Word of Recall

[shell]

I used to play. Isn't there a way to inscribe a Word of Recall to have it pick a certain depth?

Something like @1000 for level 10?

Anybody know?

[Bandobras]

Nope, use the stairs. Nor in any variants I know. Somewhat related: I don't know if V has reset recall (to the level you recall from), but probably not, either. In variants with wilderness, just choose another dungeon...

[shell]

Found it. It's in Mangband. Inscribe with @R400 and it takes you to that depth.

Too bad! That was a great feature.

[zaimoni]

Originally Posted by Bandobras

Somewhat related: I don't know if V has reset recall (to the level you recall from),

While there have been some long-standing questions about whether to eliminate this, it's still there in all recent versions of V.

[will_asher]

Why would they get rid of it?

[zaimoni]

"Long-standing" := "since before V2.9.3". The prompt goes useless as the player gets more experienced.

Once you have reasonable access to some form of Detect Traps, there really is no point to "reset recall level" in any form since it's completely controllable anyway. The prompt is just a hassle when you're intentionally oscillating between two DL's because you don't think you're ready for the next one.

Most miscalculations in that regard are revealed in-game only when it's too late (e.g., one-breath instant death, surrounded by breeding confusers without confusion resistance, Time Hounds without telepathy, etc.), so again no real use.

[will_asher]

The use is when you go to a level which you realize is too deep for you (and survive that realization). And there's no drawback to having that option.

[K.I.L.E.R]

Learn from your mistake next time.

[fink]

Nah, it can't be just us MAngband people who have this feature - what other variants use it?

[Daven_26d1]

Originally Posted by zaimoni

Once you have reasonable access to some form of Detect Traps, there really is no point to "reset recall level" in any form since it's completely controllable anyway.

Simply not true, the prompt is a potential (though rarely so) lifesaver for inexperienced/unspoiled players who dived too deep, and managed to live to tell the tale. Having to climb to safety once, not on every recall is good thing. In removing the prompt I would want all recalls to "reset".

The prompt is just a hassle when you're intentionally oscillating between two DL's because you don't think you're ready for the next one.

By "hassle" we are talking about hitting one extra key once per dive, of course...actually more hassle for those players who have chronic stair-scummitis, a good thing in my book! =)


@K.I.L.E.R:- "learn from your mistake" is all well and good, but without major use of spoilers, or tedious note-taking, who in the 9 hells can learn the native depths of all monsters so well that after a long break from the game they still have full depth-savvy upon replay?