Sangband 1.0.2 Beta

[Bostock]

It's a bit Nethacky, and for all I know it may already be implemented, but I think Blood Seeper weapons should be off limit for Priests even when blunt.

Another miscellaneous point: since they auto-identify, light sources Of Peril add nothing to the game.

And yet another: an advantage of implementing NotMorgoth's shapechanges-for-all-schools idea is that is would keep Shapechanging from further widening the gap that exists between the (low) utility of Sorcery for non-mages and other schools for other, uh, non-those-school-users.

[NotMorgoth]

Another miscellaneous point: since they auto-identify, light sources Of Peril add nothing to the game.

Unless you get one from a hidden curse.

[Mimu]

I loved Sangband a few years back, in the 0.9 versions. Then at some point the interface was overhauled, and to my great disappointment became unbearable.

Well, I gave S another try (on a Windows system).

It took some 15 minutes of tinkering with the config file and the in-game options to get an acceptable window. The multitude of different "terms" are to me an unnecessary complexity. I just want the map view, status on the left, messages on the top line, more status on the bottom line. Vanilla (or Cardboard, nowadays) Angband feels quite a bit friendlier, interface-wise. Perhaps, adding some comment lines in the auto-generated config file that explain what values do what would help.

Even after getting a nice 10x20 font working elsewhere, it mysteriously displayed the Alchemist's store in a tinier font. Also, # as walls seems like an odd default. Do many people really like that? But fair enough, you only need to do the setup and feature initialisation once.

Unfortunately, I have another problem. My cheapo keyboard is completely missing one key, that on the Finnish layout is responsible for <, > and |. Most programs don't have a problem with this, since I can use the numpad with ALT to generate a keypress. ALT-60, ALT-62 and ALT-124 work fine in Vanilla, in text editors, and in a console. Sangband appears to use a lower-level keyboard input function, as attempts to use the numpad in this way tend to be interpreted as movement (or a command count, if that option is on).

I suppose I could rebind the keys, but complaining politely at a forum seemed more productive. I'd still love to love Sang, if only these issues didn't get in the way.

[camlost]

Then at some point the interface was overhauled, and to my great disappointment became unbearable.

I just went into the interface options (= !) and set it to Fullscreen, big map on my 1280x1024 screen, and I get 3 small subwindows on the bottom, character status on the left, and a big old map.

It sounds like you want no subwindows? A lot of people do want them, though. I could certainly put a primer at the top of the config file, but it seemed intuitive enough to me for editing (I didn't do the interface rewrite).

As for alt-keys, I can put in a fix if someone hands it to me, but I'm not likely to go off looking when there's an obvious workaround

Unless you get one from a hidden curse.

Bingo. Their rarity is 10, which means they should be relatively uncommon.

Aggro is not showing up for me on the character sheet or the left column when I am in Werewolf form (1.0.2.b3).

Evidently, I decided (and forgot) that -3 stealth was an appropriate tradeoff. Aggro might be better. The bonuses for forms are a big stab in the dark.

Is it feasible to scale speed reduction with speed increase, so that (just as an example) 0 becomes -5 but +10 becomes +2?

Probably.

NotMorgoth's shapechanges-for-all-schools idea

I agree, a few more forms for the other schools sounds nice.

I'd say there is relatively poor synergy between the druid's spells.

Or you could say that druids have good diversity. For instance, you can switch between awesome melee via forms for one fight, and unchange and use spells for the next, depending on the situation.

Which isn't to say that I find the weather book minigame a little boring. Perhaps weather reports should be automatic (though still somewhat inaccurate) instead of a talent. Of course, a +50% bonus to damage is nothing to scoff at. Maybe we're just doing it wrong?

[Bostock]

It sounds like you want no subwindows?

As a monster-font-size fan and as an ADD sufferer who's only driven crazy by subwindows, I'm one more person who would be thrilled to reclaim that big rectangle at the bottom of the screen...

[Lanterns of peril's] rarity is 10, which means they should be relatively uncommon.

It appears that nobody but me is really bothered by junk items. OK, *now* I feel empathy with Magnate on the haggling thing.

Evidently, I decided (and forgot) that -3 stealth was an appropriate tradeoff. Aggro might be better. The bonuses for forms are a big stab in the dark.

Aggro is cooler and a heavier penalty too - which would probably work out well, even considering the value of rFear alone. Plus, it would harness an existing rFear trope (rings of Aggro).

Perhaps weather reports should be automatic (though still somewhat inaccurate) instead of a talent.

That would be nice. Generally by the time I remember to check the weather I am in the thick of battle and I don't want to lose a turn, so I end up not checking it at all. Plus, half the time I'm not sure what will affect a given spell... any chance of getting weather effects declared non-spoilers?

[NotMorgoth]

Or you could say that druids have good diversity. For instance, you can switch between awesome melee via forms for one fight, and unchange and use spells for the next, depending on the situation.

I've been trying to get a character to do this, but haven't really been able to give it a proper go yet as my druids keep dying before I get to the powerful attack spells in book 6. I guess I'll wait until I succeed before I make any more judgments about this...

Also, I may have found another bug with the shapechange durations:

When I change into a form that has a limited duration, then before that expires, change again into a different form that should be permanent, it seems that when the first shapechange should have expired it cancels the second, permanent change instead.

At least, I'm guessing that's what is happening; I've had changes that should be permanent suddenly ending for no reason that I can see, and that seems like the most likely explanation.

[camlost]

It appears that nobody but me is really bothered by junk items. OK, *now* I feel empathy with Magnate on the haggling thing.

Heh, my last game generated 3 lanterns of peril before dropping an ego or artifact light.

[NotMorgoth]

Not sure if this is intended behaviour, but I just got a hidden curse from a scroll of *Enchant Armor*

You probably already know I don't like hidden curses - but I really think *enchant* scrolls should only be able to give good results.

[camlost]

Not sure if this is intended behaviour, but I just got a hidden curse from a scroll of *Enchant Armor*

You probably already know I don't like hidden curses - but I really think *enchant* scrolls should only be able to give good results.

Eww.

http://code.google.com/p/skills-angband/issues/detail?id=157

[Bostock]

My character (Wose, 54 Clubbing) can use the OoI power "Lunge" without spending a turn. Not that I'm complaining mind you.

Also, you might want to double-check that arrows' new sharp-weapon behavior is actually WAI. I don't feel like I'm actually getting my damage reduced when the message appears. Once again, not that I'm complaining mind you.

[Bostock]

Missile-shooting monsters can now shoot around corners.

[camlost]

Missile-shooting monsters can now shoot around corners.

Actually, I think they *try* to shoot around corners, and shoot past you instead. But it's fixed in SVN now. Good call.

[Bostock]

It appears that set items are being treated as if the set were complete even if it is not. I say this because I have Cammithrim without its complement and it has every attribute listed in artifact.txt... and, well, has the set of attributes that I roughly remember from the one time I completed its set.

[camlost]

It appears that set items are being treated as if the set were complete even if it is not. I say this because I have Cammithrim without its complement and it has every attribute listed in artifact.txt... and, well, has the set of attributes that I roughly remember from the one time I completed its set.

What is it providing? Set bonus is +3 dex, devices, and sust_dex.

[Bostock]

In that case I'm mistaken. It's not providing those bonuses - I had remembered the default form as weaker than it really is.

/me tries to remember that set bonuses are stored separately from entry in artifacts.txt for his next source dive...