Psi bolt - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Messages */ pothole

2025-02-11T16:31:58Z

‎Messages: pothole

Umbire the Phantom: player => hero

2024-11-23T19:41:45Z

player => hero

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ typo

2024-11-23T19:40:48Z

‎History: typo

Umbire the Phantom: citations, details, potholes

2024-07-24T17:42:25Z

citations, details, potholes

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ word choice

2024-03-09T12:10:18Z

‎Description: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ tweak

2024-01-25T11:34:18Z

‎Description: tweak

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ punc

2024-01-25T11:11:12Z

‎Description: punc

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ pothole

2024-01-25T11:10:58Z

‎Description: pothole

Umbire the Phantom: more general tweaks

2024-01-23T11:53:49Z

more general tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: details and word choice

2024-01-22T13:39:46Z

details and word choice

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 |0-5
 |-
-|"Your brain is on fire!" ''(not to be confused with [[intelligence]] drain)''
+|"Your brain is on fire!" ''(not to be confused with [[intelligence drain]])''
 |6-10
 |-

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 Psi bolt is a melee-range spell that can be used by any [[monster]] that casts [[mage spell]]s, and is only used against the [[hero]]. It deals damage depending on the caster's [[Monster level|level]], as with most standard calculations for monster spell damage: the damage is ({{frac|''ML''|2}} + 1)d6 of damage unless the monster's casting attack specifies any dice, in which can it deals ({{frac|''ML''|2}} + x)dy damage, where (x, y) is the amount and size of the damage dice.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|288|nethack=3.6.7|name=damnd|comment=calculations for monster spells cast with damage dice}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|290|nethack=3.6.7|name=damxx|comment=calculations for monsters spells cast without dice}} The psi bolt spell has its damage halved if the hero has either [[half spell damage]] or [[magic resistance]], and is reduced to {{frac|4}} if they have both properties (rounded up in both cases).{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|499|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|292|nethack=3.6.7|comments=half spell damage works for all monster spells}}
-The higher the casting monster's level, the less likely that monster is to randomly select that spell: from levels 1 to 23, the odds decrease significantly from 100% to 4.3%. At level 24 and above, however, there is a chance that the [[touch of death]] monster spell will be replaced with a psi bolt if the player has magic resistance or else is [[hallucinating]] (since both properties block the spell){{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|93|nethack=3.6.7}} - this results in a ''slight'' bias of spell choice towards psi bolt, raising the chance to to 12% at level 25 in those cases, and raising them further to about 18% at level 50.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|87|nethack=3.6.7}}<!-- rough (and somewhat incorrect) estimate: p ~= 1/25 + 24/25*(p+3/25)/2, thus p ~= 61/325 ~= 18.8%, but actually it's lower than that -->
+The higher the casting monster's level, the less likely that monster is to randomly select that spell: from levels 1 to 23, the odds decrease significantly from 100% to 4.3%. At level 24 and above, however, there is a chance that the [[touch of death]] monster spell will be replaced with a psi bolt if the hero has magic resistance or else is [[hallucinating]] (since both properties block the spell){{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|93|nethack=3.6.7}} - this results in a ''slight'' bias of spell choice towards psi bolt, raising the chance to to 12% at level 25 in those cases, and raising them further to about 18% at level 50.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|87|nethack=3.6.7}}<!-- rough (and somewhat incorrect) estimate: p ~= 1/25 + 24/25*(p+3/25)/2, thus p ~= 61/325 ~= 18.8%, but actually it's lower than that -->
 ===Damage calculation shorthand===
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 In [[NetHack 3.3.1]] and earlier versions, including some variants based on those versions, magic resistance reduces damage from the attack to 1, according to a comment in the code.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|497|nethack=3.6.7}}
-In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some variants based on those versions, the relative frequency of the psi bolt spell would rapidly increase starting at level 24, passing 50% at level 44.{{refsrc|mcastu.c|83}} Spellcasting monsters with a very high level would use this spell very often, which could be a high-damage hazard to a player character (e.g. 33d6 base damage for a psi bolt from [[Demogorgon]]).
+In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some variants based on those versions, the relative frequency of the psi bolt spell would rapidly increase starting at level 24, passing 50% at level 44.{{refsrc|mcastu.c|83}} Spellcasting monsters with a very high level would use this spell very often, which could be a high-damage hazard to a hero (e.g. 33d6 base damage for a psi bolt from [[Demogorgon]]).
 ==Messages==

