tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post7230324732784018504..comments2024-03-29T02:34:55.592-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Angband: Played OnCRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-5276637657736607442021-12-22T16:59:56.127-05:002021-12-22T16:59:56.127-05:00It's the right time of year, so it bears menti...It's the right time of year, so it bears mentioning: this version of Angband doesn't have any special bonus for playing on Christmas. That's been around for several years in mainline Angband.<br />Jeearrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05233320295907517418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-57050521570662004892021-12-22T14:48:08.921-05:002021-12-22T14:48:08.921-05:00In v1.31 (ROT13): Punevfzn vf zbfg pbzzba ng yrir...In v1.31 (ROT13): Punevfzn vf zbfg pbzzba ng yriry gjragl. Fgeratgu, Qrkgrevgl, naq Pbafgvghgvba ner zbfg pbzzba ng yriry guvegl. Vagryyvtrapr naq JVfqbz ner zbfg pbzzba ng yriry guvegl-gjb. Vs lbh tb qrrcre, jung unccraf vf gung qrrcre bowrpgf fgneg gb bhg-pbzcrgr g urz, rkprcg va guvf fcrpvsvp pnfr, gur zbafgre qvssvphygyl fcvxr vf zber fvtavsvpnag.<br /><br />Gung'f sebz GERNFHER.P va gur i1.31 fbhepr pbqr.<br /><br />This advice is going to depend on exactly which version of the game you're playing.Jeearrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05233320295907517418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-84829641555061715432021-12-22T12:59:26.611-05:002021-12-22T12:59:26.611-05:00In the "actually monsters that can kill you i...In the "actually monsters that can kill you in ADD", let's not forget stalactites, stalagmites (a different monster) and ... cloaks. Specifically cloaks.<br />Dark Sun tabletop goes one step further with OASIS trying to kill you (actually a giant carnivorous plant that "closes" on you as you try to pick what looks like water but is not).Narwhal, the Wargaming Scribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05808952600298482923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-20538734013303049922021-12-22T11:35:20.601-05:002021-12-22T11:35:20.601-05:00In the books "goblin" is used for Uruk-H...In the books "goblin" is used for Uruk-Hai as well. In The Two Towers chapter II "The Riders of Rohan," Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli come upon the aftermath of the Riders' battle with the orcs while searching for Merry and Pippin:<br /><br />"Upon a stake in the middle was set a great goblin head; upon its shattered helm the white badge could still be seen."<br /><br />The white badge is Saruman's symbol, worn by the Uruk-hai, and the orc was a large one; probably Ugluk, the Uruk-hai leader.<br /><br />(I don't have this memorized, I'm reading the books to one of my kids who was brought up on D&D and he was confused because he thinks of goblins and orcs as completely separate!)<br /><br />It does seem as though Tolkien did sometimes use "goblin" for small orcs and "hobgoblin" for larger ones, see question 16 here: http://tolkien.slimy.com/faq/Creatures.html.Matt Weinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731711604182232484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-76497955443766498042021-12-22T11:02:46.970-05:002021-12-22T11:02:46.970-05:00My experience concurs with Håkon's here.My experience concurs with Håkon's here.Delvin Anarishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03350343562075300893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-5401039630962014262021-12-22T08:59:37.126-05:002021-12-22T08:59:37.126-05:00Informally, or in the movies, goblins are the smal...Informally, or in the movies, goblins are the smaller sort of orcs, like those that appear in the movies in Moria. <br />Uruk-hai are a greater sort of orc, supposedly an "improved" version. As if Sauron experimented with orc breeds to get a better one.<br />They are, in the end, all orcs. And Sting would glow in the presence of all of them.David Esparzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01635052466273119211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-75127481208786687132021-12-22T07:22:36.214-05:002021-12-22T07:22:36.214-05:00As with many things in the legendarium, it isn'...As with many things in the legendarium, it isn't nearly as clear as that. "orc" is a corruption of "Uruk", and that term is supposed to be specifically for the great soldier-orcs of Mordor. Using "snaga" or "goblin" to differentiate the smaller types used as laborers or that infest the Misty Mountains is not without linguistic justification.Gnomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920812227941556716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-43744163574537853342021-12-22T03:00:47.330-05:002021-12-22T03:00:47.330-05:00V frrz gb erzrzore gung gur fgng-tnva cbgvbaf jrer...V frrz gb erzrzore gung gur fgng-tnva cbgvbaf jrer zbfg cebonoyr ng yriry25? Gur gernfher qvfgevohgvba znqr fbzr 2-5 yriryf fvtavsvpnagyl orggre ng cebqhpvat fgng-tnva cbgvbaf naq nqinapvat shegure qbja orsber 90%-vfu bs gur fgng tnvaf jrer qbar jnf irel fho-bcgvzny. V zvtug pbashfr gur yriryf jvgu Zbevn, bs pbhefr. Vg'f orra n ybat gvzr fvapr V pbhyq nssbeq gb fcraq rabhtu ubhef gb jva gurfr tnzrf.