Ranger spell review - Page 5

Hounded · June 19, 2021, 05:16

YES! Dwarf Ranger with crossbow here I come!

(insert early fluke drop of Long Bow of Bard here just to taunt me... you know you want to, RNG)

Pete Mack · June 19, 2021, 16:35

Now all i need is a "create longbow" spell. I'm still using the +15 shortbow i bought around DL 12. So at DL 43 i mostly use melee and am stalled out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick

Yes, indeed - this is just throwing a bone to sling and crossbow rangers.

Voovus · June 23, 2021, 18:52

Just played through with a Hobbit Ranger to test the new rules. They seem to me to be a significant improvement.

1. My @ was genuinely a ranged character from start to finish.
2. The new sling is wonderful.

3. Bows/crossbows/slings have a slightly different feel to each other, although this could probably be strengthened. (The way I imagine it is: (i) for bows, ammo is average, but easily obtainable, (ii) crossbows have very strong ammo, but it's limited, (iii) sling ammo is like equipment - if you find good ammo then great, and getting those mithril shots of holy might can feel like finding the one ring.)

Possible problem: my @'s ranged weapons, in chronological order, were sling, crossbow, crossbow, crossbow, sling, bow - with the bow only used in the final fight against M. I think the issue is that the Create Arrows spell doesn't create strong enough ammunition. (Possible solution - increase break chance on arrows, but improve the Create Arrows spell. Maybe also put it in the first spellbook, in which case you could push the break chance to 100% if so minded... This is likely to mess with non-rangers, though.)

Which reminds me: is Create Arrows functioning correctly? I've got plenty of rubbish arrows from top quality staves, and some excellent ones from Slow Monsters (at 4950', admittedly).

Finally, Brand Ammunition can be made cheaper and with no fail rate. It's not like you will be casting it in a battle.

Nick · June 23, 2021, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voovus

Possible problem: my @'s ranged weapons, in chronological order, were sling, crossbow, crossbow, crossbow, sling, bow - with the bow only used in the final fight against M. I think the issue is that the Create Arrows spell doesn't create strong enough ammunition. (Possible solution - increase break chance on arrows, but improve the Create Arrows spell. Maybe also put it in the first spellbook, in which case you could push the break chance to 100% if so minded... This is likely to mess with non-rangers, though.)

I'm inclined to leave the ammo breakage where it is, but maybe improve what comes out of Create arrows.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voovus

Which reminds me: is Create Arrows functioning correctly? I've got plenty of rubbish arrows from top quality staves, and some excellent ones from Slow Monsters (at 4950', admittedly).

It is quite random, but I can look at that too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voovus

Finally, Brand Ammunition can be made cheaper and with no fail rate. It's not like you will be casting it in a battle.

True, but I want it to feel like a high level spell

mrfy · June 24, 2021, 02:16

Does the dungeon level you're at affect the results of Create Arrows? Or just the quality of staff and your player level.

Pete Mack · June 24, 2021, 02:34

What mrfy said. How is effective depth calculated for created ammo?

Nick · June 24, 2021, 04:27

Effective depth is player level. Staff level is used to roll for automatically good (enchanted) and then automatically great (ego).

Maybe a good buff would be to make it twice player level.

wobbly · June 24, 2021, 09:23

My experience is staff power makes little difference and that it is very easy to get good arrows from bad staves just by using multiple staves. By the time you have this spell buying out the magic shop isn't hard and even darkness staves off the ground have reasonable chances of producing something usable at high clvl.

Voovus · June 24, 2021, 09:38

Staff power seems to be the problem. I only used the spell about 20 times or so (wasn't actively using a bow), all around clv 45-50, and among these had:
Magi -> basic arrows +5,+4,
Speed -> basic arrows +2,+5,
Destruction -> basic arrows +0,+0,
Holiness -> basic arrows +5,+3,
Slow Monsters -> mithril arrows of demon slaying +7,+11.

Pete Mack · June 24, 2021, 14:05

@Voovus
I've been assuming the spell just calls create object at the given dungeon level. Most of the time, you dont get good stuff.

