Archived from groups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack (More info?)
Not so much a YANI as another excuse to link to 8-bit theatre:
http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050419
Oh, OK, I'll do a YANI then. Use the URL above first though, or this
won't make a damned bit of sense.
The map to swordtown is an artifact scroll, but it should be wishable
and writeable. Reading the map takes twice as long as reading a regular
scroll, because you have to read both sides. Each side reads, 'there is
a map to swordtown on the other side of this scroll.' Reading it has no
effect under normal circumstances.
However any combat class character with int less than 6 who reads the
scroll while NOT confused, or any more intelligent and/or non-wombat
character who reads it while they ARE confused, will be trapped in a
cycle of reading the scroll, turning it over, reading it, turning it
over... The character is almost vulnerable in this state as in floating
eye paralysis.
The scroll-reading-turning-cycle can only be broken by;
(a) the scroll being blanked or destroyed (by a passing fire elemental,
for instance)
(b) any monster entering line of sight holding a nice, shiny sword.
(Only works for the low-int wombats, not for the characters who are
confused-reading the scroll.)
(c) Being stunned or blinded (by a thrown potion, for instance)
(d) Becoming confused, if the player was NOT confused when they started
reading.
(e) Becoming UNconfused, if the player WAS confused when they started
reading.
(f) death (Duh!)
(g) finding swordtown.
At each iteration of the reading cycle, there is a very small chance,
depending on wis (lower the better), luck (higher the better) and the
BUC of the scroll (B=good, C=bad), that you will actually 'find'
swordtown. The probabilities should be weighed so that you can expect
to be stuck in the reading cycle for about 500-1000 turns before
finding swordtown. The fact that the average confusion timeout is
considerably less than 500 turns makes it quite hard for a player to
get to swordtown by confused-reading.
When swordtown is found, the scroll disintegrates and the player is
teleported to a small minetown-like level with lots of sword-wielding
watchmen and a half dozen shops that all sell nothing but low-priced
[regular|elven|orcish] long|broad|short|2-handed swords/ scimitars/
sabers. One of the shops will also sell a (horribly overpriced)
decorative sword-like object, which can be enchanted up to +7 by
wombat characters, but deals pathetically low damage even then.
If you should happen to find swordtown while hallucinating, you are
instead randomly transported to darttown, or ironchaintown, or
emptylockedwoodenboxtown, or something equally stupid.
You exit swordtown via a magic portal that drops back where you
started.
--
*Now* can I have my swordchucks?
Not so much a YANI as another excuse to link to 8-bit theatre:
http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050419
Oh, OK, I'll do a YANI then. Use the URL above first though, or this
won't make a damned bit of sense.
The map to swordtown is an artifact scroll, but it should be wishable
and writeable. Reading the map takes twice as long as reading a regular
scroll, because you have to read both sides. Each side reads, 'there is
a map to swordtown on the other side of this scroll.' Reading it has no
effect under normal circumstances.
However any combat class character with int less than 6 who reads the
scroll while NOT confused, or any more intelligent and/or non-wombat
character who reads it while they ARE confused, will be trapped in a
cycle of reading the scroll, turning it over, reading it, turning it
over... The character is almost vulnerable in this state as in floating
eye paralysis.
The scroll-reading-turning-cycle can only be broken by;
(a) the scroll being blanked or destroyed (by a passing fire elemental,
for instance)
(b) any monster entering line of sight holding a nice, shiny sword.
(Only works for the low-int wombats, not for the characters who are
confused-reading the scroll.)
(c) Being stunned or blinded (by a thrown potion, for instance)
(d) Becoming confused, if the player was NOT confused when they started
reading.
(e) Becoming UNconfused, if the player WAS confused when they started
reading.
(f) death (Duh!)
(g) finding swordtown.
At each iteration of the reading cycle, there is a very small chance,
depending on wis (lower the better), luck (higher the better) and the
BUC of the scroll (B=good, C=bad), that you will actually 'find'
swordtown. The probabilities should be weighed so that you can expect
to be stuck in the reading cycle for about 500-1000 turns before
finding swordtown. The fact that the average confusion timeout is
considerably less than 500 turns makes it quite hard for a player to
get to swordtown by confused-reading.
When swordtown is found, the scroll disintegrates and the player is
teleported to a small minetown-like level with lots of sword-wielding
watchmen and a half dozen shops that all sell nothing but low-priced
[regular|elven|orcish] long|broad|short|2-handed swords/ scimitars/
sabers. One of the shops will also sell a (horribly overpriced)
decorative sword-like object, which can be enchanted up to +7 by
wombat characters, but deals pathetically low damage even then.
If you should happen to find swordtown while hallucinating, you are
instead randomly transported to darttown, or ironchaintown, or
emptylockedwoodenboxtown, or something equally stupid.
You exit swordtown via a magic portal that drops back where you
started.
--
*Now* can I have my swordchucks?
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