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 In [[NetHack 3.3.1]] and earlier versions, including some variants based on those versions, magic resistance reduces damage from the attack to 1, according to a comment in the code.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|497|nethack=3.6.7}}
-In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some various based on those versions, the relative frequency of the psi bolt spell would rapidly increase starting at level 24, passing 50% at level 44.{{refsrc|mcastu.c|83}} Spellcasting monsters with a very high level would use this spell very often, which could be a high-damage hazard to a player character (e.g. 33d6 base damage for a psi bolt from [[Demogorgon]]).
+In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some variants based on those versions, the relative frequency of the psi bolt spell would rapidly increase starting at level 24, passing 50% at level 44.{{refsrc|mcastu.c|83}} Spellcasting monsters with a very high level would use this spell very often, which could be a high-damage hazard to a player character (e.g. 33d6 base damage for a psi bolt from [[Demogorgon]]).
 ==Messages==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ==Description==
-Psi bolt is a melee-range spell that can be used by any [[monster]] that casts [[mage spell]]s. It deals damage depending on the caster's level, as with most standard calculations for monster spell damage: the damage is ({{frac|''ML''|2}} + 1)d6 of damage unless the monster's casting attack specifies any dice, in which can it deals ({{frac|''ML''|2}} + x)dy damage, where (x, y) is the amount and size of the damage dice.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|288|nethack=3.6.7|name=damnd|comment=calculations for monster spells cast with damage dice}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|290|nethack=3.6.7|name=damxx|comment=calculations for monsters spells cast without dice}} Psi bolt's damage is halved if you have either [[half spell damage]] or [[magic resistance]], and is reduced to {{frac|4}} if you have both properties (rounded up in both cases).{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|292|nethack=3.6.7|comments=half spell damage works for all monster spells}}
+Psi bolt is a melee-range spell that can be used by any [[monster]] that casts [[mage spell]]s, and is only used against the [[hero]]. It deals damage depending on the caster's [[Monster level|level]], as with most standard calculations for monster spell damage: the damage is ({{frac|''ML''|2}} + 1)d6 of damage unless the monster's casting attack specifies any dice, in which can it deals ({{frac|''ML''|2}} + x)dy damage, where (x, y) is the amount and size of the damage dice.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|288|nethack=3.6.7|name=damnd|comment=calculations for monster spells cast with damage dice}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|290|nethack=3.6.7|name=damxx|comment=calculations for monsters spells cast without dice}} The psi bolt spell has its damage halved if the hero has either [[half spell damage]] or [[magic resistance]], and is reduced to {{frac|4}} if they have both properties (rounded up in both cases).{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|499|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|292|nethack=3.6.7|comments=half spell damage works for all monster spells}}
-The higher the casting monster's level, the less likely that monster is to randomly select that spell: from levels 1 to 23, the odds decrease significantly from 100% to 4.3%. At level 24 and above, however, there is a chance that the [[touch of death]] monster spell will be replaced with a psi bolt if the player is immune to the former spell - this results in a ''slight'' bias of spell choice towards psi bolt, raising the chance to to 12% at level 25 in those cases, and raising them further to about 18% at level 50.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|87|nethack=3.6.7}}<!-- rough (and somewhat incorrect) estimate: p ~= 1/25 + 24/25*(p+3/25)/2, thus p ~= 61/325 ~= 18.8%, but actually it's lower than that -->
+The higher the casting monster's level, the less likely that monster is to randomly select that spell: from levels 1 to 23, the odds decrease significantly from 100% to 4.3%. At level 24 and above, however, there is a chance that the [[touch of death]] monster spell will be replaced with a psi bolt if the player has magic resistance or else is [[hallucinating]] (since both properties block the spell){{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|93|nethack=3.6.7}} - this results in a ''slight'' bias of spell choice towards psi bolt, raising the chance to to 12% at level 25 in those cases, and raising them further to about 18% at level 50.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|87|nethack=3.6.7}}<!-- rough (and somewhat incorrect) estimate: p ~= 1/25 + 24/25*(p+3/25)/2, thus p ~= 61/325 ~= 18.8%, but actually it's lower than that -->
 ===Damage calculation shorthand===
-Since most monsters have either zero damage dice or 6-sided damage dice for their spellcasting attacks, the "base" damage of this spell can reliably be expressed as {{frac|'''ml'''|2}}d6 damage, with additional damage based on the monster that cast the spell: +8d6 for [[Orcus]] and [[Demogorgon]], +6d6 for [[Dispater]], +4d6 for [[Archon]]s and [[golden naga]], +2d6 for [[ki-rin]] and +1d6 for other monsters. [[Neferet the Green]] is the one exception, with her psi bolt dealing damage equal to ({{frac|'''ml'''|2}} + 2)d8.
