First game in years just destroyed my interest

[Derakon]

I belive you roll a d100 (or somesuch) and add device skill then compare your score against a table of outcomes. Or something like that...

This is correct. I went ahead and dug up the copy of the source I have on this computer (which is 3.5.0) and found effect_wonder():

bool effect_wonder(int dir, int die, int beam)
{
/* This spell should become more useful (more
   controlled) as the player gains experience levels.
   Thus, add 1/5 of the player's level to the die roll.
   This eliminates the worst effects later on, while
   keeping the results quite random.  It also allows
   some potent effects only at high level. */

    bool visible = FALSE;
    int py = p_ptr->py;
    int px = p_ptr->px;
    int plev = p_ptr->lev;

    if (die > 100)
    {
        /* above 100 the effect is always visible */
        msg("You feel a surge of power!");
        visible = TRUE;
    }

    if (die < 8) visible = clone_monster(dir);
    else if (die < 14) visible = speed_monster(dir);
    else if (die < 26) visible = heal_monster(dir);
    else if (die < 31) visible = poly_monster(dir);
    else if (die < 36)
        visible = fire_bolt_or_beam(beam - 10, GF_MISSILE, dir,
                                    damroll(3 + ((plev - 1) / 5), 4));
    else if (die < 41) visible = confuse_monster(dir, plev, FALSE);
    else if (die < 46) visible = fire_ball(GF_POIS, dir, 20 + (plev / 2), 3);
    else if (die < 51) visible = light_line(dir);
    else if (die < 56)
        visible = fire_beam(GF_ELEC, dir, damroll(3+((plev-5)/6), 6));
    else if (die < 61)
        visible = fire_bolt_or_beam(beam-10, GF_COLD, dir,
                                    damroll(5+((plev-5)/4), 8));
    else if (die < 66)
        visible = fire_bolt_or_beam(beam, GF_ACID, dir,
                                    damroll(6+((plev-5)/4), 8));
    else if (die < 71)
        visible = fire_bolt_or_beam(beam, GF_FIRE, dir,
                                    damroll(8+((plev-5)/4), 8));
    else if (die < 76) visible = drain_life(dir, 75);
    else if (die < 81) visible = fire_ball(GF_ELEC, dir, 30 + plev / 2, 2);
    else if (die < 86) visible = fire_ball(GF_ACID, dir, 40 + plev, 2);
    else if (die < 91) visible = fire_ball(GF_ICE, dir, 70 + plev, 3);
    else if (die < 96) visible = fire_ball(GF_FIRE, dir, 80 + plev, 3);
    /* above 100 'visible' is already true */
    else if (die < 101) drain_life(dir, 100 + plev);
    else if (die < 104) earthquake(py, px, 12);
    else if (die < 106) destroy_area(py, px, 15, TRUE);
    else if (die < 108) banishment();
    else if (die < 110) dispel_monsters(120);
    else /* RARE */
    {
        dispel_monsters(150);
        slow_monsters();
        sleep_monsters(TRUE);
        hp_player(300);
    }

    return visible;
}

This is definitely changed from what I remember; the die roll is passed in from outside, and I don't remember the character level modifier (which is provided external to this function; casting the spell and using a wand have the same character-level-based modifier, no evidence of device skill modifiers anywhere).

But yeah, to get the "RARE" effect (150 damage to all monsters in LOS + slow all monsters + sleep all monsters + 300HP heal), you need to be level 50 and then pass a 1%-odds check. You only stop being able to get the "clone monster" effect at level 40 and you're always at risk of getting haste/heal/polymorph monster effects.

Getting Earthquake as a level-9 warrior should be impossible, though, so maybe I'm missing something? It shouldn't be possible until you're at least level 20, and even at level 50 you only have 2% odds of triggering it on each use.

[Cold_Heart]

OP never said he was on 3.5 I think.

[wobbly]

You only stop being able to get the "clone monster" effect at level 40 and you're always at risk of getting haste/heal/polymorph monster effects.

