3.5 bug - off-weapon brands

[MattB]

I'll admit this is a bit of an edge case, but irritating nonetheless:

My current character has no melee weapon, and is only allowed to do any kind of damage with his fists.

http://angband.oook.cz/ladder-show.php?id=16732&ok

I found a randart that said 'It brands your melee attacks with weak flames'. I was devastated to find it did nothing of the sort. Quite apart from the much-needed damage increase, I rather fancied having fists of fire.

My point is, if it's not going to add a brand to an unarmed attack, it should say that 'it brands your melee weapon with weak flames'.

[Derakon]

That is a shame, and sounds to me like a bug that ought to be fixed. Though, since fists are 1d1 weapons, a weak flamebrand would only give you +1 damage against susceptible enemies, so you aren't missing out on much.

[debo]

Alternately, we could just make it impossible to attack unless you're wielding a weapon. I don't see why you would ever want to maintain a separate code path for weaponless fighting unless the combat system had been even marginally balanced around it.

[MattB]

since fists are 1d1 weapons, a weak flamebrand would only give you +1 damage against susceptible enemies, so you aren't missing out on much.

[embarassed cough] Oh yeah. Still would have been cool though.

[MattB]

Alternately, we could just make it impossible to attack unless you're wielding a weapon.

What, and deprive me of all the 'fun' I'm having?

[Derakon]

Alternately, we could just make it impossible to attack unless you're wielding a weapon. I don't see why you would ever want to maintain a separate code path for weaponless fighting unless the combat system had been even marginally balanced around it.

All that needs to be done really is to have a virtual 1d1 (+0,+0) weapon that's auto-equipped when you have no other weapon equipped. It'd be a bit hacky, but I expect it could be made to work without requiring any special code paths except for where items are equipped/de-equipped.

[Narvius]

To be honest, I think that's sorta dangerous. Inb4 enchanting fists (which might end up being possible despite the weapon being invisible on the UI), selling them, or other stuff like that.

Well, still a good idea if done cautiously.