Back at it with a few questions

[z118]

I have started playing Angband again after a break of several years. The newest version (4.2.4) is great! This is the first time I have played with tiles (Shockbolt Dark) and I am really loving it (although there does not appear to be a tile for kinght's shields). The new variety of level styles is also fantastic.

I did have a few questions; apologies if this has already been discussed.

If I remember correctly, word of destruction used to NOT destroy unidentified artifacts. Is this still the case? If not, are they lost for good?

Are monster, chest, and rubble inventories fixed upon level creation? Do these factor into the level feeling?

Is the level feeling based on the level inventory upon creation or when the feeling first occurs?

What is the point of door destruction, or even doors at all? I seem to recall being able to jam doors (although maybe that was Moria). They don't seem to serve much purpose in this version though.

Is there a way to intentionally trigger a trap? I recall using trapdoors and teleport traps as a means of emergency escape in the past but this doesn't seem possible now.

Thanks to everyone who keeps this game going! It's amazing how great it is and that it continues to improve after all these years.

[Pete Mack]

Door destruction is a leftover from a much earlier version of Angband, when stuck doors were a problem for weak characters. Earlier still there were metal spikes to jam doors, intended as an early unreliable escape. (Recall+phase is universally better.)

[Estie]

...

If I remember correctly, word of destruction used to NOT destroy unidentified artifacts. Is this still the case? If not, are they lost for good?

WoD does remove artifacts, but they remain in the pool and can be found later.

Are monster, chest, and rubble inventories fixed upon level creation? Do these factor into the level feeling?

Items from chests (and rubble) are randomly created as a function of dungeon level thye are found on.

Is the level feeling based on the level inventory upon creation or when the feeling first occurs?

Creation.

What is the point of door destruction, or even doors at all? I seem to recall being able to jam doors (although maybe that was Moria). They don't seem to serve much purpose in this version though.

See Pete's answer above.

Is there a way to intentionally trigger a trap? I recall using trapdoors and teleport traps as a means of emergency escape in the past but this doesn't seem possible now.

Yes. I forgot which key, though.

[Sky]

1. If I remember correctly, word of destruction used to NOT destroy unidentified artifacts. Is this still the case? If not, are they lost for good?

2. Are monster, chest, and rubble inventories fixed upon level creation? Do these factor into the level feeling?

3. Is the level feeling based on the level inventory upon creation or when the feeling first occurs?

4. What is the point of door destruction, or even doors at all? I seem to recall being able to jam doors (although maybe that was Moria). They don't seem to serve much purpose in this version though.

5. Is there a way to intentionally trigger a trap? I recall using trapdoors and teleport traps as a means of emergency escape in the past but this doesn't seem possible now.

1. aaaah yes.. good memories from 3.0.6, where stockpiling artifacts was as easy as finding a vault and reading a *Destruction*.
This used to happen, but no longer does.

2. nops, randomized when you interact with them. Also, nope.
Note that moving a chest to a deeper level does not affect the creation of the items inside .. unfortunately.

3. is there a difference? Anyway, the level feeling is generated immediately, but hidden for a short time.

4. Doors use to take a lot more effort to open, and if you were weak - such as a Gnome Mage - it would take a lot of time. You could also try to both picklock and bash doors, bashing was easier but could stun you.
As said elsewhere, you could spike doors to briefly block mobs from following you. Early Angband was much more of a D&D simulator than the current game.

5. the command is "W"alk; not only Teleport traps and Trapdoor traps, but also monster summoning traps are useful (good bit of extra XP there).

[z118]

3. is there a difference? Anyway, the level feeling is generated immediately, but hidden for a short time.

Thanks!


I was imagining "destroying" an undiscovered artifact or great item with word of destruction before receiving the level feeling, in which case the feeling would still be based on the presence of the artifact/item even though it wasn't there anymore.

[Sky]

unfortunately yes.
another thing you have to watch for is mobs that can puck up items. if you are on an early level and it's LF 2 - 8 and you've explored everything and nothing's there, i guarantee it's a ******* Thief who picked up a potion of EXP.

[Pete Mack]

Way to ntentionally step into a trap?

Yes. I forgot which key, though.

Underscore key, the jump command.

[Sky]

Way to ntentionally step into a trap?

Underscore key, the jump command.

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[Selkie]

unfortunately yes.
another thing you have to watch for is mobs that can puck up items. if you are on an early level and it's LF 2 - 8 and you've explored everything and nothing's there, i guarantee it's a ******* Thief who picked up a potion of EXP.

I'd take the rascally thief stealing a potion of experience any day over finding the potion sitting in the middle of a room with a bunch of cold hounds on the other side

[Pete Mack]

Sky: you asked how to step into a trap. It is the jump command, which I haven't used in a while so I misremembered. It is '-' (hyphen)

[PowerDiver]

Sky: you asked how to step into a trap. It is the jump command, which I haven't used in a while so I misremembered. It is '-' (hyphen)

Isn't this thread about 4.2? It is the 'W'alk command. Or maybe something else if you are using the vi-inspired keys. '?' 'a' gives a list.

[Pete Mack]

Oh yeah, I am using roguelike keyset.