Difference between revisions of "Dragon scale mail"
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− | If you [[reverse genocide]] for [[silver dragon scale mail]], you likely don't already have [[reflection]]. Stand on [[Elbereth]] and use a ring of [[Elbereth]] squares to keep the dragons in melee range - that way, they won't use their breath weapon. (In the picture above, engrave multiple semi-permanent Elbereth on the squares marked <,E,% and put a coin on % squares only. Pacifists can either use a ring of conflict and teleport the last dragon, or engrave everywhere, drop cursed objects on % and let a strong pet (vampire lord) do the work.) Since [[silver dragon|silver dragons]] breathe frost, [[cold resistance]] and a [[bag]] to store potions is also effective protection. | + | If you [[reverse genocide]] for [[silver dragon scale mail]], you likely don't already have [[reflection]]. Stand on [[Elbereth]] and use a ring of [[Elbereth]] squares to keep the dragons in melee range - that way, they won't use their breath weapon. (In the picture above, engrave multiple semi-permanent Elbereth on the squares marked <,E,% and put a coin on % squares only. Pacifists can either use a ring of conflict and tame/teleport/paralyze the last dragon, or engrave everywhere, drop cursed objects on % and let a strong pet (vampire lord) do the work.) Since [[silver dragon|silver dragons]] breathe frost, [[cold resistance]] and a [[bag]] to store potions is also effective protection. |
==Gray or silver?== | ==Gray or silver?== |
Revision as of 14:44, 28 December 2009
[[[[[[[[[ <color> dragon scale mail | |
---|---|
Appearance | <color> dragon scale mail |
Slot | body armor |
AC | 9 |
Special |
|
Base price | 900-1200 zm |
Weight | 40 |
Material | dragon hide |
[[[[[[[[[ <color> dragon scales | |
---|---|
Appearance | <color> dragon scales |
Slot | body armor |
AC | 3 |
Special |
|
Base price | 500-700 zm |
Weight | 40 |
Material | dragon hide |
Dragon scale mail (commonly abbreviated to DSM) is the strongest single piece of body armor available. Its base AC reduction is 9, it weighs only 40, provides a useful extrinsic, is inherently erodeproof, and doesn't hinder spellcasting. It does not however provide any magic cancellation, and should hence be complemented by a high MC cloak.
Dragon scales are body armor that might be dropped by a dragon. They have a base AC reduction of only 3, but are otherwise identical to the dragon scale mail of the same color. They can be converted into dragon scale mail.
The most coveted varieties are silver dragon scale mail (SDSM) for reflection and gray dragon scale mail (GDSM) for magic resistance.
Contents
Colors
The following table shows the extrinsic abilities provided by each color of dragon scales or dragon scale mail:
Black, gray, and silver dragon scale mail have a base price of 1200 zm, and their scales are 700 zm. Other varieties are 900 zm for the mail and 500 zm for the scales.
New Colors In SLASH'EM
Color | Extrinsic |
---|---|
Shimmering | displacement |
Deep | level-drain resistance |
Polymorph
Polymorphing while wearing dragon scales or dragon scale mail turns you into a dragon of the same color, with the message "You merge with your scaly armor".[1] This will break your shirt and cloak, but will leave your scales or scale mail intact. However, if you are polymorphed again while in dragon form, there is a chance that you will turn into a different large monster, destroying your armor in the process.
Dragon scale mail is considered to be magical for purposes of object polymorph, whereas dragon scales are not.
Since scales and mail are never generated randomly, they cannot be obtained by polypiling.
Acquiring scales and scale mail
There are two main ways to acquire dragon scale mail: either wish for it directly, or obtain dragon scales and then upgrade them to scale mail.
There are two other ways to obtain DSM. The first is to find it in a bones pile, which is obviously unreliable. The other option is to kill one of the player monsters on the Astral Plane, who have a chance of wearing dragon scale mail. This method is almost completely useless, since any adventurer reaching the Astral Plane will probably have DSM already.
Making dragon scale mail from scales
Dragon scale mail can be easily made from dragon scales:
- wear only the dragon scales you wish to convert
- read a non-cursed scroll of enchant armor
If the scroll is blessed, the mail gains 1 point of enchantment and becomes blessed.
Acquiring dragon scales
Dragon scale mail is simple to acquire: kill a dragon that drops scales of the color you want and make mail out of them as described above.
The chance of a dragon dropping scales is 1/3, but this drops to 1/20 if the dragon is revived.[2]
If you want to obtain dragon scale mail by killing a dragon, here are some methods for generating dragons:
- reverse genocide dragons
- polymorph into a dragon of desired variety and hatch some eggs (#sit command), grow those babies (into non-baby dragons) over time, and get them killed (possibly with a passive attack or a trap)
- use undead turning on a dragon corpse (but note that a revived dragon has a only a 1/20 chance of dropping scales, as opposed to 1/3 normally.[3])
- seek out the dragons found in the castle, in Ludios, and in some quest levels
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If you reverse genocide for silver dragon scale mail, you likely don't already have reflection. Stand on Elbereth and use a ring of Elbereth squares to keep the dragons in melee range - that way, they won't use their breath weapon. (In the picture above, engrave multiple semi-permanent Elbereth on the squares marked <,E,% and put a coin on % squares only. Pacifists can either use a ring of conflict and tame/teleport/paralyze the last dragon, or engrave everywhere, drop cursed objects on % and let a strong pet (vampire lord) do the work.) Since silver dragons breathe frost, cold resistance and a bag to store potions is also effective protection.
Gray or silver?
Gray and silver are widely considered the two best types of dragon scale mail, but players disagree as to which is more useful in particular circumstances. Gray provides magic resistance which protects against monster spells and polytraps; silver provides reflection which protects against wands and breath attacks.