Buzzkill's Thread

[buzzkill]

I should have thought of this a long time ago, my very own thread!

Anyhow, I got my best FA character ever chugging along at CL38 DL78, or something like that. I've never gotten this far before [snip]...

UPDATE: The Living Dungeon breathes acid. You die.

I knew it was there, in wasn't unseen or unknown. It didn't sneak up on me. I had been ignoring it, blinking here and there and running about for position, for quite a while because I was dealing with a pesky Legendary Hobbit Rogue and his Hobbit Master Mystic friend (who summoned it in the first place). It must have been quite a hard breath, as I had 39% resistance nd still took about 500 HP's damage.

 Name    : Bele            Age                    67 STR     18/130
 Sex     : Male            Height                 77 INT      18/71
 Race    : Green-Elf       Weight                126 WIS     18/112
 Class   : Paladin         Social Class           37 DEX     18/116
                                                     CON      18/77
                                                     CHR!    18/150

 Max Hit Points      474   Level                39   Max SP (Mana)        85
 Cur Hit Points     -102   Experience       906269   Cur SP (Mana)        65
                           Max Exp          906269
        (Fighting)         Exp to Adv.      945000          (Shooting)
 Blows/Round           5   Gold             260919   Shots/Round         1.2
 + to Skill           32                             + to Skill           32
 Deadliness (%)      142   Base AC/+ To AC  41/ 64   Deadliness (%)      139
                           Game Turn        566297

 Fighting   :Excellent(106)Stealth    :Superb(12)    Disarming  :Very Good(51)
 Bows/Throw :Very Good(77) Perception :Poor(13)      MagicDevice:Good(44)
 SavingThrow:Superb(89)    Searching  :Mediocre(19)  Infravision:20 feet

                            (Character Background)
          You are of the Nandor.  You are the only child of a Ranger.
          You have light grey eyes, straight black hair, and a fair
          complexion.
          

  [Recent locations]

 Current Location : Angband Level 77
 Recall Point 1   : Angband Level 77
 Recall Point 2   : Ossiriand Level 0
 Recall Point 3   : Tol-In-Gaurhoth Level 59
 Recall Point 4   : Khazad Dum Level 0

  [Resistances, Powers and Bonuses]

      abcdefghijkl@            abcdefghijkl@
 Acid:........+....  39% Confu:.............   0%
 Elec:.+......+....  56% Sound:.............   0%
 Fire:-+......+....  52% Shard:.............   0%
 Cold:++......+....  74% Nexus:.............   0%
 Pois:......+......  39% Nethr:........+....  43%
 Lite:.............   0% Chaos:.............   0%
 Dark:.............   0% Disen:.............   0%

      abcdefghijkl@            abcdefghijkl@
S.Dig:.............      M-Mas:.............
Feath:...........+.      Stea.:.......33..1.
PLite:.............      Sear.:.............
Regen:.+...........      Infra:.............
Telep:+............      Tunn.:.............
Invis:.............      Speed:..5...4....3.
FrAct:..........+..      Shots:.............
HLife:.............      Might:.2...........
Blind:.............
NFear:.............


  [Specialty Abilities]

Magic Resistance 


  [Stat Breakdown]

Stat Intrnl Rce Cls Oth Actual Currnt     abcdefghijkl
Str:  18/80  -1   2   4 18/130            .2........2.
Int:  18/91  -1  -3   2  18/71            ...2........
Wis:  18/22   2   1   6 18/112            ...24.......
Dex:  18/96   2   0   0 18/116            ............
Con:  18/37  -1   1   4  18/77            .2........2.
Chr: 18/100   2   2   1 18/150            ...1........

  [Last Messages]

> The Hobbit master mystic blinks toward you.
> You destroy Leather Scale Mail [11] {good}.
> You have no more Leather Scale Mails [11] {good} (r).
> You have 31 Arrows (2d4) (+7,+6) (1).
> The Arrow hits the Hobbit master mystic.
> The Hobbit master mystic grunts with pain.
> You have 30 Arrows (2d4) (+7,+6) (1).
> The Arrow hits the Hobbit master mystic.
> The Hobbit master mystic grunts with pain.
> The Living dungeon breathes acid.
> The Arrow melts! <2x>
> The Hobbit master mystic resists a lot.
> Your Elven Cloak of Stealth is damaged!
> You die.
> Dump type [(t)ext; (h)tml; (f)orum embedded html]:


