Angband News - August 1998

News - August 1998

August, 31st 1998

Goingband 2.8.3 v4
Prfnoff uploaded a new version of the source code. For the list of new features take a look at my Goingband Page.
Compiling for Win95/NT with Borland C++
Roger Browne wrote the instructions for all people who want to compile Windows95/98/NT versions of Angband with the Borland C++ compiler. The guide is now available from my Compiling Angband Page.

August, 27th 1998

KAngband 2.8.3i and the first bugfix
The source code and the DOS version of KAngband 2.8.3i are available.
New in 2.8.3i from the last version of 2.8.2g:
- By popular demand, no longer need to visit to learn spells - can use 'G' again.
- Completed the 'Haunting' and 'Rival Cities' plotlines.
- Fixed stealth modifier on boots of levitation
- Can no longer walk off dungeon grid while in shadowform.
- Rewrote the bldg.c file. This includes changes mentioned below (no building restrictions and compare weapons) and also makes it easier to add buildings.
- Added bookstore in wilderness files.
- For the next version, Farmer Maggot has been renamed Bill Ferney.
- A bookstore has been added to the town.
- Removed restriction on all buildings. Anyone can visit any building at any time.
- Added more rocks and colors to go with new rings (6 new rings) and got rid of "Engagement" description.
- The quest document has been completed. To see how to build quests, click here.
- I have completed the arduous conversion from Angband 2.8.2 to 2.8.3. There were many changes in the base code but the most useful changes dealt with the line of sight/lighting routines. Now, the various terrains are easier to manipulate and fog works correctly! This will lead to better terrain effects, better light management, cooler additions (ice anyone?).
- I have also fixed a few bugs including the problem with dead uniques appearing in quests, and bugs with the compare weapons routine. Compare weapons is much more elegant in code now. In between has been tweaked some more to not allow easy gold!
- Rangers and Druids can now walk through trees.
- Rings of Lordly Protection, Extra Attacks have been fixed.
- You can now see the plot names and can pick a plot with some idea of what it will involve.
The DOS version already includes a minor bugfix. If you want to compile the source code then you'll need to comment out or delete the following lines in load.c:
```
	if (older_than(2, 8, 3, 5))
	{
	  note("Warning -- cannot convert Kangband save files v282c and earlier.");
	  return(34);
	}
	
```

August, 18th 1998

ZAngband 2.1.1c
Source code, DOS, and Windows version are here. Bugfixes in this version:
- Fixed the 16x16 tile for hobbit characters. A beer mug is fitting for a hobbit, but it was still a bug. ;-)
- Fixed another bug in the creation of quest levels.
- Allowed all characters created in pre 2.1.1 versions of ZAngband to choose the number of quests when loading the savegame. You may have to leave and reenter the current level, if it's a quest level.
- Only Uniques will now resist disintegration effects.
- The last questmonster now drops all carried items, the normal monster drop and one reward item when you finish the quest.
- Reward drops are no longer added to the monster knowledge.
- Fixed the problem with the transparent color of the 8x8 bitmap.
- Races without racial activations can now dismiss pets.
Angband chat
Added a realtime chat room to Thangorodrim. The current chat area loads an Java applet created by Michael (Leahcim) Lantzen and connects you to the IRC server at irc.deltakonzept.de. The applet requires a Java enabled browser.
KAmband 1.4
Ivan Tkatchev created a new version of the KAmband source code.
New features in this version:
- New class - Vampire.
- Two new town layouts.
- Bigger dungeon.
- It is now possible to choose the town/arena layout when starting a new game.
- Several new options.
- Zoomable overhead map.
- Spell descriptions in the Browse command.
- Activations for shape-changes.
- Traps affect monsters.
- Scrolls of ego-item and artifact creation.

