Fix Darkness by being unable to read scrolls

[VeryAngryFelid]

As I wrote before, Darkness is a problematic spell, you can have it always on during autoexplore like old Swiftness, just press 5 every time it expires to restore mana.
I propose to make it unable to read scrolls while under Darkness effect. It is flavorful and fixes the no-brainer nature of the spell, now you have to make a decision either you want to cast the spell.

[Siegurt]

As I wrote before, Darkness is a problematic spell, you can have it always on during autoexplore like old Swiftness, just press 5 every time it expires to restore mana.
I propose to make it unable to read scrolls while under Darkness effect. It is flavorful and fixes the no-brainer nature of the spell, now you have to make a decision either you want to cast the spell.

I like this idea, it could possibly go with a slight reduction of spell level too, bit that isn't required.

[VeryAngryFelid]

Also I think Nightstalker mutation and robe of the Night should remove the inability to read scrolls under Darkness.

[kuniqs]

Also I think Nightstalker mutation and robe of the Night should remove the ability to read scrolls.

[VeryAngryFelid]

Also I think Nightstalker mutation and robe of the Night should remove the ability to read scrolls.

This is GDD, please refrain from joking if you can.

[HardboiledGargoyle]

In this game you can read scrolls that are literally invisible.

[PowerOfKaishin]

Also I think Nightstalker mutation and robe of the Night should remove the inability to read scrolls under Darkness.

Let's not fuck over demonspawn with something they can't control, please. Demonspawn muts are supposed to be strong anyway. They really don't need a nerf.

[jwoodward48ss]

You appear to have read VAF's post as this:

"Nightstalker Ds can never read scrolls."

He really meant:

"Nightstalker Ds can always read scrolls, even under Darkness."

[WTV]

Under Nightstalker/Robe of Night permit reading but impose Blurry VIsion-type time penalty for reading scrolls. That way they do not totally negate the no-scrolls mechanic.

[VeryAngryFelid]

Under Nightstalker/Robe of Night permit reading but impose Blurry VIsion-type time penalty for reading scrolls. That way they do not totally negate the no-scrolls mechanic.

Nightstalker is a Ds mutation you have no control on and thus it should never be bad.

Edit. Please don't start discussing other Ds mutations ITT.

[Rast]

Also, when you drink a potion under Darkness you should drink a random potion instead because you can't see what color they are in the dark. So flavorful!

[VeryAngryFelid]

Flavor is inferior to game play. Darkness needs a change to stop being annoying but it still should remain a useful spell so too heavy nerf is a bad thing I believe.

[Rast]

Tacking -scroll onto a spell makes it almost unusable.

FR: Charms reform

[VeryAngryFelid]

Tacking -scroll onto a spell makes it almost unusable.

Not really. I would still use Darkness with normal speed stabbers, just not vs extremely dangerous fast monsters.

FR: Charms reform

As I learned from last Charms reform thread there is no universal solution so probably we should try changing one spell at a time.
Darkness is among the most annoying spells because it is spammable with no monsters in view and interferes with autoexploring.

[WingedEspeon]

Just Make it semi perminent so you don't have to keep recasting it.

[VeryAngryFelid]

Just Make it semi perminent so you don't have to keep recasting it.

What do you mean? Exploring with permanent darkness will be overpowered. Currently it is balanced by tedium (always), piety (if you are willing to wait for MP replenishment) and hunger (both from spell casting and from waiting for MP).

[Sprucery]

What's too tedious for someone, isn't necessarily so for someone else. I recast Shroud constantly if I have it (at decent spellpower). I don't like the fact that I have to do it, but it does not make the game unfun for me. I used to recast Phase Shift and Ozo's likewise but luckily I don't have to anymore.

[WingedEspeon]

Or make it give a -darkness status after it wears off so that you literally can't keep recasting it.

[VeryAngryFelid]

What's too tedious for someone, isn't necessarily so for someone else. I recast Shroud constantly if I have it (at decent spellpower). I don't like the fact that I have to do it, but it does not make the game unfun for me. I used to recast Phase Shift and Ozo's likewise but luckily I don't have to anymore.

Shroud is easy to recast as you naturally regen all MP while it expires. Darkness is closer to recasting Necromutation, you have to spend some time on pressing 5 also (or switching to and evoking staff of energy if you are pretending to play optimally). Please don 't assume I cast those spells less than you, I still recast Ozo Armour during autoexplore with some characters
I have a serious question though: do you enjoy pressing the same button again and again? Or are you just indifferent but still wouldn't like those presses removed for some reason?

[infinitevox]

Also, when you drink a potion under Darkness you should drink a random potion instead because you can't see what color they are in the dark. So flavorful!

I imbibe my potions based on scent!

[kuniqs]

TBH I couldn't care less about the Darkness spell being OP because by the time I can cast Darkness reliably, it's such a microoptimisation that I never bother to cast it in the first place.

[VeryAngryFelid]

TBH I couldn't care less about the Darkness spell being OP because by the time I can cast Darkness reliably, it's such a microoptimisation that I never bother to cast it in the first place.

I am glad you got my point, it's OP and yet unusable for sane players.

[kuniqs]

TBH I couldn't care less about the Darkness spell being OP because by the time I can cast Darkness reliably, it's such a microoptimisation that I never bother to cast it in the first place.

I am glad you got my point, it's OP and yet unusable for sane players.

I did not get your point, and I do not get how adding -Scroll will make it more usable by sane players. The only time I found Darkness useful was when I was streaking ziggurats. I don't think the game has to be balanced around this.

Reduce Darkness to 4th level or so and give it -Scroll. It's a rather situational spell anyway.

[VeryAngryFelid]

I did not get your point, and I do not get how adding -Scroll will make it more usable by sane players. The only time I found Darkness useful was when I was streaking ziggurats. I don't think the game has to be balanced around this.

Reduce Darkness to 4th level or so and give it -Scroll. It's a rather situational spell anyway.

As I wrote in OP, Darkness can be spammed during autoexploring, that's why we need to nerf it. Giving it -Scroll removes spamming nature and it will be more usable by sane players (here sane means they don't want to press the same button again and again). You are right that it will be used less often, that's what's called a nerf. Unless it is changed to level 4 indeed.

[jwoodward48ss]

Ah, you mean the "unoptimal" player.