So..what's the deal with SquareLos

[nago]

I've played some games with new LOS, but I'm not sure I've understood all the implications behind this big change. Someone could point out what has effectly changed trough commit and what difference, in gameplay/tactics SquareLos bring? Thanks!

What I've noticed so far:

- Diagonal movement to stab enemies isn't any-more advantageous, as the step taken in their sight to reach them diagonally are the same than the ones taken orthogonally. Correct?
- Finally we can blast things diagonally the same times than orthogonally! Yuuh uh less dance for casters
- do all AOE spells have square form?
- The LOS is bigger, it isn't?

[Galefury]

Yes, stabbing is the same from any direction now, except of course if you can use terrain to your advantage. Yes, the LOS area is very slightly bigger, but the max range is down to 7 from 8.

Another important change is that while moving diagonally always brought more tiles into sight than moving horizontally, the difference is now far larger. So if you want to move towards enemies in an open area while revealing unexplored terrain (why?), it is best to do so horizontally or vertically to minimize the number of newly revealed tiles. If you want to explore as quickly as possible, move diagonally.

[advil]

I've played some games with new LOS, but I'm not sure I've understood all the implications behind this big change. Someone could point out what has effectly changed trough commit and what difference, in gameplay/tactics SquareLos bring? Thanks!

What I've noticed so far:

- Diagonal movement to stab enemies isn't any-more advantageous, as the step taken in their sight to reach them diagonally are the same than the ones taken orthogonally. Correct?
- Finally we can blast things diagonally the same times than orthogonally! Yuuh uh less dance for casters
- do all AOE spells have square form?
- The LOS is bigger, it isn't?

There's a thread in GDD on this (though it's a lot of sound and fury, I'm not sure how many people have actually played the branch in that thread besides me and a couple others). What I can say anecdotally from having played through a mifi of qazlal on CBRO is that it didn't seem to have any meaningful impact on gameplay for melee. Obviously ranged attackers and stabbers may be quite different.

[Eyesburn]

have actually played the branch

It is now in the trunk. I've just spectated some games, it is kinda claustrophobic.

[njvack]

AFAIK, all AOE spells are supposed to have square form.

I haven't played past the start of Lair (so the implications of ranged aren't totally clear to me yet) but this generally kind of just feels like Crawl to me. I like ranged-ing things on the diagonal.

[tedric]

this generally kind of just feels like Crawl to me. I like ranged-ing things on the diagonal.

ditto

[bel]

It is now in the trunk.

Woah, so it is. I hadn't even noticed it in my games, to be honest.

[tasonir]

It is now in the trunk.

Woah, so it is. I hadn't even noticed it in my games, to be honest.

Same here. When I first played with it I had cleared down to like d:5 before noticing it. Of course walls blocking LOS means it isn't always obvious, but still, it isn't a huge shift in most circumstances. Seems good to me so far.

[shnurlf]

have actually played the branch

It is now in the trunk. I've just spectated some games, it is kinda claustrophobic.

That's kinda odd... I hadn't really noticed it until Zot:3 when I was using the the NE corner to disintegrate walls while staying out of LOS. I had a moment of like "Huh, was the LOS always like that?" and then I shrugged and moved on... Nice to know it's an actual commit.

[Curio]

Also 7x7 LOS is better for Android builds and small screens (like mine), because with 8x8 LOS 3 edge tiles didn't do anything basically, but make everything else too small to see on a smartphone.

[Sar]

I knew it! It's a first step to commercial DCSS app!

[Curio]

I knew it! It's a first step to commercial DCSS app!

First step would be making it playable for v.0.16. Because right now it crashes on a New game.

Back on topic: So square LOS means that every other spell and ability targeting will be square too? What about big explosions? They will be square as Shock serpent's discharges?

[njvack]

Yep. Because in a game with chebyshev movement, a mathematical circle (eg, something with a constant radius) is a square.

[Curio]

Yep. Because in a game with chebyshev movement, a mathematical circle (eg, something with a constant radius) is a square.

Well, it may be not so pretty as radial explosions but much more consistent.

[dpeg]

Yep. Because in a game with chebyshev movement, a mathematical circle (eg, something with a constant radius) is a square.

Well, it may be not so pretty as radial explosions but much more consistent.

Pafnuty Chebyshev would like a word with you about aesthetic shortcomings.

[Rast]

I'd be OK with spells still having spherical (ish) AOE in squareLOS.