do much damage.

[fsk]

The Scepter is weak because it targets corpses.

The Shotgun is weak because it doesn't shoot through walls.

The Boomerang is weak because it doesn't do much damage.

There's a boomerang?

[AresRomanGod]

The Scepter is weak because it targets corpses.

The Shotgun is weak because it doesn't shoot through walls.

The Boomerang is weak because it doesn't do much damage.

There's a boomerang?

Yeah, since when the hell are there boomerangs?

And corpses aren't a problem. Just make sure to group all of the enemies into one small place.

[johnnoz]

I thiiiink he might be talking about the bow... but there seriously should be a boomerang in the game! with zelda-like returning directly to you.

[AresRomanGod]

I thiiiink he might be talking about the bow... but there seriously should be a boomerang in the game! with zelda-like returning directly to you.

That would be awesome.

[GreyMario]

Actually, I'm talking about the standard Legend of Zelda boomerang, not the Spelunky bow. :V