minor startup bug in [V304]
Eddie Grove
When you start up a high-elf, the priest choice is in white
and the rogue choice is grayed out. Since the easiest
character of all is a high-elf rogue, that is a mistake.
Eddie
Jonathan Ellis
"Eddie Grove" <eddie...@hot.NOSPAM.mail.com> wrote in message
news:m3ad2gk...@localhost.localdomain...
>
> When you start up a high-elf, the priest choice is in white
> and the rogue choice is grayed out. Since the easiest
> character of all is a high-elf rogue, that is a mistake.
Being in white or gray is NOT a matter of which class is EASIEST for
which race. It's a matter of racial flavour, which may reflect
differences between the races that are more a matter of racial culture
as well as ability.
High-Elves and Dunedain are not the kind of races that would normally
be petty thieves, vagabonds and rogues (although, in the unlikely
event of one choosing this class, they would in all probability be
extremely good at it.)
The fact that non-high Elves have the Priest option grayed out is
similarly more cultural than down to ability: those Elves that are not
descended from the Valinorean factions (Teleri, Noldor, Vanyar) are
those that *refused* the call of the Valar all those millenia ago, and
have been brought up in a culture where that kind of reverence for the
Valar - or any other Power, real or fictional - is much less common
than it is among the High Elves. The fact that normal Elves are also
less wise than their High cousins is neither here nor there in the
decision. But High Elves *do* have that reverence for the Valar, they
understand the concept of real devotion, therefore priests are a
favoured class for them.
Thus, since every race can in fact be every class, the being white or
grey (for "favoured" or "non-favoured" classes for each race) does NOT
indicate difficulty, it is NOT intended to indicate difficulty, it is
a sop to the imagination of those who see what few role-playing
elements there are in the game of Angband.
Jonathan.
Eddie Grove
> Thus, since every race can in fact be every class, the being white or
> grey (for "favoured" or "non-favoured" classes for each race) does NOT
> indicate difficulty, it is NOT intended to indicate difficulty, it is
> a sop to the imagination of those who see what few role-playing
> elements there are in the game of Angband.
That contradicts the screen.
"Any greyed-out entries should only be used by advanced players."
That appears to the casual observer as if it indicates difficulty.
Perhaps the quoted line is the bug.
Besides, rogues are not thieves. They are fighter-mages. A perfectly
suitable choice for high-elves even if role-playing.
Eddie
Bisclaveret
This is perhaps attributed to the original PC Angband 2.4 Frog-knows, which
i have.. In that one, you COULDN'T play as any R/C that wasn't a favored R/C
combination. IE dwarves and half-trolls can only be fighters or priests,
etc.. it's not that the option is greyed out, it's TOTALLY MISSING. Of
course, in the release notes of that they were concerned with the targetting
code upsetting game balance so they didn't add it.. ;) whatever happened to
the jabberwocks..
Timo Pietilä
Bisclaveret wrote:
>>>"Any greyed-out entries should only be used by advanced players."
>
>
> This is perhaps attributed to the original PC Angband 2.4 Frog-knows, which
> i have.. In that one, you COULDN'T play as any R/C that wasn't a favored R/C
> combination.
Not so far. 2.7.8 and probably 2.7.9 didn't allow all combinations either.
Maybe EXP penalty for choosing "wrong" race/class combination would be
good even now. (hobbits being rangers is very fitting so IMO that is not
a "wrong" C/R combination, hobbit warrior *and* mage is).
Timo Pietilä