[Crawl] What's a 'nondescriptive stone'?

[Guest]

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

I tried to consult google about 'crawl + "nondescript stone"', but all
slightly descriptive I've found was an older post of Tina. With a little
reading behind the lines I suspect it's some kind of summoning source
(earth elemental?). If true, I would like to know:
1.) To use it, do I just have to wield it and then invoke?
2.) Are there any restrictions for certain chars (demigod fighter
currently)?
3.) I suspect the summoned creatures are _not_ guaranteed to be friendly.
Is this true and are there any differences in respect of _who_
is using that stone?
4.) Since there's also a 'rod of summoning' I guess the stone is not
quite the same. Is it a one time using item?

I already would have tried all my guessings above, but I'm not sure
whether I'm able to deal with a hostile earth elemental right now. I also
don't have a ?ID handy.

TIA,
Rubinstein

 

[Guest]

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

Rubinstein wrote:
> I tried to consult google about 'crawl + "nondescript stone"', but all
> slightly descriptive I've found was an older post of Tina. With a little
> reading behind the lines I suspect it's some kind of summoning source
> (earth elemental?).

Yes.

> If true, I would like to know:
> 1.) To use it, do I just have to wield it and then invoke?

'E'voke.

> 2.) Are there any restrictions for certain chars (demigod fighter
> currently)?

IIRC the summoning success depends on your evocation skill and the
elemental's tameness on your earth magic skill.

> 4.) Since there's also a 'rod of summoning' I guess the stone is not
> quite the same. Is it a one time using item?

No. It only summons elementals; the rod summons daemons whose tameness
doesn't (IIRC) depend on your skill.

Lars

 

[Guest]

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

Rubinstein <picommander@t-online.de> growled:

> I tried to consult google about 'crawl + "nondescript stone"',
> but all slightly descriptive I've found was an older post of
> Tina. With a little reading behind the lines I suspect it's some
> kind of summoning source (earth elemental?).

Yes, a nonedscript stone is, when identified, a stone of earth
elementals.

> If true, I would like to know:
> 1.) To use it, do I just have to wield it and then invoke?

Yes, you're then asked for a direction. Chose a normal wall (the
special stuff like metal are no good for this). It seems to have the
same effect as the spell of Summon Elementals used to dig out Earth
Elementals. ('Seems to' because I'm not sure I tried both on all
available materials.)

> 2.) Are there any restrictions for certain chars (demigod
> fighter currently)?

Not that I know.

> 3.) I suspect the summoned creatures are _not_ guaranteed to be
> friendly. Is this true and are there any differences in respect
> of _who_ is using that stone?

In my experience this also seems to be the same as the spell of
Summon (Earth) Elementals; with more Earth skill you're more likely
to get friendly Earth Elementals. Since they're quite slow, hostile
ones are no problem for _careful_ characters with ~100+ Hp; just
walk away instead of thinking "Hah, that's no threat." and then
ignoring it. (I've had a YASD not too long ago, due to not being
careful...)

It's useful to dig with, when you don't have anything else, or want
more precision in your digging as it only removes one square.

In my experience, higher Evocation skill helps to actually have the
stone work; normally most of the time 'nothing happens' (or a
similar message), so you need patience. It's not something for
emergency digs (as in 'dig a hole/zig-zag path to hide in from the
onslaught').

> 4.) Since there's also a 'rod of summoning' I guess the stone is
> not quite the same. Is it a one time using item?

No, the rod of summoning has a number of spells in it, among them
the spell of Summon Elemental, which can be used on any appropriate
material. Both, rod and stone, last forever, as far as I know.

> I already would have tried all my guessings above, but I'm not
> sure whether I'm able to deal with a hostile earth elemental
> right now. I also don't have a ?ID handy.

>> --------> <<
a - a stone of earth elementals

A magical device for summoning earth elementals. It
is rather unreliable, and usually requires several
attempts to function correctly. Using it carries an
element of risk, which is reduced if one is skilled
in the appropriate elemental magic.

It weighs around 10.0 aum.
>> <-------- <<

There's a lamp for fire elementals, and a fan for air elementals. I
don't remember ever seeing anything for water elementals.

What I wonder about is why you need some foo magic skill for
something that's Evoked. Makes these items pretty much useless,
except this stone for digging if you have no better means.

I'd also like to know what a latern of shadows does. The description
is useless.

--
Tina the Theurge - a High Priest of the Raving Negative Gardener

 

[Ru]

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

In article <MSGID_2=3A240=2F2199.13=40fidonet_2a1acee9@fidonet.org>, Tina Hall wrote:
> I'd also like to know what a latern of shadows does. The description
> is useless.

while you are wielding it it automatically summons shadows in your
vicinity, every now and then.

on the downside it darkens the area around you (which i think alerts
monsters), and acts as a negative enhancer for all spellcasting.

i didn't find it that useful, to be honest, even for a non-spellcaster.



--
ru

 

[Loonie]

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

ru .-- .-. --- - . ---...

> on the downside it darkens the area around you (which i think alerts
> monsters), and acts as a negative enhancer for all spellcasting.

Yes, your stealth stat is worst possible: equal to 0, so effectively every
monster attempt to notice player is successful.

--
Loonie
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