Mechanic idea for a variant...monster generator

[Jude]

OK, so one of the virtues of Angband is that you don't have to graphically animate monsters, so it's really easy to create them and as a result the monster list is enormous...lots of variety.

But what if you could make a program that would randomly generate monsters? It could pick first a letter, then a name based on input provided for creatures of that type, then take certain abilities and attack properties and so on and combine them to make a monster. Depth and experience value would be calculated as a function of what abilities it had. Obviously it would take some work to make it consistently turn out coherent and non-overpowered monsters, but it could be really interesting.

Also, if you run into one you like in the dungeon, there could be a key to add it into the permanent monster list or something.

Thoughts?

[Djabanete]

I'd be more interested in randomized uniques than randomized standard monsters. In fact, I could imagine a "randomized uniques" option just like the "randomized artifacts" that would generate a list of uniques based on standard monsters, but with additional random powers.

Edit: Also, the title of this thread made me think of a completely different idea; monster-generating machines which could be disarmed like traps and which would periodically cause monsters to appear next to them. These could produce specific kinds of monsters: "serpent generator", "demon portal", etc.

[Narvius]

Actually, more like "Serpent Pit".
Nice ideas, both.

[zaimoni]

Originally Posted by Djabanete

Edit: Also, the title of this thread made me think of a completely different idea; monster-generating machines which could be disarmed like traps and which would periodically cause monsters to appear next to them. These could produce specific kinds of monsters: "serpent generator", "demon portal", etc.

Gauntlet, the RL!

[Jude]

Originally Posted by Djabanete

I'd be more interested in randomized uniques than randomized standard monsters. In fact, I could imagine a "randomized uniques" option just like the "randomized artifacts" that would generate a list of uniques based on standard monsters, but with additional random powers.

Edit: Also, the title of this thread made me think of a completely different idea; monster-generating machines which could be disarmed like traps and which would periodically cause monsters to appear next to them. These could produce specific kinds of monsters: "serpent generator", "demon portal", etc.

I thought of the same thing when I posted it, actually. That would be cool too.

Maybe I'll stick this suggestion in the latest thread about Z+. I still haven't played that though, since I can't figure out how to make the walls turn from #'s to plain blocks...

[Mangojuice]

Originally Posted by Jude

I thought of the same thing when I posted it, actually. That would be cool too.

Maybe I'll stick this suggestion in the latest thread about Z+. I still haven't played that though, since I can't figure out how to make the walls turn from #'s to plain blocks...

See the "Known Issues" section of the website. There are multiple solutions mentioned there.

Actually, Z+ (and many other variants) already have monster generators. That is, they have monsters that can summon monsters, which is really pretty much the same idea.

[Atarlost]

The original idea wasn't a monster generator. It was a monster type generator.

[Jude]

Originally Posted by Atarlost

The original idea wasn't a monster generator. It was a monster type generator.

Yeah...as the one guy said it might work better with just uniques, but why don't you give it a try? It could be really interesting with just uniques or with all monsters.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Djabanete

Also, the title of this thread made me think of a completely different idea; monster-generating machines which could be disarmed like traps and which would periodically cause monsters to appear next to them. These could produce specific kinds of monsters: "serpent generator", "demon portal", etc.

In his early writing, Tolkien had "serpents of iron", which were big dragon-like machines full of orcs and trolls; in the siege of Gondolin, they climbed up to the city and broke open, and all the baddies came running out. Not quite a generating machine, but close.

[Mangojuice]

Originally Posted by Jude

Yeah...as the one guy said it might work better with just uniques, but why don't you give it a try? It could be really interesting with just uniques or with all monsters.

It might be reasonable to make Z+Angband single monster quests make random uniques (when the target isn't already unique). So instead of killing a Snaga, you have to kill the random "Lukbar, the Snaga" that only exists in that quest. It could work, I'd have to think about it.

Also, it's really not clear to me how you would upgrade a monster to a unique version. I could, naturally, upgrade hit dice, AC, and damage. That alone, though, would be pretty boring; basically, all you get that's interesting is the unique name.