Probability of using Rods of Teleport Other?

[Dragonboneman]

Can someone give me an idea of when Rods of Teleport Other might become usable by a Half-Troll Warrior? My current guy (CL 36, 18 INT) just failed to use one 50 times in a row.

Thanks in advance.

[Mondkalb]

Rod of Teleport Other has a high level (45).
Your char has poor magic device ability (which will increase with level and intelligence). To calculate correct chance use the spoiler file:
http://www.juti.nl/hugo/Angband/Spoiler/ability.spo
This is a quote from the above mentioned file:

USING A WAND, STAFF, OR ROD
---------------------------

To calculate the base ability of using a wand, staff, or rod, use the
following charts. Begin with the base class ability, then add the race
modifier. To take level into account, add in the product of your
character's experience level and the class bonus per level modifier.
To this add the appropriate intelligence modifier. This gives a numerical
rating of your character's skill at using magic devices.

              Bonus per
Class    Base Level       Int.         Bonus      Int.         Bonus
-------------------       ------------------      ------------------
Warrior    18   0.7       3-7              0      18/130-18/139   11
Mage       36   1.3       8-14             1      18/140-18/149   12
Priest     30   1.0       15-17            2      18/150-18/159   13
Rogue      32   1.0       18-18/19         3      18/160-18/169   14
Ranger     32   1.0       18/20-18/39      4      18/170-18/179   15
Paladin    24   1.0       18/40-18/59      5      18/180-18/189   16
                          18/60-18/79      6      18/190-18/199   17
Race     Modifier         18/80-18/99      7      18/200-18/209   18
-----------------         18/100-18/109    8      18/210-18/219   19
Human           0         18/110-18/119    9      18/220+         20
Half-Elf        3         18/120-18/129   10
Elf             6
Hobbit         18
Gnome          12
Dwarf           9
Half-Orc       -3
Half-Troll     -8
Dunadan         5
High-Elf       20

To calculate the probability of successfully activating a device, first
divide your character's device skill rating by 2 if your character is
currently confused. Then subtract the level of the wand, staff, or rod
to be activated, with a maximum subtrahend of 50. Call the resulting
number K (which may be negative).

If K is at least 3, then the chance of successfully activating the wand,
staff, or rod is (K-1) in K.

On the other hand, if K is less than 3, the probability of successfully
activating the device is very low yet nonzero; the probability of success
is 2 in 3*(4-K).

This makes:
18-8+(36*0,7)+3=38
Level of rod: 45
K=38-45=-7
Chances are: 2 in 33
So you were still quite unlucky.

[Dragonboneman]

So I'm basically wasting my time with Rods of Teleport Other at the moment, and should stockpile them at home for later (at least until INT is maxed). Thanks, Mondkalb.

[Mondkalb]

Go with wands of teleport other, they are only level 20 which makes the chances of activation for your char reasonable 17 in 18.

[Dragonboneman]

The worry with using wands is not activating them, which works pretty well, but draining. That's why I'd like to eventually replace wands of TO with rods, as I am currently unable to melee anything which hits to drain charges.

[Pete Mack]

Originally Posted by Dragonboneman

The worry with using wands is not activating them, which works pretty well, but draining. That's why I'd like to eventually replace wands of TO with rods, as I am currently unable to melee anything which hits to drain charges.

Zap drainers (with TO) before they get you. There's really no reason to fight highlevel 'W', etc. You only need 8 more device points to get a reasonable response from the rods, in any case--maybe 4 character levels, and a few potions of Intelligence.

[Dragonboneman]

Put like that, it doesn't sound too bad. Expect a YASD post shortly.

[Dragonboneman]

Told you so. Death dump is on the ladder. Turns out I only had 17 INT, not 18. Not that it matters now of course.

[d1sc0nnected]

Well yeah, you jinxed yourself. You shoulda knocked on wood. The RNG doesn't like being taunted.

[Dragonboneman]

Naah. When I REALLY want to jinx myself I find Ringil. Kiss of death, that thing.