ZAngband Official FAQ
by Robert Ruehlmann
rr9@angband.org
March 10th, 2000
1. About this FAQ
1.1 Introduction
ZAngband is a
freeware roguelike computer
roleplaying game,
based on
Angband. This document lists frequently asked
questions and answers.
1.2 Table of contents
1. About this FAQ
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Table of contents
1.3 Where can I get this FAQ?
2. General questions
2.1 What is ZAngband?
2.2 On what computers can I play it?
2.3 Where can I download it?
3. System-specific questions
3.1 DOS
3.1.1 Can I play it in the old ASCII-mode?
3.1.2 Can I use multiple savefiles?
3.1.3 Why uses the DOS version only 2/3 of the screen?
3.2 Windows 95/98/NT
3.2.1 How do I run in the Windows version?
3.2.2 Why do I get an error message when I try to switch on
graphics?
4. Game-play questions
4.1 Artifacts
4.1.1 What does the artifact xyz do?
4.1.2 I've found an artifact, but it doesn't show up in the list of
known artifacts. Is that a bug?
4.1.3 I've found an artifact in a store, but I thought artifacts can
never appear there if not sold to the store. Is that a bug?
4.2 Monsters
4.2.1 I've found a 'Greater Hell Beast' that never does any damage to
me, and that seems to be immune to my attacks. What is it?
4.3 Objects
4.3.1 What does a 'magical figurine' do?
4.3.2 What does a 'statue' do?
4.4 Miscellaneous
4.4.1 What is an "anti-magic shell"?
5. Other questions
5.1 Interface
5.1.1 Why can't I see my spells or missiles flying through the air?
5.2 Bugs
5.2.1 A monster "points at me and curses", and the game crashes!
What is going on?
5.2.1.1 Wait, I have version 2.1.0b and the game *still* crashes
When a monster "points at me and curses"!
1.3 Where can I get this FAQ?
This FAQ is available from:
http://thangorodrim.angband.org/zangband-faq.txt
2. General questions
2.1 What is ZAngband?
ZAngband is one of the many
variants of the freeware roguelike
computer roleplaying game
Angband.
2.2 On what computers can I play it?
ZAngband is available for many different systems, including
MS-DOS,
Windows 95/98/NT,
Macintosh,
Amiga,
OS/2,
Acorn RISC OS,
and the many different
Unix-derivates including
Linux.
2.3 Where can I download it?
The newest version of ZAngband is always available from
"
Thangorodrim - The Angband Page" at:
http://thangorodrim.angband.org/
and the Angband FTP-Server at:
ftp://clockwork.dementia.org/angband/
3. System-specific questions
3.1 DOS
3.1.1 Can I play it in the old ASCII-mode?
Yes, you can. The old IBM-mode is included in the DOS version and can
be activated with the '-mibm' option. Just run ZAngband with
'ZAngband.exe -mibm' to switch it on.
3.1.2 Can I use multiple savefiles?
Yes, you can. Run ZAngband with the -u option. For example:
'ZAngband.exe -uFred' loads the character called
Fred. If no
savefile called 'Fred' is found then a new one is created. To use
another character just run ZAngband with a different name.
3.1.3 Why uses the DOS version only 2/3 of the screen?
The lower part of the screen is used for displaying two extra windows
with additional information. To activate this feature, press '=' to
access the ZAngband options, then press 'W' to enter the 'Window
Flags' section. Now you can assign various informations to the two
special windows lower part of the screen. Move the cursor to the
'Mirror' column and switch on one of the options with the 'y' key.
A good choice is the 'Display messages' option. Now move to the
'Recall' column and select another option (for example 'Display
inven/equip'). Now press the ESCAPE key two times to leave the
options menu and press Ctrl-R to redraw the screen.
3.2 Windows 95/98/NT
3.2.1 How do I run with the numeric keypad in the Windows version?
Press the
Num-Lock key to switch off Num-Lock mode. Now you should be
able to run when pressing Shift and a key of the numeric keypad.
3.2.2 Why do I get an error message when I try to switch on graphics?
The 'Unusable bitmap palette (255 entries) - Could not initialize
graphics' error means that you tried to use graphics with a desktop
set to
256 colors. Switch to
high-color or
true-color mode to fix
this problem.
