Can't activate my Dragon Scale Mail...

[ScottG]

I found some White Dragon Scale mail in my first Angband game and I have not been able to activate it yet. What stats control this? I have a 10 wisdom and 11 intelligence (Human Warrior).

Thanks for any pointers,
Scott.

[PowerDiver]

I found some White Dragon Scale mail in my first Angband game and I have not been able to activate it yet. What stats control this? I have a 10 wisdom and 11 intelligence (Human Warrior).

Press 'C' and look at the listing for magical device. I think it needs to compare favorably [or at least come close] to the depth of the object which is 50. Yours does not. Warriors are poor with device activations. I think I remember typically needing to be CL 35 before I could activate a rod of teleport other which is native to DL 45, but that was in the old days before device activation rates were changed.

Next time, perhaps you should play a high elf. Humans are a very difficult race to play.

Maybe whoever redid the device activations should consider giving a minimum 50% activation rate the same way that spells get a minimum 50% if you can learn them.

[Derakon]

Your chance of success depends on:

* Your class (determines your innate Magic Devices skill)
* Your intelligence (provides a boost to Magic Devices)
* Whether or not you are confused
* The level of the object (stops mattering once the object hits level 50; white DSM is, coincidentally enough, level 50)

Warriors have low innate Magic Devices skill, your INT isn't doing you any favors, and the item is high level. You can inspect the item with 'I' to see your percentage chance of succeeding, by the way.

[ScottG]

Thanks for the responses,

This character is my first Angband game. I'm playing 3.1.0 on my Android phone. I found the DSM on the floor at 900'. Unfortunately, in my rev the 'I' screen does not show the probability of activation. When I look at the 'C' screen it shows my Magic Device as "Very Good". I guess I just need to get to a higher level and buff up my Int. I'm currently poking around 1450' and am at CL32.

Again, thanks for the info,

scott.

[PowerDiver]

Feel free to sell it. By the time you can activate it well enough to use it, you will want to wear something else.

[Zikke]

Should the screen show the activation % success like it does for all other magic devices?

[Derakon]

Yes, it should -- if he were playing a more recent version. I suspect that nothing shows activation chance in 3.10.

[ScottG]

Feel free to sell it. By the time you can activate it well enough to use it, you will want to wear something else.

Sure enough, I just found Thalkettoth at 1500 feet on a spirit naga. Looks like I'll never get around to activating the DSM...

Again thanks for the newbie tips,
scott.

[Magnate]

Maybe whoever redid the device activations should consider giving a minimum 50% activation rate the same way that spells get a minimum 50% if you can learn them.

That would be me - nice suggestion. Added to ticket #1031 for 3.1.3

[Timo Pietilä]

That would be me - nice suggestion. Added to ticket #1031 for 3.1.3

Put in that same ticket recharge speed increase for DSM:s. Currently they take forever to recharge, so even if you could activate them it is one time use / several fights, perhaps even multiple levels.