FIQHack/Monster spellcasting

In FIQHack, instead of having their own dedicated monster spell lists, monster spellcasting instead use the same spellcasting rules as the player.

Description

Monsters have energy (Pw), just like players do. They gain or lose Pw as they level up, in an approximation of the player formula:

• Start with a minimum: 0 for dwarves; 2 for nymphs, humans, gnomes, and dedicated casters (see below); 3 for elves and dragons; or 1 for everyone else.
• Add a random number between 0 and Wisdom/2 + 1 (+ 1 for dedicated casters).
  • Monster Wisdom - before any helm of brilliance's effects - is 20 for the Wizard of Yendor, 18 for dedicated casters, and 11 otherwise.
• Multiply the result by: 1/2 for mindless creatures; 3/4 for Barbarians, Valkyries, and animals; 3/2 for healers and knights; 2 for Priests, Wizards, and dedicated casters; or 5/2 for the Wizard of Yendor.

Spellcasting failure chances use the vanilla formula with these values:

Who                 Base   Emergency   Shield   Suit   Stat
 Wizard of Yendor      1          -3        1     10    Int
 nurses                8          -3        1     10    Int
 dedicated casters     3          -1        1     10    Int
 everyone else         8          -1        1     10    Int

Monsters always use their intelligence with casting (their Intelligence - before any helm of brilliance's effects - is always 20 for the Wizard of Yendor, 18 for dedicated casters, or 11 for everyone else). In addition, monsters represented by an A don't get the normal penalty to casting from using a large shield.

Whenever a monster is generated, it is assigned a list of spells. This is done by selecting among the spells with equal probability for each of them - potentially rolling the same spell more than once - a certain number of times: 10 + rn2(XL+5) for dedicated casters, rn2(XL/3) for everyone else. This spell is then added to the monster's spell roster with a probability of (2 + Spell level + Skill level) / 6. Skill level is 0 (unskilled), 1 (basic), 2 (skilled), or 3 (expert). In addition, monsters with at least Basic skill in attack spells are guaranteed force bolt.

Some monsters, mainly uniques, but also some additional ones, are generated with a fixed spell list. Those are listed below.

Dedicated casters

FIQHack has a flag for monsters that count as "dedicated casters". Those mostly (but not quite) align with monsters that could spellcast in vanilla. In FIQHack, any non-mindless non-animal monster can cast spells if they acquire them, either on generation or by reading books, but these monsters can generally do so more reliably:

• kobold shaman
• orc shaman
• ki-rin
• Archon
• gnomish wizard
• titan
• lich
• demilich
• master lich
• arch-lich
• golden naga
• barrow wight
• aligned priest(ess)
• high priest(ess)
• Wizard of Yendor
• nalfeshnee
• Yeenoghu
• Orcus
• Dispater
• Asmodeus
• Demogorgon
• monk
• priest(ess)
• wizard
• Grand Master
• Arch Priest
• Neferet the Green
• Minion of Huhetotl
• Thoth Amon
• Chromatic Dragon
• Ixoth
• Master Kaen
• Nalzok
• Dark One
• abbot
• acolyte
• guide
• apprentice

Monster spell lists

Minotaurs

• Dig (20% of the time)

Nazgul

• Slow monster
• Sleep

Barrow wights

• Sleep

Nurses

In 4.3.0, nurses used the normal monster spell generation. After 4.3.0, this was changed, and they now have these spells.

• Healing
• Extra healing

Shopkeepers

• Force bolt (2/3 of the time)
• Magic missile (if they didn't get force bolt)
• Identify
• Knock

Aligned priests

• Healing
• Identify
• Confuse monster (3/4 of the time)
• Slow monster (if they didn't get confuse monster)
• Protection
• Create monster
• Remove curse
• Create familiar
• Turn undead

High priests

In addition to the spells of aligned priests, they also get a few arcane spells.

• Healing
• Identify
• Confuse monster (3/4 of the time)
• Slow monster (if they didn't get confuse monster)
• Protection
• Create monster
• Remove curse
• Create familiar
• Turn undead
• Summon nasties
• Haste self
• Invisibility

High priests also include the Grand Master and Arch Priest.

Angels

• Magic missile

Yeenoghu

• Magic missile

Asmodeus

• Cone of cold

Orcus

Orcus mostly has utility spells to couple with his other attacks, and can charge his wand of death.

• Drain life
• Healing
• Detect monsters
• Slow monster
• Charging
• Create monster
• Turn undead
• Summon nasties

Dispater

Mainly a spellcaster; has offensive, defensive, and utility spells.

• Force bolt
• Drain life
• Magic missile
• Healing
• Extra healing
• Cure sickness
• Stone to flesh
• Sleep
• Protection
• Create monster
• Jumping
• Haste self
• Invisibility
• Teleport away
• Phase
• Dig
• Cancellation
• Polymorph

Demogorgon

Primarily an attacker, but has a few spells to aid his attacks and to heal himself.

• Extra healing
• Slow monster
• Create monster
• Haste self

Minion of Huhetotl

Primarily an attacker, but has buffing spells and can incapacitate his foes with sleep.

• Healing
• Sleep
• Protection
• Invisibility

Thoth Amon/Dark One

Both share the same list. Being primarily spellcasters, they have a wide list of spells.

• Force bolt
• Magic missile
• Fireball
• Cone of cold
• Healing
• Detect monsters
• Sleep
• Slow monster
• Protection
• Turn undead
• Summon nasties
• Haste self
• Invisibility
• Cancellation

Chromatic Dragon

A dragon. Learned a few spells to improve its fighting speed, slow its foes, and heal itself.

• Healing
• Slow monster
• Haste self

Ixoth

• Detect monsters
• Protection
• Summon nasties
• Haste self

Master Kaen

Aside from being an excellent fighter, Kaen has mastered spells to speed himself up, heal himself, and catch those who try to flee.

• Healing
• Detect monsters
• Slow monster
• Haste self
• Phase

Nalzok

• Healing
• Protection
• Haste self
• Phase

Wizard of Yendor

The Wizard of Yendor is, similarly to other general spellcasters, generated with a random list of spells each game. However, he has one guaranteed spell:

• Double Trouble