The Singing Sword

[sir_laser]

This artefact is awesome, perhaps too much so. It changes names when there's too much tension or while under silence!

But, I feel that its scream when the tension is high may be IMBA. My NaWz was able to do Vault:8 with only Haste+Deflect Missiles and the Singing Sword. After about 4-6 screams from it all the Vault Guards died (o_o'), and after every scream there'd be something like: "You killed the Ogre! You killed the Vault Guard! x4 You killed the Yaktaur! x2" etc...

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

[Hushed]

It's probably my favorite unrand flavor wise, but most people dislike that it makes so much noise that you can get into real trouble with it pulling enemy reinforcements. It also lacks any of the nifty brands or resistances of other possible rands or unrands.

[dpeg]

Hushed is reporting about the old version, I believe. The one that made noises, but no other effect. The sword got changed and now the noises do smite damage to everyone. It is probably too strong, yes. But I rather get the Singing Sword some play time and nerf after the comments than making it stronger but not enough.

[njvack]

My one complaint about the Singing Sword is that it never friggin' spawns for me. In literally hundreds of games (admittedly, most of them somewhat short) I've never seen it

[Stormfox]

I'll repeat some old advice: To spawn the Singing Sword, play a stealth build...of course, now that the noise has been weaponized, that may not even work.

[sir_laser]

I was playing a NaWz, pumping spellcasting, when it appeared on D:4 inside a fairly heavily guarded rock maze-like structure (copious ants, goblins, snakes).

  Code:

     0 | D:1      | sirlaser, the Naga Wizard, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 13/13 MP: 5/5
   113 | D:1      | Reached skill level 4 in Stealth
   534 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 20/20 MP: 7/7
   584 | D:1      | Learned a level 2 spell: Blink
   587 | D:1      | Learned a level 2 spell: Repel Missiles
   590 | D:1      | Learned a level 2 spell: Call Imp
  1146 | D:2      | Found a sparkling altar of Nemelex Xobeh.
  1172 | D:2      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 16/26 MP: 10/10
  1311 | D:2      | Became a worshipper of Nemelex Xobeh
  1332 | D:2      | Found a radiant altar of Vehumet.
  1641 | D:2      | Learned a level 3 spell: Mephitic Cloud
  1913 | D:2      | Reached skill level 1 in Short Blades
  2188 | D:3      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 21/33 MP: 12/12
  2482 | D:3      | Received a gift from Nemelex Xobeh
  2874 | D:4      | Reached skill level 1 in Poison Magic
  2935 | D:4      | Reached skill level 1 in Fighting
  3037 | D:4      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 37/39 MP: 14/14
  3279 | D:4      | Reached skill level 1 in Stabbing
  3595 | D:4      | Reached skill level 5 in Spellcasting
  3602 | D:4      | Reached skill level 1 in Air Magic
  3607 | D:4      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 33/46 MP: 17/17
  3754 | D:4      | Got a golden long sword
  3755 | D:4      | Identified the Singing Sword (You found it on level 4 of the Dungeon)
  4177 | D:4      | Reached skill level 6 in Spellcasting
  4427 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon

For anyone who's interested.

Are there any changes to the Singing Sword in the Trunk build?

[dpeg]

No, I think the scream damage is already in 0.9. (I'm always a bit hazy with versions because there's only trunk for me )

[minstrel]

I think it's neat that there's a melee weapon that can do AOE damage and would hate to see it nerfed too far. Maybe the damage could be tied to evocations and/or sword skill and scale up to the current power level?

[dpeg]

minstrel: currently, it is related to tension. But throwing in Swords skill sounds great. (Evocations not so much.)

[JeffQyzt]

Ah - but tying it to Swords implies that the Singing Sword's wielder is responsible for the power curve of the sonic damage - when actually it's all happening at the instigation of the sword itself. It's hardly intuitive that learning how to properly wield a sword would give corresponding insight into focusing magical blasts of sonic energy.

Now, if there was a "Performance" skill...

Note that if you extrapolate a bit following this rationale, users with higher weapon skills should probably also be able to gain greater benefit from other brands, such as freezing, flaming, vorpal, etc. (actually, it might make sense for vorpal...)

[dpeg]

Singing is not a brand. Also, the Sword is very egotistical and megalomaniac. Making it perform better in the hands of someone equally gifted does not sound implausible.

[rjrrt]

Does the noise damage affect allies? I have a HOPr that found it and I'm afraid to use it if my allies will turn on me.

[sir_laser]

It deals (apparently non-resistible, because it kills Orbs of Fire slightly slower than Dragons/Fiends, so it appears that AC has no effect) smite damage to every NPC within LOS. This includes your allies.

The AOE damage is in 0.9.

Maybe tie the damage to something like Xom's Piety Walk? It attracts enemies during the most inappropriate times, such as when I'm about to stab/two tiles away, but starts screaming when fighting any single Pan lord/Orb of Fire/dangerous enemy.

Does anyone know how tension is factored in for this weapon?