FAangband 0.3.3

[Nick]

I especially like the fact that that all term windows belong to one big window. Thanks to that, I don't have 5 or 6 labels in my task bar under Linux.

I can't take credit for that one - it's the SDL port from Vanilla.

1) It would be nice to be able to setup a term window to show a complete clickable list of available commands. I know commands can be accessed by pressing 'Enter' from the main window, bu that solution involves too many key presses to be usable, I think (even if it is nice to have it, so I am not lost if I would ever forget the key press for an action).

Funnily enough, I've just been looking at the Nintendo DS port of Nethack, which does exactly that. I think this might be a good idea as well as (or even instead of) the current command menus. If you're using the mouse, by the way, the [Inv] button is probably the most efficient way to choose a command.

2) I don't really like the default behavior for the space bar. When buying or using things, the space bar behaves as 'select the first entry'. When learning spells, it shows all available choices. Considering that this functionality is redundant with the 'Enter' key (which is already easily accessible on the keyboard), I would rather have it redundant with the '*' key (which I have to look for in my keyboard), ie show available choices. This is safer, at least (for what it's worth, this is the behavior in tome, and I kind of lack it).

Yes, that was accidental on my part. It's already changed to ' ' = '*' in the development version - which, incidentally, should be out as 0.3.4 in a couple of weeks.

[Remuz]

Hi,

Not sure if that is a bug, but it looks like one. I found "a ring of resist cold", that actually makes me vulnerable to frost. Since the ring is not cursed, it is quite hard to spot. I noticed that only thanks to the red '-' that appears on the character screen.

Also, did you change the usual 'safe' depths for having resists (dlvl20 for free action, dlvl 40 for rpoison, etc)? I am asking the question, since I am currently clvl 20 at dlvl18, without free action nor see invisible (although I have lots of resists, thanks to that robe of permanence). Should I hang in there, hoping to find a source of free action, or should I dive?

One comment regarding wilderness. It is both good and bad, because if prevents diving too fast. Going through a wilderness location can be lethal if you are too low level, since you have to leave the stairs to make progress, unlike in the dungeon.

Lastly, one idea. I am not too sure what the deadliness % shown in the character screen means exactly. It could be nice to have an "average damage per round" figure, in order to chose between different weapons. Maybe that's the point of the deadliness figure. If that is the case, please ignore that comment.

Thanks so much.

[Psi]

Quick answers...

The vulnerability stuff is not a bug as far as I am aware (there used to be a bug that shopkeepers would buy them though!).

Wilderness is great! Lots of tasty stuff to be found in wilderness vaults.

Deadliness is an additional percentage added to your base damage.

Average damage can be found by 'I'nspecting a weapon.

[Nick]

Slightly longer answers...

Not sure if that is a bug, but it looks like one. I found "a ring of resist cold", that actually makes me vulnerable to frost. Since the ring is not cursed, it is quite hard to spot. I noticed that only thanks to the red '-' that appears on the character screen.

Not a bug as such, but the name is maybe a bit misleading. Vulnerabilities are still fairly new, and I'm working on them. At least it wasn't dragon scale mail...

Also, did you change the usual 'safe' depths for having resists (dlvl20 for free action, dlvl 40 for rpoison, etc)? I am asking the question, since I am currently clvl 20 at dlvl18, without free action nor see invisible (although I have lots of resists, thanks to that robe of permanence). Should I hang in there, hoping to find a source of free action, or should I dive?

You've just been unlucky. The decision to dive or not is the same as in any variant; you can do it, but it's a risk. I lost my best character in the current comp to paralysis.

One comment regarding wilderness. It is both good and bad, because if prevents diving too fast. Going through a wilderness location can be lethal if you are too low level, since you have to leave the stairs to make progress, unlike in the dungeon.

I'm glad to hear that - it's exactly as I intended it.

Lastly, one idea. I am not too sure what the deadliness % shown in the character screen means exactly. It could be nice to have an "average damage per round" figure, in order to chose between different weapons. Maybe that's the point of the deadliness figure. If that is the case, please ignore that comment.

As Psi said, examining a weapon will show you the average damage. To give altogether too much detail, the % shown on the character screen is how much is added on to the damage dice value for each blow (not taking into account slays and brands). That figure is basically 5% for every point of + to deadliness on the weapon, plus a bonus for high STR and any temporary (shapechange, stunning, heroism, berserk).

[takkaria]

Thanks. You should note, though, that "Vanilla build system" here refers to the snapshot I took of it some months ago; the problem may be something you've already fixed.

I have indeed fixed this in the latest V dev version-- you might want to try importing that. (The problem is that the current autoconf system doesn't differentiate between system-wide setgid installs and local installs.)