Monster free actions

[TwilightPhoenix]

Why are monsters allowed certain actions for free that would take a player one or more turns to perform each? For example, this happened all on one turn in my last game.

The orc warrior unwields an uncursed orcish morningstar.
The orc warrior drops an uncursed orcish morningstar.
The orc warrior picks up an orcish spiked flail.
The orc warrior wields an orcish spiked flail.

Doing the same thing for the player would take about four turns. I've also seen them insta remove and equip new armor too.

[twelwe]

I don't know a lick of knowledge about monster AI, but I imagine if they spent the amount of time players do to do such actions, it would be very easy to slow down dangerous monsters like orc warriors by examining what type of weapon they have and dropping a few good weapons in a line (orc has hand axe, so you drop a morning star and then an evening star on the next square) so that while they unequip, drop, pick up, and equip over and over, you can escape, mana up, and blow the crap out of that monster who, one hundred turns ago, was just two tiles away from you.

[ApsychicRat]

very good question, id like to catch an orc changing armor and be naked for once instead of vice versa.

[TwilightPhoenix]

I don't know a lick of knowledge about monster AI, but I imagine if they spent the amount of time players do to do such actions, it would be very easy to slow down dangerous monsters like orc warriors by examining what type of weapon they have and dropping a few good weapons in a line (orc has hand axe, so you drop a morning star and then an evening star on the next square) so that while they unequip, drop, pick up, and equip over and over, you can escape, mana up, and blow the crap out of that monster who, one hundred turns ago, was just two tiles away from you.

Monsters ignore stuff the player drops on the ground while they player is still around (excluding jellies from slurping it). Though if you get away from them and they find the stuff again, then they might pick it up and use it if they can.

[galehar]

Why are monsters allowed certain actions for free that would take a player one or more turns to perform each? For example, this happened all on one turn in my last game.

The orc warrior unwields an uncursed orcish morningstar.
The orc warrior drops an uncursed orcish morningstar.
The orc warrior picks up an orcish spiked flail.
The orc warrior wields an orcish spiked flail.

Doing the same thing for the player would take about four turns. I've also seen them insta remove and equip new armor too.

For monsters, it's a single action. Looking at the code, I'd say for simplicity (else we would need to queue actions for monsters which isn't possible right now), but probably also for gameplay. Stabbing monsters changing equipment would encourage players to lure them over previous battlefields littered with equipement.
Also, note that this sequence of actions take only 2.8 turns for the player (cut that down to 2.5 if you change the order and switch weapons instead of unwield then wield). Wielding a weapon is a very fast action.

[TwilightPhoenix]

For gameplay worries, they could just not swap gear if it'd take more than a turn or two if the player is nearby (not necessarily in sight), assuming it ever becomes possible to change that. But even though it's only a 1.5 turn difference, that can still mean a lot in certain situations, such as being chased by a fast monster. Theoretically, a Centaur could steadily upgrade his gear multiple without falling (too far) behind a retreating player moving at a normal speed.

Not to mention it's just jarring seeing an enemy slipping out of his chain male and tossing on some plate in that brief amount of time.

Mind, this is a small issue. It really throws me off when an enemy completely rearms himself and puts on new armor, on rare occasions multiple times, while approaching me. Noticed it more than usual in my recent Chei game since I would often wait for them to get into my melee range rather than get pummeled making a slow movement towards them.

[varsovie]

seeing an enemy slipping out of his chain male and tossing on

WTF are these chain golem doing?!?


Anyway I do find that foe must take and equipe gear. I find it rewarding to kill an hobogoblin that is harder than usual, then find on him an plate mail, or knowing I just slaughter half a band of orcs, but that if I fight the second part now I risk dying, and if I fight it latter, they will all be harder by looting there friends.