1 - subwindows on linux, and 2 - challenge?

[Chud]

Hi,

Two unrelated questions -- is there something special I need to do to get subwindows to display on linux? If there is it's not obvious to me what I need to toggle.

And second, what do you generally think the most *difficult* challenge class is? Something like half-orc mage, or maybe elf mage because of the CON penalties?

[Derakon]

Bookless artifactless egoless punching-only ironman elf mage.

Each of those challenges has, individually, been won. So clearly all the challenges simultaneously should also be possible, right?

[Chud]

Hah - okay, I am definitely not yet man enough to go punching only. Not sure why I even want to go there, really, since I still have enough trouble staying alive without adding extra hurdles. (I get impatient sooner or later. This is usually what leads to death. That, and "I'm so close, I know I can beat this guy!")

[Pete Mack]

Half-orc mage isn't noticeably harder than most any other mage class. Artifactless kobold rogue is probably the place to start for a challenge character though. Unfortunately,challenge characters all end up using almost identical gear by the endgame, unless you are lucky with Dwarven PDSM or the like. (There was one such posted last month )

[PowerWyrm]

Bookless artifactless egoless punching-only ironman elf mage.

Each of those challenges has, individually, been won. So clearly all the challenges simultaneously should also be possible, right?

Probably not. If you use fists only, you'll have to rely on damage boosting equipment, which means having those artifacts like Gorlim, Fingolfin and such. Strength maxes at 18/60 naturally: this means you do a base damage of 4, 16 per round... if you don't miss. Constitution maxes at 18/70 naturally: this means you have roughly 450 hps at level 50.

As equipment goes, it's pretty much a lost cause. Unless you're extremely lucky and can find a ring of speed +19 or better, you will not be able to kill Morgoth without two rings of speed. In case of extreme luck, the second ring can be +6 con or +dam. Amulet of Weaponmastery is probably the only viable choice, as it's probably the only way to get free action in this build, and it provides extra str, hit and dam (amulet of ESP as a swap for telepathy). Elven cloak for the +1 speed. Cestus gloves for +3 damage. And of course a PDSM... Unfortunately, this leaves some holes: no pBlind or SI, unless you want to swap your amulet for a Magi one.

Here's what your character would look like at level 50 with the previous equipment (using +6 con ring): stats 18/90 18/150 18/90 18/110 18/130, speed +20, hps 587, dam 4x14. Anyone willing to try?

Also the challenge could be made much easier if you allow magic devices, since you could use wands and rods for massive damage at high level (although magic device boost is currently bugged and doesn't work). If not... good luck

[Nick]

is there something special I need to do to get subwindows to display on linux? If there is it's not obvious to me what I need to toggle.

Which linux port?

[Derakon]

Here's what your character would look like at level 50 with the previous equipment (using +6 con ring): stats 18/90 18/150 18/90 18/110 18/130, speed +20, hps 587, dam 4x14. Anyone willing to try?

Heh. This sounds like a job for a TAS. I don't actually know how manipulable Angband's RNG is though. Presumably not so easily-manipulated as NetHack's, where you can cycle the RNG without using in-game time by trying to move into walls (which has a chance to degrade inscriptions, even if no inscriptions are present).

[Chud]

Which linux port?

Sorry - Mint 17.3, so basically Ubuntu for most purposes.

PA28 /etc $ uname -a
Linux PA28 3.13.0-37-generic #64-Ubuntu SMP Mon Sep 22 21:28:38 UTC 2014 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[Nick]

Sorry - Mint 17.3, so basically Ubuntu for most purposes.

PA28 /etc $ uname -a
Linux PA28 3.13.0-37-generic #64-Ubuntu SMP Mon Sep 22 21:28:38 UTC 2014 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

There are actually three different frontends available for linux - x11, sdl and gcu. I suspect you're using the x11 one (it's the default), in which case there's some helpful info in this thread.

The alternatives are the gcu or curses port (angband -mgcu) which plays in the terminal you launched from, or the SDL port (angband -msdl) which makes a single large window with easily configurable subwindows, but may require you to install some extra libraries.

[Chud]

Ok, thanks -- I'll play with some of the options and see. I know I'm missing some libraries for one of them, curses I think, but not a big deal to install those.

[fph]

I heartily recommend SDL. Most modern window managers aren't exactly great at handling many subwindows for the same application in configurable locations.

#include <long rant about window managers that suck at managing windows.h>