+2 unicorn horn ?

[Olivier]

Dear all,

I would like to know what is the effect of +1 or +2
for a unicorn horn ? Does it heal any faster/better ?
Best,
Olivier

[s***@gmail.com]

I don't know if enchantments affect healing, but it can also be weilded
as a weapon, and a pretty good one as far as I know. Presumably the +2
affects its use in that way.

[Jym]

Post by s***@gmail.com
I don't know if enchantments affect healing, but it can also be weilded
as a weapon, and a pretty good one as far as I know. Presumably the +2
affects its use in that way.

iirc, enchantement does not affect healing in vanilla Nethack.
It does, however, in Slash'em (and enchanting my unihorn to +7 is one of
the task of the midgame).

[Olivier]

Post by Jym

Post by s***@gmail.com
I don't know if enchantments affect healing, but it can also be weilded
as a weapon, and a pretty good one as far as I know. Presumably the +2
affects its use in that way.

iirc, enchantement does not affect healing in vanilla Nethack.
It does, however, in Slash'em (and enchanting my unihorn to +7 is one of
the task of the midgame).

Ok, thanks !

[e***@yahoo.com]

Post by Olivier

Post by Jym

Post by s***@gmail.com
I don't know if enchantments affect healing, but it can also be weilded
as a weapon, and a pretty good one as far as I know. Presumably the +2
affects its use in that way.

iirc, enchantement does not affect healing in vanilla Nethack.
It does, however, in Slash'em (and enchanting my unihorn to +7 is one of
the task of the midgame).

Ok, thanks !

In vanilla nethack the B/U/C status affects the healing properties.
It's more reliable when blessed. The enchantment just affects the
weapon effectiveness.

[Mekkis]

Post by Jym

Post by s***@gmail.com
I don't know if enchantments affect healing, but it can also be weilded
as a weapon, and a pretty good one as far as I know. Presumably the +2
affects its use in that way.

iirc, enchantement does not affect healing in vanilla Nethack.
It does, however, in Slash'em (and enchanting my unihorn to +7 is one of
the task of the midgame).
--Hypocoristiquement,
Jym.

Actually, +6 is enough for a Slashem unihorn (the probability is 30% +
10% for each positive enchantment, with a maximum of 90%, blessing makes
it try for all ailments.)

[Doug Freyburger]

Post by Olivier
I would like to know what is the effect of +1 or +2
for a unicorn horn ? Does it heal any faster/better ?

Already mentioned - The BUC status effects "a"pply for
its use as a tool, the enchantment effects its use as a
weapon in combat (you can throw it if you feel like it and
it will do more damage than any one dagger ;^).

Not already mentioned - Unihorn isn't the only
weapon-tool. With a pickaxe the enchantment level
does effect how fast it digs when "a"pplied. For anyone
who's noticed faster digging with an enchanted pickaxe,
asking about enchanted unihorns would be natural.

[Patashu]

Post by Doug Freyburger

Post by Olivier
I would like to know what is the effect of +1 or +2
for a unicorn horn ? Does it heal any faster/better ?

Already mentioned - The BUC status effects "a"pply for
its use as a tool, the enchantment effects its use as a
weapon in combat (you can throw it if you feel like it and
it will do more damage than any one dagger ;^).
Not already mentioned - Unihorn isn't the only
weapon-tool. With a pickaxe the enchantment level
does effect how fast it digs when "a"pplied. For anyone
who's noticed faster digging with an enchanted pickaxe,
asking about enchanted unihorns would be natural.

Wow, I actually didn't know enchanting my pick axe made it more
formidable. I'll have to do that next time I find some enchant weapon
scrolls!

[Doug Freyburger]

Post by Patashu

Post by Doug Freyburger
Not already mentioned - Unihorn isn't the only
weapon-tool. With a pickaxe the enchantment level
does effect how fast it digs when "a"pplied. For anyone
who's noticed faster digging with an enchanted pickaxe,
asking about enchanted unihorns would be natural.

Wow, I actually didn't know enchanting my pick axe made it more
formidable.