August, 12th 1998

ZAngband maintainer
At the time I took over ZAngband I said that I would make room for everybody who wants to take over the difficult task of maintaining ZAngband. After almost three months of developing ZAngband as the temporary maintainer I don't feel like I could hand it over to somebody else. So I decided to withdraw my offer and take over the job as ZAngband maintainer on a permanent basis.
ZAngband 2.1.2 beta 1
My first task as the "new" maintainer is to publish a new version of ZAngband. The 2.1.2 beta 1 is, like the name says, a beta version and still has many bugs and missing features. You can download the source code, DOS, and Windows version and test it. This beta version is not "only source code" like the previous ZAngband betas. I want as many testers as possible for ZAngband 2.1.2 to find all the bugs, so feel free to compile it for other systems.
The new features/bugfixes is this version:
- Added Ken Wigles KAngband style town/wilderness, plots/quests and terrains.
- Added the Easy Patch by Tim Baker and changed it to be an option (off by default).
- Only Uniques will now resist disintegration effects.
Please remember this is a BETA version with many bugs. Don't blame me if your character dies, your computer crashs, or anything else bad happens (you can blame me for anything good happening to you, your character, your computer or the world). Send me bugreports and I'll fix the problems.
The quests and the arena monsters are not yet fully converted to ZAngband, so be prepared to meet nasty creatures (and easy ones as well). Importing old characters is not yet completely implemented (it works, but you'll always get the first plotline/town/quest layout). The documentation is not yet updated, but I'm working on it.
I'm still programming new buildings for the ZAngband town and I'm looking for good ideas what special functions the new buildings should have. Every magic realm gets it's own magical tower, as well as all the classes (probably some of the races will get buildings too).
If you want to create new plotlines, quests and towns then take a look at Ken Wigle's KAngband page. I use the same format for the quest and wilderness files, so they should be compatible. This also means that most of the new plots for ZAngband can be used for KAngband and vice versa. Only the indices for the monsters, artifacts and items (and the version number of the file) need to be changed.
ZAngband 2.1.1b bug
Brent Ross found a nasty bug in 2.1.1(b) that prevents imported characters from older versions from winning the game. The two main quests (Oberon and the Serpent) are not correctly converted. I'll fix the bug as fast as possible.
ZAngband 2.1.2beta1 bug
Just found a big error in the quest vault parsing functions. I reused some already existing letters from KAngband's quests (for quest exit and normal doors) for the Pattern tiles and broke the creation of quest vaults. So don't be surprised when pattern tiles show up in the normal quests. Maybe I should stop programming late at night.
Ideas for ZAngband Plots
I've created a page with ideas for ZAngband quests and added a plot with Amber quests by Topi Ylinen.

August, 11th 1998

OAngband and Goingband
I'm really losing track on all the new variants appearing every week. OAngband and Goingband are hot and fresh. I didn't have the time to test them yet, but I'll try to add some more infos and comments in the next days. New pre-compiled versions for SAngband, KAmband, and ZAngband are available as well.
ZAngband 2.1.1b bug
At least one bug is still remaining in ZAngband 2.1.1b. It's only a minor display glitch with the spell effects and doesn't affect gameplay, so don't panic. I'll fix it as soon as possible.
ZAngband Highscore page
Ed Bradburn has created a page with ZAngband Highscores. Just send him your scores file and he'll add your characters to the top 100 list.

August, 7th 1998

ZAngband 2.1.1b
The bugfixed ZAngband 2.1.1b is available as source code, DOS, and Windows version. Bugfixes in this version:
- Quest message pluralization fixed (again).
- No more extremely out of depth quests for new characters.
- Desintegration spells like "Fist of force" can destroy walls.
- Reflection works now.
- Corrected the new tiles for spirit naga, angel, and blue jellies.
- Creation of artifact arrows/bolts/shots with scrolls of artifact creation is allowed again.

August, 6th 1998

Thangorodrim design change
As you may have noticed I have changed the design of my pages a bit and created a new graphical navigation bar. The redesign is not fully completed yet and some things will certainly change in the next few weeks.
ZAngband 2.1.1 bugfixes
I've collected all bugreports and added them together with the fixes to my ZAngband bugs page. ZAngband 2.1.1b will be available tomorrow as source code, Windows and Dos version.
Variants mania
KAmband 1.3, SAngband 0.9.5b, Angband/64 beta 2 Release 9 as well as many new compiled versions for other variants are available.
Angband documentation
I've started to convert the Angband documentation to HTML. The Angband Commands are already online. The completely updated (Z)Angband help files will follow sometime in the future.