New magic device algorithm in nightlies

[Magnate]

Hi all,

I finally got around to implementing a new algorithm for magic device failure. It's a lot smoother, and works equally well for half-troll warriors and high-elf magi. You can now see the success chance when you inspect the item, and it's affected by temporary status effects (confusion, hallucination, etc. etc.). I also changed the skill display to show your actual device skill. Min fail is now 1%, max is 95%.

The thing that remains to be balanced is the difficulty of different devices. I've left these at their old settings, and the overall result (IMO) is that things are a little bit too easy under the new algorithm. A cl1 half-troll warrior can activate black DSM with about 83% success - I think this is a bit high.

So, I'd like feedback from those of you playing nightlies over the next few weeks: which devices should be a little bit harder to activate, and which (if any) should be a little easier?

Thanks,

CC

[miyazaki]

Is there an easy way to keep my term windows all set up when I download a new nightly? They get reset everytime!

[Netbrian]

Can you clarify the logic to me of having a maximum success rate of 95%? I'd be much more inclined to bother with many magical items if I could actually hit a 100% success rate with them.

[Magnate]

Is there an easy way to keep my term windows all set up when I download a new nightly? They get reset everytime!

Hmmm. I don't know offhand, it's probably something to do with dumping options to a pref file - but since pref files are due for an overhaul, I haven't looked into it. Sorry. One day we will have an intuitive preferences setup where things are automatically loaded for the current @'s class etc., with a set of global prefs (like term windows) that are always loaded. Ho hum.

[Magnate]

Can you clarify the logic to me of having a maximum success rate of 95%? I'd be much more inclined to bother with many magical items if I could actually hit a 100% success rate with them.

You misread my post - I talked about min and max fail rate, not success rate. Max success rate is 99% - per Takkaria's decision.

[Psi]

Is there an easy way to keep my term windows all set up when I download a new nightly? They get reset everytime!

I copy the angband.ini and savefile across to each nightly and that keeps my terms as I want them.

[Magnate]

Ok, I just tweaked this in r1821 to reflect the new maximum skill (cl50 HE mage with max int, Bless and Heroism). IMO this makes things about right (cl1 HT warrior has only 64% chance to activate black DSM), but still interested in feedback. It may be that particular devices are a bit too easy or too hard, or that particular classes (other than warriors and magi, which are the limiting cases) need tweaking.

[miyazaki]

Is there a good reason that I can't load my current character in r1822? The original save file goes back to r1626, I think.

[Magnate]

Is there a good reason that I can't load my current character in r1822? The original save file goes back to r1626, I think.

Yes - savefiles broke somewhere around r1807, and the structure of artifacts changed (three new bytes). Best to finish off your char from the 1626 savefile before upgrading. Sorry.

[miyazaki]

Yes - savefiles broke somewhere around r1807, and the structure of artifacts changed (three new bytes). Best to finish off your char from the 1626 savefile before upgrading. Sorry.

Ah, that makes sense. I am currently playing on r1802. Thanks.

[konijn_]

Hi all,

I finally got around to implementing a new algorithm for magic device failure. It's a lot smoother, and works equally well for half-troll warriors and high-elf magi. You can now see the success chance when you inspect the item, and it's affected by temporary status effects (confusion, hallucination, etc. etc.). I also changed the skill display to show your actual device skill. Min fail is now 1%, max is 95%.

The thing that remains to be balanced is the difficulty of different devices. I've left these at their old settings, and the overall result (IMO) is that things are a little bit too easy under the new algorithm. A cl1 half-troll warrior can activate black DSM with about 83% success - I think this is a bit high.

So, I'd like feedback from those of you playing nightlies over the next few weeks: which devices should be a little bit harder to activate, and which (if any) should be a little easier?

Thanks,

CC

Looks pretty good to me.