Necklace of the Dwarves is so disappointing

[archolewa]

So during a recent paladin game, I got the Necklace of the Dwarves. Every time I get it, I'm just so disappointed. It has a Silmaril in it! The only Silmaril that a mortal has ever managed to wrest from Morgoth, yet all it gives are a few lackluster stat buffs, and maybe a resistance or two.

I really feel like it should be one of the best artifacts in the game (and appropriately rare). Like, somewhere between the Rings of Power and the One Ring in rarity and power. Something that should make your eyes bug out of your head the first time you see it.

Personally, I'm thinking a superpowered Amulet of Wisdom, with some abilities that hark back to the fact that the Silmarils contain the light of the Two Trees.

Here's one possibility:

Wisdom+6
Constitution+4.
Immunity to Light and Dark.
Resistance to Nether.
Resistance to Chaos.
Resistance to Disenchantment.
Aggravates Feanorian Raiders.
Sticky Curse.
Invoke for Clairvoyance, except instead of small little red stars it shows the type of the equipment, like the Rogue's object detection spell.

I give it immunity to both Light and Dark (as opposed to a single immunity like the Rings of Power) because Light and Dark attacks are rare, have a low cap and really aren't a big deal by the end game. Honestly, the immunities are there more for flavor than anything.

I find resistances to Nether, Chaos and Disenchantment to be fairly rare, and Nether at least is a big deal in the endgame (Chaos is also nice because hallucinations *suck*). Those also seem like the kinds of twisted magic that the light of the Two Trees would protect you against. The resistance to Disenchantment could probably be dropped, I've always found Disenchantment to be a "nice to have."

I have no idea if it's possible to aggravate just a specific monster type, but even if it isn't, I think Aggravates Monsters would be a reasonable thing to have on the only Silmaril that Morgoth doesn't have.

The Con bonus could probably be reduced or eliminated, if people think that's too much. Wisdom+6 is probably a big enough deal to make the stat buffs eye-bugging.

I've never seen the One Ring, so I don't know if this is more or less powerful than that, but this does feel to me to be comparable to the other Rings.

Thoughts?

[fph]

Also, if this doesn't have a +2/+3 to light, I don't know what else should.

[Nick]

In FAangband it has +3 to all stats and infravision, sustain all stats, resist light and dark, protection from confusion and blindness, SI, FA, regeneration, telepathy, hold life, +1 light and activates for enlightenment.

[archolewa]

In FAangband it has +3 to all stats and infravision, sustain all stats, resist light and dark, protection from confusion and blindness, SI, FA, regeneration, telepathy, hold life, +1 light and activates for enlightenment.

This would work too, especially the all stat sustain (didn't think of that, but that would *definitely* make sense for a Silmaril). I stayed away from regeneration and telepathy, because I didn't want it overlapping too much with the rings of power, though I do think that either one makes sense.

I wanted it to be a bit unique, and I haven't seen many things with multiple higher-element resistances, so I felt that would help it stand out.

[Hounded]

Yes. I love playing dwarves. My favorite fantasy race (cannae stand twitchy namby-pamby elves). I have this dream of beating Angband with a Dwarf character wielding appropriately archetypal equipment but can't bring myself to toss aside all of the so-much-better artifacts.

Regrettably I'm not of the "kill Morgoth with a Shovel" calibre so I have to go with my strongest combo rather than most aesthetically pleasing.

[Capn_Carpaccio]

My 12 year old daughter read the silmarillion, and plays Angband, and she says "the story of the first age of Middle Earth was built around the Silmarils and Angband's Nauglamir is pathetic!"

[Nick]

This would work too, especially the all stat sustain (didn't think of that, but that would *definitely* make sense for a Silmaril). I stayed away from regeneration and telepathy, because I didn't want it overlapping too much with the rings of power, though I do think that either one makes sense.

Yes, FAangband doesn't have the rings of power (they were second age). In fact, it also only has two artifact amulets (NotD and the Elessar), and no artifact rings, and all jewellery is mini-randarts, so the comparison isn't great.

My 12 year old daughter read the silmarillion, and plays Angband, and she says "the story of the first age of Middle Earth was built around the Silmarils and Angband's Nauglamir is pathetic!"

That is an impressive 12 year old

[Ed_47569]

So during a recent paladin game, I got the Necklace of the Dwarves. Every time I get it, I'm just so disappointed. It has a Silmaril in it! The only Silmaril that a mortal has ever managed to wrest from Morgoth, yet all it gives are a few lackluster stat buffs, and maybe a resistance or two.

Thoughts?

I agree, it is normally dumped in the house or discarded whenever I find it. Any half decent Amulet of Trickery or Weaponmastery usually beats it hands down. For casters, Magi or Pendant of Ingwe is probably a better bet also.

Perhaps make it the same rarity as Bladeturner (only artifact I've never found in 20 years of playing). +5 to all stats, +10 speed, immune base, resist all, sustain all, hLife, telepathy, FA, SI, regen. Activate for Clairvoyance and Detection.

[DavidMedley]

I consider this thread votes for the continued Tolkienization of Angband.

[archolewa]

I consider this thread votes for the continued Tolkienization of Angband.

I approve this interpretation.

[luneya]

Another possible solution is to keep the stats as they are, and change the flavor text so that the Necklace of the Dwarves is the Nauglamir as it was before Thingol ordered the Silmaril to be set into it. The current artifact is about right for a treasure that's just a necklace. I agree that it's ludicrously underpowered for a Silmaril.