Newbie playing NewAngband v1.7.1

[totallyang]

Have played EyAngband and Angband for quite a few years, and I recently decided to try another variant as I was getting bored.
I have to say that it is very different, although it took me a few days of being killed quickly to realise that I needed to upgrade from Apprentice to be able to advance at a reasonable rate.
I have got a stunning dagger "Bee Sting" that is gaining levels quickly and even manages to defeat bosses at the moment.
However, as I am playing 1.7.1 and have got to level 17 so far, should I carry on learning on this, or switch to version 1.8?
And how do I use the pink + symbols that I come across from time to time?

[Variaz]

The pink '+' are between gates. Step on them, and enter them like you would enter a stairway. This will transport you somewhere else in the dungeon.

As if you should switch to 1.8... it depends on you. 1.8, I think, is definitly better, however, right now, it's still in beta stage. It probably won't take long for you to finish it. The gameplay of 1.8 is similar, the skills, abilities, classes, everything is still similar... but many things have changed, such as the way damages are calculated, there are less races but they are more balanced, 1.8 actually has a story, dialogues, etc... A totally new monsters system has been implemented, and I'm rebuilding an entire monster list from scratch, so NewAngband 1.8 will have it's own, unique list of monsters! The new monster system is very customizeable, you can create monsters that are much more unique than before!

I'm planning on releasing the second beta soon, which will be much better than the current beta, and will feature the prologue of the official story, as well as the wilderness and random dungeons. You may want to wait until I release the second beta before trying it.

But I strongly encourage you to try the next beta once it has been released, and help make 1.8.0 a really great variant!

[totallyang]

Thanks for the comments and I will have a ltry at the beta this weekend.
Another question regarding v1.7.1, when in the newbie intro it says special items won't appear until level 20, is this Character level or depth? I am Character level 20, but only dungeon level 9.
And in terms of Artfacts, I currently have The Amulet of Flooding. Quite cool, but I managed to flood my home when I first put it on! Glad that the flooding drains away though, otherwise that would have been catastrophic.

[Variaz]

It's character level 20!

The amulet of Flooding is a fun one! ;D But I don't think I will put it back in the upcoming 1.8.0... It was not really a serious artifact, more like a fun little toy!

[nork]

I would not put that one in 1.8. It will break quests by flooding perminant walls.

[divinefistoka]

i dont think ive run across that, but sounds like it COULD have some strategically sound use on monsters who suffer from deep water. Drown that horde of goblins? Perhaps it could be made to fill a room then drain when you leave?, but stopping at walls? That would solve the permanent walls problem.

[totallyang]

At one point I kept finding extra Amulets of Flooding, even though I already had one!
And in respect of the flooding, you can even flood all of the mountains in the town to create short cuts. Just don't flood the store entrances though.
And as an experiment, I flooded the mountains, stood it the middle and then read a scroll of recall.
When I returned from the dungeon, I was being crushed - it was a good job I was able to teleport as otherwise I couldn't move and I would have been crushed.

And my character which was a Brabarian, has now been turned into a Vampire by Acrivating the Amulet of Undeath I cam accross. Vampires are actually quite cool and I may well play this type for a while.

Andi s there anything that resurrects a Vampire?

I do like this version, and await further 1.8 developments.

[Variaz]

There's no way to reverse Vampire, unfortunately... I guess you'll have to live with it. As for 1.8, I have yet to decide if vampires will be implemented again... Perhaps vampirism will be a condition rather than a race... So you can be a vampire human, vampire elf and even vampire demon!! A celestial vampire would be fun too!

"Celestial Vampire".... I think I like the sound of that! ;D

[totallyang]

I do like Vampire, and I also like the mutation potions. I have a scorpion tail now as well!
I experimented with Wraith Form using a tweakable item and came up with some strange effects that I don't know whether I like.
You can move through all the walls and over mountains, but you lose all the colours!
This would also cause a quest prolem as indicated by Nork. Is it an option in 1.8?

[Variaz]

Quests mostly uses permanent walls, although they might be able to move trough doors... Anyway, for now, I disabled the wraith form items and remove wraith form in the tweaks list. I think Wraith Form is a bit broken... It makes the game SO MUCH easier... And yes, it could cause problems in quests as well...

Perhaps some rare artifacts will still allow it... But, I'm not too fond of wraith form...