+Since most monsters have either zero damage dice or 6-sided damage dice for their mage spellcasting attacks, the "base" damage of this spell can reliably be expressed as {{frac|'''ml'''|2}}d6 damage, with additional damage based on the monster that cast the spell: +8d6 for [[Orcus]] and [[Demogorgon]], +6d6 for [[Dispater]], +4d6 for [[Archon]]s and [[golden naga]], +2d6 for [[ki-rin]] and +1d6 for other monsters. [[Neferet the Green]] is the one exception, with her psi bolt dealing damage equal to ({{frac|'''ml'''|2}} + 2)d8.
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ==History==
-In [[NetHack 3.3.1]] and earlier versions, including some various based on those versions, magic resistance reduced damage from the attack to 1, according to a comment in the code.
+In [[NetHack 3.3.1]] and earlier versions, including some variants based on those versions, magic resistance reduces damage from the attack to 1, according to a comment in the code.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|497|nethack=3.6.7}}
 In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some various based on those versions, the relative frequency of the psi bolt spell would rapidly increase starting at level 24, passing 50% at level 44.{{refsrc|mcastu.c|83}} Spellcasting monsters with a very high level would use this spell very often, which could be a high-damage hazard to a player character (e.g. 33d6 base damage for a psi bolt from [[Demogorgon]]).
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], there are many new monsters that can cast mage spells - using the [[#Damage calculation shorthand|shorthand]] methods described above, the additional damage values are as follows: +6d6 for [[ghoul mage]]s, +5d6 for [[Solar]]s, +4d6 for [[Planetar]]s and [[ghoul queen]]s, +2d6 for [[vampire mage]]s, and +1d6 for all others.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], there are many new monsters that can cast mage spells - using the [[#Damage calculation shorthand|shorthand methods]] described above, the additional damage values are as follows: +6d6 for [[ghoul mage]]s, +5d6 for [[Solar]]s, +4d6 for [[Planetar]]s and [[ghoul queen]]s, +2d6 for [[vampire mage]]s, and +1d6 for all others.
 As SLASH'EM is a 3.4.3 variant, high-level spellcasters are very likely to cast psi bolt - this includes Demogorgon and [[Dispater]], who are guaranteed encounters alongside the other [[demon lords and princes]] that are optional in vanilla ''NetHack''.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 Psi bolt is a melee-range spell that can be used by any [[monster]] that casts [[mage spell]]s. It deals damage depending on the caster's level, as with most standard calculations for monster spell damage: the damage is ({{frac|''ML''|2}} + 1)d6 of damage unless the monster's casting attack specifies any dice, in which can it deals ({{frac|''ML''|2}} + x)dy damage, where (x, y) is the amount and size of the damage dice.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|288|nethack=3.6.7|name=damnd|comment=calculations for monster spells cast with damage dice}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|290|nethack=3.6.7|name=damxx|comment=calculations for monsters spells cast without dice}} Psi bolt's damage is halved if you have either [[half spell damage]] or [[magic resistance]], and is reduced to {{frac|4}} if you have both properties (rounded up in both cases).{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|292|nethack=3.6.7|comments=half spell damage works for all monster spells}}
-The higher the casting monster's level, the less likely that monster is to randomly select that spell: from levels 1 to 23, the odds decrease significantly from 100% to 4.3%. At level 24 and above, however, there is a chance that the [[touch of death]] monster spell will be replaced with a psi bolt if the player is immune to the former spell - this results in a ''slight'' bias of spell choice towards psi bolt, raising the chance to to 12% at level 25 in those cases, and then to about 18%<!-- rough (and somewhat incorrect) estimate: p ~= 1/25 + 24/25*(p+3/25)/2, thus p ~= 61/325 ~= 18.8%, but actually it's lower than that --> at level 50.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|87|nethack=3.6.7}}
+The higher the casting monster's level, the less likely that monster is to randomly select that spell: from levels 1 to 23, the odds decrease significantly from 100% to 4.3%. At level 24 and above, however, there is a chance that the [[touch of death]] monster spell will be replaced with a psi bolt if the player is immune to the former spell - this results in a ''slight'' bias of spell choice towards psi bolt, raising the chance to to 12% at level 25 in those cases, and raising them further to about 18% at level 50.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|87|nethack=3.6.7}}<!-- rough (and somewhat incorrect) estimate: p ~= 1/25 + 24/25*(p+3/25)/2, thus p ~= 61/325 ~= 18.8%, but actually it's lower than that -->
 ===Damage calculation shorthand===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Psi bolt'''{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|10|nethack=3.6.7|comment=the spell's name is never used in-game}} is a [[monster spell]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a melee-range spell that inflicts direct damage, and can be by any monster that uses mage spells.
