Uncursed negative Magical Bonuses

[Cauldron]

I am new to Vanilla 3.1.0 beta, and I came across an interesting feature this morning: I found 2 weapons, a cutlass and a mace, that pseudo-id'd as {magical}. So, naturally, I wielded the mace, and proceeded to delve.

When i hit level 11, I ID'd the {magical} items, and to my surprise, both were negative in the to-hit and damage fields. Yet they were not cursed.

So, I had two magically penalized weapons without a curse.

What's up with that?

-P

[Pete Mack]

It's a fair trade for not having to worry about sticky curses for most objects, and for having strong pseudo for all classes. You can ID by testing, at least for weapons. {magical} armor isn't worth bothering with.

[PaulBlay]

So, I had two magically penalized weapons without a curse.

What's up with that?

Well, it's "by design". I'm not really sure what the rationale for having negative bonus magical items pseudo id the same as positive bonus magical items, but I'm sure it will make people all the more grateful that drop rates/stack numbers for Scrolls of Identify has been (will shortly be?) increased.

... Man that was a long sentence.

****
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[Cauldron]

OK. Thanks for your time. Quick follow-up: Do OoDraining still destroy cursd objects, yes? So, these will be left behind by the Orb, is that correct?

[Mondkalb]

It's definitely a benefit in the later game. You will know when you are rummaging through heaps of stuff from orc/troll/titan/dragon pits and only have to bother with {excellent} or {special} stuff and can forget about anything {magical}. Particularly this is great for rangers compared to their weak pseudo ID from earlier game versions.

[Cauldron]

Ok, now I've found an Amulet of Resist Lightning {cursed}. Will beneficial items regularly be cursed as well? Or is this actually unintentional?

-P

[Magnate]

Ok, now I've found an Amulet of Resist Lightning {cursed}. Will beneficial items regularly be cursed as well? Or is this actually unintentional?

-P

Nope, this is intentional too - it's the flip side of the same change: sticky curses are no longer found only on 'bad' items. To be honest, I've not found a single cursed item in my last five games (but I do squelch a lot).

[Pete Mack]

Wear it. It's the most efficient way to identify Remove Curse scrolls.

[Cauldron]

Wear it. It's the most efficient way to identify Remove Curse scrolls.

Well, since I'm playing a mage & I'm past level 11, I'll just ID them, thanks.

-P