Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (
More info?)
Just to clarify:
1. Given a choice of the +6 VB or a +3 B LS, an UNARMED Aleax refuses to
weild either, just picking up and dropping them aimlessly.
2. If a +1 Mattock is included in the choice it is picked up and wielded
almost at once.
2 above would be explained by the helpful comments provided by various
posters.
I think 1 still requires explanation.
Thinking about the many interesting advices posted about pets and
conducts leads me to suggest that there is a conduct already in
existence which could be made explicit. In this conduct maximum use is
made of pets and it is broken if anything is done by the player which
COULD have been done alternatively by a suitable pet . In this conduct
maximum use will be made of the special abilities of all monsters
available for taming. Less stringently would be to do nothing which
could have been done by a pet IF available. (eating is permitted in both
variants), since this would make difficulties if a starting pet died
early on. Curiously , Tourists starting with a camera might be able to
survive long enough to acquire a replacement pet.
This conduct could be denoted the "Lion Tamer" and would be more
interesting and varied if pets were able to distinguish weapons as
player monsters are: hence a request for that facility to be provided.
I have long felt that the abilities of domestic pets, when fully
trained, should be better recognised: large dogs ought to respond to
"stay", "bit him!" (enemy denoted by a subsequent click ?), "roll over"
(meaning pretend to be dead-a cunning ploy- the enemy is given a bite in
the backside if he passes. But it won't always work...the Troll kicks
the dog en passant muttering "that'll teach you, you mangy cur). In this
respect it would be reasonable to adorn a favourite hound or hellhound
with a surplus amulet. Penalty: a collar thus providedwould transform
into a magical dog collar and would be unwearable by the player monster
without certain undesirable effects (see; Bulgakov-Heart of a Dog
e.g.)... or perhaps not wearable at all in human form.
Incidentaly, it would be a nice touch to have female and male domestic
animals. They could then breed and add variety and amusement. Puppies
have various naughty ways, whilst tomcats tend to fight amongst
themselves-no doubt at the most inconvenient times. The properties of
dogs could also vary with sub-species: Greyhounds would have super speed
like or better than air elementals, but break legs easily requiring the
services of a veterinary clinic, a kind of shop whose obvious need but
present lack is evident in a game with so many different creatures. Vets
might be magical and non-magical according to the pet type and its
requirements...would hellhounds tend to suffer from infestations of baby
worms which transform into purple worms if untreated by a magical
shopkeeper with a "Doc Martens" tablet ? Clearly dogs, cats, ponies etc
would attend a white-magical veterinary clinic, whilst hellhound pups,
Balrogs etc, would require a black-magical surgeon: "Oh dear me, you
HAVE been neglecting this poor little Balrog, no wonder he has slowed
down. Look at his claws-they are terribly long and in-grown. These magic
clippers (0:15) will keep the claws trimmed, just apply them as and when
needed. You will need an enhanced stethoscope of course, that will be
5,000 ZKM thank YOU sir." Etc etc.
And don't forget we shall need a pet grave-yard. Dead pets must now be
buried promptly or penalties ensue-public health you see. There is of
course already one grave-yard for Hellhounds and the like.
Maltreated or neglected or unburied dead (or alive un-dead ? what are we
getting into now?) pets would attract the attention of the RSPCAIA
(Rogue-like Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and
In-Animates) who would appear, Keystone-like and pursue the offender
with various horrid penalties.
ZZZZ...wakes up...where AM I ? Who has been scribbling on my terminal...
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