News - October 1999

Daily news from the world of roguelike games: Roguelike News

28th October 1999

• Dragon Angband bugfix
  Tom Morton fixed the staff/wand stacking problems in DrAngband and released a new version.

• Dragon Angband revived
  Tom Morton breathed new life into the abandoned DrAngband by taking over the maintainership, rewriting it based on Angband 2.8.3 and releasing version 2.9.0. He also created a home page for DrAngband.
• ZAngband 2.3.1 for DOS
  As promised the DOS version of the ZAngband 2.3.1 development version is now available.

• New ZAngband development version
  The ZAngband Devteam just released ZAngband 2.3.1. The source code and the Windows 95/98/NT version are already available, the DOS version will follow tomorrow. Take a look at the list of changes to learn more about the bugfixes, balance tweaks and new features.

• Sillyband
  You thought ZAngband had some silly features? Then try out Tarael's brand new Silly Angband 0.1.0 and redefine Sillyness. :-)

• More Acorn ports
  Michael Barnes ported DvEband 1.0.1 and Teamband 0.5.1 to the Acorn RISC OS machines.
• Thangorodrim Search
  I've added a search feature to Thangorodrim that allows you to search for words on any Thangorodrim page. Update: John I'anson-Holton allowed me to include the ZAngband Knowledge Base and Chris Weisiger's Newbie Guide in the search, so now the results are even more helpful!

• New Thangorodrim sections
  I've added two new pages to Thangorodrim. The new Tools page contains utilities for Angband players (the first one is a scorefile-merger written in Python, others will follow soon), and the Thangorodrim FAQ is a list of frequently answered questions (and the answers) compiled from my mail.

• DvEband 1.0.1
  First the good news: Dennis van Es released version 1.0.1 of DvEband. The weaponskills increase slower with higher skills and colored spell-browsing was added in this version. Now the bad news: The development will probably slow down for a while, due to the influence of "Real Life" (the bane of all maintainers).
• Mac ports
  Back to the good news again: Prfnoff compiled new Mac versions of Angband, DvEband 1.0.1, and Teamband 0.5.1.
• Amiga ports
  ZAngband 2.2.7, Angband 2.8.3 with the RML Borg and Teamband 0.5.1 are now available on the Amiga thanks to the work of Bablos.
• Acorn ports
  And we are not done yet with porting news: Musus Umbra compiled ZAngband 2.2.7 and Angband 2.8.3 with the RML Borg for the Acorn RISC OS machines.

• DvEband for Acorn RISC OS
  Michael Barnes compiled an Acorn version of DvEband 1.0.0.

• Team Angband update
  Karl Peters released version 0.5.1 of Team Angband together with a compiled DOS version.
• Tk *band news
  Tim Baker updated the four Tk versions of Angband, KAngband, OAngband, and ZAngband. The improvements include things like music support ("MOD files"), a redesigned help-system, a better message window and lots of other bugfixes and improvements.

• New variant - Team Angband
  u1006057@warwick.net is creating a new variant that allows the player to control multiple characters.
• OS/2 ports
  Alexey Guzeev compiled *lots* of variants for OS/2. The list includes (J)Angband 64 beta 4 release 9, GWAngband 2.8.3v3, ZAngband 2.2.6b, GSNband 2.0.1, RAngband 1.0.5a, PernAngband 4.0.0b, and SBFband 0.2.1.
• Amiga ports
  Bablos was busy too and prepared SBFband 0.2.1, Team Angband 0.5.0, and DvEband 1.0.0 for the Amiga.
• Mac ports
  And there are coming even more ports. Prfnoff compiled the two new variants DvEband 1.0.0 and Team Angband 0.5.0 for the 68k and PPC Macs.

• ZAngband 2.2.7
  The ZAngband DevTeam proudly presents ZAngband 2.2.7 as source code, DOS, and Windows 95/98/NT version. A Diff-file from the ZAngband 2.2.6c source code is available as well.

  Bugfixes and changes in this version:

  • Fixed two bugs in the pet spellcasting AI.
  • Maximize mode, preserve mode, and the autoroller are now specified in the startup-options.
  • The number of spellpoints gained by casting 'Omnicide' is now resticted to twice your maximum spellpoints.
  • 'Teleport level' scrolls and spells won't have any effect on quest-levels if the 'no upstairs' ironman mode is active.
  • Orc and Troll pits will no longer contain undead trolls or orcs.
  • The DOS version now uses BMP files instead of the patented GIF format.
  • Fixed a graphics glitch with beam spells and permanent walls.
  • Fixed an inaccessible area in one of the vaults.
  • Added Greg Wooledge's fix for a compilation problem on various Linux systems.
  • The "laser eye" mutation will now properly anger pets and friendly monsters.
  • Fixed a bug in the "research monster" building command.
  • The time-command now displays the turn number.
  • The level-teleport from the pattern is now restricted to downward in ironman mode, but allows to get down to the bottom of the dungeon if you already finished off the Serpent.
  • Lit arena levels no longer reveal the whole level and the objects.
  • Added a new Ironman option to always generate "arena" levels.
  • Added a new startup option that controls terrain streamer generation.
  • Added two new "munchkin" startup options: one allows Mindcrafters to get Dimension Door, and another turns the death save off (in a way). Both prevent scoring and are displayed on character dumps.
  • Added a new Ironman option to always generate very unusual rooms.
  • Fiddled a little with the TY_CURSE code (to prevent paralyze/Cyberdemon as result of certain things).
  • Added Eric Bock's wizard allocation patch.
  • Adapted Eric Bock's player centering scroll patch.
  • The Windows version will now try to create missing directories. (Eric Bock)

• New Angband variant
  Dennis van Es released his own variant called DvEband - Dennis van Es' Angband. It is based on Eric Bock's modified version of Angband 2.8.3 and adds the following features:
  • Display XP needed to advance.
  • No confirmation on destroying worthless objects.
  • Rangers start with arrows (LM).
  • Stair can take you 2 levels up or down (LM).
  • Chest tend to give better items depending on your class (LM).
  • XP gained by opening a chest depends on the pval of the chest.
  • Added Leon's famous W&R Stacking (LM).
  • Added weapon skills for swords, axes, daggers, rapiers, cutlasses, polearms, hafted weapons, slings, bows, and crossbows.
  • Wall of fire spell added for mages.
  • Confused monster don't breed.

© 1999 by Robert Rühlmann, rr9@thangorodrim.net