Tge benefit of the spell is that with so many arrows to choose from, at least some will be good.

June 19, 2021, 05:16	#41
Hounded Adept Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Alberta Posts: 124	YES! Dwarf Ranger with crossbow here I come! (insert early fluke drop of Long Bow of Bard here just to taunt me... you know you want to, RNG) __________________ It Breathes. You die.

June 24, 2021, 04:27	#47
Nick Vanilla maintainer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Canberra, Australia Age: 56 Posts: 9,317 Donated: $60	Effective depth is player level. Staff level is used to roll for automatically good (enchanted) and then automatically great (ego). Maybe a good buff would be to make it twice player level. __________________ One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. Last edited by Nick; June 24, 2021 at 04:29. Reason: Can't read code, apparently

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ranger spell limit	Hinmaton	Vanilla	10	November 22, 2019 09:09
Sil-Q Review	Scatha	Sil	62	January 20, 2019 02:02
Review V 4.0.5 vs V 4.0.4	khyung	Vanilla	1	April 23, 2016 17:06
Ranger new spell idea...	LanceDiamond	Vanilla	20	May 15, 2009 23:23
Review: UnAngband	TJA	Variants	7	August 23, 2007 19:10

June 23, 2021, 18:52	#43
Voovus Adept Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: London Posts: 158	Just played through with a Hobbit Ranger to test the new rules. They seem to me to be a significant improvement. 1. My @ was genuinely a ranged character from start to finish. 2. The new sling is wonderful. 3. Bows/crossbows/slings have a slightly different feel to each other, although this could probably be strengthened. (The way I imagine it is: (i) for bows, ammo is average, but easily obtainable, (ii) crossbows have very strong ammo, but it's limited, (iii) sling ammo is like equipment - if you find good ammo then great, and getting those mithril shots of holy might can feel like finding the one ring.) Possible problem: my @'s ranged weapons, in chronological order, were sling, crossbow, crossbow, crossbow, sling, bow - with the bow only used in the final fight against M. I think the issue is that the Create Arrows spell doesn't create strong enough ammunition. (Possible solution - increase break chance on arrows, but improve the Create Arrows spell. Maybe also put it in the first spellbook, in which case you could push the break chance to 100% if so minded... This is likely to mess with non-rangers, though.) Which reminds me: is Create Arrows functioning correctly? I've got plenty of rubbish arrows from top quality staves, and some excellent ones from Slow Monsters (at 4950', admittedly). Finally, Brand Ammunition can be made cheaper and with no fail rate. It's not like you will be casting it in a battle.

June 24, 2021, 02:16	#45
mrfy Swordsman Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 295	Does the dungeon level you're at affect the results of Create Arrows? Or just the quality of staff and your player level.

June 24, 2021, 02:34	#46
Pete Mack Prophet Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 6,667 Donated: $40	What mrfy said. How is effective depth calculated for created ammo?

June 24, 2021, 09:23	#48
wobbly Prophet Join Date: May 2012 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 2,576	My experience is staff power makes little difference and that it is very easy to get good arrows from bad staves just by using multiple staves. By the time you have this spell buying out the magic shop isn't hard and even darkness staves off the ground have reasonable chances of producing something usable at high clvl.

June 24, 2021, 09:38	#49
Voovus Adept Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: London Posts: 158	Staff power seems to be the problem. I only used the spell about 20 times or so (wasn't actively using a bow), all around clv 45-50, and among these had: Magi -> basic arrows +5,+4, Speed -> basic arrows +2,+5, Destruction -> basic arrows +0,+0, Holiness -> basic arrows +5,+3, Slow Monsters -> mithril arrows of demon slaying +7,+11.

June 24, 2021, 14:05	#50
Pete Mack Prophet Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 6,667 Donated: $40	@Voovus I've been assuming the spell just calls create object at the given dungeon level. Most of the time, you dont get good stuff. Tge benefit of the spell is that with so many arrows to choose from, at least some will be good.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)