Angband (or variant) Feature Suggestion Poll/Feedback thread

[Pete Mack]

OK, I've got an alternative suggestion - make all the existing stats more like stealth; in fact, exactly like HP. For each stat, at each increase in character level, either boost it by one or don't, in such a way that they all end up at 18/100 at level 50. Preferably, randomly select the levels to allocate these at birth, like for hitpoints. No more stat gain, no more stat potions.

I'm against this: UnAngband and Steamband work this way, more or less, although you don't ever get to 18/100; more like 18/90 or 18/80. The trouble with this is it makes diving easier in an entirely predictable way: the faster you dive, the more CON, etc you get. Currently, if you dive fast, you get lots of good gear, and level up quickly, but you take a big risk until your HP catches up.

[Nick]

F011 A V1 "Add stealth as a stat"

In place of Charisma, as detailed in original thread
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I'll keep it a separate feature request because I don't want people to have to choose between charisma as a stat and stealth as a stat (if they don't want to).

OK, I've got an alternative suggestion - make all the existing stats more like stealth; in fact, exactly like HP. For each stat, at each increase in character level, either boost it by one or don't, in such a way that they all end up at 18/100 at level 50. Preferably, randomly select the levels to allocate these at birth, like for hitpoints. No more stat gain, no more stat potions.

[Magnate]

I really like this idea.

V+++

Glad you like it, but I hasten to point out that it's not my idea. I can't remember whose it was, sadly, but I definitely read it somewhere (probably either this forum on rgra).

Thinking about it though, I don't really see why the 2nd option is necessary - I can't think of (m)any macros I ever make which are race-specific. Options 1, 3 and 4 would suit me fine.

CC

[Jungle_Boy]

V++ Change "append macros to file" into four options:
- 1: save this macro to user.prf (loaded every game)
- 2: save this macro to <current race>.prf (loaded every time a character of that race is loaded)
- 3: save this macro to <current class>.prf (as above for that class)
- 4: save this macro to <current name>.prf (loaded only for this specific character)

I waste hours re-defining macros, because they're never saved where I need them.

I really like this idea.

V+++

[Magnate]

Like others, I support the basic idea of trying to corral feature requests and establish some sort of consensus as to relative priority. But I can't help feeling that a forum thread is a totally inappropriate vehicle to do it. Forum threads are intended for recording the chronological flow of discussions - this thread is less than 24 hours old and it's already almost impossible to follow and contains numerous edits - not to mention two different voting systems (of which I prefer Nolendil's).

I'd suggest the tracker, but I gather that Takkaria prefers end user suggestions and bug reports not to be put on the tracker directly. I'm not certain that's true, as the tracker is world-writable, which seems to indicate that he's happy for anyone to post to it.

So, Pav - how about a subforum of this one, called Feature Requests? Then each feature request can have its own thread, with a poll. It would then be trivially easy to see which features have the most votes. It would be difficult to restrict the number of feature requests people voted on, but I don't think that really matters. There would still be more votes for the more popular requests, which is what counts.

Anyway:

V++++++++++++ Get rid of magic mushroom patches. Completely.

V++ Nerf zephyr hounds (higher rarities, smaller packs, shorter awareness range)

V++ Include character history in chardumps

V++ Change "append macros to file" into four options:
- 1: save this macro to user.prf (loaded every game)
- 2: save this macro to <current race>.prf (loaded every time a character of that race is loaded)
- 3: save this macro to <current class>.prf (as above for that class)
- 4: save this macro to <current name>.prf (loaded only for this specific character)

I waste hours re-defining macros, because they're never saved where I need them.

[takkaria]

F014 monsters waking up shouldn't act right away
- as per http://angband.oook.cz/forum/showthread.php?t=1439 - this may have already been implemented, but i checked trac and didn't see anything

Apparently you didn't check the thread either :P d_m said "I submitted a patch for this recently and it got accepted into HEAD. So in time it'll be fixed."

[bebo]

F003 A V- Combine points-based with standard roller
-A step backwards. Keep the old roller for sentimental reasons if you must, but I see no point in messing with the current ideal setup.

F006 A V- Store pre-order system
-A needless half-measure between ideal store stocking and NPP store services.