  [Character Equipment]

a) The Whip of Helen (3d5) (+12,+16) {!!}
b) The Short Bow of Amrod (x4) (+12,+15) <+2>
c) a Ring of Warfare (+5,+8) <+5 to speed>
d) a Ring of Mental Strength <+2, +1>
e) an Amulet of Wisdom <+4>
f) The Lamp of Gwindor {!!}
g) Green Dragon Scale Mail (-2) [30,+16] <+4 to speed>
h) an Elven Cloak of Stealth [2,+8] <+3 to stealth>
i) a Small Metal Shield of Elvenkind [5,+12] <+3 to stealth>
k) The Set of Leather Gloves 'Cambeleg' (+8,+8) [1,+12] <+2>
l) a Pair of Hard Leather Boots of Elvenkind [3,+9] <+1, +3>

         [Quiver]
0) 36 Arrows of Frost (2d4) (+6,+7)
1) 30 Arrows (2d4) (+7,+6)


  [Character Inventory]

a) 3 Holy Books of Prayers [Words of Wisdom] {@m2 @b2}
b) 2 Holy Books of Prayers [Exorcism and Dispelling] {@m3 @b3}
c) 2 Holy Books of Prayers [Godly Insights] {@m4 @b4}
d) 27 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds {75% off}
e) 3 Potions of Healing
f) a Potion of Enlightenment
g) 15 Scrolls of Teleport Level
h) 13 Scrolls of Word of Recall
i) a Scroll of Recharging
j) 4 Scrolls of Holy Chant
k) 4 Scrolls of Protection from Evil
l) 5 Rods of Perception {!! @z2}
m) 6 Rods of Sense Surroundings (1 charging) {!!}
n) 7 Rods of Light (1 charging) {@z3}
o) a Wand of Teleport Away (5 charges)
p) a Wand of Acid Balls (6 charges)
q) a Staff of Speed (5 charges)
r) The Main Gauche of Maedhros (2d6) (+15,+18) <+3 to speed>


  [Home Inventory]

a) a Holy Book of Prayers [Words of Wisdom]
b) 2 Mushrooms of Restoring
c) a Potion of Restore Mana
d) 7 Potions of Restore Life Levels
e) 10 Scrolls of Teleport Level
f) 35 Scrolls of Identify {25% off}
g) 14 Scrolls of Recharging
h) 2 Wands of Stone to Mud (10 charges) {25% off}
i) a Staff of Speed (8 charges)
j) a Staff of Speed (6 charges)
k) a Staff of Speed (3 charges)
l) a Staff of Detection (14 charges)
m) The Staff of the Kelvar (5 charges)
n) a Ring of Acid [+9]
o) a Ring of Strength <+4>
p) an Amulet of Magical Item Mastery <+4 to device skill>
q) Gold Dragon Scale Mail (-2) [30,+21] <+4 to speed>
r) The Augmented Chain Mail of Caspanion (-2) [16,+20] <+3>
s) The Knight's Shield of Earendil [10,+15]
t) a Two-Handed Sword (Holy Avenger) (3d6) (+14,+14) [+1] <+2>
u) The War Hammer of Nenendi (5d3) (+10,+9) <+3>
v) The Short Bow of Celegorm (x3) (+12,+15) <+1 to speed>
w) 45 Lead Shots of the Noldor (2d3) (+6,+5)


Bele the Green-Elf Paladin
Began the quest to kill Morgoth on 07/20/2009 at 02:53 PM

