Where is stuff?

[Speusippus]

I saw a link to the relevant spoiler below on this forum, but I am asking how to interpret the information. If potions of strength (for example) are listed as having a level of 30, does that mean they first begin appearing at level 30, or rather that they are most common on level 30?

[kurie]

I think it means that they are most common at that level. There is, of course, always a chance to find things sooner.

[bron]

If something is a "level 30 item" it means that starting at that dungeon level the item is considered to be an ordinary item. As such, the game might choose to generate that item whenever it is called upon to create an object (for example, after you kill a monster, or when initially seeding the level). This means that a level 30 object is a *LOT* more common starting at level 30. There is always a small chance that the game will generate an out-of-depth object at any level.

Basically, if you're looking for Potions of Strength, you want to be at level 30 or lower. They will actually be slightly more common at that depth than they will be deeper, because the deeper you go, the more items will be considered to be ordinary, and so the list to choose from will get longer and longer. I haven't found that this effect is huge, because most of the items after level 30 are pretty rare, and so don't clutter up the list all that much.

I generally prefer levels 30-33 when looking for stat gain potions: lots of relatively easy to kill trolls, and I try to stay above the Gravity Hounds. But even if you play as slow as I do, it is usually a mistake to max out your stats before dropping lower: it takes too long and usually the gains are not worth the time and trouble. Except possibly constitution, in which case I usually just wear a ring of +Con.

[will_asher]

I have a related question:

How exactly do multiplie allocation lines in object.txt makes something more common at the deeper allocation depth? If something is native to dL70 is it more common at dL70 than something which is native to dL30?

[Derakon]

As I understand it, it's mostly a matter of inserting more rows into an increasingly cluttered list of items to generate. Let's say your list of possible scrolls at level 1 is:

Aggravate Monster
Phase Door
Identify

So you have a 1/3rd chance of generating each scroll. Then you go down to level 10, and you get a new list of in-depth scroll types:

Aggravate Monster
Phase Door
Identify
Light Area
Detect Traps
Identify

You still have a 1/3rd chance of generating the Identify scroll because it has a second entry in the list.

The actual object generation routine also includes rarities, of course.

[fizzix]

Originally Posted by will_asher

I have a related question:

How exactly do multiplie allocation lines in object.txt makes something more common at the deeper allocation depth? If something is native to dL70 is it more common at dL70 than something which is native to dL30?

I also think part of it is a throwback to when dropped items had a distribution that peaked around a current level. I don't think this is the case anymore and as such, multiple allocation lines have pretty much dropped by the wayside (in V)

[Tregonsee]

Is there any way to easily look for a certain resistance? I have need of confusion resistance and I do not know where to look for it. I realise that there are certain artifacts and ego items but not a general level to look for the resistance easily.

[celem]

Cant say off the top of my head where you might find rConfuse. My characters have yet to pass DLvl:35 and I dont believe I've seen it on any items before that depth (barring artifacts). On one of the spoiler pages is a list of depths at which you need certain resists. Conveniently the game tends to drop said items shortly before that point

[Timo Pietilä]

Originally Posted by Tregonsee

Is there any way to easily look for a certain resistance? I have need of confusion resistance and I do not know where to look for it. I realise that there are certain artifacts and ego items but not a general level to look for the resistance easily.

Short answer would be "deeper".

Just kill monsters and check loot, you get it eventually.

[Derakon]

Originally Posted by celem

On one of the spoiler pages is a list of depths at which you need certain resists. Conveniently the game tends to drop said items shortly before that point

Those breakpoints are from a bygone era when players were super-cautious and tried their best to make every character a winner. These days we advocate riskier playing. If you're tired of where you are, go deeper, even if you don't have a full kit. Just be aware of what's around you and avoid fights that you don't think you can handle.

As for specifically looking for a given resist, given the random nature of Angband drops, you can't really do this. However, the deeper you go, the better the loot that shows up, and thus the more likely that you'll get an item that has the resist. Off the top of my head, two main sources for it are Thengel (artifact metal cap), and Elvenkind armor (gets a random high resist which could be confusion).