Idea: Radical change to stairs and Recall

[EpicMan]

Levels are static until you recall, so no stairscumming.

Not quite - if you go back up/down the stairs you entered the level from, you end up on the previous level (a new one is not generated), and at least in some variants adjacent monsters go with you. But if you find a different staircase you can take it to generate a new level.

You technically can still stair-scum on the first level of a dungeon, by entering and leaving it (back to the surface) repeatedly.

I really like the way this is done.

On the topic, upstairs in Halls of Mist (Ey/Dajangband) take you straight back to the surface, and downstairs let you go 1-3 levels down (but HoM only has 50 levels and forced descent, so the numbers are smaller). I think using upstairs as "return to town" and the town stairs as "return to deepest level, or maybe +- some" would make an enjoyable Word of Recall replacement. They (and the spells) would become a convenience item. Or you could reduce the number of slots / stack size / quiver-to-regular-slot ratio to reduce carrying capacity if you remove a key item and thus free up a slot.

[AnonymousHero]

You're right, this would be a great fix for stairscumming - which we weren't really talking about

Dude, we were talking about stairs. Do try to keep up!

The stairscumming 'fix' is entirely incidental. To reiterate: DO IT LIKE POSCHENG!

[Egavactip]

I am pretty much against any change that starts "radical idea."

[Tarrasque]

I would actually prefer moving between different depths to be a bit more difficult.
Stairs should, at the very least, never get you (much) lower than your max depth.

Other less radical ideas:

1. Stairs can go up or down more than one level. Maybe even have a minimum sometimes (except the town's stairs).
   > You enter a maze of down staircases.
   > You can descend 3 to 6 levels.
   Number (3-6):
   
2. How far many levels you can skip depends on Your stealth and perception. Either up to a fixed number (like idea 1), or by dice rolls.
   DLevel 41
   > You enter a maze of up staircases.
   > You can ascend up to 5 levels
   > You are at dungeon level 37. Continue ascending?
   > You lose your way.
   DLevel 37
   Or whatever.