Classes for a new player

[cavesomething]

Well, that is the effect of what was being described, but not the implementation. We were talking about a threshold value.

Though the distance limit would much greater, the light would fall off quicker and monsters would instead of checking for any light, would check for it being beyond a certain threshold

Since light would be propagating properly the idea of 'how far into darkness' isn't relevant. Rather the Per stat would set the threshold to see a monster, and the idea of 'darkness' as an absolute concept would be irrelevant, there would merely be very low levels of light.

[Guest (Arikosu)]

All this does sound like an excellent idea, but as a temprary fix... Perhaps the monster AI could be modified so they're less like moths?

[Aaron]

or just add a monster class moth. along with allof the damn useless ones like birds, bees, bats, and mosquitos...

[cavesomething]

All this does sound like an excellent idea, but as a temprary fix... Perhaps the monster AI could be modified so they're less like moths?

It wouldn't be that they were like moths but that if they saw you they would attack (as it is now). If there were other lightsources around, those would not be attacked, unless they made something that was hostile (to the monster) visible.

Incidentally, I'm hoping that Red does a similar thing for the players and that a moving 'thing' can be drawn to display as the face of monsters that are only barely visible (so that you know there is 'something' there but not what it is).

Incidentally, this could lead to a great use of the throwing skill, throwing torches around to light up levels, so that the monsters present can be seen.

Incidentally also, might it be possible to fix the AI a little to have cunning? Monsters that dodged and weaved on their way to the player
instead of
x monster
|
|
|
x player

as it is now, do

x monster
/
\
\
/
x player

in order to approach, this would make it harder to hit them, as they charge (maybe roll against Int to see if this is what should be done?)

[Aaron]

that makes it damn hard for archers then... maybe give archers exploding arrows?

[cavesomething]

It is damn hard for archers anyway, if you are playing as an archer then more fool you.

Seriously though, archers need help, and exploding arrows isn't the way to do it. Some rougelikes use 'targets' for archery, I think the same idea could exist here. Define a target, and arrows fire at that target along the diagonal, passing through all squares (on both sides) on the way there. If they strike a wall or monster on the way then they do not reach their target.

monsters that are not in a straight line in one of 8 directions could then be hit, though moving monsters may well still be missed if they are far enough away.

[Casper]

Arrows alreay have a target when fired in CF. They just don't home-seek to it. I'm not sure home-seeking arows is the right solution either though... I have no problems hitting the target with arrows, there is just no good bows, so I don't deal enough damage. Whilst quite good at low levels, archery gets less interesting as monsters become more powerful than you improva archery.

[Mikeeusa22(I'mnot22)]

What do you suggest as a good high lvl bow and how hard should it be to get? (I may put one in in one of my newer maps or perhapse mlab). What other properties should it have.

[cavesomething]

Please don't make stupidly powerful bows, the proper way to solve the problem is

1) learn bowyer, make better arrows
2) make enchant weapon scrolls work on bows too.

Having taken both of those steps, bow and arrow combinations should be capable of plenty of damage, given that the person shooting is not at risk themselves.

The idea that bows should ever do as much damage as someone wielding a chaos sword is ludicrous.

Adding more bows bad. Target selection good (and, assuming you aren't abusing earth walls, actually useful.) Bear in mind that what I am describing is that the bows will go in a straight line that would hit where the target was when they were fired. not that they would 'home-seek' to it.

[Mikeeusa22]

Ah ok
Enhance weapon scrolls don't currently work on bows?