Though if I'm reading the numbers right you have roughly a 1 in 4 chance of a ball attack if you aim next to or in front of the target which is interesting.

[krazyhades]

I don't know what wasn't clear about what I wrote, but I'm trapped. I tried tunneling through the quartz for several thousand turns already.

As for being a quitter-- I didn't quit, I just lost, without making any obvious mistakes I can correct for in my next game. I dunno what part of that sounds motivating to you guys. Secondly, I think the humour of my post eluded you. I am frustrated, but the scenario is still hillarious.


edit: Debo: yeah I know, I'm still bummed out.

Yeah only in my edits did I really get your stuck-ness, and I definitely missed the frustrated humor in there, and only read the frustrated. I was a bit hot headed myself in my post, so apologies for being such an ass.

Good luck and have fun. May the RNGods favor you, since you've earned up some karma with them I should hope.

[AnonymousHero]

Goodbye angband.oook.cz.

Every character dies. Some are fortunate/good enough to kill Morgoth on the way. In short: Get over it and suicide+start a new character. (Level 10 is nothing.)

[Nightmarjoo]

I'm using 3.5.1, completely unmodified from what I got off rephial.

I never got an objectively bad effect from the wand (heal, haste, etc). It seemed weird to me at the time, but I didn't care too much since it was killing him. I deeply cared after he died when I realized my predicament.

[Timo Pietilä]

I didn't quit, I just lost, without making any obvious mistakes I can correct for in my next game.

Carry a digger. Too obvious to be noticed I guess. Shovel is sufficient.

It's not just getting trapped, you might want to be able to dig into closed vault.

[dstyle]

Shovel is always my first purchase in a new game, even if it means I don't have enough starting money left over for extra pieces of armor, phase scrolls, or anything else.

The reason being, so that I can start digging out those treasure veins right away, but I guess this a situation like this is just as good of a reason too

[Ingwe Ingweron]

Shovel is always my first purchase in a new game, even if it means I don't have enough starting money left over for extra pieces of armor, phase scrolls, or anything else.

The reason being, so that I can start digging out those treasure veins right away, but I guess this a situation like this is just as good of a reason too

I thought shovel (average or good) "does not affect granite"

[Derakon]

I thought shovel (average or good) "does not affect granite"

Treasure's never buried in granite; it's always in a magma or quartz vein.

Personally I find digging for treasure to be dull, but to each their own.

[Ingwe Ingweron]

Treasure's never buried in granite; it's always in a magma or quartz vein.

Personally I find digging for treasure to be dull, but to each their own.

Sorry, I wasn't clear, I was referring to the trapped by cave-in predicament in the original post and the suggestion that carrying a digger was an obvious solution. Pick yes, shovel no, unless it's excellent.

[dstyle]

In the screenshot OP posted, there were some quartz veins he could have dug out and at least had a chance to get free.

Also, you can dig through granite with anything, provided you have enough strength (admittedly, unlikely for a 10 minute old character)

[Timo Pietilä]

I thought shovel (average or good) "does not affect granite"

Depends of the char. You can dig through granite with dagger if you are strong enough. That +1 to digging does affect quite a lot to point when it does start affecting granite. Weapon (and I guess diggers) weight affect digging too, so very heavy weapon might be just as good in digging as shovel would be.

Funny thing is that you can dig through doors quite fast. If you have a door that is stuck it might be faster to dig through it than trying to bash through it (at least because you try 10x by default with digging if there are nothing interrupting your digging).

[wobbly]

Funny thing is that you can dig through doors quite fast. If you have a door that is stuck it might be faster to dig through it than trying to bash through it (at least because you try 10x by default with digging if there are nothing interrupting your digging).

In a way this makes sense. Your going to have a lot more luck shoving a pick through a door then your shoulder.

Maybe 'B'ash should sense the quickest way & dig if the odds are better?