Author's Walkthrough for Go-Strange-Ghost Range
by Andrew Schultz
This was a submission to EctoComp Petite Mort 2025, where you had 4 hours to code. Graphics were not
counted against the time limit. (Please, no cracks about how they wouldn't have counted much!)
The solution is, in the big picture, fairly straightforward. You need to escape the ghost's
grip, then do something in each of the four other rooms, then return to defeat the ghost. This must
be done in a specific order, but if you do it wrong, the game leaves the right command for reference
in THINK.
The oaf is fully optional. Its mechanics are: OH FADE hides it. OAF AID makes it reappear, but if
it's there, OAF AID toggles the level of detail of its help. This is also visible in the status
line, where the text is always grey in regular mode, but it's yellow/green
(unavailable/available) with OAF AID enhanced.
Go-Strange-Ghost Range has six points/special commands to figure out, and it has no bonus points.
One of the main things to figure out is what sort of command gets you points. The title is a clue,
as is the header, and the books you read at first. "Go-stop-ghost op" is another clue. You
can't leave to the south until you face something down. What's preventing you?
Why, the dull eyes. So deal with them first.
=============================================================================
The dull eyes leave you unable to do anything. Oh, the thoughts they put in your head! You
can't leave until you address them directly. How to address them is the core mechanic of the
game.
>DUH LIES (1)
Now you'll be able to listen to something new, but you can't deal with it until
you're strong enough.
>S
Rue Fear. You feel small and can't see anything.
>ROOF ERE (1)
Okay, you see ways out now.
>S
No trouble? Nothing to see here?
>NOTE RUBBLE (1)
You have a friend now. His not having done too much actually helps with the next bit. Also,
you're done in this room now. The game won't let you return.
>N
>W
Cur streets!
>CURSE TREATS (1)
Dude Well-Do-Dwell's laziness rubs off on your canine adversaries, who are now out of
commission. Again, once you go east, you can't come back, but you don't need to.
>E
>E
You couldn't have done anything before, as the curs would interfere. But now you can...
>HELP LOTS (1)
With all these people, um, entities to assist you, you are ready for the final bit! In fact, you
can't backtrack anywhere else.
>W
>N
If you LISTEN, the Reap Elegy runs through.
>REPEL EDGY (1)
Everyone does their part, including the oaf, whether or not you summoned them.
And you win! There are no secrets unlocked on replay or hidden bonus points.
