Purple worms and wraiths

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)

It seems ridiculously easy to level up a purple worm past their normal max,
just let it have at it with a bunch of wraiths (plenty of those in VoD, Orcus
town and the Sanctum). They always gain a level when swallowing a wraith
regardless whether that wraith will leave a corpse or not.

Granted, it doesn't matter that much past a certain point, since they instant
kill anything they swallow. But the behavior seems a little off.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)

Nan Wang wrote:

> They always gain a level when swallowing a wraith regardless whether
> that wraith will leave a corpse or not.

Of course. After all they don't need to leave a corpse. They're eaten
while still alive (read: undead).

> Granted, it doesn't matter that much past a certain point, since they
> instant kill anything they swallow. But the behavior seems a little
> off.

Perhaps wraiths should have a bonus to hit them and take off a level
before they're eaten?

Boudewijn.

--
"I have hundreds of other quotes, just waiting to replace this one
as my signature..." - Me

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)

In article <dds9fc$lh3$1@news1.zwoll1.ov.home.nl>,
Boudewijn Waijers <kroisos@REMOVETHISWORD.home.nl> wrote:
>Nan Wang wrote:
>
>> They always gain a level when swallowing a wraith regardless whether
>> that wraith will leave a corpse or not.
>
>Of course. After all they don't need to leave a corpse. They're eaten
>while still alive (read: undead).

I just tested something similar in wizard mode: I wished for rings of
poly and poly control, poly'd into a purple worm, then generated a
wraith. I did not gain a level from totally digesting it.
--
Christopher Calzonetti, MFCF C&O Software Specialist
mailto:ccalzone@math.uwaterloo.ca phone:+1 519 885-1211 x7516

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)

Christopher Calzonetti wrote:
> Boudewijn Waijers wrote:
>> Nan Wang wrote:

>>> They always gain a level when swallowing a wraith regardless whether
>>> that wraith will leave a corpse or not.

>> Of course. After all they don't need to leave a corpse. They're eaten
>> while still alive (read: undead).

> I just tested something similar in wizard mode: I wished for rings of
> poly and poly control, poly'd into a purple worm, then generated a
> wraith. I did not gain a level from totally digesting it.

Personally, I don't think this is a bug, but a deliberate concession
from the Dev Team to balance.

A small chance of gaining a level would be appropriate, though, I think.

--
Boudewijn.

--
"I have hundreds of other quotes, just waiting to replace this one
as my signature..." - Me

 

[Chuck]

Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)

"Boudewijn Waijers" <kroisos@REMOVETHISWORD.home.nl> wrote in
news:ddtdmt$83h$1@news5.zwoll1.ov.home.nl:

> Christopher Calzonetti wrote:
>> Boudewijn Waijers wrote:
>>> Nan Wang wrote:
>
>>>> They always gain a level when swallowing a wraith regardless whether
>>>> that wraith will leave a corpse or not.
>
>>> Of course. After all they don't need to leave a corpse. They're eaten
>>> while still alive (read: undead).
>
>> I just tested something similar in wizard mode: I wished for rings of
>> poly and poly control, poly'd into a purple worm, then generated a
>> wraith. I did not gain a level from totally digesting it.
>
> Personally, I don't think this is a bug, but a deliberate concession
> from the Dev Team to balance.
>
> A small chance of gaining a level would be appropriate, though, I think.
>

I'd almost be willing to bet that no non-humanoids gain levels that way,
maybe even all non-players?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)

Boudewijn Waijers wrote:
> Christopher Calzonetti wrote:
> > Boudewijn Waijers wrote:
> >> Nan Wang wrote:
>
> >>> They always gain a level when swallowing a wraith regardless whether
> >>> that wraith will leave a corpse or not.
>
> >> Of course. After all they don't need to leave a corpse. They're eaten
> >> while still alive (read: undead).
>
> > I just tested something similar in wizard mode: I wished for rings of
> > poly and poly control, poly'd into a purple worm, then generated a
> > wraith. I did not gain a level from totally digesting it.
>
> Personally, I don't think this is a bug, but a deliberate concession
> from the Dev Team to balance.
>
> A small chance of gaining a level would be appropriate, though, I think.

Nethack cruelty - Gain levels but when you change back to
human revert to your old level. Only keep them as long as
you remain a purple worm.,