<br /><br />Håkon Gauthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13225746650239976872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64214942541964235552021-12-22T00:46:50.359-05:002021-12-22T00:46:50.359-05:00It could just be for flavor. After all, deadly coi...It could just be for flavor. After all, deadly coins as a monster isn't the worst idea, even if there isn't any sort of way for them to be used as a trapTwibathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11872080022551062309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-80989140181664330542021-12-21T23:57:55.294-05:002021-12-21T23:57:55.294-05:00This version of Angband still has Moria-esque mons...This version of Angband still has Moria-esque monster distribution. <br /><br />Version 1.31 still has a large difficulty spike at the levels where Moria also has one. (ROT13: Vg'f ng qhatrba yriryf sebz zvq-guvegvrf gb gur rneyl sbegvrf. Vg'f nqivfnoyr gb unat bhg n juvyr va gur rneyl guvegvrf, nf lbh arrq n ybg bs nqqrq bbzcu gb eryvnoyl fheivir gur qvssvphygl fcvxr va byqre irefvbaf. Lbh qb abg ernyyl arrq gb unat bhg ng gjragl gb gjragl-svir va i1.31; vg qbrfa'g unir gur cnenylfvf vafgnag-qrngu oht cerfrag va i2.7.9i3 gb i3.1.1.)<br /><br />There are game-mechanical reasons for this spike to exist both in Moria and to a lesser extent Angband, but as they aren't at all obvious, the spike was eased in modern Angband and many variants.<br />Jeearrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05233320295907517418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64516495878801212242021-12-21T23:00:44.178-05:002021-12-21T23:00:44.178-05:00"Selling unknown items identifies them. While..."Selling unknown items identifies them. While shopkeepers won't buy bad items (e.g., Scrolls of Darkness, Potions of Weakness) or cursed items, they will often take a chance on unknown items. If they turn out to be bad, the shopkeeper usually screams or weeps or yells at you."<br /><br />I love this.Bluerazorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08417137714916057380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-49819858654881111372021-12-21T22:51:35.964-05:002021-12-21T22:51:35.964-05:00I would definitely try to have more than one on ha...I would definitely try to have more than one on hand - dunno how common they are in stores (in modern Angband you can buy unlimited phase door and recall scrolls) but they’re really useful both for escaping bad situations and giving you time to take advantage of your healing as you wear down tougher monsters. Plus I think you’ve already noticed that monsters’ attacks can mess with your stuff...tetrapodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04736532124472617151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-49911909256698069912021-12-21T21:17:52.074-05:002021-12-21T21:17:52.074-05:00Well, it's nice to know I didn't bungle so...Well, it's nice to know I didn't bungle something. Thanks, tetrapod, for your overall set of tips and points. I agree with the "Portal" failure issue, and I do have a Scroll of Phase just in case.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-35615111464928751412021-12-21T21:15:00.784-05:002021-12-21T21:15:00.784-05:00It's just weird that Wizardry would have inven...It's just weird that <i>Wizardry</i> would have invented them when <i>Wizardry</i> doesn't have a way to use them for their intended purpose; that is, there's no way for the party to reach for a pile of coins and get tricked by the creeping variety.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-81121589658854135592021-12-21T21:11:47.820-05:002021-12-21T21:11:47.820-05:00I'm sure you're right that it's been e...I'm sure you're right that it's been explained before, but I had forgotten it if so. I didn't remember that orcs and goblins are the same thing.<br /><br />"Snaga is a term for slave that orcs call each other." I suppose it's probably taboo for non-orcs to use it. They probably refer to it obliquely, like "the s-word."CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-85303687866700033122021-12-21T18:28:01.229-05:002021-12-21T18:28:01.229-05:00For some reason, even though the floor, ceiling, w...For some reason, even though the floor, ceiling, walls, treasure chests, and even the apparently empty passageway can all try to kill you in 1st edition D&D, the coins themselves normally don't.<br /><br />The Wizardry creeping coins definitely came before the ones in Moria/Angband, which probably pulled them from Wizardry, yes.<br /><br />The Moria vorpal bunny also probably comes from Wizardry -- that's a Monty Python concept, but the name itself comes from Wizardry. Mainline Angband did not inherit the vorpal bunny from Moria (they're restored in some variants); I'm not sure why.<br /><br />On the other hand, Angband still has the green glutton ghost (dating to the days when the original Ghostbusters was still in movie theaters), and it's actually treated as a non-silly monster.<br />Jeearrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05233320295907517418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-7568382834345881142021-12-21T18:06:53.197-05:002021-12-21T18:06:53.197-05:00Missile weapons aren't as powerful in this ver...Missile weapons aren't as powerful in this version as they are in future Angband. Doesn't take long for those changes to arrive in relatively rapid succession, but Chester won't see them here.