[non-variant-specific] Items with Drawbacks

[andrewdoull]

BTW: Its probably worth noting that every good or better item in Unangband uses the equivalent of the artifact power evaluation code. This is used to boost the power of underpowered {good} items up to a level where they may actually be useful at the players depth by progressively increasing some of the damage dice, damage sides, to-hit, to-dam and to-ac values of the items until they exceed the allowed power level.

The same is done for ego items, but including pvals and hidden attributes as well.

[Conker]

Next version of FA has percentage resistances - and vulnerabilities. Not many grey items yet, but it's certainly in the plan.

I'd like to see this in V. I made a post about monster susceptibilities recently, and I think it's only fair to apply it to the player character too.

Personally, I'm sick of every time there's a downside to an item, it's aggravation. Firstly, no variety, and secondly, aggravation is such a big effect that most people seem to eschew aggro items (and therefore nearly all 'grey' items, as the OP pointed out) entirely, until the very end-game, and then with just a couple of exceptions. I propose removing aggro from most items and replacing them with things like stat penalties.

The best example of a grey item I can think of is the Iron Crown of Beruthiel. Nasty HP hit, but telepathy, FA, and SI. Very situation-dependant.
________
Harley-Davidson FXDB

[andrewdoull]

Personally, I'm sick of every time there's a downside to an item, it's aggravation. Firstly, no variety, and secondly, aggravation is such a big effect that most people seem to eschew aggro items (and therefore nearly all 'grey' items, as the OP pointed out) entirely, until the very end-game, and then with just a couple of exceptions. I propose removing aggro from most items and replacing them with things like stat penalties.

Well, I've added the following item drawbacks in Unangband, if this is any inspiration:

#define TR3_DRAIN_HP 0x00010000L /* Hit point drain */
#define TR3_DRAIN_MANA 0x00020000L /* Mana drain */
#define TR3_DRAIN_EXP 0x00040000L /* Experience drain */
#define TR3_AGGRAVATE 0x00080000L /* Aggravate monsters */
#define TR3_UNCONTROLLED 0x00100000L /* Item activates spontaneously if cursed */
#define TR3_RANDOM 0x00200000L /* Item has random activation */
#define TR3_HUNGER 0x02000000L /* Item makes the user more hungry */

#define TR4_HURT_LITE 0x00000004L /* Item makes wielder vulnerable to lite */
#define TR4_HURT_WATER 0x00000008L /* Item makes wielder vulnerable to water */
#define TR4_ANCHOR 0x00001000L /* Item prevents teleportation */
#define TR4_SILENT 0x00002000L /* Item prevents spell casting*/
#define TR4_STATIC 0x00004000L /* Item prevents item activation */
#define TR4_WINDY 0x00008000L /* Item prevents missiles / thrown items */
#define TR4_HURT_POIS 0x08000000L /* Item makes wielder vulnerable to acid */
#define TR4_HURT_ACID 0x10000000L /* Item makes wielder vulnerable to acid */
#define TR4_HURT_ELEC 0x20000000L /* Item makes wielder vulnerable to elec */
#define TR4_HURT_FIRE 0x40000000L /* Item makes wielder vulnerable to fire */
#define TR4_HURT_COLD 0x80000000L /* Item makes wielder vulnerable to cold */


Note that the following prevent the character wielding the equivalent 'slay'
weapon.

#define TR4_ANIMAL 0x00010000L /* Item makes wielder animal */
#define TR4_EVIL 0x00020000L /* Item makes wielder evil */
#define TR4_UNDEAD 0x00040000L /* Item makes wielder undead */
#define TR4_DEMON 0x00080000L /* Item makes wielder demon */
#define TR4_ORC 0x00100000L /* Item makes wielder orc */
#define TR4_TROLL 0x00200000L /* Item makes wielder troll */
#define TR4_GIANT 0x00400000L /* Item makes wielder giant */
#define TR4_DRAGON 0x00800000L /* Item makes wielder dragon */
#define TR4_MAN 0x01000000L /* Item makes wielder man */
#define TR4_DWARF 0x02000000L /* Item makes wielder dwarf */
#define TR4_ELF 0x04000000L /* Item makes wielder elf */

Additionally if an item makes a character 'vulnerable' to an effect, they
cannot wield the equivalent brand. I'm considering making non-weapons
capable of inheriting brands and slays, if only to allow items other than
weapons to conflict in use.

Andrew

[Magnate]

Wow, that's a great list - very interesting. I feel the urge to try Un again ...

CC