FAangband 1.0

[Nick]

I got myself a shiny new magestaff of slay demon 1d3 (-2,-20). If I'm not mistaken that -20 to dam equates to a 100% damage reduction. With my 14 STR the description states that I'm able to muster 2 blows at 14 per blow vs. demons. Incidentally, that's the exact same blows/damage as my magestaff of slay evil 1d3 (+12,+6) vs. evil.

There are two things going on here:

1. Deadliness is not a straight x5% - it tails off at higher values. So the -20 deadliness actually reduces damage to about 30%.
2. Slays actually add to the damage as well as multiplying it. So a Slay Demon weapon is really much better against demons than other things - and it's especially striking in this case with a small damage weapon..

The attack code is quite complicated, but I think the damage calculations are (approximately) correct.

[buzzkill]

Yep, I'm still playing 1.0.3, but I haven't seen this bug (?) posted anywhere and it seems to be the kind of thing that may have carried over into 1.1.x.

I got myself a shiny new magestaff of slay demon 1d3 (-2,-20). If I'm not mistaken that -20 to dam equates to a 100% damage reduction. With my 14 STR the description states that I'm able to muster 2 blows at 14 per blow vs. demons. Incidentally, that's the exact same blows/damage as my magestaff of slay evil 1d3 (+12,+6) vs. evil.

[Nick]

New FA jevelry is nice, maybe a bit too powerfull, I have found a ring with brand missiles activation on DLVL 16, maybe just luck.

That's *very* lucky.

[LostTemplar]

New FA jevelry is nice, maybe a bit too powerfull, I have found a ring with brand missiles activation on DLVL 16, maybe just luck.

[Mr.Peanut]

Great variant - having a blast and considering the use of a sick day soon!

Don't take a sick day, just play on the crapper at work. That's what I do.

[joelsanda]

It is an artifact. Congratulations!

There are some non-artifact items which can be activated, but not many. There will probably be more in 1.1.

Wow. I feel like Peter Parker right after he discovers his powers

I've made it to 11th level:

F(1.0.3) C "Tollacir" BoRa L:11 DL:Ered Luin South 1 A R--- !Sp w:Short Bow (+0,+2)

Great variant - having a blast and considering the use of a sick day soon!

[Nick]

I just found the Lamp of Gwindor - the first 'named' item I've scored in FAangband. The description states:

Activation: illumination (2d15 damage) every 10+d10 turns.

Because I'm able to activate this while it's wielded ... it's an artifact?

It is an artifact. Congratulations!

There are some non-artifact items which can be activated, but not many. There will probably be more in 1.1.

[Nick]

So each race can eventually reach 18/100 in each attribute?

Yes, that's right.

[joelsanda]

Lamp of Gwindor

I just found the Lamp of Gwindor - the first 'named' item I've scored in FAangband. The description states:

Activation: illumination (2d15 damage) every 10+d10 turns.

Because I'm able to activate this while it's wielded ... it's an artifact?

[buzzkill]

Why would anyone want to make this game any harder? I got sick of dying and wanted to see further parts of the game so I scummed a high-elf mage up to level 43. I must have died over 50 times. Even with thrust there were situations where it was incredibly easy to die. Eventually the distance between levels 43 and 44 seemed like an insurmountable grind and I killed myself.

That's what makes it great. Not everybody gets to win. Winning in and of itself is a accomplishment to be proud of, not just another game completed.

It's always incredibly easy to die, but 99.9% of the time it's incredibly easy to not only live, but thrive. The trick is knowing what time it is.

[Mr.Peanut]

Thrust Away is possibly a little too powerful.

Why would anyone want to make this game any harder? I got sick of dying and wanted to see further parts of the game so I scummed a high-elf mage up to level 43. I must have died over 50 times. Even with thrust there were situations where it was incredibly easy to die. Eventually the distance between levels 43 and 44 seemed like an insurmountable grind and I killed myself.

[Mr.Peanut]

Yes. The Internal stats all reach 18/100 maximum, which is then modified by race, class and equipment.

So each race can eventually reach 18/100 in each attribute?

[Nick]

For example, why not try dragonfire breath, which also confuse and may kill allways before pitiful confusion spell.

Yes, this is a good point. Particularly with the more powerful dragons I now have, I should have a look and see if the attack choices need to be changed.

[buzzkill]

Yes, and I am complaining about this AI behavior, which seems extremely weak.
For example, why not try dragonfire breath, which also confuse and may kill always before pitiful confusion spell.

You're not alone, but don't expect much in the way of change. Monsters will continue to due mind-bogglingly stupid things sometimes, sometimes quite often. No one wants to address this and I can see why. It would be a huge undertaking involving basically coming up with a unique AI for each individual enemy (at least for casters or those with spell like abilities or missiles weapons), at which point we would probably find that the monsters are far too tough. If you search you'll find quite a few threads on AI issues here in the forums.

IMO, once again, it comes down to this. Monsters need to treat you as an incredibly tough unique, an unknown, that they have to kill since they are not likely to escape if they don't. Instead they treat you as an mostly harmless intruder that they seem to attack without even a rudimentary strategy.

[LostTemplar]

Most spellcasting monsters will try harassing spells early in a fight and then move on to damage spells.

Yes, and I am complaining about this AI behaviour, which seems extremly weak.
For example, why not try dragonfire breath, which also confuse and may kill allways before pitiful confusion spell.