Wand of probing
Revision as of 07:57, 31 May 2011 by Thefifthsetpin (talk | contribs) (Clarifying that the wand doesn't anger probed creatures (rather unlike the real-life TSA wands of probing.))
/ | |
---|---|
Name | probing |
Appearance | random |
Abundance | 3% |
Base price | 150 zm |
Weight | 7 |
Type | beam |
Maximum charges | 8 |
Monster use | Will not be used by monsters. |
A wand of probing can give you information about a monster, or the contents of a container. It also has other uses.
In general, wands of probing act much like stethoscopes. Zapping one prompts the player for a direction, and if there is a suitable target, shows the name, alignment, level, HP, AC, and status of the target. Like a stethoscope, it does not anger peaceful targets. Unlike a stethoscope, it is a directional beam, allowing the remote assessment of the target, and it will also show the inventory of the target. This leads to situational usages such as:
- Checking the inventory of your pet when supplying it with equipment.
- Determining if you are at the correct Astral Plane temple by probing the high priest.
- Checking the inventory of peaceful monsters for useful items before taking an alignment penalty for killing them.
- Checking the inventory of monsters with predefined magic items to identify those items.
- Checking a bag of holding in a bones pile to decide if you would benefit from uncursing it right away.
- Checking historical statues for useful items before taking an alignment penalty for breaking into them as an Archeologist.
- To locate and identify an invisible creature causing you distress.
- To identify which creature is wearing the amulet of life saving or reflection you know is on the level, so that you may charm and perhaps polymorph it into a powerful pet instead of merely killing it (twice).
- In principle, zen players could make objects seen. However, identifying it is hard.
Otherwise a wand of probing is inferior to a stethoscope, being heavier, slower, and having only limited charges.