Subject: Re: wizpatch - vanilla From: rankin@eql.caltech.edu (Pat Rankin) Date: 1999/07/21 Newsgroups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack In article <3794B622.441497D@americanisp.com>,\ Christoph writes... > What exactly is the wizpatch? > > Thanks, > Joan It is a set of changes to the nethack source code, primarily affecting spell casting. Please note, most or all of the URLs listed in the old posting below are out of date and no longer work. I'm only reposting this to answer the "what is it" question.... ----- From: larry@cs.uq.oz.au (Larry Stewart-Zerba) Newsgroups: rec.games.roguelike.nethack Subject: Announcing the release of Wizard Patch 0.7 Date: 20 Sep 1996 13:08:25 +1000 Organization: Computer Science Dept, University of Queensland Lines: 123 Sender: larry@isa.cs.uq.oz.au Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: isa.cs.uq.edu.au X-Newsreader: Gnus v5.1 Well its been awhile since the release of Wizard Patch 0.4. But there was a lot of work getting the new release right. Well at least we think its right, only feedback will tell. 1) For those who have not heard of the Wizard Patch: Nethack is probably one of the best computer games. However, I found wizards and spell casting in general lacking that certain something that I found in other DND type games. Having enjoyed the labour of others long enough I decided to contribute something, namely to the wizard class. Warwick Allison (of Qt Nethack and the the tile graphics of NetHack fame) also joined in the development of the wizard patch. The wizard patch is essentially a patch file that you can apply to the NetHack 3.2.1 sources. It provides you with several alterations to NetHack which a briefly detailed below. 2) What classes does the Wizard Patch effect? Simply put - all classes. That is, any character that uses magic spells. The wizard patch does not alter the use of scrolls or potions. 3) Are there binaries? Yes. There are binaries for Linux and Dos. Yes thats right do to popular demand and a kind sole there is a Dos version. The Linux version, or more specifically the Qt NetHack version that include 0.7 for Linux. It is available at: http://student.uq.edu.au/~s002434/nhqt/ Yep thats right you get the Wizard Patch and Qt nethack, but wait we know you want more... Hup Hmm... Ahhh... Sorry a nasty side effect of my part time job of exorcising evil commercial demons :) All the details for getting QT Nethack + Wizard Patch 0.7 up and running are there. The Dos version is on its way as I write, its at: http://home.earthlink.net/~dp310 It is being made available by Brian Gilman. So for all you Dos people wanting the Dos binary of Nethack3.2.1 + the Wizard Patch, take the time to show some appreciation for Brian. He has a binary for version 0.4 at the above location, but will be replacing it with the binary for 0.7. soon. I personally would like to thank Brian for taking the time and effort to produce the Dos binary of NetHack3.2.1 + the Wizard Patch, and for making it available to all. If you grab the binary from Brian send him some fan mail. 4) Where can I find the Wizard Patch file? The Wizard Patch file is on my home page at: http://www.uq.edu.au/~aslstewa/nhwp/ It has complete documentation on the Wizard Patch, and how to install it. Note the directions are someone slanted towards Linux/Unix. Sorry to Dos Windows, Amiga etc. people. 4) Ok already! What is the Wizard Patch and What does it change? Well like I stated above the complete documentation is at: http://www.uq.edu.au/~aslstewa/nhwp/ but in briefly: In NetHack 3.1 all classes could cast spells, essentially making all classes fighting wizards. This was changed in NetHack 3.2. Now all classes are good at casting at least one spell, but no other guarantees. Armour restrictions have also made restrictions on spell casting. The dev team seems to be making a point here. Fighters should be good at fighting, and magic users should be good a spell casting, but the reverse is not necessarily true. In continuing on with this theme Warwick Allison and I have modified the wizard class and spell casting in general. New to Wizard Patch 0.7 o A read of a spellbook now lasts 5000 turns (you remember it for that long). o A spellbook can now only be read 3 times. o Spell Energy (mana) regeneration has been lowered. o Minor bug fix with spell damage. The old stuff (Wizard Patch 0.4) o Wizard's starting weapon is now blessed +1 quarterstaff. o Modified the behaviour of some spell based on spell casters skill level (see cone of cold, fireball and remove curse). o Added spell hit bonus and spell damage bonus, similar to weapon hit and damage bonuses. o Skill gained in a spell class is now based on the level of the spell. o The percent success of casting a spell is now based heavily on your skill level, and the level of a spellbook. o Protection spell added. o Jump spell added. o Hunger deduction for spell casting changed. o Envoy of Balance gives bless finger of death spellbook. o Reading uncursed 'difficult Spellbooks no longer has automatic harmful side effects. o Spell casting now has skills and slots (like weapon skills) o Spell Skill advancement uses nethack 3.2.1 advancement menus. o See table of classes, starting and maximum skill levels on the Wizard Patch home page. The Wizard Patch home page I mentioned above has a far more complete discussion of the above changes. It provides complete details for each change (tables and brief DND type technical discussion), and the reasons why we did the changes. So please have a look at http://www.uq.edu.au/~aslstewa/nhwp/ If you have any questions please email me and I will answer as quickly as possible. Larry _-_|\ Larry Stewart-Zerba email: larry@cs.uq.edu.au / * <- Comp Sci Department, http://www.uq.edu.au/~aslstewa \_.-._/ Univ. of Queensland, Linux, installed on 1 million machines. v