[Announce] Poschengband 3.3.0 Released

[chris]

I have found that it is best to ignore code comments and edit file documentation. It's generally woefully out of date and even wrong in some instances. Most of it was written nearly 20 years ago anyway.

The best documentation at the moment is the source code. If you can read C, start with parse_v_info in init1.c (on my line 1648). This will give you a top down view of the format. For a bottom up view, start further up at _summon_specific_types in init1.c (on my line 1160 ... I don't think your line numbers will be different).

N:Index:Name
Sequence numbers *should* be automatically generated for this file. However, at the moment, you need to pick unused numbers by hand, and the order must be strictly increasing, but gaps are allowed. This is the N: line. By the way, the name on the N: line is only used while debugging, or perhaps with cheat_rooms.

T:Type:Subtype[:Flags]
Next is the T: line, which gives the type of the room template. The type may be VAULT (subtype LESSER or GREATER), ROOM (subtype NORMAL), WILD or AMBUSH (subtype is the terrain type: WATER, GRASS, SWAMP, TREES, LAVA, MOUNTAIN). Room flags may be any combination (combined with |) of GOOD (only generates good monsters), EVIL, FRIENDLY, NIGHT, DAY, NO_ROTATE (rooms are randomly rotated during generation, but sometimes you don't want this), FORMATION (this is special for monster groups ... look at examples), and DEBUG.

W:Level:MaxLevel:Rarity
This is allocation information, level restrictions and how often to choose this type of room. Should be obvious what the fields mean. You can use * for MaxLevel if you don't want any restrictions.

L:.:FLOOR(ROOM|ICKY):MON(DRAGON, 20):EGO(*)
Next are as many custom "letters" as you need to design your room in the map lines (below). Many "letters" are setup automatically elsewhere in pref files. Others are hard coded someplace, I believe. At the moment, you can add up to 10 additional custom letters. The format for each letter is as follows. Order is only important for the first field. Remaining fields use keywords to determine the type.

[1] The character to use in the map for this letter.

[2] Feature info. Example: FLOOR(ROOM | ICKY | GLOW) or GRANITE. Supported flags are ROOM, ICKY, GLOW, MARK (with their usual in game meanings). Supported features are determined in f_info.txt, I believe.

[3] Monster info. Examples:
MON(DRAGON, 20): Any dragon, 20 levels OoD
MON(*, 40): Any monster, 40 levels OoD
MON(ORC | NO_GROUP | HASTED): A hasted orc loner at current depth
MON(441 | CLONED): A Gachapin Clone
MON(442): A Black Knight

There is a ton of flexibility here. Best to view the source code to see what is available.

[4] Trap info. Example: TRAP(TRAP_OPEN, 25). The second arg is a probability.

[5] Object info. Examples:
OBJ(*): Any object
OBJ(*, 7): Any object, 7 levels OoD
OBJ(242): Potion of Healing
OBJ(POTION): Any potion
OBJ(RING):EGO(306): Ring of Speed
OBJ(RING):EGO(*): Any ego ring
OBJ(CLOAK, 20):EGO(*): Any ego cloak generated 20 levels OoD
OBJ(RING, 50):EGO(306): Ring of Speed generated 50 level OoD

Again, this format is very flexible and constantly evolving. See code for details.

Finally, add the map lines. These are simply M: followed by ASCII text using letters defined above, or built in letters.

Oh, and case always matters for the pref file parser.

Edit: If you are curious where the room templates are actually used in dungeon generation, it is in build_room_template_aux() in rooms.c (line 1916). There you will see the hard coded letters that are available. At some point, I'd like to move these into the pref files.

Edit: This is already out of date. See this instead.

[Nivim]

I might take the haphazard collection of text at the beginning of v_info, make a reference/credits of the apparent previous sources, then just rewrite it. I mean-- if I'm going to be figuring stuff out anyway...

[debo]

*Nivim presses 5 for implementation of upstairs in the wilderness.*

I think documentation tried to happen at the beginning of the file, but didn't get all the way; there's stuff like S apparently making black markets some kinda confusing reassignment with arguments going. Also, the entire file is really long and maybe has never really been organized; does the numbering thing prevent rearranging vaults in the list completely?

I actually had a local branch where I was rewriting a bunch of poscheng documentation and then ran out of everything RIP

[debo]

Arrrgh...Now, I have to create a new Hugo$oul for 3.3.6!!!

I'm not sure that creating new Hugo$ouls has really been a problem for you as of late

[HugoVirtuoso]

Arrrgh...Now, I have to create a new Hugo$oul for 3.3.6!!!

[Nivim]

*Nivim presses 5 for implementation of upstairs in the wilderness.*

I think documentation tried to happen at the beginning of the file, but didn't get all the way; there's stuff like S apparently making black markets some kinda confusing reassignment with arguments going. Also, the entire file is really long and maybe has never really been organized; does the numbering thing prevent rearranging vaults in the list completely?

[chris]

Upon reflection, I decided to release a quick update as 3.3.6 here. This is a minor release with a few bug fixes:

* Fixed bug with Ring of Archery quest reward. This was a show stopper game crash bug, so is the reason for this release!

* Nazgul egos are now only available from Nazguls. They are more powerful as well.

* Nazgul monsters are scary.

* Berserkers no longer auto-identify objects since they cannot read or use magical devices.

* 0d0 possessor attacks now do no damage at all. Display code updated to reflect this.

* Possessors get a new "Corpses" category in the monster knowledge menu (~4). This enumerates all corpses currently in pack, home or underfoot for easy comparison. Knowledge of a body's attributes can now be gained by *identifying* the corpse (in addition to probing or monster lore in the town).

