Can't learn new spells despite "Study (6)"

[chrispitude]

Hi everyone,

I'm playing a gnome mage, currently level 22. At the bottom of the screen, it says "Study (6)" in dark gray. When I try to gain a new spell, it tells me

You cannot learn any new spells from the books you have.

I have 2 copies each of

• Magic for Beginners
• Conjurings and Tricks
• Incantations and Illusions
• Sorcery and Evocations

I know all the spells in the first three books, AND the first spell (Frost Ball) in the fourth book. Yet, I can't learn any of the additional spells in that fourth book. What is blocking me from learning them?

[Estie]

You dont have any of the dungeon books; dark red ones that drop deep in the dungeon (and are rarely sold at the black market, for a hefty price). Theres many more spells for you to learn there, but that being said, you wont be able to get the study counter to zero with a gnome mage. They are too clever for the angband world

[Zyphyr]

As further clarification, when the Study entry is white it means that you can currently learn something in a book in your inventory. When it is grey it means that you have the ability to learn more, but there is nothing in any of the books you posses which you are eligible for.

[Monkey Face]

When the number of spells is greyed out it means you can learn spells in books that you don't have yet.

[chrispitude]

Thanks guys. What puzzles me is why I would be able to learn the first spell from Sorcery and Evocations, but none of the rest. It seems strange for the game to only let partially learn a book, then tell me I can learn six more spells, but not from that one.

As an aside, I used to play UMoria on my Amiga way back when I was in college in the mid-90s. I literally have not played this type of game for almost a couple of decades. It's great to see the concept alive and flourishing! You guys are all doing a fantastic job as a community. (My wife might disagree, as she hasn't seen me for a few days now...)

[Derakon]

You dont have any of the dungeon books; dark red ones that drop deep in the dungeon (and are rarely sold at the black market, for a hefty price). Theres many more spells for you to learn there, but that being said, you wont be able to get the study counter to zero with a gnome mage. They are too clever for the angband world

Are you sure about this? That sounds like a bug, and an easily-fixed one moreover.

Also, the reason you can't learn any more spells in Sorcery and Evocations is because their required levels are higher than your current level. Of course, by the time you can learn those spells, your Study indicator will be even higher...

[Estie]

The reason you cant learn some of the spells in that book is lack of character level. If you browse the book, it will show the minimum level required to learn each spell.

There are (very few) spells that you cant learn at all as a mage; they are reserved for rangers or rogues. Instead of a spell, you will see a line reading "blanked out" (or similar).

[krazyhades]

I very rarely feel pressured by spell slots. Almost every game involves having much unused "Study (N)" hanging around. I cannot recall the last time I wanted to study a spell that I had the character level but not the intelligence to memorize (as a wizard or rogue, specifically. I haven't played as much priest/pally).

[chrispitude]

The reason you cant learn some of the spells in that book is lack of character level. If you browse the book, it will show the minimum level required to learn each spell.

Durrrr yes, that was it. They are beyond my level. For some reason, I figured the game would tell me to study only when there was something to learn. Thanks guys, dumb noob question.

[Timo Pietilä]

You dont have any of the dungeon books;

There are nine books total, four which you can buy from town are referred as town books, and five which you can find deep into dungeon that are dungeon books. Those dungeon books also ignore fire so as long as they don't get stolen one copy is enough of each one (high dex prevents theft eventually completely).

[Estie]

Are you sure about this? That sounds like a bug, and an easily-fixed one moreover.

It isnt a theoretical inability, its just that you never find enough books early enough in a normal game to use up all study if you have high intelligence. Eventually at level 50 with all books and 18/200 int, character race doesnt matter anyway; and iirc, the study slots exactly match the available spells then.

[Monkey Face]

It isnt a theoretical inability, its just that you never find enough books early enough in a normal game to use up all study if you have high intelligence. Eventually at level 50 with all books and 18/200 int, character race doesnt matter anyway; and iirc, the study slots exactly match the available spells then.

The highest spell for a mage (mana storm) can be learned at character level 43.

[Derakon]

It isnt a theoretical inability, its just that you never find enough books early enough in a normal game to use up all study if you have high intelligence. Eventually at level 50 with all books and 18/200 int, character race doesnt matter anyway; and iirc, the study slots exactly match the available spells then.

Like I said, are you sure about this? I'm pretty sure the code for indicating how many spells you can learn takes into account the availability of spells -- thus, with a high enough INT, your learnable-spells count will always be equal to the total number of unlearned spells in the game that have an equal or lesser required level to your character level. If that's not the case, then it's a bug.

[Estie]

Like I said, are you sure about this? I'm pretty sure the code for indicating how many spells you can learn takes into account the availability of spells -- thus, with a high enough INT, your learnable-spells count will always be equal to the total number of unlearned spells in the game that have an equal or lesser required level to your character level. If that's not the case, then it's a bug.

I dont know if learnable spells exactly matches available spells IN GAME with maxed int at all times. If you would start a mage with all books in possession, that might be relevant. In an actual game, you have far more study than spells to learn from the books in your possession simply because you havent found all books yet. Thats all I am saying.

[Derakon]

I dont know if learnable spells exactly matches available spells IN GAME with maxed int at all times. If you would start a mage with all books in possession, that might be relevant. In an actual game, you have far more study than spells to learn from the books in your possession simply because you havent found all books yet. Thats all I am saying.

Okay, I thought you were saying that a max-level mage with all the spellbooks would still have a "Study" indicator. Apologies for the misunderstanding.