<br /><br />Also, if Chester wants to roll with "melee first, magic second, archery a distant third", paladin was, and still is, the best class for that.<br />Jeearrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05233320295907517418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-26521072450445425902021-12-21T14:20:49.093-05:002021-12-21T14:20:49.093-05:00I know you didn't ask, and I know others have ...I know you didn't ask, and I know others have explained this before on this blog... But goblins and orcs are the same thing in Tolkien's universe. In the black tongue Uruk-hai translates to great orc and snaga is a term for slave that orcs call each other.Slothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07414237215939455652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-11915172556683699102021-12-21T13:17:59.563-05:002021-12-21T13:17:59.563-05:00It was the first thing I thought of when thinking ...It was the first thing I thought of when thinking of <i>Angband</i> subtitles. The downside is that I've had "Casey would waltz with the strawberry blonde" stuck in my head for several weeks.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-12449237113234514052021-12-21T13:13:24.309-05:002021-12-21T13:13:24.309-05:00Using light weapons is an optimization trick; it&#...Using light weapons is an optimization trick; it's far from necessary, especially playing a Dunadan Paladin.<br /><br />Soon enough he'll find an ego or artifact weapon, and from then until he has the choice between *multiple* ego or artifact weapons of a similar tier, it will be the hands-down correct choice.Delvin Anarishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03350343562075300893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-4296726016920098132021-12-21T12:56:57.038-05:002021-12-21T12:56:57.038-05:00Aargh, that one passed me by when I glanced at the...Aargh, that one passed me by when I glanced at the page earlier!Gerry Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04078394659680797175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-85256812599162998932021-12-21T11:56:32.737-05:002021-12-21T11:56:32.737-05:00I think investing in the longsword may be an unint...I think investing in the longsword may be an unintuitive blunder. I'm sure someone else has also mentioned it, but in Angband, strong characters generally use <i>light</i> weapons to maximize their damage/turn via multiple hits. Heavy weapons have improved critical chances, but I don't think it's anywhere near competitive with light weapons for early-to-mid characters. In any case, a middle-weight weapon like a longsword is almost certainly the worst of both worlds.<br /><br />Re: see invisible. Obviously, knowing invisible worms are in the room isn't too useful, but there are much more dangerous invisible foes out there. Knowing you need to emergency-evacuate as soon as possible is one of the best abilities in Angband.Xnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-20311120645983435522021-12-21T11:32:34.441-05:002021-12-21T11:32:34.441-05:00I often go down in the dungeon and just wait a cou...<i>I often go down in the dungeon and just wait a couple hundred turns until the stocks change.</i><br />Hey, he independently re-invented shop scumming!<br /><br /><i>The haggling mechanic in shops got old fast. I enabled the option to turn it off, and I almost always get better deals now anyway.</i><br />The only time anyone haggles is their first game, until they figure out how to turn it off.Harlandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-87893628598933629332021-12-21T10:02:40.302-05:002021-12-21T10:02:40.302-05:00Level 25 is a key here, right? My first true (no b...Level 25 is a key here, right? My first true (no backups) Angband win came on this version and I hadn't yet learned gb tb engure snfg gb 25 naq gura fgnl sbe n juvyr...<br /><br />Of course, any level that is Special is important to clean out properly. And I now remember the disadvantage of the classes not using wizard spell books: no spell of Identify.Håkon Gauthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13225746650239976872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-50019608441725096982021-12-21T09:06:48.883-05:002021-12-21T09:06:48.883-05:00Based on your character & dungeon level, and e...Based on your character & dungeon level, and especially the fact that you mention how few XP you're getting from the monsters around there, it sounds like you're fairly overleveled for where you are right now. In general, between about levels 5 and 25, I would say it's reasonable to expect to be diving 1 dungeon level per charlevel.<br /><br />Chests aren't for you to store things in. They have treasure. You can (o)pen them, but you will want to check them for traps first, and disarm them if there are any.<br /><br />The equipment upgrade game is definitely going to be continuing, at least until you're well below 3000 feet in the dungeon.Delvin Anarishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03350343562075300893noreply@blogger.com