Rune-based ID should be a game option

[nikheizen]

While I'm not sure how I feel about Rune-based ID either, having it as an option does not fit the general idea of what angband's options seem intended to accomplish(challenge/more randomization).

The game should certainly keep changing, even if some people disagree with it.
The game has old versions easily accessible, you are not forced to update.
The game is open source, and you can revert the commits that introduce rune based ID on your local repository if you dislike them. You can also fork the game if you wish.

Halting development because some people dislike the changes you are introducing is outrageously backwards. Judging from it's reception here, I feel like most people like the change too.

Have you played the branch yet?

[fizzix]

I do not consider this change to be progress, I consider it to be a hindrance and one that will slow down play. I would prefer for it not even to be an option, but I am okay to having it as an option if there are people bedazzled by it.

This has been discussed since as long as I've been participating in this forum. If this isn't progress nothing is.

[TJS]

I do not consider this change to be progress, I consider it to be a hindrance and one that will slow down play.

But why do you think it will slow down play? Once each rune type is discovered then all items are immediately known unlike previously where every one needs to be id'd even if you've seen a hundred the same before.

[Egavactip]

I disagree completely. Yes it's a big change, and yes angband is probably going to change in more substantial ways in the future. Overall some people will like the changes and some will dislike them. If you really dislike them, you can always play older versions. But the alternative is stagnation and death.

No, the alternative is is actually more judicious changes.

As far as keeping it an option, that seems like a poor choice. Options really should be reserved for stuff like UI and display along with a few challenge choices. Maintaining the game with significant options is a gigantic process, and would probably hinder any future progress.

I do not consider this change to be progress, I consider it to be a hindrance and one that will slow down play. I would prefer for it not even to be an option, but I am okay to having it as an option if there are people bedazzled by it.

But the bottom line is that rune-based ID is a bad idea--as currently conceived. If identify continued to work normally, I would not have a problem with it.

[Egavactip]

I don't really see how it will take more time since you only ever have to identify each rune type once, rather than hundreds of times for every item you find.

Plus it is more interesting to use id in this way rather than rushing back to town to id everything every five minutes.

Who rushes back to town every five minutes? Not this guy.

[TJS]

I don't really see how it will take more time since you only ever have to identify each rune type once, rather than hundreds of times for every item you find.

Plus it is more interesting to use id in this way rather than rushing back to town to id everything every five minutes.

[fizzix]

I do not like the rune-based system as described and it will fundamentally change Angband--generally for the worse, adding a great deal of time and trouble to players to find out inconsequential things. I do not think there is a good reason to make this change.

A drastic change like this is something best suited for a variant, IMO. I do not think it should be added to Angband. And if it were added to Angband, it should be added only as an option, with the traditional system being the default, or being an equal option that players can choose.

I disagree completely. Yes it's a big change, and yes angband is probably going to change in more substantial ways in the future. Overall some people will like the changes and some will dislike them. If you really dislike them, you can always play older versions. But the alternative is stagnation and death.

As far as keeping it an option, that seems like a poor choice. Options really should be reserved for stuff like UI and display along with a few challenge choices. Maintaining the game with significant options is a gigantic process, and would probably hinder any future progress.

[Egavactip]

I do not like the rune-based system as described and it will fundamentally change Angband--generally for the worse, adding a great deal of time and trouble to players to find out inconsequential things. I do not think there is a good reason to make this change.

A drastic change like this is something best suited for a variant, IMO. I do not think it should be added to Angband. And if it were added to Angband, it should be added only as an option, with the traditional system being the default, or being an equal option that players can choose.