YASD: paralyzed by a spellbook

[ANON]

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

I didn't know that reading an (uncursed) spellbook could paralyze you,
but apparently that's what just happened ("killed by a rothe, while
helpless"). And my character was a 7th level priest, too - exactly how
are you supposed to protect yourself from that? Annoying.

 

[Guest]

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

anon wrote:
> I didn't know that reading an (uncursed) spellbook could paralyze you,
> but apparently that's what just happened ("killed by a rothe, while
> helpless"). And my character was a 7th level priest, too - exactly how
> are you supposed to protect yourself from that? Annoying.

Bad effects can happen when you fail to read a book. Your chance
of failure depends on your intelligence and on the book level
(there are spoilers about that).
Also, if you're a wizard, you are warned that you have a non
zero chance of failure when you try to read a book ("This spellbook
is difficult to comprehend. Continue?" or something like that.
I think cursed books wil always have bad effects, and blessed
ones never.

Clemence

 

[Guest]

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

anon@anon.com wrote:

> I didn't know that reading an (uncursed) spellbook could paralyze you,
> but apparently that's what just happened ("killed by a rothe, while
> helpless"). And my character was a 7th level priest, too - exactly how
> are you supposed to protect yourself from that? Annoying.

You can either bless the spellbook, or identify it and make sure you have a
0% chance of failure to read it (see
http://www.steelypips.org/nethack/341/spl1-341.html
for the formula, which is based on your intelligence, the level of the
spellbook, and your experience level).

--
Benjamin Lewis

"Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips
over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come."
--Matt Groening

 

[Guest]

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

On Wed, 6 Jul 2005, anon wrote:

> I didn't know that reading an (uncursed) spellbook could paralyze you,
> but apparently that's what just happened ("killed by a rothe, while
> helpless").

This is one of the possible outcomes when you fail to read a spellbook.

> And my character was a 7th level priest, too - exactly how
> are you supposed to protect yourself from that?

Reach a higher level or increase your intelligence. If you
identify the spellbook's level (by price id, for example), you can
calculate your chances by a formula in one of Dylan's spell spoilers.

--
Philipp Lucas
phlucas@online-club.de

 

[Guest]

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

I always, *ALWAYS*, write at least three Elbereth's in the dust before
reading an unknown spellbook.

It has saved my life at least once.

Having a strong pet nearby helps too.

Artemis the Ranger

 

[Guest]

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

anon wrote:
> I didn't know that reading an (uncursed) spellbook could paralyze you,
> but apparently that's what just happened ("killed by a rothe, while
> helpless"). And my character was a 7th level priest, too - exactly how
> are you supposed to protect yourself from that? Annoying.

Bless the book.

--
John Campbell
jcampbel@lynn.ci-n.com

 

[Guest]

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

Quoting Philipp Lucas <phlucas@online-club.de>:
>On Wed, 6 Jul 2005, anon wrote:
>>I didn't know that reading an (uncursed) spellbook could paralyze you,
>>And my character was a 7th level priest, too - exactly how
>>are you supposed to protect yourself from that?
>Reach a higher level or increase your intelligence.

Or bless the book; you always succeed with a blessed book. Of course it is
easy for priests to ID blessed books, and they can potentially use their
holy water to bless others.

Price-ID books to know which ones are difficult.
--
David Damerell <damerell@chiark.greenend.org.uk> Kill the tomato!
Today is Second Wednesday, Presuary.

 

[Chuck]

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

anon <anon@anon.com> wrote in
news:42cb94f1$0$21052$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com:

> I didn't know that reading an (uncursed) spellbook could paralyze you,
> but apparently that's what just happened ("killed by a rothe, while
> helpless"). And my character was a 7th level priest, too - exactly how
> are you supposed to protect yourself from that? Annoying.

you also want to make sure it's safe to read a spellbook at that moment.
There IS a period of time when you start reading it that you can't stop or do
anything else...

 

[Guest]

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

Benjamin Lewis wrote on Wed, 06 Jul 2005 09:18:36 -0700:
> anon@anon.com wrote:
>
> > I didn't know that reading an (uncursed) spellbook could paralyze you,
> > how are you supposed to protect yourself from that?
>
> You can either bless the spellbook, or identify it and make sure you have a
> 0% chance of failure to read it

A 0% chance is usually unrealistic. It is enough to price-ID it and see
out how long you could be paralysed for:

Level 1: 1 or 2 turns (go for it)
Level 2: 2 or 3 turns (ditto)
Level 3: varies; 12 turns max (be careful)
Level 4 and up: You won't be able to cast these in the early game, and
probably not in the middle game either, so don't bother reading it.

Make sure to put your gold in a sack.

--
"Sometimes I stand by the door and look into the darkness. Then I
am reminded how dearly I cherish my boredom, and what a precious
commodity is so much misery." -- Jack Vance