4. Game-play questions
4.1 Artifacts
4.1.1 What does the artifact xyz do?
Most of the artifacts in ZAngband have some
random features, and some
are even completely random, so you have to find out what an artifact
does by yourself. Try reading a scroll of
*Identify* (the stars are
important), or use 'Research item' service offered by some buildings
in the towns. Many spellcasting classes get the *Identify* spell at
higher levels. You can also sell artifacts to a store and buy it back
immediatly, but this will cost you a lot of money.
The powers of items that have been *Identified* or bought from stores
can be displayed at any time with the 'I' command.
4.1.2 I've found an artifact, but it doesn't show up in the list of
known artifacts. Is that a bug?
No. You've found a '
random artifact'. These kind of artifacts get
random powers and names, and they are not displayed in the list of
known artifacts. The random artifacts can be found in addition to the
normal ones, and they may even appear in stores from time to time.
4.1.3 I've found an artifact in a store, but I thought artifacts can
never appear there if not sold to the store. Is that a bug?
No. The store is selling a 'random artifact'. See question 4.1.2.
4.2 Monsters
4.2.1 I've found a 'Greater Hell Beast' that never does any damage to
me, and that seems to be immune to my attacks. What is it?
The '
Greater Hell Beast' is a joke to scare all the veterans who know
that an "U" is normally a very dangerous greater
demon. It appears
very early and can't hurt you directly, but it's very annoying.
The huge amount of hitpoints and the big armor-class make it nearly
invincible and even if you manage to kill it, it's not worth the
efforts.
4.3 Objects
4.3.1 What does a 'magical figurine' do?
A figurine is a small magical replica of a monster from the dungeon.
When a figurine is thrown, a pet of the figurine's monster type will be
generated.
4.3.2 What does a 'statue' do?
Statues made of various materials can be found throughout the dungeon.
Unlike figurines, they have no magical attributes but may be worth
selling depending upon the material from which they are made.
4.4 Miscellaneous
4.4.1 What is an "anti-magic shell"?
An anti-magic shell around you prevents you from casting any spells and
using mindcrafter powers. It also increases your saving throw vs. spells
to 95%, prevents the activation of some mutations, and helps against the
draining effects of the Jewel of Judgement.
5. Other questions
5.1 Interface
5.1.1 Why can't I see my spells or missiles flying through the air?
First change the "base delay factor" in the options menu to a higher
setting. A value of 4 (64 milli-seconds) displays the graphical effects
nicely. Also check that "Flush output before every command" in the
Efficiency Options menu is turned on.
5.2.1 A monster "points at me and curses", and the game crashes! What is
going on?
The version you are playing is 2.1.0. When a monster tries to curse
an item you are wearing, the curse attempts to change the inscription
on the item to "cursed". However, if the item has no previous inscription
at all, the game crashes.
Solution #1: Upgrade to 2.1.0b or later version. They fix this bug.
The items get cursed as they should. Aren't you happy!
(alternative)
Solution #2: Give all your equipment some inscription. The items
get cursed as they should. Aren't you happy!
N.B. This version of the faq document does not come with the version
2.1.0b. Try playing whatever version you got the faq from and you
should not encounter the problem!
5.2.1.1 Wait, I have version 2.1.0b and the game *still* crashes When a
monster "points at me and curses"!
You are using the misleadingly named Windows port "Zangband 2.1.0b".
Windows Zangband "2.1.0b" still has the bug ("real" 2.1.0b ports have
the fix). The Windows port that fixes the bug is 2.1.0c. For all other
platforms (Unix, DOS, Amiga etc.) version 2.1.0b fixes the bug.
This document has been reprinted with express written consent of Steven Fuerst and Eric Bock of the ZAngband Devteam. It comes attached with the following copyright notice.
Copyright (c) 1997 Ben Harrison, James E. Wilson, Robert A. Koeneke
This software may be copied and distributed for educational, research, and not for profit purposes provided that this copyright and statement are included in all such copies. Other copyrights may also apply.