Pickaxe does damage like a club, but weighs like a polearm.
Using the word "formidable" because it can now dig faster is
a bit of an exaggeration, chuckle.

Post by Patashu
I'll have to do that next time I find some enchant weapon
scrolls!

It is a very poor use of ?oEW and skill slots for most classes.
Archeologist can get to Expert (a DevTeam trap with pickaxe
and maybe even dwarvish mattock), barbarian and valkyrie
to skilled, several other classes to basic.

While my players often end up accidentally using their pickaxe
often enough in the mines to get offered enhancement (forget
to switch before whacking, see message, switch after whacking),
I rarely enhance them past basic. Yet after considering other
options I don't hesitate to enhance to basic in the midgame
for arch/barb/valk.

Is it worth several scrolls to be able to tunnel faster? Rarely.
Is it worth several scrolls to be able to use a pickaxe in
combat (damage of club at weight of polearm)? Rarely. But if
you play an endurance game there's this stack of ?oEW just
sitting there after you've maxxed out the enchantment of your
primary, secondary and spare quiver, primary secondary and
several spare melee weapons, your unihorn and its spare and
finally a polearm just for the the heck of it ... May as well use
them on your pickaxe and the spare in your chest. It will match
that nice blessed fireproof +4 mummy wrapping in the style
contest of the overprepared!

[Janis Papanagnou]

Post by Doug Freyburger

Post by Patashu

Post by Doug Freyburger
With a pickaxe the enchantment level
does effect how fast it digs when "a"pplied. For anyone
who's noticed faster digging with an enchanted pickaxe,
asking about enchanted unihorns would be natural.

Wow, I actually didn't know enchanting my pick axe made it more
formidable.

Pickaxe does damage like a club, but weighs like a polearm.
Using the word "formidable" because it can now dig faster is
a bit of an exaggeration, chuckle.

Post by Patashu
I'll have to do that next time I find some enchant weapon
scrolls!

It is a very poor use of ?oEW and skill slots for most classes.
Archeologist can get to Expert (a DevTeam trap with pickaxe
and maybe even dwarvish mattock), barbarian and valkyrie
to skilled, several other classes to basic.
[...]
I rarely enhance them past basic. Yet after considering other
options I don't hesitate to enhance to basic in the midgame
for arch/barb/valk.
Is it worth several scrolls to be able to tunnel faster? Rarely.

Depends on - besides some other factors - how much faster you
actually can dig.

In Gehennom I am used to dig a lot of shortcuts and also all the
surrounding area of the stairs (to have enough space for a horde
of pets). A pickaxe that is, say, twice as effecive would be an
advantage.

How much faster do you dig per pickaxe enchantment? Is it this
formula...?

digging.effort += 10 + rn2(5) + abon() +
uwep->spe - greatest_erosion(uwep) + u.udaminc;

Then the enchantment factor would not be much worth the scrolls.
At +6 it seems not even twice as effective, as far as I can see,
only 50% on average (and you may want another scroll to rustproof
it, as the formula suggests).

Post by Doug Freyburger
Is it worth several scrolls to be able to use a pickaxe in
combat (damage of club at weight of polearm)? Rarely.

Seconded. Though damage in the early and mid game from a mattock
is great!

Post by Doug Freyburger
But if
you play an endurance game there's this stack of ?oEW just
sitting there after you've maxxed out the enchantment of your
primary, secondary and spare quiver, primary secondary and
several spare melee weapons, [...] May as well use
them on your pickaxe and the spare in your chest. [...]

Janis

[Doug Freyburger]

Post by Janis Papanagnou

Post by Doug Freyburger
Is it worth several scrolls to be able to tunnel faster? Rarely.

Depends on - besides some other factors - how much faster you
actually can dig.
In Gehennom I am used to dig a lot of shortcuts and also all the
surrounding area of the stairs (to have enough space for a horde
of pets). A pickaxe that is, say, twice as effecive would be an
advantage.
How much faster do you dig per pickaxe enchantment? Is it this
formula...?
digging.effort += 10 + rn2(5) + abon() +
uwep->spe - greatest_erosion(uwep) + u.udaminc;

Do I read this right at a ring of increase damage will speed up
digging but maxed out strength will not? It's been a while
since I puzzled over the meaning of the abon() call but I recall
it including quite a list of factors so I might have the strength
part wrong.

