harmon_c@h-sc1.UUCP (david harmon) (03/15/85)
From uucp Thu Mar 14 19:12:36 1985
Status: R
>From harmon_c Thu Mar 14 18:48:16 1985 remote from h-sc4
To: harmon_c@h-sc1
Subject: tricks
A compilation of useful tricks, tactics, and hints not assosiated with any
item or place in particular.
Elbereth: If you E)ngrave Elbereth with your bare hands (-), it acts
As a sort of sign of peace. Most monsters are then unable to attack you as
long as you do not move off the square or fight a monster next to you.
You can throw or zap, however, and the monsters still cannot attack. The
only monsters who are unaffected are the nymph ,because she isn't really
*attacking* you, and other humans, because if they are after you, it is because
the law is on their side. Other than movement or hand-to-hand fighting, you
can do anything on an Elbereth, such as quaffing potions, reading scrolls, etc.
Note that if you step off the square, or violate it by fighting, the letters
are disturbed and the inscription is no good anymore. However, you can write
it again on the next turn, even on the same square. If you teleport off the
square, you are no longer protected, but if you find it again, it will be
undisturbed and potent. Dragons can flame through Elbereth.
Orcrist: If your weapon in hand is named Orcrist, it gets a hefty bonus
on damage (rumored to be +10) against orcs. Fun..
Points: You get points for gold, gems (if you leave the dungeon with
them), and the amulet. (The first amulet is worth 5000, each successive
(genuine) amulet doubles your score.) You also seem to get points for the
following things: levels descended to (so dungeon-diving may help),
, and magic items identified or possibly just tried out (or possibly
just accumulated). And also, experience points, seemingly 4-for-1. Also,
mapping out rooms, and possibly discovering secret doors.
Luck: This is an internal variable which can make life in the dungeon
much easier or much harder. Little is known about it, but it probable affects
your chances of finding secret doors, waking up monsters, saving vs. magic,
and posiibly hitting and being hit by monsters. Giving gems to a unicorn is
known to increase your luck, and killing shopkeepers (possibly dogs and nurses
as well) is known to decrease it. There is also a very small chance to
decrease it slightly by killing defenseless (blinded) monsters.