Improving the monster list "["

[buzzkill]

Currently V and most variants simply list the monsters name, number appearing and asleep/awake status. Since we have the whole screen to work with, why not provide some additional (useful) information.

I suggest comparing the players current (known) resists to the monsters abilities (as known by monster memory) and displaying unresisted abilities and attacks.

So, If you know that something moves fast (compared to you), can paralyze, breath fire, drain XP, then "SPEED+10", "PARA", "FIRE", "XP DRAIN" would be displayed next to it's name in the monster list. If you had an appropriate resist or immunity, then that particular flag would be removed or modified (in the case of % resists). This way, you get the information you need, without having to use monster recall and re-checking your equipment. It would also help to point out equipment swapping errors. You could even color code or place the entries in columns for easier readability.

If it seems kind of spoilery to you, just remember that it's only as accurate as your monster memory. It one stop shopping, making known information conveniently accessible for the player. Comments and implementation welcome.

[konijn_]

Originally Posted by buzzkill

<snip>

If it seems kind of spoilery to you, just remember that it's only as accurate as your monster memory. It one stop shopping, making known information conveniently accessible for the player. Comments and implementation welcome.

Sounds like quite a bit of work, but I like it.

T.

[SilverD]

IMO, you need as many possible entries in that list as possible, and the display limit is not that huge to begin with.

What would be good, though, is to sort them by how difficult the monsters are compared to you - like taking in account their level, attacks, and your resists.

Maybe even color-code the names, too. Or maybe just display their level besides their name and color-code that, based on attacks and etc.

[Marble Dice]

I think that sounds good in theory, but would be difficult to use in practice.

By way of example, I have been working on a patch which would list the monster symbol, the monster name, the quantity of that monster, the number sleeping, and the distance/direction to the nearest monster of that group, in a columnar format that is easy to read. This is exactly the information that is currently presented, with the addition of distance/direction and a columnar display. I have been having trouble formatting it such that it is easy to read at a glance and still looks good.

One idea from a previous thread that may have promise, is allowing the player to cycle through '[' monster list display modes by pressing the same key multiple times. This way you could switch between the standard format, the danger overview (akin to what buzzkill describes), and the individual-level distance and direction list, etc.

[konijn_]

Originally Posted by Marble Dice

<Snip>
By way of example, I have been working on a patch which would list the monster symbol, the monster name, the quantity of that monster, the number sleeping, and the distance/direction to the nearest monster of that group, in a columnar format that is easy to read.<snip>

You have a screenshot somewhere that we can savage

T.

[buzzkill]

Originally Posted by SilverD

IMO, you need as many possible entries in that list as possible, and the display limit is not that huge to begin with.

My example was with just a few flags that I came up with off the top of my head. Although I can see it getting crowded near end game, I think it would work well (without columns) in both the early and mid game, when most enemies would have 10 or less abilities/attacks, considering that those attacks that ARE resisted/immune, need not be shown at all.

Come to think of it unless you're severely under equipped, it may work for the end game too.

[Marble Dice]

Originally Posted by konijn_

You have a screenshot somewhere that we can savage

T.

I chose thread resurrection over thread hijacking, so you can look at a screenshot over there ---> http://angband.oook.cz/forum/showthr...?t=1945&page=4

[Magnate]

Originally Posted by Marble Dice

I chose thread resurrection over thread hijacking, so you can look at a screenshot over there ---> http://angband.oook.cz/forum/showthr...?t=1945&page=4

Buzzkill has a short memory. Not many months ago the monster list didn't even show you the asleep/awake status.

While we're thinking about adding modes to the list view (good idea to cycle through), can we please bear in mind that while we theoretically have the whole screen to play with, most people use a small subwindow for the monster list, not the main window.

[pav]

I have experimented with this locally, and in the end settled with adding just a single number to the list entry - average life rating of the monster.