Amateur Code Snippits

[Frumple]

Because I finally got the physical-returning code to honor Iron Skin, despite having... um... never really looked at LUA before. At all. Besides that, it'd probably be neat if anyone had little, well, code-snippits laying around that makes this-modification or that-modification without really diserving a full patch. Anyway, my pride and (likely horrifically coded) joy: A seemingly functioning change to the physical returning code that, huzzah of huzzahs, is effected by the Defender's Iron Skin ability. This is really useful to dagger-users!

                               -- Bosses/Elites can be immune to weapons...
if (get_monster_ability(monster(cave(y, x).m_idx), BOSS_RETURNING) and (p_ptr.abilities[(CLASS_DEFENDER * 10) + 2] >= 1)) then

local returndamages
returndamages = ((k / 2) - (p_ptr.abilities[(CLASS_DEFENDER * 10) + 2] * 100))
if returndamages >= 1 then
msg_print("You hurt yourself!")
take_hit(returndamages, "Their own stupid self.")
end

elseif (get_monster_ability(monster(cave(y, x).m_idx), BOSS_RETURNING) and (p_ptr.abilities[(CLASS_DEFENDER * 10) + 2] < 1)) then

                                       local returndamages
                                       returndamages = ((k / 2) - (((k / 2) * (p_ptr.resistances[GF_PHYSICAL+1])) / 100))
if returndamages >= 1 then
msg_print("You hurt yourself!")
take_hit(returndamages, "Their own stupid self.")
end
                               end

Of course, I have zero doubt there's some easier way to code that. I've been awake for too long to tell, kehe.

EDIT 14/2/08: Non-soaked damage now honors physical resistance! My weapon-using ghost knockoffs are now deliciously happy.

To-do: Well... since M.Defense can dodge returned magic attacks, everything similar should probably do the same for physical. That's sooo going to bloat that code...

[Frumple]

Completely without reguard or care for balance -- a small section of code, shamelessly ripped off from the magic item generation section, that generates boss, unique, and nightmare monster essences as levelable. Stuff it somewhere within the 'prepare_essence' portion of the objects.lua to have it go to work.

-- Bosses and uniques can gain levels, yo'.
if (mtype == 2 or mtype == 3) then
give_object_flag4(essence, TR4_LEVELS)
essence.level = 1
essence.kills = 0
essence.tweakpoints = (essence.tweakpoints + 2)
end

An actual balance attempt would probably include some form of depth and/or character/foe level limitation. This doesn't have that, hohoho.

Edit: Super-tweakpoint issue fixo'd.

Edit2: Removed nightmare essences from the code, 'cause they're already a keen red color. To add them back in, just put 'or mtype == 4' after 'mtype == 3'... though you can figure that out pretty easily just by looking at the essence generation code, I guess.

[Variaz]

Feel free to use this code, but it will not be implemented in the official release.

Don't forget that although base damages from Main Essences do not increase, the Martial Arts skills boosts it by 1% per points, something regular weapon skills do not do. They get levelable damages to compensate. But if you give that to monsters as well, it may become overpowered.

The idea of essences are to be somewhat like a mix of soul bind, crafting and random magic items. They are also extremely easy to get for the most part, and are pretty good for how easily you can get them. In the long term, they will never be as good as high level items, but Monsters gets higher base stats and innate resistances to make up for that.

Also, why did you remove the leveling for Nightmare essences? Nightmares are a lot tougher than any of the game's uniques...

[Frumple]

The totality of my reasoning for not giving it to nightmares: The nightmare items are already a nice red color and I didn't want to turn them blue. That's all, hoho.

The hydra I'm testing-ish it on did experience a pretty sharp spike in strength after implementing the code, though that had more to do to actually having incentive to replace a junkload of old, crappy essences I had still equipped. One notable (A dungeon boss from, apparently, way back) had a total bonus of 5 points to various stats -- the Hound I replaced it with had six or seven times that, before I started using tweak points. Really, it's more of an interim code... I wanna' get around to doing something neat with essences -- as you point out, there's a lot of them laying around -- but I wanted at least some of 'em to gain levels, as levelables are pretty awesome. I might strip them from bosses eventually, but uniques at least need something extra special, yanno'?

I didn't notice that bit about the main essence damage boost thing. 1%/point's not bad at all, especially once you start running into giants an' crap. It's slightly doubtful to me I'll find a good, levelable, main essence deep down -- bosses are starting to get really nasty for that hydra; the ones with good damage die essences especially.

[Variaz]

The totality of my reasoning for not giving it to nightmares: The nightmare items are already a nice red color and I didn't want to turn them blue. That's all, hoho.

Actually, red has priority over blue in terms of items colors. So a levelable red will remain red.