Ziggurat Zagger
Posts: 11111
Joined: Friday, 8th February 2013, 12:00
New species: Self-learning Robot
Background: Robot starts with almost no knowledge and gradually becomes better at things it chooses to improve.
It learns quickly and being a machine allows it to temporarily overextend some skills if it is the only way to survive. The overextension does not come for free, it damages the machine irredeemably.
All skills are -5. Normal HP, normal MP, +1 XP.
- Passive. After reaching every XL (including XL 1) robot must select a skill. The selected skill aptitude is permanently improved by +1 aptitude and temporarily (until reaching next XL) gets increased by +5 (cf. Heroism).
Robot cannot select the same skill on next XL but can select it later.
For instance, robot can select Polearms at XL1, then Fighting at XL2, Polearms again at XL3, Fighting at XL4, Polearms at XL 5, Armour at XL 6, Polearms at XL 7 etc.
A skill cannot be selected when its aptitude is already +5. If selected skill is Spellcasting and robot memorizes some spells in extra spell slots, they are kept after reaching next XL but robot will need to train more spellcasting before learning more spells (technically free spell slots will be negative).
The limitation of "cannot select the same skill" is removed at XL 27 (we don't want players to feel sorry about selecting a wrong skill at XL 26) and +5 boost is permanent for the selected skill (there is no XL 28 so it never expires). - Active, instant, acquired at XL 10. Overextension. Robot temporary gets +5 to all skills for 10+d10 turns (subject to 27 skill levels cap). Cost: 3% permanent HP (minimum 2 HP) and 3% permanent MP (minimum 1 MP).
- Active, instant, acquired at XL 20. Heavy overextension. Robot temporary gets +10 to all skills for 10+d10 turns (subject to 27 skill levels cap). Cost: 5% permanent HP (minimum 5 HP) and 5% permanent MP (minimum 2 MP).
rRot, rN+++, no need to eat, immune to Fear, Confusion and stat drain.
Cannot use potions, cannot use vampiric weapon, cannot berserk, cannot worship Fedhas (it's non-living), Ashenzari/Sif Muna (it dares to improve knowledge/aptitudes without divine help).
Game play. Player can select to become a great caster (for example, +4 aptitude in Spellcasting/Fire/Conjurations require 27 changes), a great warrior (+4 aptitude in weapon/armour/fighting) or stay more balanced.
Full Windows 64 bit version can be downloaded at https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ufdv1a2qbn6b ... 9.zip?dl=0
I play offline.