============================================================
                                  CHAR.
|   TURN  |      LOCATION        |LEVEL| EVENT
============================================================
|      171|       Ossiriand Town |  2  | Gained the Magic Resistance 
|  continued...                  |     | specialty. 
|     7491|       Ossiriand   9  |  5  | Reached level 5
|    29066|       Ered Luin  10  | 10  | Reached level 10
|    31476|       Ered Luin  10  | 10  | Destroyed Alexander Ulyano, the 
|  continued...                  |     | Skeleton 
|    33440|        Belegost Town | 10  | Moved house to Belegost.
|    43542|        Belegost Town | 10  | Killed The Complainer
|    56527|       Ered Luin  11  | 12  | Killed Balcmeg, the Cave Orc
|    71344|      Thargelion  11  | 14  | Killed Orfax, Son of Boldor
|    86214|        Belegost Town | 15  | Reached level 15
|    90361|       Ered Luin  10  | 15  | Killed Brodda, the Easterling
|    99419|       Ered Luin  11  | 15  | Found The Lamp of Gwindor
|   108005|       Ered Luin  13  | 16  | Killed Ulfast, son of Ulfang
|   114878|       Ered Luin  10  | 16  | Killed Lug, the Hill Orc
|   197193|       Ered Luin  20  | 20  | Reached level 20
|   216461|  East Beleriand  17  | 20  | Destroyed Antoine, the Zombie
|   233013|  East Beleriand   8  | 21  | Killed The Thief of the Mountains
|   275465|        Lothlann  32  | 24  | Killed Orcogar, Son of Orcobal
|   286176|  East Beleriand  19  | 24  | Killed The Ickiness
|   295779|          Himlad  22  | 24  | Killed Ulwarth, son of Ulfang
|   295788|          Himlad  22  | 24  | Found The Soft Leather Armour 
|  continued...                  |     | 'Hithlomir' 
|   301104|        Lothlann  32  | 24  | Killed Khim, Son of Mim
|   302342|        Lothlann  32  | 25  | Reached level 25
|   302467|        Lothlann  32  | 25  | Killed Orcobal the Mighty
|   302522|        Lothlann  32  | 25  | Found The War Hammer of Nenendi
|   343786|        Lothlann  32  | 26  | Killed Othrod, Lord of the Orcs
|   347296|        Lothlann  32  | 26  | Found The Set of Leather Gloves 
|  continued...                  |     | 'Cambeleg' 
|   356382|      Dorthonion  32  | 27  | Killed Ibun, Son of Mim
|   423258|         Eriador   8  | 29  | Killed Mughash the Kobold Lord
|   450458|        Lothlann  50  | 30  | Reached level 30
|   450508|        Lothlann  50  | 30  | Found The Short Bow of Celegorm
|   456769|        Lothlann  50  | 30  | Found The Battle Axe of Gonnibil
|   459436|        Lothlann  52  | 30  | Killed Uldor the Accursed
|   524654|   Fen of Serech  42  | 34  | Found The Whip of Helen
|   530047| Tol-In-Gaurhoth  45  | 34  | Found The Main Gauche of Maedhros
|   530802| Tol-In-Gaurhoth  48  | 35  | Reached level 35
|   534638| Tol-In-Gaurhoth  48  | 36  | Found The Augmented Chain Mail of 
|  continued...                  |     | Caspanion 
|   535384| Tol-In-Gaurhoth  48  | 36  | Found The Short Bow of Amrod
|   541075|         Angband  67  | 37  | Killed Lorgan, Chief of the 
|  continued...                  |     | Easterlings 
|   543852|         Angband  71  | 37  | Found The Knight's Shield of 
|  continued...                  |     | E["a]rendil 
|   559128| Tol-In-Gaurhoth  52  | 39  | Killed Eol, the Dark Elven Smith
|   559145| Tol-In-Gaurhoth  52  | 39  | Found The Staff of the Kelvar
|   561814| Tol-In-Gaurhoth  57  | 39  | Destroyed Ariel, Queen of Air
============================================================
|   566297|         Angband  77  | 39  | Killed by a Living dungeon.
|   566297|         Angband  77  | 39  | Killed on 08/03/2009 at 08:39 PM.
============================================================

[buzzkill]

I was thinking a little about traps last night and came up this idea. Imprisonment. Indistinguishable from a normal teleportation trap, it would send the player to pre-determined location, specifically a prison cell. A 20x20 room surrounded entirely by granite, quartz or magma, no doors. The player would have to teleport or dig his way out. Variations could exist, permanent walls, restricting teleportation, locked doors w/guards outside, larger cells with other prisoners inside, more traps.

I really like the notion of a non-random teleportation. I don't think that this is the best possible implementation, but it's a start.

[Tiburon Silverflame]

As long as it's diggable, AND as long as it doesn't show up too early (very early on, no one has teleport, and the light weapons may *not* allow digging, or take so bloody damn long to do so that fuel/food might become an issue)...it's not a bad idea.

A dangerous variation is a room within a room. The 20x20 area has, say, a 5x5 at its center...*this* is the secure detention area. Which means, everything popped in that room is out of depth by 5 or 10 levels, like in a vault. Everything in the little room starts out asleep. If you try tunneling out, tho...they'll wake up, and then...if they can get out...uhhh ohhhh.....

