N.1 Metalman games
N.1.1 Ironman
The Ironman challenge has very simple rules and is very, very difficult to complete. The PC must travel from the starting point in the Drakalor Chain to the Infinite Dungeon immediately. Stopping in Terinyo or anywhere else is not allowed. Wilderness encounters on the way to the infinite dungeon are allowed in principle, although ideally they should not occur.
The PC enters the Infinite Dungeon immediately upon arriving at the appropriate wilderness square. The PC must descend to the next level of the Infinite Dungeon every time a down staircase is found. No delay is allowed for any reason.
The objective is to retrieve the Sceptre of Chaos from the SIL, return to the surface and leave the Drakalor Chain. It is not necessary to kill MaLaKaI to do this, although in practice it may be unavoidable.
This challenge game has been successfully completed perhaps ten times by various players.
N.1.2 Eternium man
Another challenge game that has very simple rules. The PC must proceed directly from the starting point to the Small Cave. Ideally no wilderness encounters will occur along the way. The PC must stay in the Small Cave until experience level 50 is achieved.
This challenge game has never been completed. Whether it is possible is a matter of debate.
N.1.3 Lithium man
Lithium is the simplest possible metal. The simplest possible ADOM game would be to travel immediately to the CoC, visit the ToEF when necessary and finish the game. No other locations can be visited.
This challenge game has been completed five times by various players.
N.1.4 Other Metalman games
See The ADOM Domain, home of the metalman challenges, for a complete list of metalman games.
N.2 Restricted Games
Players have completed the game with a variety of different restrictions, for a challenge, to demonstrate that it is possible, or to point out a game feature that they regard as abusable or flawed.
Restricted games can involve almost anything: methods of attack, equipment used and religious attitude among others. The game can be completed without using the ratling traders as a food source. It can be completed without using the food the PC starts with and never buying from Munxip. It can be completed without eating any corpses. Never buy from shops. Kill every shopkeeper. The list is infinite...
N.2.1 Restricted attack games
The game has been completed using offensive attacks limited to: only magic, only thrown rocks, only unarmed fighting and only kicking. A game has also been completed where all missile and melee weapon skills were equally developed.
N.2.2 Restricted equipment games
Markku Rikola has completed the game with a PC who picked up no artifacts other than the chaos orbs and never used them. The PC was crowned; sixteen artifacts were generated during the entire game.
N.2.2.1 Carbon Fiber Man
Malte Helmert has completed the game with the most severe equipment restriction posssible - only 100s of inventory can be carried at any given time. This is the ultimate restriction possible since the Chaos Orbs themselves weigh 100s. This means the PC must be naked with no equipment or food when carrying a Chaos Orb. It also means the Chaos Orbs located above the Casino, the Fire and Water Orbs, must be brought past the Eternal Guardian one at a time without the Ring of the High Kings. Since climbing sets weigh 180s, The Tomb of the High Kings, the Rift and the Library are all inaccessible in this challenge game.
Upon first consideration, this game might seem impossible due to food considerations, but Malte reports thas this was not a huge problem, although there were a few tense moments. The PC, a trollish monk, was careful to maintain high piety at all times in case of a food emergency. In addition, strategic caches of food, SoCRs, holy water and an amulet of death ray resistance among others were stored throughout the game, initially in Dwarftown then lower and lower for the dive into the CoC.
Malte reports the most significant problems in this challenge game were surviving the early game then getting the two early orbs and the PC's equipment past a hostile Eternal Guardian in stages.
N.2.3 Restricted tactics games
Many can be envisioned. The Atheist challenge is one where the PC does not acknowledge the existence of the gods, never asks for divine assistance and never uses an altar for any reason. A successful completion of this challenge game has been reported only once, by Griffin Knodle on April 14th, 2001. A more restrictive variant involves denying the existence of holy water. Holy (or unholy) water cannot be acknowledged or used for any reason. A victory under these more restrictive rules has not been reported.
Barbarians are an obvious choice for the Berserker challenge: never change Tactics from berserk, and optionally never wear body armor. This challenge game has been completed at least once with a dwarven barbarian.