+'''Psi bolt'''{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|10|nethack=3.6.7|comment=the spell's name is never used in-game}} is a [[monster spell]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
 ==Description==
-The psi bolt spell deals damage depending on the caster's level ('''ml'''), and the dice for that monster's specific spellcasting attack: If the attack's damage dice are non-zero, i.e. '''n'''d'''x''', then the spell does ({{frac|'''ml'''|2}} + '''n''')d'''x''' damage. Otherwise, the spell does ({{frac|'''ml'''|2}} + 1)d6 damage. If you have either [[half spell damage]] or [[magic resistance]], the damage is halved, and is reduced to {{frac|4}} if you have both properties (rounded up in both cases).
+The psi bolt spell is a melee-range spell that inflicts direct damage, and can be by any [[monster]] that casts [[mage spells]]. It deals damage depending on the caster's level as with most standard calculations for monster spell damage: the damage is ({{frac|''ML''|2}} + 1)d6 of damage unless the monster's casting attack specifies any dice, in which can it deals ({{frac|''ML''|2}} + x)dy damage, where (x, y) is the amount and size of the damage dice.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|288|nethack=3.6.7|name=damnd|comment=calculations for monster spells cast with damage dice}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|290|nethack=3.6.7|name=damxx|comment=calculations for monsters spells cast without dice}} Psi bolt's damage is halved if you have either [[half spell damage]] or [[magic resistance]], and is reduced to {{frac|4}} if you have both properties (rounded up in both cases).{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|292|nethack=3.6.7|comments=half spell damage works for all monster spells}}
-The higher the casting monster's level, the less likely that monster is to randomly select that spell: from levels 1 to 23, the odds decrease significantly from 100% to 4.3%. At level 24 and above, however, there is a chance that the [[touch of death]] monster spell will be replaced with a psi bolt if the player is immune to the former spell - this results in a ''slight'' bias of spell choice towards psi bolt, raising the chance to to 12% at level 25 in those cases and then to about 18% <!-- rough (and somewhat incorrect) estimate: p ~= 1/25 + 24/25*(p+3/25)/2, thus p ~= 61/325 ~= 18.8%, but actually it's lower than that --> at level 50.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|87|nethack=3.6.7}}
+The higher the casting monster's level, the less likely that monster is to randomly select that spell: from levels 1 to 23, the odds decrease significantly from 100% to 4.3%. At level 24 and above, however, there is a chance that the [[touch of death]] monster spell will be replaced with a psi bolt if the player is immune to the former spell - this results in a ''slight'' bias of spell choice towards psi bolt, raising the chance to to 12% at level 25 in those cases, and then to about 18%<!-- rough (and somewhat incorrect) estimate: p ~= 1/25 + 24/25*(p+3/25)/2, thus p ~= 61/325 ~= 18.8%, but actually it's lower than that --> at level 50.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|87|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ===Damage calculation===
-Since most monsters have either zero damage dice or 6-sided damage dice for their spellcasting attacks, the "base" damage of this spell can reliably be expressed as {{frac|'''ml'''|2}}d6 damage, with additional damage based on the monster that cast the spell: +8d6 for [[Orcus]] and [[Demogorgon]], +6d6 for [[Dispater]], +4d6 for [[Archon]]s and [[golden naga]], +2d6 for [[ki-rin]] and +1d6 for other monsters. [[Neferet the Green]] is the one exception, with her psi bolt dealing damage equal to ({{frac|'''ml'''|2}} + 2)d8 damage.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|288|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Since most monsters have either zero damage dice or 6-sided damage dice for their spellcasting attacks, the "base" damage of this spell can reliably be expressed as {{frac|'''ml'''|2}}d6 damage, with additional damage based on the monster that cast the spell: +8d6 for [[Orcus]] and [[Demogorgon]], +6d6 for [[Dispater]], +4d6 for [[Archon]]s and [[golden naga]], +2d6 for [[ki-rin]] and +1d6 for other monsters. [[Neferet the Green]] is the one exception, with her psi bolt dealing damage equal to ({{frac|'''ml'''|2}} + 2)d8 damage.
 ==Strategy==
-Psi bolts from high-level spellcasters can prove to be a major threat in the late game. Though the [[touch of death]] is more [[Instadeath|immediately]] run threatening, a strong enough psi bolt can still deal significant damage through magic resistance that would nullify the former spell completely.
+Psi bolts from high-level spellcasters can prove to be a major threat in the late game. Though the [[touch of death]] is more [[Instadeath|immediately run-threatening]], a strong enough psi bolt can still deal significant damage through magic resistance that would nullify the former spell completely.
 ==History==
 In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some various based on those versions, the relative frequency of the psi bolt spell would rapidly increase starting at level 24, passing 50% at level 44.{{refsrc|mcastu.c|83}} Spellcasting monsters with a very high level would use this spell very often, which could be a high-damage hazard to a player character (e.g. 33d6 base damage for a psi bolt from [[Demogorgon]]).