From: schwartz@piccolo.cs.uiuc.edu (Bradley W. Schwartz)
Subject:  Expanding the Game
Followup-To: rec.games.hack
Organization: The Island of Misfit Toys
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 02:17:01 GMT


A characteristic of 'nethack' I really like is how diverse elements
from D&D, medieval history and folklore are intermixed with the
modern things like kitchen sinks, magic markers and credit cards.
I agree with people who say that, when it comes to expanding the
class of monsters, weapons, scrolls, etc., care should be taken to 
balance the modern elements with the traditional ones.

I also think it would be great if the modern elements that are added
are really significant parts of our modern culture (the kinds of
things we would want to put in the "time capsules" that used to be
popular).


That said, I'd like to throw out my two choices for new elements to
add to 'nethack':  the condom and the Post-It note.

     The condom would be a piece of armor.  There would be two kinds:
     latex and sheepskin.  The latex ones would be -1, whereas the
     sheepskin would be -2.  However, it would be possible to wear
     two latex condoms simulateneously for -2.  Condoms would be worn
     under armor like the Hawaiian shirt.  Wearing a condom would give 
     you a 95% chance of having "favorable relations" with an incubus/
     succubus, whereas without one your chances would be much lower
     (like 20%).

     The Post-It note would be a tool rather than a type of scroll. 
     They would be found in the dungeon next to walls or on top of
     chests.  The Post-It would be read like a scroll, but the 
     possibilities for what is written on it would be more varied.  There
     would be a weighted probability of getting each of the following:

          (1) a message from the fortunes file

          (2) an "identify" message.  This is different from the
	      identify scroll in that the number of IDs is always one.
	      Also, the ID made may be on an item not in the character's
	      possession.  For example, such a message might be

                 " tiger-eye ring = conflict "

          (3) a quote from the Bible.  Reading these would give you
	      a chance of changing alignment from Chaotic to Neutral
	      or Neutral to Lawful.   Lawful characters would improve
	      relations with their god as if they had sacrificed.
    
          (4) an "insight" message:  a random one of your intrinsics
	      would be described.

          (5) a sentence describing where the Wizard is ( "The Wizard
	      is on Level xx").  

          (6) same as (5), for the Medusa.


      The tool aspect of Post-It notes would come into play when they
      are written on with a magic marker.  Writing Elbereth on a Post-It
      by itself would do nothing, but when the Post-It is stuck to the
      floor or on the side of a door, monsters would be incapable of 
      stepping on that square or opening the door (from that side only!)
      until the character picks it up.  Post-Its would have "charges"
      like wands, which would represent how many successful "sticks" are
      left in it.  Of course, Post-Its would be unable to stick to the
      walls and floors in Hell and the Endlevel.



Naturally, I don't expect these suggestions to ever be acted on, but
hopefully some of you will find it entertaining to consider them.



bradley




	      
	      

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