Difference between revisions of "Wand of digging"
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If you are engulfed by [[purple worm]]s, [[trapper]]s, [[lurker above|lurkers above]], or [[Juiblex]], zapping a wand of digging brings their HP down to about one and expels you. | If you are engulfed by [[purple worm]]s, [[trapper]]s, [[lurker above|lurkers above]], or [[Juiblex]], zapping a wand of digging brings their HP down to about one and expels you. | ||
| − | + | Breaking a wand of digging with non-zero charges (by [[apply]]ing it) creates [[pit]]s or [[hole]]s in your square and in the eight squares around you, if those squares are diggable and don't contain [[stairs]], [[boulder]]s or [[trap]]s.<ref>{{sourcecode|apply.c|2697}}; {{function|dig.c|dig_check}}</ref> Unlike a [[drum of earthquake]], this will not let you destroy existing traps from another square, although altars and thrones can still be destroyed. | |
Monsters may be generated carrying a wand of digging as a [[defensive item]]. When fleeing, they may zap this wand downward to escape, which [[identify|identifies]] it for you. Monsters that try to dig downward through an undiggable floor will simply fail to dig. They do not learn, though. | Monsters may be generated carrying a wand of digging as a [[defensive item]]. When fleeing, they may zap this wand downward to escape, which [[identify|identifies]] it for you. Monsters that try to dig downward through an undiggable floor will simply fail to dig. They do not learn, though. | ||
Revision as of 18:39, 29 February 2012
| / | |
|---|---|
| Name | digging |
| Appearance | random |
| Abundance | 5.5% |
| Base price | 150 zm |
| Weight | 7 |
| Type | ray |
| Maximum charges | 8 |
| Spell | dig |
| Monster use | Will not be used by monsters. |
A wand of digging is very useful. You can zap it to dig open a corridor of several squares (unless you're in a maze level, in which case the beam will continue as normal but will end after digging one wall square). Closed doors are broken through; as-of-yet-undetected secret doors are cleared; the Astral Plane doors are popular targets. Note, however, that a wand of digging will not destroy boulders.
If you zap the wand upward, a rock will fall from the ceiling and bonk you on the head, unless you are underwater, in which case you get the message "You barely hear some noises".
Zapping the wand downward makes a hole in diggable floors, through which you may fall, or a pit in undiggable floors. If the latter happens on a level with an ordinary maze, it's time to look for the vibrating square.
Engraving with a wand of digging automatically identifies the wand. Any text engraved with a wand of digging is as durable as text engraved with a weapon or hard gem. Wands of digging can engrave Elbereth in one turn, making them as effective as an athame for that purpose and slightly less effective than a wand of fire or wand of lightning.
If you are engulfed by purple worms, trappers, lurkers above, or Juiblex, zapping a wand of digging brings their HP down to about one and expels you.
Breaking a wand of digging with non-zero charges (by applying it) creates pits or holes in your square and in the eight squares around you, if those squares are diggable and don't contain stairs, boulders or traps.[1] Unlike a drum of earthquake, this will not let you destroy existing traps from another square, although altars and thrones can still be destroyed.
Monsters may be generated carrying a wand of digging as a defensive item. When fleeing, they may zap this wand downward to escape, which identifies it for you. Monsters that try to dig downward through an undiggable floor will simply fail to dig. They do not learn, though.
SLASH'EM
Wands of digging have a couple of additional uses in SLASH'EM. Firstly, zapping a boulder will simply vaporize it. Doing this in Sokoban will carry a -1 luck penalty. Secondly, they are very deadly against certain monsters which are made of stone. These include xorns, earth elementals, winged gargoyles and stone golems[2]; zapping such monsters will cut their current HP in half, although it will never directly kill them.
References
- ↑ apply.c, line 2697; dig_check in dig.c
- ↑ SLASH'EM mondata.h, line 206; it is actually any thick-skinned monster that can phase through walls, as well as winged gargoyles and stone golems. Strangely, it doesn't include regular gargoyles.