At deeper levels, one could eliminate the dig option...surround with permanent rock. If you're on level 50, you damn sure have *some* way out, even if it's WoR.

[buzzkill]

Lando (DaJ Barbarian, by a long shot my best character ever) meets the Witch King of Angmar on DL80. This is by far the deepest unique I've ever actually engaged in a battle with, and the 3rd deepest I've ever even seen. Quite to my surprise, I get him down to 3 ***'s pretty quickly putting out 3 blows at 200+ per blow in melee, my hasted speed +34, and also firing a few bolts of acid doing about 300 per hit. Anyhow, at about this time it teleports me away. That really pissed me off, because it landed me right next to a pit of titans. I casually outpaced the titans and destroyed a few other nuisances on my return trek (finding a potion of speed and a wand of tunneling to further haste my return). I managed to him it and thought the Witch-King was dead, but at one * remaining, he TO'd me again. I'd return and he'd TO me again, adding a * or ** to his health each time while awaiting my return. This must have happened at least 7 or 8 times. sometimes even before I would see him. Eventually my frustration built and my keypresses got sloppy. Did I die? No. I pressed accidentally < while standing on an up staircase, leaving the level, leaving the Witch-King alive. What are the odds of that?

[will_asher]

<checks the code> The Witch-King's tele-away antics are a result of DJA having some of the effects of the AI_SMART option always on for SMART monsters.
After hearing about this, I think I'll make it only a 35% or 50% chance for them to chose a spell intelligently when AI_SMART is not turned on. probably 50%.

hmmm, maybe I'll have Rnexus give a small chance of resisting TELE_AWAY as well.

[Fendell Orcbane]

Do all FA character end up with such low HPs? I was checking your paladin out since I'm playing FA myself and I don't know what to expect. Are there any spoilers around for the monsters? I ask because these monsters are a lot different than what you have in V. Hell the baby dragons were kicking my 20 lvl rogues butt. I actually had to run. Also it looks like speed works differently in this game.

[LostTemplar]

Any character will have at least 800 hp in lategame, speed is same as in vanilla just harder to get.

[buzzkill]

Originally Posted by Fendell Orcbane

Do all FA character end up with such low HPs? I was checking your paladin out since I'm playing FA myself and I don't know what to expect... Hell the baby dragons were kicking my 20 lvl rogues butt. I actually had to run. Also it looks like speed works differently in this game.

I believe that HP's and speed work the same as in V. My characters are typically lacking "good stats" since I always use the standard roller.

[buzzkill]

Originally Posted by will_asher

<checks the code> The Witch-King's tele-away antics are a result of DJA having some of the effects of the AI_SMART option always on for SMART monsters.... hmmm, maybe I'll have Rnexus give a small chance of resisting TELE_AWAY as well.

I though something funny was going on. With the large number of spells it had to choose from, I found it hard to believe that it would TO me with such eerie regularity. OTOH, It turned him from a relitave pushover (I can hardly believe I'm saying that) casting only a couple of bolt spells and summoning once, into a viable, though annyoing apponent. Both of your remedies look good at first glance.

[buzzkill]

Another random idea... I figure it's better to jot these down rather than let them fade into oblivion. One day maybe I'll have my own ill-defined non-working variant.

While I'm not for more guardians, that is enemies that you must beat to continue downward. I was thinking that having certain uniques highly likely (50%) to be found at a particular level would be nice so you could prepare for them. I then discarded that idea and came up with a much simpler one. Being an old baseball card collector, it occurred to me that Topp's always placed star players on card numbers ending with 50 or 00. Sure, they didn't always get it right but they tried. With that in mind I suggest making levels that end in 5 or 0 somehow more special. My first and best ideas thus far are ...

1. taking any level that ends in 0 and generating it 50% OoD. So DL10 would be generated as if it were DL15 and DL80 as if it were DL120. This would of course be a one time only, first time visited perk. Players could then decide whether they wanted to risk their life in search of a better kit, or simply find the staircase and move on. In the interest of fairness (to Morgoth) I think that any teleport-style spells would have to be made to aggravate the entire level. In other words, you would have to explore the level with your feet-on-the-ground either killing, running, or sneaking away from everything if you planned on sticking around. No phase and shoot, no TO, no nonsense.

2. For the DL's ending in 5, I would simply guarantee a unique be present. To add to the fun, I'd also guarantee him awake and aware. Meh, it's better than nothing.