* Monster knowledge now sorts descending on level.

* Possessors and Mimic's now track history of forms used and display these in the character dump.

As usual, source code and a list of changes are available.

[HugoVirtuoso]

Another suggestion:
Add a specia large wilderness room type that generates an anti-melee or anti-magic field and fill the room with high level ego-crushing monsters.

I'd like to see the player ghosts/spirits being implemented. Also, add body-possessing monsters. You see a Legendary soul (dlvl 90) possessing an Ultimate magus...RUN FOR LIFE!!

[chris]

I'm not sure if anybody is interested, but wilderness encounters are defined in v_info.txt. Scroll down to the section marked "PosChengband Wilderness Encounters" and you will see where they begin. Of course, there is no documentation but I think you can look through samples to get an idea how to code things up. Also, if you add the "DEBUG" flag (field #3 on the T: line, and you can add multiple flags with the | character just line in C) then the game should pick your encounter automatically instead of choosing one randomly.

This is the sort of game aspect that almost anybody could contribute to if they wanted, and I'd be happy to incorporate any additions provided they've been tested and actually work.

I've always meant to come back to these and add more interesting ones. Some ideas off the top of my head include:

[1] Treasure Island for water based terrain.
[2] Eyrie for mountains.
[3] Druidic circle for forests.
[4] Mirkwood spiders for forests.
[5] Sorcerer's Tower for plains.
[6] Gypsy Caravan (Basically, a traveling town with new shop types. This would require some coding effort, though).

It's easy to think of more ...

[Nivim]

It's a small thing, but how hard would it be for them to be rotated randomly?

A basic sort of vault I just typed up.

o=stuff like level 4-8 mindcrafters when around outpost
p=stuff like what you find in the chest rooms like a
  Hardened warrior or Illusionist around outpost
x=The next order of magnitude above p
%=food/mushroom stuff, because ',' is annoying to see
+############
#...#...#..%#
#.oo+..o+..%#
#o..#..o#o..#
##+##########
#...#.&&#`..#
#...#...#$.x#
#.oo#...#...#
##+###+###+##
#o..#p..#...#
#...+...+...#
#...#..p#.%%#
#############

Then another one that popped into my head.

#..##..##..#
...#####+...
..##....##..
#+#......###
##..#+##..##
.#..#!~+..#.
.#..+!!#..#.
##..##+#..##
###......#+#
..##....##..
...+#####...
#..##..##..#
No subtlety here, just pack it full of spellcasters that summon;
supposed to be recognizable on sight, might even want to move
the pillars farther away and add four.
~=Excellent, probably light source.
!=Not bad, usually at least one thing the player cares about, like Speed.

[chris]

Might not be much longer before chris ruins this now that I've posted about it, though. Although maybe wilderness vaults do need more metaphorical fangs?

I don't want to ruin it if it is fun

Anyway, the wilderness encounters are basically stubs at the moment. I think perhaps more diversity is in order?

[Djabanete]

You hit Metaphorical Fang, Farmer Maggot's Dog.
Metaphorical Fang, Farmer Maggot's Dog bites you.
You die... [more]

[Nivim]

And in addition to all that, there's something which debo and friends call "Nivimscumming" where you find the border of the wilderness area loading, open up a window for map overview (using hugeterm and window options), then quickly zig-zag over the border, loading areas very quickly and checking each one for that house with the chest (has to be done during daytime so you can see far enough). Then you go over to the house with teleportation in hand (maybe detect creatures, and if you can some strong digging) and try to survive/kill the guardian while retrieving the loot. Note that if you're level 1 at this point the guardian can be 10 to 25 times your level; but if it's melee based and you have shooting/phase scrolls, it will give you several levels.

Using this method I can get through the super-early game quickly and get on to crazier and newer things. You can also do it while traveling, although requiring you go much slower than travel-mode.

Might not be much longer before chris ruins this now that I've posted about it, though. Although maybe wilderness vaults do need more metaphorical fangs?

[chris]

is there a reason to explore outside? Outside of the outpost i found a house with a chest. I dont know if there is much stuff you can find that is not marked.

i saw somewhere that people go to certain dungeons for stat gains. does that mean hoping to find stat potions?

Just to add to what Hugo said:

If you do explore the wilderness, be warned it is vast so you will need lots of food and light if you plan to travel far. Also, the wilderness has a special travel mode: Press '<' to enter this travel mode, and you can move around much more quickly from place to place, as well as see where all the towns and dungeon entrances are located (I guess the player purchased an accurate map of the world in the town prior to adventuring?). Anyway, you might get ambushed while moving around in this fashion, so be sure to stay on the roads and try to travel during the day. Bring plenty of scrolls of teleport too. To leave this special wilderness travel mode once you reach your destination, press '>'.

[chris]

On another note, I possessed Kenshirou on version 3.3.5 and I noticed that he no longer has a weapon/shield slot...did he ever have those slots?

Kenshirou is supposed to be a combination of Mad Max and Bruce Lee. Now, I never saw the Fist of the North Star anime series, so I may be wrong, but my thoughts are that he used primarily martial arts when fighting so he has the "Monk" body type.

He's still a powerful form with his fists, no? He's not really an end game powerful unique (only ML62) so really shouldn't be one of the Possessor's most powerful forms.

EDIT: Along with the change to the monk body type, Kenshirou also gained stun effects with his punches and the Monk's Double Attack ability. Monk possessor forms also have higher speed than normal humanoid forms (e.g. Kenshirou is +10 speed for the possessor, rather than his old value of +4, I think.