Post by Janis Papanagnou
Then the enchantment factor would not be much worth the scrolls.
At +6 it seems not even twice as effective, as far as I can see,
only 50% on average (and you may want another scroll to rustproof
it, as the formula suggests).

It suggests that spell/wand of dig will work far better. Since
that wand is common and only a few need to be reserved for the
plane of earth it's worth buring though them to clear paths between
upstairs and downstairs in the mazes.

Post by Janis Papanagnou

Post by Doug Freyburger
Is it worth several scrolls to be able to use a pickaxe in
combat (damage of club at weight of polearm)? Rarely.

Seconded. Though damage in the early and mid game from a mattock
is great!

Mattock vs pickaxe has one interesting point - Pickaxe is listed
among the tools but can be wielded so it's a tool-weapon. Mattock
is listed among the weapons but it can be applied so it's a
weapon-tool. In spite of this difference they are in the same skill
calss.

Fun point is that the other type of axe can also be applied. It
doesn't do much unless you're standing next to a feature that is
not common in the dungeon ...

[Janis Papanagnou]

Post by Doug Freyburger

Post by Janis Papanagnou
How much faster do you dig per pickaxe enchantment? Is it this
formula...?
digging.effort += 10 + rn2(5) + abon() +
uwep->spe - greatest_erosion(uwep) + u.udaminc;

Do I read this right at a ring of increase damage will speed up
digging but maxed out strength will not? It's been a while
since I puzzled over the meaning of the abon() call but I recall
it including quite a list of factors so I might have the strength
part wrong.

Without going deep into the sources a grep revealed that comment...
weapon.c:abon() /* attack bonus for strength & dexterity */
But let's see... Str:18/** gives 3 points bonus, each point of Dex
beyond 14 gives another point.

Post by Doug Freyburger
It suggests that spell/wand of dig will work far better. Since
that wand is common and only a few need to be reserved for the
plane of earth it's worth buring though them to clear paths between
upstairs and downstairs in the mazes.

The bad thing is that on the Plane of Earth the wands are very
effective (two fully charged wands suffice), but Gehennom's mazes
have hard walls; to have good paths pickaxing is necessary (can
mostly be compensated with teleportitis, of course).

Janis

[Duncan Booth]

Post by Doug Freyburger
Fun point is that the other type of axe can also be applied. It
doesn't do much unless you're standing next to a feature that is
not common in the dungeon ...

Doors aren't common?

[Doug Freyburger]

Post by Duncan Booth

Post by Doug Freyburger
Fun point is that the other type of axe can also be applied. It
doesn't do much unless you're standing next to a feature that is
not common in the dungeon ...

Doors aren't common?

Chuckle. Not with my kick-crazy characters. Especially not with
my force-bolt crazy wizards. Oh right, that's after I've explored
each level not before ... Must be why I didn't know about doors
and axes. Thanx!

Does this offer a search method? Wield an axe and start whacking
wall squares to see it there's a secret door. It would make
carrying a regular axe in the bag something worth the half
weight ...

[Duncan Booth]

Post by Doug Freyburger
Does this offer a search method? Wield an axe and start whacking
wall squares to see it there's a secret door. It would make
carrying a regular axe in the bag something worth the half
weight ...

Sadly, no. Until you know there's a door there you get the 'You need a pick
to dig rock.' message for a secret door (also for a secret corridor).

[Gregory Weston]

Post by Doug Freyburger
Mattock vs pickaxe has one interesting point - Pickaxe is listed
among the tools but can be wielded so it's a tool-weapon. Mattock
is listed among the weapons but it can be applied so it's a
weapon-tool. In spite of this difference they are in the same skill
calss.

There's another interesting point, but it's a bug and I'm told it's
being addressed. At the moment, forcing a chest with a mattock is
"prying" and has a meaningful chance of breaking the weapon.