First game in IVAN

I just decided to download and play IVAN knowing only three things about it:
1: It's a rogue-like
2: It's an acronym
3: Bananas?

I began the game, read the tidbits of story (Which confirmed my suspicions regarding the bananas), and entered the tunnel.

Ten turns in a large hedgehog killed me. "Ah well, bad luck I suppose."

Game 2: Killed by a hedgehog. Again.

Game 10: Finally managed to get to the boss, and die from it.

Game 15: After being hopelessly slaughtered several times by a giant plant, I managed to kill it. I proceeded to the nearby town, delivered the message, and entered the cave.

Then I was killed by a zombie tourist with a flaming long sword.

Game ~30: After 10 or so hedgehog related deaths (Stupid hedgehogs), I finally managed to get further in the gloomy cave.

I was then polymorphed into a werewolf, lost all my limbs, and died.

This game is amazing.

So, a few questions:
1: How do I re-attach dismembered limbs?
2: How do I increase my carrying capacity?
3: How do I dip my sword in vodka and light it?
4: Tips on beating that first boss?
5: Tips on not getting massacred by hedgehogs?

Hello and welcome!


Yes. Yes, it is.


Pray to gods or pay to priests. Also troll blood (and healing liquid) can regrow your limbs.


Mostly through higher LStr. You can train your LStr by walking around burdened, or artificially through boots of strength. You can also wear (and enchant) a belt of carrying.


fejoa? We've got a request!

Unfortunately, for now you can only dip your sword into vodka ('!' command) and make your enemies drunk through your attacks.


Wands or good weapon and armor. If you want more spoilers

SPOILER ALERT. Click here to see text.


Offer bloody sacrifices to the High God of All Things Spiky while chanting "All hail the mighty Hedgehog!"

Joking aside, don't fight them bare-handed, use any gauntlets or weapon (any weapon at all), as those will stop their spines from destroying your arms. They still can kick your ass, but you will take less damage and thus have much better chance of survival.

Always good to see a new face

Red has good suggestions. I look forward to hearing about your first encounter with the Enner.

Along with what red kangaroo said, the best thing you can possibly do right at the start is pick up a weapon and stick with it for the entire first section (or at least stick within the same weapon type).
That will go a long way to not getting mauled by hedgehogs and the boss. Armor is a crapshoot as to whether you get anything but even the worst armor is better than no armor because a lack of armor results in an increased chance of taking a critical hit.
If you're unable to find a weapon before your first hedgehog, Kenny the puppy can likely take it out for you, otherwise you can probably survive punching one to death. Or you can wield your lantern and probably beat the hedgehog to death with it without risking your arms.

Also, try not to be burdened and rest ("h") to regain health between encounters - pick an empty room to nap in.
If you MUST carry all the stuff and be burdened, at least drop enough to remove the burdened status before getting into a serious fight.

Finally, don't underestimate wands. Basically any of the offensive wands will guarantee you a win against the boss.

Flaming fluids should be possible, just got to do some experiments. Probably not before killing the latest bugs though...

I've finally gotten the hang of getting past that first boss, but I'm having a big problem. All the body armor that's good (Metal stuff) is to heavy for me to use without being burdened.

Also, I found the necromancer in the cathedral's dungeon (Which is also full of alcohol). I was pretty excited and confused when I gave the scroll to the necromancer on accident. Even more when I had found out that I was looking at a different dungeon.

And then I blew it all by kicking a door and making it explode.

Ah yes. Metal armor. While it sounds good on paper, it's drawbacks are a real problem. Most players stick with the best soft armor they can find, and leave plate armor to rust in the dungeon.

If you want to spoil yourself, there is a pretty thorough discussion of the merits of (almost) all the armor types over in the Tips & Tricks section.

Really? Do you mean for the whole game or just early on?

I personally try to stick with the cloth armor tree for the whole game, yes. Only exception would be arcanite plate because it's so much lighter.

As a general rule, if you want to use metal body armor you're going to want to have enough LSTR (carrying capacity) to use it without being burdened, and you're unlikely to be able to do that near the start of the game unless you're carrying next to nothing else.
The good thing is that the tougher metals start to get lighter, and further in you'll have developed more LSTR to carry them.

SPOILER ALERT. Click here to see text.