F010 A V+++ Merge dTraps & dStairs prayers
-For obvious reasons, I support this change.

I'm with you on these

In the past i've been a strong supporter of store services, but now that i'm forcing myself to avoid townscumming i must admit i'm enjoying the game quite more as is; still, i wouldn't be against them

I'd like also to add

F013 A improve mage sleep/confusion/slow/polumorph/wonder spells
- waiting for 3.2, where casters will be fully reworked/balanced (ie buffed), at the moment these are almost useless; i remember suggesting something for wonder in particular here http://angband.oook.cz/forum/showthread.php?t=1437


F014 monsters waking up shouldn't act right away
- as per http://angband.oook.cz/forum/showthread.php?t=1439 - this may have already been implemented, but i checked trac and didn't see anything


F015 slightly reduce natural depth of scrolls of acquirement
- by the point i get them, the ego's they give are 3 times out of 5 (rough estimate) worse than what i already possess; as a side note i think the new stat potion distribution is great

[PaulBlay]

Here's the more original thread. It was Antoine's idea (I'm just an adherent ).

OK, I've updated the link and originator. I'll sneak in another feature request as well.

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(PaulBlay)
F012 A V0 "Macro command 'pause and accept direction/target'"

Suggested in this thread.
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[Donald Jonker]

I shall take this opportunity to add
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(Donald Jonker)
F011 A V1 "Add stealth as a stat"

In place of Charisma, as detailed in original thread
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Here's the more original thread. It was Antoine's idea (I'm just an adherent ).

[PaulBlay]

I'm not sure I understand the primary/secondary vote system.. Is this to pressure concentration on only a few of the proposals?

I want to know what people really want, not just give them the option to say 'I'll have everything, please'. I think picking your three favourites is a reasonable compromise (rather than forcing you to pick just one).

I don't see what's gained by that. Anyway, I adopted Nolendil's system.

You are welcome to do so, but I will convert (as closely as I can) to my system when counting votes.

F001 A V+++ Remove charisma
-Charisma should be removed not only because it's useless (varying store prices isn't, IMO, a useful dynamic), but to make way for Stealth as a replacement, which would add a great deal of tactical depth to the game. If Angband had NPCs, pets, parties, or something, maybe there'd be a use for it - but it's not an RPG, and we can stop pretending.

I shall take this opportunity to add
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(Donald Jonker)
F011 A V1 "Add stealth as a stat"

In place of Charisma, as detailed in original thread
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I'll keep it a separate feature request because I don't want people to have to choose between charisma as a stat and stealth as a stat (if they don't want to).

[Donald Jonker]

I'm not sure I understand the primary/secondary vote system.. Is this to pressure concentration on only a few of the proposals? I don't see what's gained by that. Anyway, I adopted Nolendil's system.

F001 A V+++ Remove charisma
-Charisma should be removed not only because it's useless (varying store prices isn't, IMO, a useful dynamic), but to make way for Stealth as a replacement, which would add a great deal of tactical depth to the game. If Angband had NPCs, pets, parties, or something, maybe there'd be a use for it - but it's not an RPG, and we can stop pretending.

F002 A V++ Add player history to character dumps
-The notes patch works wonderfully in NPP, FA and other variants. No reason to not import it into V as well. I don't particularly care about dump length - dumps can always be manually abridged in forum entries, if that's the concern.

F003 A V- Combine points-based with standard roller
-A step backwards. Keep the old roller for sentimental reasons if you must, but I see no point in messing with the current ideal setup.

F004 A V? Context sensitive help for inventory / equipment
-Don't care.

F005 A V+ Update help for (f)ire an item
-Why not.

F006 A V- Store pre-order system
-A needless half-measure between ideal store stocking and NPP store services.

F007 A V? Support for roguelike keys in "Newbie command menu"
-Seems unnecessary since there's a help file for this, but I have nothing against it.

F008 A V- User friendly display of existing macro trigger keys and actions
-As someone pointed out in the relevant thread, this info is already available. With no previous exposure to macros, it took me about 3 minutes to figure it out. Don't really see the need here.

F009 A V- Advanced macro handling with actions, not keypresses, shown
-As above, nothing wrong with macros as is.

F010 A V+++ Merge dTraps & dStairs prayers
-For obvious reasons, I support this change.

