Is it a bug, or a misfeature?

[saw]

Ok... the average adventurer, no matter how low his intelligence score, is not likely to turn to his left, and walk face-first into a wall.

That said...

It's understandable, that an average adventurer, in a state of magically (or biologically) invoked confusion might in fact, turn to his left, and walk face first into a wall.

With this basic understanding, which I think we can all agree is acceptably accurate...

Could someone please adjust the code such that, if your fingertips slip a bit to the left, and you end up requesting a south-west movement instead of a move due-south, the ancient multi-hued dragon does NOT get an extra 50 meele attacks resulting in the character (with an 18/30 intelligence, and 40 levels of experience) to suffer a brutal death?

In more technical terms... Walking into a wall should NOT occupy a turn. Walking into a wall while CONFUSED should indeed, occupy a turn, and (as would be the honest case in many situations) result in the wall causing 1 or 2 HP of damage (depending on AC), and perhaps also, resulting in additional confusion (especially if you clang your helmet on the granite). I think that's a fair trade, no?

[Derakon]

The reason for walking into a wall taking a turn is so that characters without See Invisible can't bump into every wall they see on the off-chance that there's an enemy in it.

I think requiring characters to control-move into walls to "attack" them (or alternately, requiring them to use the (T)unnel command) would be a better way to handle this, personally.

[Ycombinator]

It does?! I walked into wall so many times in the center of vault full of enemies (not insta-killers of course, but dangerous enemies they were). Ouch. @ needs to rest in his home to think more about meaning of life, universe and everything

[saw]

The reason for walking into a wall taking a turn is so that characters without See Invisible can't bump into every wall they see on the off-chance that there's an enemy in it.

I think requiring characters to control-move into walls to "attack" them (or alternately, requiring them to use the (T)unnel command) would be a better way to handle this, personally.

We should also ask, and let's think this through too... how can someone with a sword attack a ghost embedded in a wall anyway (unless you tunnel)? They should only be eligible to attack (or get hit) by something when it's NOT in a wall.

I would guess, that if you took a swipe at a ghost embedded in a wall, your sword would go CLANG and your hand would go numb for a few minutes... no?

[Jungle_Boy]

It's a 2D game, the ghost is obviously laid flat against the wall like wallpaper, allowing you to hit him.

[Magnate]

It does?! I walked into wall so many times in the center of vault full of enemies (not insta-killers of course, but dangerous enemies they were). Ouch. @ needs to rest in his home to think more about meaning of life, universe and everything

I don't think walking into a wall takes a turn. I'm sure, in fact - I just tested it.

[Derakon]

We should also ask, and let's think this through too... how can someone with a sword attack a ghost embedded in a wall anyway (unless you tunnel)? They should only be eligible to attack (or get hit) by something when it's NOT in a wall.

I would guess, that if you took a swipe at a ghost embedded in a wall, your sword would go CLANG and your hand would go numb for a few minutes... no?

You can attack monsters standing in walls because otherwise wallwalkers would be no fun to fight. This is a game; it needn't be realistic.

[saw]

It's a 2D game, the ghost is obviously laid flat against the wall like wallpaper, allowing you to hit him.

This is supposed to be a simulation of a 3d world - it's not flatland. If not, there would not be dungeon "levels"...

[saw]

You can attack monsters standing in walls because otherwise wallwalkers would be no fun to fight. This is a game; it needn't be realistic.

Then, if it doesn't have to be "realistic", I should not have to gain experience, or find better weapons... I'm all for attacking things against the wall, I'm just not for linking that to a movement.

[saw]

I don't think walking into a wall takes a turn. I'm sure, in fact - I just tested it.

Wrong. If I'm sat next to any creature, and I start walking into a wall, that creature pounds me each time.

In fact, I've lost a couple characters from falling asleep late at night with my fingertip leaning on a directional only to wake up dead, my Lvl 20 or something killed by a icky thing.

Ctrl-P yields

there's a wall in the way
the icky thing hit you
there's a wall in the way
the icky thing hit you
there's a wall in the way
the icky thing hit you

.
.
.

you die.

So apparently, it DOES matter

[Derakon]

Quick check, saw, what version are you playing?

[saw]

Quick check, saw, what version are you playing?

3.1.1 under Ubuntu Linux 10.04 (Lucid)

[nullfame]

I've lost a couple characters from falling asleep late at night with my fingertip leaning on a directional only to wake up dead

Hmmm. That is pretty easy to fix.

The problem with passwalls is that on the wall you can melee them but can't shoot/use magic. They, on the other hand, can. That makes Tselakus particularly frightening. Please step forward so I can shoot you, or would you rather summon ringwraiths or invoke a darkness storm?

[Derakon]

3.1.1 under Ubuntu Linux 10.04 (Lucid)

Okay, I just checked my 3.1.2v2 under OSX, and bumping into walls doesn't cost me any time. So this may be something that changed recently. You should try upgrading.

[buzzkill]

Zorak. Is he a bug, or a misfeature? I have a sudden urge to change my profile pic.