Competition 65

[Magnate]

You know, I'd be tempted to make slings have an infinite supply of ammo somehow. So you can either fire whatever shots you have squirreled away, or random other objects. I'm not sure why this strikes me as a good idea since it seems to go against the grain quite a bit.

Perhaps this goes back to the complaint in the 3.1.1 thread about the weight of iron shots. Slings are already the weakest launchers - comparable to shortbows except that arrows are vastly more common in the dungeon than sling ammo. So you have to carry more ammo to compensate for the lower likelihood of finding any (ego sling ammo is extremely rare), and it's painful. So people just don't use slings (except the Buckland variety, of course). Even an extra might sling is just a longbow (or Hxbow for +2) with heavier ammo.

So I'm with you - assuming an infinite supply of pebbles on the dungeon floor is perfectly justifiable.

[Nick]

You know, I'd be tempted to make slings have an infinite supply of ammo somehow. So you can either fire whatever shots you have squirreled away, or random other objects. I'm not sure why this strikes me as a good idea since it seems to go against the grain quite a bit.

You could make the pickup command pick up a rock (1d2) if there are no objects on the floor.

[takkaria]

OK, now I've started thinking about this, and I have a whole new perspective on ranged weapons.

First, why should a sling be good for a rogue? Slings are more of a battlefield type weapon. I would think that a rogue's weapon of choice would be a short bow, or possibly a light crossbow.

Second, the long bow is a highly specialised weapon - it needed a lot of training and strength to be handled correctly. It should be the weapon of choice for rangers, and usable by warriors and maybe some of the other half-casters, but not the universal ranged solution that it currently is.

So, why would you use a sling when you could use a bow or crossbow? Well, they're cheap and light (so good for the early game); also, you could throw other stuff with them besides shots. You could even use one as a spear-thrower.

So, here's a plan:

• Rogues lose their sling bonus.
• Use of a long bow well will require the player to have some combination of being a ranger and having decent strength.
• Slings come in two types, with a x1 or x2 multiplier, and any 'throwing' thing can be thrown with them. Why even use a x1 sling? Because it will get extra range, and can be enchanted up. Care will be needed not to overpower throwing weapons.

Thoughts?

You know, I'd be tempted to make slings have an infinite supply of ammo somehow. So you can either fire whatever shots you have squirreled away, or random other objects. I'm not sure why this strikes me as a good idea since it seems to go against the grain quite a bit.

[Nick]

Competition 65 is officially finished now - congratulations to evariste on yet another win. Well done too to the owners of the other 5 game winners (), and several others who got close.

[Pete Mack]

Yah. Mana burn is about as awesome as Fury (for warriors), except it keeps its awesomeness to the endgame.
The unlight + mana burn specialties are what make Rogue/Assassin the preferred FA classes. Unlight lets you get started without disturbing monsters. Mana burn lets you kill them more quickly and safely once you start getting extra blows.

The equivalent warrior progression is (possibly) Fury to get a powerful start, followed by Shield Mastery to keep you safer in combat once you are sufficiently tough.

[Nick]

Lint has just killed Mim and need to choose a second specialty.

All the winners have taken Mana Burn second - use that information as you will

[buzzkill]

Lint has just killed Mim and need to choose a second specialty. I'm considering Marksman since I'm relying heavily on my bow right now. It dropped Mim fairly quickly. Looking for confirmation or other suggestions. The dump is here.

[Nick]

Isn't it an option simply to allow objects to be generated on top of rubble in the desert levels, so the objects don't get concentrated in the open areas near the entrances?

Yeah, good point. The new sand terrain in 4.0 will change things, too.

[Cave Man]

It is already a special case in terms of wilderness generation, it just needs to be a special case in terms of the autoscummer too.

Be careful nerfing it though, as you could completely destroy thrall mode!

Are you sure its Anf58 that's the problem. I've found all the desert levels highly productive (speedy3 found his first 3 arts in the short time spent in Anf 50/52) - I suspect we find more on 58 because we spend more time on 58. I only grab what I see on 56, whereas I often dObject on 58, esp. at night. Isn't it an option simply to allow objects to be generated on top of rubble in the desert levels, so the objects don't get concentrated in the open areas near the entrances?

[Nick]

Be careful nerfing it though, as you could completely destroy thrall mode!

Well yes - although my initial thought about thralls was that they would run in the opposite direction. I've had some more thoughts, but they might be better in the 036 thread.

[Psi]

Yeah, this Anfauglith 58 thing is getting out of hand.

It is already a special case in terms of wilderness generation, it just needs to be a special case in terms of the autoscummer too.

Be careful nerfing it though, as you could completely destroy thrall mode!

[Nick]

At the moment it is looking like neither...!

Yeah, this Anfauglith 58 thing is getting out of hand.

[Psi]

It would take a braver man than me to pick that one at the moment...

At the moment it is looking like neither...!

[Nick]

So, what odds will people give on evariste vs Psi?

It would take a braver man than me to pick that one at the moment...

[buzzkill]

I think your best bet is shooting him with the 2d6 arrows. Also, I always fight him hasted, and you don't seem to have a source of speed.

I know it's going to be a tough fight, one I may not win. I've got Potions of Speed on order and I rely on my bow for a lot on fighting.