[PaulBlay]

Good idea to try and organize feature requests.
I think this could be stickied and the detailed discussion about each feature would stay in his own thread.
However, some more separations (such as lines of "------" between requests) might help reading.
Putting all requests in the first post and a sum up of vote in another would be nice too.

Well, here's a quick vote.
I'll use :
* V+ to V+++ to note how much I'd like a feature, rather than using 1/2/3 so that I can express my vision about as many request as I want.

Heretic. :-P

No, I don't care really but your system will get re-interpreted as mine when it comes time to count up the votes.

Thanks for participating.

F004 A V? Context sensitive help for inventory / equipment

I don't understand what you want. If it's like 'I', there's nothing to change.

Did you look at the linked thread? (The old title is misleading - that was pre-edit)

Basically a '?' while your inventory list (from 'i') or your equipment list (from 'e') is showing will display the help page shown in that thread. It gives a summary of all commands that use items in the inventory / equipment as well as a brief description of what the various keys used during such actions do.

[Nolendil]

Good idea to try and organize feature requests.
I think this could be stickied and the detailed discussion about each feature would stay in his own thread.
However, some more separations (such as lines of "------" between requests) might help reading.
Putting all requests in the first post and a sum up of vote in another would be nice too.

Well, here's a quick vote.
I'll use :
* V+ to V+++ to note how much I'd like a feature, rather than using 1/2/3 so that I can express my vision about as many request as I want.
* V- to V--- for features I wouldn't want.
* V= when I'm neutral but want everyone to know it
* V? when I don't understand the request or its purpose


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F001 A V- Remove charisma

I'd prefer to improvement over removal

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F002 A V+ Add player history to character dumps

I don't mind if it's in another file as long as it's saved at the same time.

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F003 A V? Combine points-based with standard roller

I don't mind as long as pure point-based character creation stays but I don't see the point.
And I don't think the roller should be removed either.

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F004 A V? Context sensitive help for inventory / equipment

I don't understand what you want. If it's like 'I', there's nothing to change.

-----------------

F005 A V++ Update help for (f)ire an item

Having wrong info in help files is bad.

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F006 A V+ Store pre-order system

Probably needs some more though but I like the idea

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F007 A V+++ Support for roguelike keys in "Newbie command menu"

I always use roguelike keys and more support for them is welcome.

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F008 A V+ User friendly display of existing macro trigger keys and actions

I don't use macro much, but more accessible information is always good.

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F009 A V- Advanced macro handling with actions, not keypresses, shown

Too much work needed. And clever macros should work most of the time.

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F010 A V++ Merge dTraps & dStairs prayers

Less keypresses is good for something as trivial. Should the mana cost be increased a bit?

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[PaulBlay]

I don't feel that difficulty in coding should necessarily be considered in the preliminary analysis of new features. A good idea, is a good idea regardless of the difficulty of implementation. The final decision to implement such an idea is goes to the maintainer, who has a voice, and who will ultimately make the call.

Good point. Although I think that people should in general have the right to vote on whatever basis they like.

EDIT: Let me throw in a vote for keeping the rollers (at least as an option if nothing else). I like random generation, it's what Angband is about, and I don't see any incompatibility or need to eliminate them.

My suggestion above doesn't eliminate random generation, it just puts an upper limit on the values generated identical to the upper limit that the points-based system has. I suspect the standard roller rarely gets above the points-based one (you can't actually get a base value of 18 and the minimum value is 8 instead of 10). The autoroller is an rather different beastie, of course.

Anyway I'm taking your post as

F003 A V- Combine points-based with standard roller

(vote against combining points-based with standard roller)

unless you change your mind. Thanks for getting involved

[buzzkill]

... and this would be very difficult to code.

I don't feel that difficulty in coding should necessarily be considered in the preliminary analysis of new features. A good idea, is a good idea regardless of the difficulty of implementation. The final decision to implement such an idea is goes to the maintainer, who has a voice, and who will ultimately make the call.

EDIT: Let me throw in a vote for keeping the rollers (at least as an option if nothing else). I like random generation, it's what Angband is about, and I don't see any incompatibility or need to eliminate them.

unless you change your mind. Thanks for getting involved

I seldom change my mind... because I'm seldom wrong.