why can i not find any Lights

[Sky]

there is a rare but very real occurrence that, in some games, i cannot for the life of me find ANY light artifacts.

i have taken now a ranger to 7 million XP and not a single artifact light has been generated.

I spent ages at DL20/30/40/50. If there is such a thing as maximum depth, i've been there long enough.

what is happening here? Surely if i walk over 1000 torches, one should be an artifact?

this is what is in the randart list:
(nothing to trip over, but it's a matter of principle, really)

Light Sources
=============

the Wooden Torch 'Lachalrod' <+4>
---------------------------------
+4 searching skill.
Provides immunity to lightning.
Cannot be harmed by fire.
Radius 1 light. Cannot be refueled.

When activated, it causes an earthquake around you.
Takes 41 to 45 turns to recharge.
Your chance of success is 97.8%


Min Level 21, Max Level 45, Generation chance 23, Power 76, 2.2 lbs
Random light of power 76.


the Wooden Torch of Lotheb <+3>
-------------------------------
+3 speed.
Cannot be harmed by fire.
Radius 1 light. Cannot be refueled.


Min Level 22, Max Level 49, Generation chance 8, Power 82, 2.2 lbs
Random light of power 82.


the Wooden Torch 'Aratan' <+2>
------------------------------
+2 constitution.
Cannot be harmed by fire.
Prevents paralysis.
Radius 1 light. Cannot be refueled.


Min Level 10, Max Level 37, Generation chance 14, Power 62, 2.2 lbs
Random light of power 62.

[Pete Mack]

Torch artifacts are just hard to find. Torches cannot appear in level after DL 40, but artifacts don't become common until after DL 60 or so.

name:& Wooden Torch~
type:light
graphics:~:u
level:1
weight:22
cost:2
alloc:70:1 to 40

[Sky]

gonna grind DL37 now.

[Estie]

Its not just torches. All artifact lights seem to have a varying maximum depth, but I havent seen anything going below dlvl 60.

Is there a quick + easy way to change this absurd behaviour by modifying some text files ?

[Nick]

Its not just torches. All artifact lights seem to have a varying maximum depth, but I havent seen anything going below dlvl 60.

Is there a quick + easy way to change this absurd behaviour by modifying some text files ?

Not really - it's something I'll need to fix.

[Selkie]

Sky: it doesn't answer your question, but how were you able to see the randart list like that?

[Thraalbee]

When your character dies you get the option to create spoilers. Randart list included

[Sky]

Sky: it doesn't answer your question, but how were you able to see the randart list like that?

i cheated.

[Selkie]

When your character dies you get the option to create spoilers. Randart list included

So are all randarts created at the start of the game or are they generated on a level by level basis?

[Pete Mack]

Randart definitions are generated at the start. They are then created randomly during the game (just like regular artifacts.)

[Sky]

don't be so hermetic.

The randart list is generated at the start of the game. There used to be an option to keep a randart list over multiple games, but it no longer exists.

Obviously, which artifact gets selected for a level is determined upon generating that level. You can have the same artifact generated multiple times, until you find it - walk on it or pick it up. Once you find the artifact, if you discard it, it's gone forever.

There is a game option to play with artifacts which are placed on a level only once - if you miss it, it's gone forever. As a payoff, you get a special symbol, "$" in the level feeling, to show you that an artifact exists on that level. (it's harder to play like this, believe me, i used this option for years)

[Nick]

The randart list is generated at the start of the game. There used to be an option to keep a randart list over multiple games, but it no longer exists.

If you do really like you can grab the file from your user/archive directory, copy it to your user directory as "artifact.txt", and play with randarts off.

[Selkie]

Ok, so this has happened to me.

My clvl48 HE blackguard has all sorts of cool stuff and I'm close to the final fight. I'm crawling dlvl65-70 looking for upgrades and potions right now but I've not found a randart light - since these can often give useful stat boosts and even immunities then I'd really like to find a couple.

* Is it true there are no randart lights below dlvl30?

* Is it possible there are not randart lights in my game?

[Estie]

*1 Randart lights wont drop below a certain level; the exact number depends on the (random) power of the lights, but is usually around 40.

*2 No.

What I usually do is refrain from killing uniques till level ~25 or so (except for the very early ones, Bullroarer Wormy) - thats where typically the small drop window for randart lights starts - and then proceed slowly from there and dont move past 40 without killing all the uniques at that depth and not without at least one randart light. Usually I find most of them this way.