Detection Radii

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  • Netbrian
    Adept
    • Jun 2009
    • 141

    Detection Radii

    One of the recent Angband improvements was to change detection spells so that they detected the same area, regardless of monitor size and resolution. While this was certainly a necessary change, I think it would be worthwhile to scale detection ranges up as a character gets more powerful. It could depend on spellcasting stat, level, or magical device skill. Later in the game, having to re-detect stuff so often feels a bit like busy-work.

    I think detect doors/stairs/traps should have a range that increases steadily until about level 35 or so, at which point characters would be able to scan the entire level at once.

    I'm more ambivalent about magic mapping, but it doesn't seem like it'd be a big deal if it also scaled (allowing you to map the entire dungeon at level 45 or so.) It could potentially be used to stairscum for vaults, but I'd be surprised if it made a huge difference -- people can always just stairscum for a vault that's closer by.

    Gold detection would be fine if it covered the whole level, but object detection would be problematic (it'd encourage people to enter a level, detect for any interesting items, and repeat, even moreso than the game already does). However, I think it'd be okay if it did scale to a certain extent, perhaps to a maximum of two to four times its current range.

    Monster detection is probably fine as is.

    What do other people think? I'm trying to focus on ways to eliminate busywork without substantially changing game difficulty or making undesirable behaviors more attractive.
  • Elsairon
    Adept
    • Apr 2007
    • 117

    #2
    I find the current distances sufficient. I have found myself deciding between stepping past the detected area or not, or taking one turn to cast detection as a tactical risk that increased my enjoyment of the game in some situations. Increasing the detection ranges would reduce (or eliminate) that risk/reward fun for me.

    Comment

    • bron
      Knight
      • May 2008
      • 515

      #3
      I don't agree with this; that's what Enlightenment/Clairvoyance is for. You want this power, play a Priest.

      Comment

      • Napsterbater
        Adept
        • Jun 2009
        • 177

        #4
        I disagree as well. You might as well remove Detect Traps from the game and replace it with an intrinsic that you would get as soon as you gained the ability to cast the spell.
        This thread, it needs more rage. -- Napstopher Walken

        Comment

        • Magnate
          Angband Devteam member
          • May 2007
          • 5110

          #5
          Personally I agree with the OP that detection ranges should increase with character power (whether that's better spell versions, or clev-dependent, or whatever - doesn't matter). But y'all ought to know that Takkaria doesn't share this view, so it isn't happening. Detection ranges are staying constant (and rectangular).
          "Been away so long I hardly knew the place, gee it's good to be back home" - The Beatles

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